manga ebook reader for 200 USD or less?

sunfizz98 · 08-06-2011, 09:00 PM

I've been combing the forums for a good manga ebook reader and I'm just getting more frazzled than when I initially checked the forums. My primary purpose for the ebook reader is to read manga (which is mostly black and white). My upper limit is 200 dollars. I've read that bigger is usually better for comics, hence the general favorite for ipad. At the moment, I am open to both e-ink readers and LCD tablets. I will most likely try and find a good deal on craigslist or whatever online retailer available.

If it's an android tablet, my main concern might be heat output, battery life, and ability to be rooted.

I've read about the nook color, jetbook, kindle, pocketbook, etc and couldn't rule out any of them.

TedJ · 08-06-2011, 10:51 PM

My experience is that for comics, like PDFs, you need good options for zoom and pan... something that eInk doesn't handle all that gracefully. For your $200 budget, I'd be leaning towards a refurbished Nook Color, which is easily rooted. As for a good Android comic viewer, I've heard nothing but praise for Mango.

curtw · 08-07-2011, 08:48 PM

It breaks your budget (but only by a little)--there's*one* used second-gen Kindle DX for sale on Amazon.com (US site) for $225. there's your big screen!

I've done the zoom and pan on a Literati (slightly bigger than a 6-inch screen), and it gets old after just one comic.

ilovejedd · 08-10-2011, 01:41 PM

I use both a Nook Color and iPad 2 for reading manga. I have CM7 installed on a Sandisk 16GB microSDHC on the Nook Color and use the Perfect Viewer app which is pretty decent. On the iPad 2, I use Comic Glass as my manga reader. Both can read rar, zip, cbz and cbr files just fine - no need to convert or extract. Both also have options for right-to-left reading and splitting double-page spreads.

Between these two apps, I prefer Comic Glass over Perfect Viewer. However, I do find the smaller size of the NC make it much more comfortable to use for long periods of time compared to the iPad. I actually find text to be crisper on the NC compared to the iPad, likely owing to higher pixel density. Alas, the iPad has much longer battery life compared to the NC. Still, battery life on the NC is pretty decent. I get around 4~6 hours of reading time on a single charge. It just so happens the iPad has crazy good battery life for a tablet (more than 10 hours).

sunfizz98 · 08-10-2011, 08:41 PM

What are people's opinions on 7" tablets? I see a lot of them between 100-200 USD on amazon.

ilovejedd · 08-11-2011, 10:11 AM

I actually find that screen size isn't as important as screen resolution. Definitely want something with 1024x768 resolution or thereabouts. Getting something with much lower resolution than that can be detrimental to readability. Just make sure you read the reviews for any gotchas particularly battery life, screen sensitivity, overheating, etc. Also need to make note of the weight, thickness, etc. Too heavy or too bulky and it's not going to be particularly comfy to use.

itsmattxp · 08-12-2011, 08:07 PM

I've been using an original nook for all my manga reading. I was thinking to switching to either the Samsung Galaxy or Ipad for my manga and comic reading. The Nook 7" seems to be almost the same size as a regular manga book. I really like it a lot and the only reason why I would update is for the bigger screen to read more wordy manga for example Case Closed.

08-06-2011, 09:00 PM	#1
sunfizz98 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: none	manga ebook reader for 200 USD or less? I've been combing the forums for a good manga ebook reader and I'm just getting more frazzled than when I initially checked the forums. My primary purpose for the ebook reader is to read manga (which is mostly black and white). My upper limit is 200 dollars. I've read that bigger is usually better for comics, hence the general favorite for ipad. At the moment, I am open to both e-ink readers and LCD tablets. I will most likely try and find a good deal on craigslist or whatever online retailer available. If it's an android tablet, my main concern might be heat output, battery life, and ability to be rooted. I've read about the nook color, jetbook, kindle, pocketbook, etc and couldn't rule out any of them. Last edited by sunfizz98; 08-06-2011 at 09:04 PM.

08-10-2011, 01:41 PM	#4
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I use both a Nook Color and iPad 2 for reading manga. I have CM7 installed on a Sandisk 16GB microSDHC on the Nook Color and use the Perfect Viewer app which is pretty decent. On the iPad 2, I use Comic Glass as my manga reader. Both can read rar, zip, cbz and cbr files just fine - no need to convert or extract. Both also have options for right-to-left reading and splitting double-page spreads. Between these two apps, I prefer Comic Glass over Perfect Viewer. However, I do find the smaller size of the NC make it much more comfortable to use for long periods of time compared to the iPad. I actually find text to be crisper on the NC compared to the iPad, likely owing to higher pixel density. Alas, the iPad has much longer battery life compared to the NC. Still, battery life on the NC is pretty decent. I get around 4~6 hours of reading time on a single charge. It just so happens the iPad has crazy good battery life for a tablet (more than 10 hours). Last edited by ilovejedd; 08-10-2011 at 01:44 PM.

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08-06-2011, 10:51 PM	#2
TedJ Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 86778 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: Kobo Touch	My experience is that for comics, like PDFs, you need good options for zoom and pan... something that eInk doesn't handle all that gracefully. For your $200 budget, I'd be leaning towards a refurbished Nook Color, which is easily rooted. As for a good Android comic viewer, I've heard nothing but praise for Mango.

08-07-2011, 08:48 PM	#3
curtw Outside of a dog Posts: 871 Karma: 4457646 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Device: Kindle Voyage	It breaks your budget (but only by a little)--there'sone used second-gen Kindle DX for sale on Amazon.com (US site) for $225. there's your big screen! I've done the zoom and pan on a Literati (slightly bigger than a 6-inch screen), and it gets old after just one comic.

08-10-2011, 08:41 PM	#5
sunfizz98 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: none	What are people's opinions on 7" tablets? I see a lot of them between 100-200 USD on amazon.

08-11-2011, 10:11 AM	#6
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	I actually find that screen size isn't as important as screen resolution. Definitely want something with 1024x768 resolution or thereabouts. Getting something with much lower resolution than that can be detrimental to readability. Just make sure you read the reviews for any gotchas particularly battery life, screen sensitivity, overheating, etc. Also need to make note of the weight, thickness, etc. Too heavy or too bulky and it's not going to be particularly comfy to use.

08-12-2011, 08:07 PM	#7
itsmattxp Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook	I've been using an original nook for all my manga reading. I was thinking to switching to either the Samsung Galaxy or Ipad for my manga and comic reading. The Nook 7" seems to be almost the same size as a regular manga book. I really like it a lot and the only reason why I would update is for the bigger screen to read more wordy manga for example Case Closed.

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