MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

coryj · 01-22-2008, 11:54 AM

Hello, I am relatively new to the ebook reader scene (and ebooks in general). I like to read books, and I like the look of e-paper. I am in IT, so I stare at a computer monitor many hours a day and the e-paper is much easier on my eyes than continuing to stare at a laptop on my daily train rides to/from work (I don't really need to expedite my eye degredation). Anyway, my situation:

I was looking at ebook readers in the cheapish range. I am in America, so the Sony PRS-500/505 and the Kindle are the main options to me.

I have a Kindle on the way that I got brand new on ebay for retail + shipping... I figured with the high demand for them I could at least find someone to resell it for what it cost me, and if I wanted to keep it, I wouldn't have to pay a premium or wait for one.

I am very interested in reading PDFs created by my colleagues, in fact I am more interested in reading these than in purchasing books from the amazon or sony ebook store. I am not saying I will never do it, but its not the really a selling point for me if I can access the Kindle store anywhere over whispernet.

I have read about the Sony's inability to display "normal sized" PDFs, and I have used some of the converters out there to sample them and I am somewhat pleased with the results (could be better, but its usable quality). With the kindle, I know of the "email it to yourself" conversion method which charges 10 cents per message... is there an easy/effective way to convert without the unneeded charge?

As for whispernet, the access to wikipedia is very compelling. I know it has a web browser, but I can't find an adequate explanation of what it can do and what it costs. If I could access my google reader and read RSS feeds without paying the -in my opinion ridiculously high- $1-2 per month for each blog, it would make me almost definitely want to keep the kindle.

I'm sorry this is so long-winded, I will end it here and answer any questions posed. Lastly, I would like to keep the price at or below the Kindle, and in my research, the PRS-500/505 and the kindle are the only e-ink units that i can get in america at that price point.

Thanks a lot for your help in my getting into the ebook world

01-22-2008, 11:54 AM	#1
coryj Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: n/a	Keep the Kindle or Switch to a Sony Hello, I am relatively new to the ebook reader scene (and ebooks in general). I like to read books, and I like the look of e-paper. I am in IT, so I stare at a computer monitor many hours a day and the e-paper is much easier on my eyes than continuing to stare at a laptop on my daily train rides to/from work (I don't really need to expedite my eye degredation). Anyway, my situation: I was looking at ebook readers in the cheapish range. I am in America, so the Sony PRS-500/505 and the Kindle are the main options to me. I have a Kindle on the way that I got brand new on ebay for retail + shipping... I figured with the high demand for them I could at least find someone to resell it for what it cost me, and if I wanted to keep it, I wouldn't have to pay a premium or wait for one. I am very interested in reading PDFs created by my colleagues, in fact I am more interested in reading these than in purchasing books from the amazon or sony ebook store. I am not saying I will never do it, but its not the really a selling point for me if I can access the Kindle store anywhere over whispernet. I have read about the Sony's inability to display "normal sized" PDFs, and I have used some of the converters out there to sample them and I am somewhat pleased with the results (could be better, but its usable quality). With the kindle, I know of the "email it to yourself" conversion method which charges 10 cents per message... is there an easy/effective way to convert without the unneeded charge? As for whispernet, the access to wikipedia is very compelling. I know it has a web browser, but I can't find an adequate explanation of what it can do and what it costs. If I could access my google reader and read RSS feeds without paying the -in my opinion ridiculously high- $1-2 per month for each blog, it would make me almost definitely want to keep the kindle. I'm sorry this is so long-winded, I will end it here and answer any questions posed. Lastly, I would like to keep the price at or below the Kindle, and in my research, the PRS-500/505 and the kindle are the only e-ink units that i can get in america at that price point. Thanks a lot for your help in my getting into the ebook world Last edited by coryj; 01-22-2008 at 12:00 PM.