What E-Book Reader is best in the UK?

carl_wallace1 · 12-19-2011, 08:17 PM

Hi I'm currently looking to buy my Mum an E-Book reader, I live in the UK and the main option appears to be the Kindle but that seems to just be because of a strong advertising campaign.

In your opinions what is the best reader available in the UK for accessible book formats and ease of use.

Thanks
Carl

thebestjeter · 12-19-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

In your opinions what is the best reader available in the UK for accessible book formats and ease of use.

The Kindle!

Rizla · 12-19-2011, 08:57 PM

The Sony T1. The KT doesn't even have a landscape mode or buttons...

thebestjeter · 12-19-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

The Sony T1. The KT doesn't even have a landscape mode or buttons...

We are not talking the KT here, but the Kindle non-touch, because the KT is only sold within USA.

ProfCrash · 12-19-2011, 10:18 PM

Yet. I would guess that the KT will make its way to the international market late Januaryish.

That is a pure guess though.

The Kindle and the Sony are both good devices. If your Mom is a but put off by using computers and the like, the Kindle is probably best. Amazons book store is huge and it is easy to buy books from the device itself. You can drag and drop with the Kindle as well but many folks find the ease of shopping at the Amazon store means that they don't shop too many other places. She would use this to move books from free sites like Mobile Read and Guttenberg to her device.

If you Mom is comfortable using computers that Sony is a nice device. She can shop from a variety of stores and move books to the Sony by dragging and dropping.

If your Mom is going to want to read with a larger font size she might find that she likes using landscape, my experience is that I can get more words in per line at a larger font and I like that, but then she would want the Sony.

soulfuldog · 12-20-2011, 12:19 PM

I reckon the Kindle (£89), the Kobo Touch (£99) and the Sony PRS-T1 (£129) are all going to be pretty similar when it comes to ease of use. Though what ProfCash has posted is true, shopping at Amazon is probably the easiest way for someone not too comfortable with computers. Though really, it's going to be pretty easy with any of them.

Where is your Mum likely to want to buy her books from? I chose a Kindle because I already used Amazon regularly, and that made them the easiest option for me, even if some people think it's a drawback to be "locked-in" to buying from Amazon. However, if you have a preference to avoid Amazon and shop elsewhere (WH Smith, Waterstones etc) or would prefer to use epub format, go for either the Kobo or the Sony.

Is your Mum likely to want to borrow library books? If so, it's got to be either the Kobo or the Sony. UK libraries only have epub books, and although you can use Calibre to convert them for the Kindle, it totally rules out the ease of use.

Rizla · 12-20-2011, 12:56 PM

The T1 is far superior to the K4 and the KT. The Kindles are aimed at the low end of the market (i.e. cheap). Notably, the T1 screen is superior to the new Kindle screens, but it's not a huge difference. Whatever e-reader you get, I suggest you get a book-light or a lighted cover. It makes a huge difference to readability of the screen.

The K4 is okay as a basic reader and if you have wifi internet it is very easy buy books on. As such, it might be the best device for your mum, depending on her needs. It is not touch and has no keyboard, so the interface is limited but should be okay if all she wants to do is buy and read books.

I wouldn't touch the KT. The T1 beats it hands down.

howyoudoin · 12-20-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

The T1 is far superior to the K4 and the KT. The Kindles are aimed at the low end of the market (i.e. cheap). Notably, the T1 screen is superior to the new Kindle screens, but it's not a huge difference. Whatever e-reader you get, I suggest you get a book-light or a lighted cover. It makes a huge difference to readability of the screen.

The K4 is okay as a basic reader and if you have wifi internet it is very easy buy books on. As such, it might be the best device for your mum, depending on her needs. It is not touch and has no keyboard, so the interface is limited but should be okay if all she wants to do is buy and read books.

I wouldn't touch the KT. The T1 beats it hands down.

This is a highly mis-informative and possibly biased post.

ProfCrash · 12-20-2011, 01:05 PM

The T1 has the same screen as the KT and the K4 and the Kindle Keyboard. All Kindles are perfectly sturdy and fine to use. The recommendation for using a cover is a good one no matter what device you get.

thebestjeter · 12-20-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

The T1 is far superior to the K4 and the KT. The Kindles are aimed at the low end of the market (i.e. cheap). Notably, the T1 screen is superior to the new Kindle screens, but it's not a huge difference. Whatever e-reader you get, I suggest you get a book-light or a lighted cover. It makes a huge difference to readability of the screen.

The K4 is okay as a basic reader and if you have wifi internet it is very easy buy books on. As such, it might be the best device for your mum, depending on her needs. It is not touch and has no keyboard, so the interface is limited but should be okay if all she wants to do is buy and read books.

I wouldn't touch the KT. The T1 beats it hands down.

The Kindle Touch costs the same as the T1 in USA. Are you talking about low-end market?

Several reviews have pointed out that Kindles (touch and non-touch) have
a better build quality than the Sony T1.

Here are people saying that the Kindle Touch has better screen than the T1 or at least a better rendering software. I have to say that the T1 has a reported bug with italic fonts, still unfixed.

HarryT · 12-20-2011, 01:14 PM

Another vote for the Kindle from me. What Amazon are selling you is not just the reader, but the whole book-buying "infrastructure". Amazon have by far the largest eBookstore, and generally the best prices, too. You really can't go wrong with a Kindle.

Rizla · 12-20-2011, 01:32 PM

Of course, the other danger in buying a Kindle is that your mother will become a foaming-at-the-mouth fan-boy zealot

howyoudoin · 12-20-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

Of course, the other danger in buying a Kindle is that your mother will become a foaming-at-the-mouth fan-boy zealot

for exposing your true agenda.

Rizla · 12-20-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl_wallace1

In your opinions what is the best reader available in the UK for accessible book formats and ease of use.

Re: accessible book formats, the Kindle does not support the global open-source format epub which is popular with all other e-readers. Amazon does this to lock you into their purchasing environment. So if you want to utilize the huge-range of free content available on the internet, you will have to learn to convert it into the amazon proprietary format in order to read it. This is not difficult (you use a free program called Calibre) but may not be possible for you mum. You will probably have to do stuff like that for her, but if you do want to get the free stuff, you will probably have to help your mum to some extent no matter the e-reader you choose. Of course, your mum might be a computer guru

Rizla · 12-20-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

for exposing your true agenda.

Lmao.

12-19-2011, 08:17 PM	#1
carl_wallace1 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle	What E-Book Reader is best in the UK? Hi I'm currently looking to buy my Mum an E-Book reader, I live in the UK and the main option appears to be the Kindle but that seems to just be because of a strong advertising campaign. In your opinions what is the best reader available in the UK for accessible book formats and ease of use. Thanks Carl

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12-19-2011, 08:57 PM	#3
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	The Sony T1. The KT doesn't even have a landscape mode or buttons...

12-19-2011, 10:18 PM	#5
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Yet. I would guess that the KT will make its way to the international market late Januaryish. That is a pure guess though. The Kindle and the Sony are both good devices. If your Mom is a but put off by using computers and the like, the Kindle is probably best. Amazons book store is huge and it is easy to buy books from the device itself. You can drag and drop with the Kindle as well but many folks find the ease of shopping at the Amazon store means that they don't shop too many other places. She would use this to move books from free sites like Mobile Read and Guttenberg to her device. If you Mom is comfortable using computers that Sony is a nice device. She can shop from a variety of stores and move books to the Sony by dragging and dropping. If your Mom is going to want to read with a larger font size she might find that she likes using landscape, my experience is that I can get more words in per line at a larger font and I like that, but then she would want the Sony.

12-20-2011, 12:19 PM	#6
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	I reckon the Kindle (£89), the Kobo Touch (£99) and the Sony PRS-T1 (£129) are all going to be pretty similar when it comes to ease of use. Though what ProfCash has posted is true, shopping at Amazon is probably the easiest way for someone not too comfortable with computers. Though really, it's going to be pretty easy with any of them. Where is your Mum likely to want to buy her books from? I chose a Kindle because I already used Amazon regularly, and that made them the easiest option for me, even if some people think it's a drawback to be "locked-in" to buying from Amazon. However, if you have a preference to avoid Amazon and shop elsewhere (WH Smith, Waterstones etc) or would prefer to use epub format, go for either the Kobo or the Sony. Is your Mum likely to want to borrow library books? If so, it's got to be either the Kobo or the Sony. UK libraries only have epub books, and although you can use Calibre to convert them for the Kindle, it totally rules out the ease of use.

12-20-2011, 12:56 PM	#7
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	The T1 is far superior to the K4 and the KT. The Kindles are aimed at the low end of the market (i.e. cheap). Notably, the T1 screen is superior to the new Kindle screens, but it's not a huge difference. Whatever e-reader you get, I suggest you get a book-light or a lighted cover. It makes a huge difference to readability of the screen. The K4 is okay as a basic reader and if you have wifi internet it is very easy buy books on. As such, it might be the best device for your mum, depending on her needs. It is not touch and has no keyboard, so the interface is limited but should be okay if all she wants to do is buy and read books. I wouldn't touch the KT. The T1 beats it hands down.

12-20-2011, 01:05 PM	#9
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	The T1 has the same screen as the KT and the K4 and the Kindle Keyboard. All Kindles are perfectly sturdy and fine to use. The recommendation for using a cover is a good one no matter what device you get.

12-20-2011, 01:14 PM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Another vote for the Kindle from me. What Amazon are selling you is not just the reader, but the whole book-buying "infrastructure". Amazon have by far the largest eBookstore, and generally the best prices, too. You really can't go wrong with a Kindle.

12-20-2011, 01:32 PM	#12
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	Of course, the other danger in buying a Kindle is that your mother will become a foaming-at-the-mouth fan-boy zealot

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