[johndoesecond]

Hi mgmueller,

Great post, you’ve been so helpful!

You really seem to be the best person around to ask this question.

It's of course essential to compare features and functional characteristics of these devices, but I would like to learn something more about their expected durability, at least from your “senatorial” perspective of a veteran user of e-readers.

How much do they last before they break? How do your champion devices compare on this regard?
And more generally, how fragile/robust these devices and their e-ink screens really are, say, in comparison to standard LCD notebooks and netbooks?

I’m used to keep my notebooks for years, and usually buy new not because the old ones break, but simply for they become sort of obsolete. Can we expect that sort of durability these from e-readers?

I just got myself Kindle DX, so I would appreciate if you can tell me your opinion on that one in comparison to iRexes and Sonies (is that how you form those plurals?), with regard to this specific issue. Kindle DX has a short running history (less than one year since its initial U.S. release), but from what you’ve seen/tried/heard, could I expect it to last for 3-5 years?

Just how much extra care should one put into handling, using and carrying these devices around ? What would your recommended best-practice care be?

Thank you in advance.