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soondai · 09-09-2010, 12:32 PM

I still can't pull the trigger.
Letting the quest for the "perfect" reader get in way of getting a "good enough." Heck, pretty sure there are several than are more than good enough.

I'm basically looking for an ipod for books. I've already assembled a pretty good collection to read when I get it (whatever it ends up being), so the respective bookstores and formats are not really an issue for me. Don't care at all about downloading straight to the reader-- I plan to assemble and manage my library on my pc and tote around a dozen titles or so on the reader.

Money is tight. 150 is the ceiling. 100 would be better.

Kobo:
I'm still pulled to this one since its release was the catalyst for my reader quest. When it came out so much cheaper than the rest, I was very intrigued.

Pros:
bare-bones reader
holds plenty for my needs

cons:
seemed very sluggish when I finally got to play with one this week
maybe a little too bare bones: no landscape view for example
too expensive: costs more than a K3 when you count sales tax

jetBook lite:
available for 99 bucks thru newegg. I've put in the the shopping cart once, but didn't check out.

pros:
price
sounds like it does the job when its working right

cons
battery life and the need to buy/maintain rechargeable batteries.
not really that much cheaper than a K3 after adding batteries, memory, sales tax.
felt a little cheap when I checked out the Libre at 2 borders (it also was not working in either store)
some reviews on newegg say it often dies within a year

Kindle:
I feel like Han Solo in the Death Star's tractor beam. I keep trying to resist, but I think it may be inevitable.

cons first on this one:

I really don't like the fact you cannot change the battery yourself. Even though you can expect it to last 3 years, this almost makes it seem like it is intentionally disposable. I know you can send it in. But the fact they then send you a different one does not diminish that impression.

A little out of my price range if a 35 dollar cover is truly a necessity. If it's really that fragile I wish it came with some sort of bare-bones protection

mobi only. right now DRM and conversion aren't a problem, but I don't know how confident I can be that will continue.

pros:
by all accounts the most bang for the buck.

in it for the long haul. Amazon will still be there in 5 years and still be in the Kindle business

Nook:
Enjoyed playing with one yesterday. Not sure why it still seems like an afterthought instead of a contender.

pros:
I really like that you can add your own memory and change your own battery.
open system with an active dev community making improvements
seems like a fine reader

cons:
25 bucks more than Kindle after tax
pricey covers seem to be a must according to the consensus

So I just don't know.

A Kobo 2 than aimed for better/speedier performance and a 99 dollar price that acknowledged the lack of bells and whistles would probably be irresistible to me. This is my ideal.

A Nook 2 that came in at or under the Kindle price (and was well-reviewed) would also make me jump.

But that Kindle tractor beam is locked on. If I don't get a boost from elsewhere soon I suspect I'm gonna get pulled in.

Any feedback on my reasoning or info on what might be coming down the pike would be appreciated. Do you all think a 99 dollar quality reader will be a reality by Xmas. No way I can wait longer than that. (and ideally I would love to have something for my Oct birthday)

09-09-2010, 12:32 PM	#1
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	paralysis by overanalysis I still can't pull the trigger. Letting the quest for the "perfect" reader get in way of getting a "good enough." Heck, pretty sure there are several than are more than good enough. I'm basically looking for an ipod for books. I've already assembled a pretty good collection to read when I get it (whatever it ends up being), so the respective bookstores and formats are not really an issue for me. Don't care at all about downloading straight to the reader-- I plan to assemble and manage my library on my pc and tote around a dozen titles or so on the reader. Money is tight. 150 is the ceiling. 100 would be better. Kobo: I'm still pulled to this one since its release was the catalyst for my reader quest. When it came out so much cheaper than the rest, I was very intrigued. Pros: bare-bones reader holds plenty for my needs cons: seemed very sluggish when I finally got to play with one this week maybe a little too bare bones: no landscape view for example too expensive: costs more than a K3 when you count sales tax jetBook lite: available for 99 bucks thru newegg. I've put in the the shopping cart once, but didn't check out. pros: price sounds like it does the job when its working right cons battery life and the need to buy/maintain rechargeable batteries. not really that much cheaper than a K3 after adding batteries, memory, sales tax. felt a little cheap when I checked out the Libre at 2 borders (it also was not working in either store) some reviews on newegg say it often dies within a year Kindle: I feel like Han Solo in the Death Star's tractor beam. I keep trying to resist, but I think it may be inevitable. cons first on this one: I really don't like the fact you cannot change the battery yourself. Even though you can expect it to last 3 years, this almost makes it seem like it is intentionally disposable. I know you can send it in. But the fact they then send you a different one does not diminish that impression. A little out of my price range if a 35 dollar cover is truly a necessity. If it's really that fragile I wish it came with some sort of bare-bones protection mobi only. right now DRM and conversion aren't a problem, but I don't know how confident I can be that will continue. pros: by all accounts the most bang for the buck. in it for the long haul. Amazon will still be there in 5 years and still be in the Kindle business Nook: Enjoyed playing with one yesterday. Not sure why it still seems like an afterthought instead of a contender. pros: I really like that you can add your own memory and change your own battery. open system with an active dev community making improvements seems like a fine reader cons: 25 bucks more than Kindle after tax pricey covers seem to be a must according to the consensus So I just don't know. A Kobo 2 than aimed for better/speedier performance and a 99 dollar price that acknowledged the lack of bells and whistles would probably be irresistible to me. This is my ideal. A Nook 2 that came in at or under the Kindle price (and was well-reviewed) would also make me jump. But that Kindle tractor beam is locked on. If I don't get a boost from elsewhere soon I suspect I'm gonna get pulled in. Any feedback on my reasoning or info on what might be coming down the pike would be appreciated. Do you all think a 99 dollar quality reader will be a reality by Xmas. No way I can wait longer than that. (and ideally I would love to have something for my Oct birthday)