Hello everybody! I just found these forums today. I actually just made the decision to buy an e-reader today and my eyes are going googly from all the options! I went in thinking there were only two - Kindle and nook....well, I was wrong!
Now that I am becoming slightly more familiar with e-reader options, I think I'm starting to coalesce my thoughts around what I want in an e-reader.
I've spent the better part of the day going through reviews at another site that ranks the e-reader. That site has Kindle first, Neo second and nook third.
Then I found this site with a ton more info!
I'm not a technical person, so I don't really understand a lot of features offered. But I do read a good bit, and I've been reading more than normal these past few weeks, and after one too many nights of my arms getting tired while reading a big book I'm working on, the idea of an e-reader popped into my head and it's like, why didn't I think of this before? I'd just put e-readers out of my head until now.
I realise I'm looking to buy one during a very interesting week for e-readers and their prices, so I guess I feel lucky, if I end up going with one of those.
First off, for me, price is a factor. I'm not looking to spend any more than around $250, but the less the better.
I have pretty good eyesight and I don't think I will need anything special when it comes to fonts or sizes or even turning the view to landscape or anything.
I've pretty much settled on getting a 6" unless one in another size is just extra-good.
One feature I would LOVE since I've noticed some have it, is a touchscreen that could convert handwriting to text so I can take notes with handwriting. Even separate from e-readers, I've actually considered getting a little device that I could jot notes and things on like that before, even though I don't know if one exists. Like to-do lists and stuff, that I wouldn't have to type but I wouldn't have to worry about pages of paper, because I'm always jotting things down. So, when I randomly saw that some e-readers have this capability, I got very excited. BUT, unfortunately, I think most of those are expensive and out of my price range.
Besides that and if I can't have that, a touch screen is not so important to me. Since I know many have this function, I would like one that I can somehow type on though, whether it be touchscreen or a little keyboard like the Kindle.
I also take notes and highlight a lot when I'm reading, so I would love one where I can take notes, highlight, and save certain passages to easily pull up.
Battery life I don't care about so long as it lasts at least a few days between charges. Nor do I care about space. LOL, I'm fine with it holding just 100 or 200 books....if I ever need more than that, I could always just store some on my computer or something.
I need a good selection of books too. I don't understand all these different file formats at all that I've seen in the reviews. What I've basically gotten is that Kindle you really mostly should buy e-books from the Amazon website, nook you should buy e-books from the Barnes & Noble website and the Neo supports most any format. I don't know how important this would be to me. I read a lot of classics that I guess should be in public domain (?), so I would need a way I could easily put those on my e-reader for free and not have to buy them. I also have very varied tastes so I'd like an e-reader where my selections would be large and not limited to a specific website.
One question I have - I sometimes read graphic novels and I guess I'm just out luck on those? Because they're in colour.
I definitely want one with some type of wireless connection. I know there's Wifi, 3G and Whispernet(?). I'm not even sure the differences between them; I just want one that I can semi-easily go online and download books from.
Oh, and definitely a dictionary in the e-reader is imporant. I'm always looking up words while reading and it would be SO MUCH easier to just quickly press a button or two to get a definition than lugging up a physical dictionary.
Text to speech sounds cool but I don't think I'd use it too much, though I'd probably try it out while driving just to see. But I've never listened to an audio book and probably won't start now. Also, mp3 sounds cool but I have a nano and don't really need that on my e-book I don't think. Games and random stuff like that sound cool but also aren't necessary.
From the other site, I was kind of thinking the Neo might be my best choice, just to keep from being locked into the B&N or Amazon e-book sites and having more options, and the stylus. But then I come here and get completely confused again!
Not only are there more e-readers than that site had reviewed, I find even the Neo is like a version of something called boox or something. And I'm still considering Kindle or nook, and would consider something completely different if it had what I want.
That's about it. Sorry for my lengthy post! To sum up, here's what I'm most looking for:
-under $250
-somehow able to type, take notes, highlight and save passages
-free wireless internet connectivity to download books
-good varied book selection
-dictionary inside
But also:
-if I could also happen to get one that converts handwriting to text in my price range, I think I'd be in love
Thanks in advance for any and all advice!
