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Old 02-15-2012, 07:06 AM   #117
LuvReadin
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Posts: 372
Karma: 1925568
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: England, UK
Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
've made a note to check out the audio book option - I'd be staggered if she hasn't already explored audio books, but who knows. Worth checking out at any rate.
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Definitely - you can pick up cheap MP3 players easily, and most are expandable with microSD cards, so you can fit a lot of books on. I use mine for car journeys because I get travel-sick so can't read, and it's really useful. If her hands are as bad as it seems, this might be a good alternative. Borrowing them from the library or the RNIB is easy, and there's quite a good selection. Plus there's all the freebies (about 5000) on www.librivox.org.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
Well I asked the carer, but I contacted the home in case she'd got the wrong end of the stick and they confirmed that there's no WiFi.
I agree with you - I think there ought to be WiFi throughout the building, or the folks that run it shouldhelp out with that - but it doesn't sound like it quite works that way I'm afraid.
Very odd, isn't it? Now, suggestion (and I'm not about to suggest something illegal, so please, moderators, don't delete this!) Have you thought of taking a laptop with you and seeing if there's a free wireless connection in the vicinity? There may be one if there's a pub or something else nearby. If there was, it would expand the range of possible options again.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
Regardless of that though, she could not physically get up out of bed and go down to an office, but would be reliant on the next carer doing it. Ideally I want to give her full control so she can say what books she has and when. Of course I *could*| sign her up to a £20 a month ISP contract, but without a PC that's money down the drain, especially when 3G is bundled in with the Kindle.
Right, as you said - it does seem she's far more disabled than originally thought, and yes, it is a waste if she's not going to use a PC. However, if she's pretty much bed-bound, have you checked if 3G can work from her room?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
You raise a good point about the library. I'd heard library access is an option, but didn't realise the Kindle was restricted on library access. Why's that - a choice by Amazon or just format incompatibility, or something else? In my naivety I'd always imagined her buying(or being bought) current books, but you may well be right - perhaps she would prefer the cheaper library option. I need to check this out as well.
It was incompatibility at first - the Kindle wouldn't work with the software (Overdrive). However, that's now been worked out in the US. However, several of the major book publishers have pulled out of the deal in the US because (as I understand it anyway) it's too easy to pirate those books. Hence, for the moment at any rate, Overdrive have ceased to support any change to allow the Kindle to be used with libraries in the UK. Thus, for library use, it's either the Sony or Kobo. I looked into that quite closely, because it was one of my top essentials for an ereader.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
That's exactly the kind of info I was hoping to get on here - saying what's available on what device, so thank you. I liked the look of the Kobo but no-one recommended it, and I don't think it has 3G. I also thought Kobo was created by Borders bookshop, and thought they'd gone out of business for some reason, so had written it off early on. Looks like thats' wrong.
Well, the Kobo is more Europe and the Nook USA, and given the makeup of this site's users, it's not surprising the Kobo would get fewer mentions. It does seem to be quite a good little device, though, and the basic one is currently on offer for £67 in Asda (worth checking out www.moneysavingexpert.com to see which ereaders are on offer at any particular time). However, as you say, even the higher-end ones don't seem to have 3G: http://www.kobobooks.com/ereaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by kacir View Post
If you ever decide to go down the "hacking" route, there is no need to purchase *new* device. You are going to blow warranty anyway opening the device, so why not buy a second-hand one.
That's just what I was thinking! Given the cost of ereaders in the UK and the points others have raised about difficulties with returns, it's worth having a look on ebay - ereaders do tend to keep their value well, but it's still a lot less than buying new. And if it turns out to be unsuitable, resell it - a third-hand ereader isn't going to lose much of the value from a second-hand one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks View Post
The daughter does not live nearby, but she can manage the buying and delivery of books. THe mom supplied the amount of the gift card. Anyone could perform this function for the lady.
David, just so you know, the Kobo also has a dedicated online bookstore in the UK, but the Sony hasn't yet. However, there's nothing to stop you using any of the ereaders with any online bookstore (subject to the geographical restrictions HarryT mentioned), provided you have an account with it; it's just that the ereader won't connect automatically to a store other than the one that it's linked with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carnyx View Post
THe did suggest a home library that can visit the person's home and lend books(inc' audio books) though, so that's something I can ask/suggest too.
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Definitely worth a shot - surprised the home isn't on their delivery list!
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