Ereaders In Asia

Mortis · 12-02-2010, 08:59 AM

I'm living in Malaysia and books here are a little like hens teeth, so I started reading ebooks (iphone / iPad and Mac), I had Amazon for a few hours, until I downloaded a free book, then I was sent an email reading me the riot act. So I of course deleted it, no really I did delete it. I currently have Kobo on the iPhone, and since I am from Canada and still have an address available there I "Think" I should be ok to d/l books from them, they let me d/l a few free books. I also have iBooks and have read a few of the free books, to be honest, I don't like reading with an LCD, it makes my eyes hurt after only a short time, 2 maybe 3 hours, not to mention I work on my computer all the time.

Enough background, what I really want to know is if the e-ink screens are really that much better for reading than the LCD? Ok up front let me say that I haven't really looked in the shops here for a reader other than the closest Borders, which doesn't sell any type of reader and I have only ever seen a Kindle. I am going to look in a day or so and I have pretty much narrowed down what I would like to the Kobo, (I only need/want a reader and wifi should be enough, I think) or a Sony pocket reader, I don't know if either is available here yet, probably not. I do know there are some interesting "Copies".

I know some people have Kindles here, which was my first choice, until I saw the street price, almost double the US price with the shipping.

Anyway thanks in advance.

PS. if there is anyone on the forum from Malaysia and have first hand knowledge, I would really like to pick your brain for a few minutes.

Stitchawl · 12-02-2010, 09:04 AM

I've been using the Sony 505 while living in Japan, but traveling several months a year in Malaysia, S'pore, and Thailand. No problems for me.

Stitchawl

tofubean · 12-02-2010, 07:10 PM

If it's the kindle or any other ebook reader you're considering, why not use a forwarder like comgateway or borderlinx to buy it. You only have to pay the original price and shipping fee. Probably won't cost more than the street price you see.

Mortis · 12-02-2010, 11:53 PM

Thanks Tofubean and Stitchawl

I did some more online research, and it turns out there are a lot of Kindle users here in Malaysia, but as I said before they were willing to pay as much as 3 times the Amazon price. I haven't found anyone that sells the SONY's but someone did tell me they have one so it looks like my initial thought that I wouldn't have many choices may have been wrong, I was probably asking the wrong people, guess the Rugby Association was the wrong group, should have been looking for the Hockey Association.

As for getting the hardware, that isn't my concern, really, I have family in Canada so I could always have them send it to me, my main concern was content, legal content, there is plenty of "Evaluation" software in Asia.

Again thanks for the comments.

tofubean · 12-03-2010, 12:58 AM

Not very sure what you mean by evaluation software, but it should be not a problem to buy ebooks in Asia, especially since you can always register the product and give proof of citizenship if Sony/Kobo/Amazon ask for it. Your best bet is to contact their customer service and ask them if you're allowed to purchase ebooks in Malaysia when you're from Canada.

You can also use vpn to mask ip address before buying ebooks. Or you can buy ebooks from stores that do not place geographical restrictions like that. Other than that, i do not know how else you can get legal ebooks in Asia since there's none.

Mortis · 12-03-2010, 03:02 AM

Tofubean thanks again for the information.

Amazon was very straight forward, they said I could not get their ebooks here, I think it is actually a MY Gov. thing and not exclusively Amazon.

Kobo store seems like it is the only simple direct way, from what someone else told me, they have had no issues getting ebooks that way. This is still an issue with MY Gov. , but available.

When I referred to "Evaluation" Software I was making a joke about the pirated software here, not suggesting that that was the way I was trying to get it, I know that is available, I'm looking for the legal solution. Which seems to be Kobo or the more grey area from Amazon.com

I guess when I'm in Canada I can always pick up a Kobo, and there is still the Sony's to look at.

Cheers

12-02-2010, 08:59 AM	#1
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	Ereaders In Asia I'm living in Malaysia and books here are a little like hens teeth, so I started reading ebooks (iphone / iPad and Mac), I had Amazon for a few hours, until I downloaded a free book, then I was sent an email reading me the riot act. So I of course deleted it, no really I did delete it. I currently have Kobo on the iPhone, and since I am from Canada and still have an address available there I "Think" I should be ok to d/l books from them, they let me d/l a few free books. I also have iBooks and have read a few of the free books, to be honest, I don't like reading with an LCD, it makes my eyes hurt after only a short time, 2 maybe 3 hours, not to mention I work on my computer all the time. Enough background, what I really want to know is if the e-ink screens are really that much better for reading than the LCD? Ok up front let me say that I haven't really looked in the shops here for a reader other than the closest Borders, which doesn't sell any type of reader and I have only ever seen a Kindle. I am going to look in a day or so and I have pretty much narrowed down what I would like to the Kobo, (I only need/want a reader and wifi should be enough, I think) or a Sony pocket reader, I don't know if either is available here yet, probably not. I do know there are some interesting "Copies". I know some people have Kindles here, which was my first choice, until I saw the street price, almost double the US price with the shipping. Anyway thanks in advance. PS. if there is anyone on the forum from Malaysia and have first hand knowledge, I would really like to pick your brain for a few minutes. Last edited by Mortis; 12-02-2010 at 04:24 PM. Reason: Forgot something

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12-02-2010, 09:04 AM	#2
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	I've been using the Sony 505 while living in Japan, but traveling several months a year in Malaysia, S'pore, and Thailand. No problems for me. Stitchawl

12-02-2010, 07:10 PM	#3
tofubean Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 64 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: K3, iPad, PW	If it's the kindle or any other ebook reader you're considering, why not use a forwarder like comgateway or borderlinx to buy it. You only have to pay the original price and shipping fee. Probably won't cost more than the street price you see.

12-02-2010, 11:53 PM	#4
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	Thanks Tofubean and Stitchawl I did some more online research, and it turns out there are a lot of Kindle users here in Malaysia, but as I said before they were willing to pay as much as 3 times the Amazon price. I haven't found anyone that sells the SONY's but someone did tell me they have one so it looks like my initial thought that I wouldn't have many choices may have been wrong, I was probably asking the wrong people, guess the Rugby Association was the wrong group, should have been looking for the Hockey Association. As for getting the hardware, that isn't my concern, really, I have family in Canada so I could always have them send it to me, my main concern was content, legal content, there is plenty of "Evaluation" software in Asia. Again thanks for the comments.

12-03-2010, 12:58 AM	#5
tofubean Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 64 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: K3, iPad, PW	Not very sure what you mean by evaluation software, but it should be not a problem to buy ebooks in Asia, especially since you can always register the product and give proof of citizenship if Sony/Kobo/Amazon ask for it. Your best bet is to contact their customer service and ask them if you're allowed to purchase ebooks in Malaysia when you're from Canada. You can also use vpn to mask ip address before buying ebooks. Or you can buy ebooks from stores that do not place geographical restrictions like that. Other than that, i do not know how else you can get legal ebooks in Asia since there's none.

12-03-2010, 03:02 AM	#6
Mortis Canucklehead in Malaysia Posts: 1,633 Karma: 3127774 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Device: iPhone, Kindle	Tofubean thanks again for the information. Amazon was very straight forward, they said I could not get their ebooks here, I think it is actually a MY Gov. thing and not exclusively Amazon. Kobo store seems like it is the only simple direct way, from what someone else told me, they have had no issues getting ebooks that way. This is still an issue with MY Gov. , but available. When I referred to "Evaluation" Software I was making a joke about the pirated software here, not suggesting that that was the way I was trying to get it, I know that is available, I'm looking for the legal solution. Which seems to be Kobo or the more grey area from Amazon.com I guess when I'm in Canada I can always pick up a Kobo, and there is still the Sony's to look at. Cheers

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