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Jack Tingle · 06-26-2010, 07:03 PM

Well, I've finally gotten a chance to handle all of the major readers.

1) Sony 300. I kind of like it. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't appear to read html native. That's something of a deal breaker for me. I assume its big sisters are similar.
2) Nook. (See "Holy Cow--Literally") Short version: It's heavier and with poorer balance than expected. I didn't like the secondary screen or the mechanics of the user interface. I could probably get used to it.
3) Kindle. Now available at Target. Lighter and handier than the Nook. Still kind of big, but not as awkward. The new lower price is tempting, and the Amazon business model (I want it fast, I want it hot, and I want it now!) is brilliant.
4) iPad. Very nice, very Apple. I couldn't figure out how to do a lot of stuff. Since I started using computers on an Olivetti-Underwood Programmo 101 in 1971, I probably shouldn't have to work so hard. Apple and I don't get along. Still, very nice. Maybe the HP/WebOS version, when it comes along.
5) jetBook. I bought one, and have only a small amount of buyers remorse, decreasing rapidly since Ectaco finally got DRM ePub support into the jetBook as well as the jBL. Like the Sony 300, it's handy. It's still the cheapest option. The LCD screen is excellent in a wide range of lighting conditions, and it doesn't flash. OTOH, it is a bare bones reader for everything but ePub and PDF. On the gripping hand, it will read pretty much *everything*. Just don't expect frills in the non-ADE formats, like hyperlinks, or working tables of content.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

06-26-2010, 07:03 PM	#1
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	Impressions of the Major Devices Well, I've finally gotten a chance to handle all of the major readers. 1) Sony 300. I kind of like it. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't appear to read html native. That's something of a deal breaker for me. I assume its big sisters are similar. 2) Nook. (See "Holy Cow--Literally") Short version: It's heavier and with poorer balance than expected. I didn't like the secondary screen or the mechanics of the user interface. I could probably get used to it. 3) Kindle. Now available at Target. Lighter and handier than the Nook. Still kind of big, but not as awkward. The new lower price is tempting, and the Amazon business model (I want it fast, I want it hot, and I want it now!) is brilliant. 4) iPad. Very nice, very Apple. I couldn't figure out how to do a lot of stuff. Since I started using computers on an Olivetti-Underwood Programmo 101 in 1971, I probably shouldn't have to work so hard. Apple and I don't get along. Still, very nice. Maybe the HP/WebOS version, when it comes along. 5) jetBook. I bought one, and have only a small amount of buyers remorse, decreasing rapidly since Ectaco finally got DRM ePub support into the jetBook as well as the jBL. Like the Sony 300, it's handy. It's still the cheapest option. The LCD screen is excellent in a wide range of lighting conditions, and it doesn't flash. OTOH, it is a bare bones reader for everything but ePub and PDF. On the gripping hand, it will read pretty much everything. Just don't expect frills in the non-ADE formats, like hyperlinks, or working tables of content. Regards, Jack Tingle