MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Busy (but Geeky) Mom wants freedom from laptop (lots of online fic forum reading)

emellaich · 06-26-2009, 01:20 PM

OK, I have and prefer a Kindle so I have a bit of a bias towards that.

However, looking objectively at what you talk about it is tough to decide, but for slightly different reasons than you state.

1) Since you don't really read current books, and you aren't concerned about DRM the book store is not so much of a concern. That means that if I was going cheap I would look even cheaper than the Sony. I'd consider either the Jetco (about $169 on sale at newegg), or the Astak EZreader (expected to be on sale at Fry's for $219 on the fourth of July weekend). I hear that the Sony is sometimes available for $200, and if you can find it for this price it would fit also. Note that the Kindle 2, I like doesn't have a cover, so you are talking around $400 with a cover. This is around a $200 savings.

2) On the other hand, I don't see you really being satisfied unless you can dial into your fanfiction in real time. This would suggest the Kindle as your only real choice and definitely worth the extra bucks. However, remember caveat emptor (buyer beware)... there are two things you need to be aware of:

a) Amazon has advertised the Kindle as having free access to wikipedia. The general web is 'experimental' and "You may be charged a fee for wireless connectivity for your use of other wireless services on your Device, such as Web browsing and downloading of personal files,". So I read this to have two warnings. First, Amazon may decide to withdraw web browsing altogether. Alternatively, they may choose to charge for web browsing (currently they only charge for wireless delivery of personal files). My guess is that it will continue to be available and continue to be free for at least the next year or so. If the Kindle ever comes in a form factor that is better suited to web browsing (say a touch screen with a pixel qi screen) then they will have to charge to moderate usage levels.

b) I periodically use the Amazon web browser and I think its a great tool. However, it is definitely crippled when compared to a full featured browser. If you have specific web sites that you visit, perhaps you should have someone here try them out for you and make sure they work on the Kindle. There is always the chance that your web site uses some specific flash or AJAX features that aren't supported on the Kindle.

06-26-2009, 01:20 PM	#8
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	OK, I have and prefer a Kindle so I have a bit of a bias towards that. However, looking objectively at what you talk about it is tough to decide, but for slightly different reasons than you state. 1) Since you don't really read current books, and you aren't concerned about DRM the book store is not so much of a concern. That means that if I was going cheap I would look even cheaper than the Sony. I'd consider either the Jetco (about $169 on sale at newegg), or the Astak EZreader (expected to be on sale at Fry's for $219 on the fourth of July weekend). I hear that the Sony is sometimes available for $200, and if you can find it for this price it would fit also. Note that the Kindle 2, I like doesn't have a cover, so you are talking around $400 with a cover. This is around a $200 savings. 2) On the other hand, I don't see you really being satisfied unless you can dial into your fanfiction in real time. This would suggest the Kindle as your only real choice and definitely worth the extra bucks. However, remember caveat emptor (buyer beware)... there are two things you need to be aware of: a) Amazon has advertised the Kindle as having free access to wikipedia. The general web is 'experimental' and "You may be charged a fee for wireless connectivity for your use of other wireless services on your Device, such as Web browsing and downloading of personal files,". So I read this to have two warnings. First, Amazon may decide to withdraw web browsing altogether. Alternatively, they may choose to charge for web browsing (currently they only charge for wireless delivery of personal files). My guess is that it will continue to be available and continue to be free for at least the next year or so. If the Kindle ever comes in a form factor that is better suited to web browsing (say a touch screen with a pixel qi screen) then they will have to charge to moderate usage levels. b) I periodically use the Amazon web browser and I think its a great tool. However, it is definitely crippled when compared to a full featured browser. If you have specific web sites that you visit, perhaps you should have someone here try them out for you and make sure they work on the Kindle. There is always the chance that your web site uses some specific flash or AJAX features that aren't supported on the Kindle.