Good first E-Reader?

Dieter91 · 08-06-2014, 05:09 PM

Hey guys

I'm planning on getting an E-Reader (my first one). And i'm willing to spend like 100 euros (or dollars pretty much the same) on it. But i am so overwhelmed by all the different ereaders out there i don't know which one to pick...

Can you suggest me some that are good at the moment for this price?
Would be so helpful!

Thank you

eschwartz · 08-06-2014, 05:20 PM

Depends on what you want out of it.

Do you have any ebooks yet? If so, where do you usually get them?
Do you anticipate checking out library ebooks?
Do you want to customize the way books are shown? Change fonts, sizes, line spacing, etc. lots of other stuff...
Do you want a frontlight, for reading at night? Or are you OK without a light?

There are all kinds of different considerations to take into account, which may give us a better idea of what device is the right fit for you.

Mivo · 08-06-2014, 05:27 PM

In Europe, the Kobo Aura (non-HD) is now €99 after a recent price reduction. I love it to bits and it is my favorite e-ink reader. Good screen, front light (much better than on my other readers, and it can also be turned off), very light, bezel and screen are on an even level, 4 GB on board (that's about 4000 books with covers), extensible with MicroSD, good battery life, not tied to a vendor, allows side-loading out of the box.

If you want an epub reader for €100 or less, the Aura would absolutely be my choice. If you plan to buy your e-books chiefly from Amazon, getting a Kindle Paperwhite would be more convenient. (I think it costs a bit more, though.)

Dieter91 · 08-06-2014, 05:30 PM

Sorry, i indeed wasn't really clear on what i want.

No, i don't have any ebooks yet. Does it really matters where i buy them? I normally buy my books from www.bol.com so i guess that is where i'll be buying my ebooks from too. I don't really know about the costomizing, i mostly haven't a hard time reading anything so i guess it doesn't really matter. I mostly read at night so a tablet that gives light is a must for me.

As for what i read, mostly just normal books. Fantasy, Thriller and all that stuff. It would be cool if i could read some manga on it, but it isn't a must.

I hope you have an idea of what i want now, haha

Thanks for your time!

Edit:

Hey Mivo

Since you mention you have a couple of ereaders, I am wondering about the lifespan of these devices?

Mivo · 08-06-2014, 05:37 PM

Yep, BOL uses epub (as do pretty much all vendors other than Amazon, though you can convert books to other formats), so you ideally want an epub reader. As mentioned, I feel that the Kobo Aura for €99 has no competition in that price segment. I feel it is under-priced.

Manga, and anything else in PDF format, you can pretty much forget on any e-ink reader. It works, but it is slow and sluggish, and just not much fun. For PDFs, you'd want an iOS or Android tablet (Nexus 7 would be the cheapest quality option here, but that starts at €220 or so). For reading books, an e-ink reader is nicer.

Dieter91 · 08-06-2014, 05:42 PM

Oh, ok thanks. I feel like it would be tiring on the eyes using a tablet to read.

The Aura does indeed seem like a nice device, however i can't seem to find it anywhere for €99. Most places sell it for €150, cheapest i've found is €111. So where did you find it for €99?

Thanks

Mivo · 08-06-2014, 05:53 PM

I bought it from Saturn in Germany (via ebay from their Bremen store), and that seems to be the standard price in all Saturn outlets. Which country are you in?

As for the life-span of e-readers: My Glo died because I laid down on it (well, jumped on it, is more accurate), but they are normally fairly robust. I only had one give up its ghost "naturally", and that was the Imco. It only lasted six months and my whole experience with the device and the company was not brilliant. The others are fine.

People here seem to be using their e-ink readers for many years, so they are not particularly prone to dying on you. They also age fairly well: unless you start collecting them (they are very collectible!), you can use it for years and will not really feel a strong urge to upgrade. New models usually only have a few minor changes. The biggest upgrade was the front light feature, but all other changes over the years have been somewhat minor (it's not like with phones or laptops where you feel your stuff is outdated after a year).

I agree that reading on a LCD tablet is not as enjoyable. I tried using my Nexus 7 for reading, and while it is "all right" for a book or two, it causes more eye strain for me. I also get more distracted (checking email, checking forums, etc.) since it's such a general purpose device. I noticed it keeps me awake, whereas reading on an e-ink device allows me to sleep better after reading (a few people reported the same, so it's not only me, but I don't know how widespread that is).

Dieter91 · 08-06-2014, 06:11 PM

I'm from Belgium (Close to the German border). I've checked Saturn and seems like the price there is 139? Maybe you bought it at a discount? Haha

http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/KOB...html?langId=-3

Oh, and i think there was a study done on that, if you use your phone before you go to sleep, you have a harder time falling asleep. So could be possible. :P

Mivo · 08-06-2014, 06:30 PM

Are you looking at the "normal" Aura models? There is an "Aura HD" model, which is older and slightly larger (6.8" instead of 6"), and I feel it is inferior than the newer, "normal" Aura.

Hmm, no, I checked the link and it is the normal Aura. Odd!

Okay, I checked, and it seems they raised the praise by €5 since last week: here. (It has free shipping in Germany, the one I bought cost €4.99 for shipping, so effectively €5 difference.) You could try and call up a Saturn near you and tell them about the eBay price; perhaps they will match it.) They don't ship to Belgium, though.

Comtech also sell them for €99, see here.

The information about the price reduction to €99 was announced here (German text only).

edit: If you can get it locally for €111, I think that is still a fantastic price, by the way. I would have paid more for it and not regretted it. The epub alternatives in the same price group, like the Shine, are noticeably worse (issues with uneven frontlight, less memory, etc.).

Dieter91 · 08-06-2014, 07:19 PM

Thank you for all the help!

I'll buy one tomorrow, 111 is indeed still a good price.

Chi Cygni · 08-07-2014, 04:32 PM

I'm in Belgium too. Pity, this shop http://www.ereaderstore.be/ had kobo aura all july for 115€ with free delivery. You can also check fnac.be and pixmania.be for prices.

jbcohen · 08-12-2014, 07:52 AM

For us here in the U.S. that equals $148.13.

AcidWeb · 08-12-2014, 01:34 PM

@Manga - There are two devices worth mentioning as manga readers.

- Kindle Paperwhite
- Kobo Aura HD

In both cases additional conversion is needed to optimize this type of content to e-ink screen.

Dieter91 · 08-13-2014, 09:11 PM

I've bought the Kobo aura and i'm very happy with it. Thanks for the help everyone!

killer007 · 08-14-2014, 08:51 PM

how come no one mention about Kobo Touch?

is it because its too old?
I saw it on sale now, but not sure if i should pull the trigger

Aura its greater than Touch in many ways?
I don't need the light cuz I have light on my table

08-06-2014, 05:09 PM	#1
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	Good first E-Reader? Hey guys I'm planning on getting an E-Reader (my first one). And i'm willing to spend like 100 euros (or dollars pretty much the same) on it. But i am so overwhelmed by all the different ereaders out there i don't know which one to pick... Can you suggest me some that are good at the moment for this price? Would be so helpful! Thank you

08-06-2014, 05:20 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Depends on what you want out of it. Do you have any ebooks yet? If so, where do you usually get them? Do you anticipate checking out library ebooks? Do you want to customize the way books are shown? Change fonts, sizes, line spacing, etc. lots of other stuff... Do you want a frontlight, for reading at night? Or are you OK without a light? There are all kinds of different considerations to take into account, which may give us a better idea of what device is the right fit for you. Last edited by eschwartz; 08-06-2014 at 05:23 PM.

08-06-2014, 05:30 PM	#4
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	Sorry, i indeed wasn't really clear on what i want. No, i don't have any ebooks yet. Does it really matters where i buy them? I normally buy my books from www.bol.com so i guess that is where i'll be buying my ebooks from too. I don't really know about the costomizing, i mostly haven't a hard time reading anything so i guess it doesn't really matter. I mostly read at night so a tablet that gives light is a must for me. As for what i read, mostly just normal books. Fantasy, Thriller and all that stuff. It would be cool if i could read some manga on it, but it isn't a must. I hope you have an idea of what i want now, haha Thanks for your time! Edit: Hey Mivo Since you mention you have a couple of ereaders, I am wondering about the lifespan of these devices? Last edited by Dieter91; 08-06-2014 at 05:35 PM.

08-06-2014, 06:30 PM	#9
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	Are you looking at the "normal" Aura models? There is an "Aura HD" model, which is older and slightly larger (6.8" instead of 6"), and I feel it is inferior than the newer, "normal" Aura. Hmm, no, I checked the link and it is the normal Aura. Odd! Okay, I checked, and it seems they raised the praise by €5 since last week: here. (It has free shipping in Germany, the one I bought cost €4.99 for shipping, so effectively €5 difference.) You could try and call up a Saturn near you and tell them about the eBay price; perhaps they will match it.) They don't ship to Belgium, though. Comtech also sell them for €99, see here. The information about the price reduction to €99 was announced here (German text only). edit: If you can get it locally for €111, I think that is still a fantastic price, by the way. I would have paid more for it and not regretted it. The epub alternatives in the same price group, like the Shine, are noticeably worse (issues with uneven frontlight, less memory, etc.). Last edited by Mivo; 08-06-2014 at 06:44 PM.

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08-06-2014, 05:27 PM	#3
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	In Europe, the Kobo Aura (non-HD) is now €99 after a recent price reduction. I love it to bits and it is my favorite e-ink reader. Good screen, front light (much better than on my other readers, and it can also be turned off), very light, bezel and screen are on an even level, 4 GB on board (that's about 4000 books with covers), extensible with MicroSD, good battery life, not tied to a vendor, allows side-loading out of the box. If you want an epub reader for €100 or less, the Aura would absolutely be my choice. If you plan to buy your e-books chiefly from Amazon, getting a Kindle Paperwhite would be more convenient. (I think it costs a bit more, though.)

08-06-2014, 05:37 PM	#5
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	Yep, BOL uses epub (as do pretty much all vendors other than Amazon, though you can convert books to other formats), so you ideally want an epub reader. As mentioned, I feel that the Kobo Aura for €99 has no competition in that price segment. I feel it is under-priced. Manga, and anything else in PDF format, you can pretty much forget on any e-ink reader. It works, but it is slow and sluggish, and just not much fun. For PDFs, you'd want an iOS or Android tablet (Nexus 7 would be the cheapest quality option here, but that starts at €220 or so). For reading books, an e-ink reader is nicer.

08-06-2014, 05:42 PM	#6
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	Oh, ok thanks. I feel like it would be tiring on the eyes using a tablet to read. The Aura does indeed seem like a nice device, however i can't seem to find it anywhere for €99. Most places sell it for €150, cheapest i've found is €111. So where did you find it for €99? Thanks

08-06-2014, 05:53 PM	#7
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	I bought it from Saturn in Germany (via ebay from their Bremen store), and that seems to be the standard price in all Saturn outlets. Which country are you in? As for the life-span of e-readers: My Glo died because I laid down on it (well, jumped on it, is more accurate), but they are normally fairly robust. I only had one give up its ghost "naturally", and that was the Imco. It only lasted six months and my whole experience with the device and the company was not brilliant. The others are fine. People here seem to be using their e-ink readers for many years, so they are not particularly prone to dying on you. They also age fairly well: unless you start collecting them (they are very collectible!), you can use it for years and will not really feel a strong urge to upgrade. New models usually only have a few minor changes. The biggest upgrade was the front light feature, but all other changes over the years have been somewhat minor (it's not like with phones or laptops where you feel your stuff is outdated after a year). I agree that reading on a LCD tablet is not as enjoyable. I tried using my Nexus 7 for reading, and while it is "all right" for a book or two, it causes more eye strain for me. I also get more distracted (checking email, checking forums, etc.) since it's such a general purpose device. I noticed it keeps me awake, whereas reading on an e-ink device allows me to sleep better after reading (a few people reported the same, so it's not only me, but I don't know how widespread that is).

08-06-2014, 06:11 PM	#8
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	I'm from Belgium (Close to the German border). I've checked Saturn and seems like the price there is 139? Maybe you bought it at a discount? Haha http://www.saturn.de/mcs/product/KOB...html?langId=-3 Oh, and i think there was a study done on that, if you use your phone before you go to sleep, you have a harder time falling asleep. So could be possible. :P

08-06-2014, 07:19 PM	#10
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	Thank you for all the help! I'll buy one tomorrow, 111 is indeed still a good price.

08-07-2014, 04:32 PM	#11
Chi Cygni 秋子 permanently lurking Posts: 844 Karma: 6590735 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: Oasis 3, Pocketbook Era	I'm in Belgium too. Pity, this shop http://www.ereaderstore.be/ had kobo aura all july for 115€ with free delivery. You can also check fnac.be and pixmania.be for prices.

08-12-2014, 07:52 AM	#12
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,031 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	For us here in the U.S. that equals $148.13.

08-12-2014, 01:34 PM	#13
AcidWeb KCC Co-Author Posts: 845 Karma: 765434 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Poland Device: Kindle Oasis 2	@Manga - There are two devices worth mentioning as manga readers. - Kindle Paperwhite - Kobo Aura HD In both cases additional conversion is needed to optimize this type of content to e-ink screen.

08-13-2014, 09:11 PM	#14
Dieter91 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13054 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: None	I've bought the Kobo aura and i'm very happy with it. Thanks for the help everyone!

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08-14-2014, 08:51 PM	#15
killer007 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 13110 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: none	how come no one mention about Kobo Touch? is it because its too old? I saw it on sale now, but not sure if i should pull the trigger Aura its greater than Touch in many ways? I don't need the light cuz I have light on my table