Hi all,
I've been reading e-books since a very long time. I use my laptop. I hate the fact that I have to wait to get home to continue reading a book if I don't carry my laptop with me.
So I finally decided to shell some money and get myself a reader.
I mainly read fiction. Bestsellers. I tend to get books in lit format. But I am more than wiling to convert them into html, txt, doc or rtf.
No pdf reading ability required in my reader!
oh and I live in Toronto, Canada
My requirements:
- I plan on just reading books on the device (no note-taking or reading newspapers/blogs or drawing)
- I don't highlight, search or mark favorites while reading a book. As long as the device can remember the last page that I was reading....I'm happy.
- I don't need a dictionary. I don't do heavy reading. The books that I read are light on the big words
- I'll be downloading books on my computer and then transferring them over to the device. So don't need a keypad. I
have to be able to download the book on my computer first because I want to keep a backup. Also, I prefer to buy using my computer.
- Once I get it, I plan on using it as long as physically possible. So it has to work for at least a few years (Durable)
- Most of my reading is done while traveling and late at night. So text should be clear in indoor lighting and the text shouldn't flicker (hope that makes sense) Also, I read for around 5 hours at a stretch every night. The device shouldn't strain my eyes too much.
- Most of my books are in html, lit, doc or rtf format. The device should be able to read the format or there should be a program that can convert from these formats to the ones that are compatible with the device.
- I buy my books in lit format from a site I found a few months back. That site has all the books that I need (I checked!) and they have a nice point system that helps me save a little money. So I'll continue to buy my books from them. So I don't care about the extent of the book collection of the site associated with the reader.
- Something with a fairly good battery life.
- Expandable memory.
I've managed to narrow down my options to the following devices:
Sony Reader 505
Cybook Gen3
eBookwise 1105
I know that the Sony Reader is not available in Canada at the moment. But if it is worth it, I am more than willing to drive down to Buffalo to get myself one.
The main reason the cybook is on the list is because it's available in Canada. So in case I have any problems with the device, I have the option of using customer service.
According to many people, the best features in the cybook are the dictionary and the font increasing capability. I don't need a dictionary and I read my books in 12 pt font (even on a moving vehicle). So these features are not much of a selling point for me...
Many people seem to have trouble with the navigation button on the Cybook. Also, I'm not sure if the device is sturdy enough for me and I need a better cover for it because I plan to take my reader wherever I go
That being said, the E-Ink technology is very tempting. But I'm not sure if I will have to carry a light with me (while traveling overnight) just to be able to read my book....
So between the cybook and the sony which one is better given my circumstances?
The ebookwise is on the list because of it's stability. As someone mentioned "it's a tried and true reader". But I am not sure about the back light feature. Is it too much of a strain on the eyes if you read for too long?
Please feel free to recommend any other readers.
The other readers that I considered but rejected:
- Amazon Kindle: Side buttons seem like a hastle and I don't need a keyboard. So that feels like a waste of space.
- PDAs/cellphones: Don't want a PDA or a cell phone to read. I want a dedicated e-book reader with a good screen.
- Iliad: Don't need that many features and have you seen the price?
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So yeah...please advice
oh and one more thing...I have never owned an e-book reader before. So I'm not sure what features I should be looking for. If you think of anything that I have missed, please let me know. Thanks!