What's a cheap, flexible ereader?

[Gregg Bell]

All these Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are making me nuts. $49 for a Kindle.

But I'm not sure what to get. (Although I've ruled out the tablets (as ereaders) because I don't want to set up wi-fi.)

I want something that gives me maximum flexibility in terms of reading mobis and epubs. But I suppose if it's one or the other I'd probably come down on the side of Kindle.

I know I can convert mobi to epub and epub to mobi but in terms of ereaders will anything read both?

In my mind Nook and Kobo readers are all epubs and Kindle is all mobis. What's a good way to approach this? And can anything rival the Kindle $49 amount?

I don't know Kindle PW for $99 looks nice. But is it that much nicer than the regular Kindle?

But in general I just want something basic that will give me maximum flexibility.

And if I miss Cyber Monday, aren't the sales on the day after Christmas and just after New Years just as good?

Thanks!

[eschwartz]

Kindles will read MOBI and AZW3.

Nook will read EPUB.

KOBO will read EPUB and MOBI (and MOBI not very well, I believe).

Just stick with converting to the ereader's format.

Tablets can read any format, mostly because you can install multiple reader apps on one device. But they tend to be more expensive...

[dwig]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

...
And if I miss Cyber Monday, aren't the sales on the day after Christmas and just after New Years just as good?

Thanks!

Sometimes they are as good or better.

Currently, there are no dedicated eReaders that are good at reading both ePub and the Kindle formats. To read modern MOBI and AZW3 you need an Amazon brand Kindle, none of which read ePub except the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing (read: Android tablet skinned with a Kindle oriented UI) Fire series.

If you are looking for a personal use eReader then there are multiple options:

1. pick one you like and rely on calibre to convert formats.
2. buy a Kindle and an ePub reader and use both as the format dictates.
3. get a tablet (iOS, Android, or Win8) and install a collection of eReader software apps.

If you are looking for a test device for eBook development then the only good way to go is to combine both #2 and #3, above, and test on each.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Kindles will read MOBI and AZW3.

Nook will read EPUB.

KOBO will read EPUB and MOBI (and MOBI not very well, I believe).

Just stick with converting to the ereader's format.

Tablets can read any format, mostly because you can install multiple reader apps on one device. But they tend to be more expensive...

Thanks Boss. Kindles read .prc files too, don't they? And, you know, the tablets aren't that expensive. An HD Fire 6" is $79. But I don't have wi-fi and really wasn't going to get it, but that leads to another question: can I read ebooks on a tablet without wifi? I'm assuming I can plug an ethernet cable into a tablet. Then I could get the books on the tablet that way, then read them without wi-fi? Is this plausible?

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by dwig

Sometimes they are as good or better.

Currently, there are no dedicated eReaders that are good at reading both ePub and the Kindle formats. To read modern MOBI and AZW3 you need an Amazon brand Kindle, none of which read ePub except the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing (read: Android tablet skinned with a Kindle oriented UI) Fire series.

If you are looking for a personal use eReader then there are multiple options:

1. pick one you like and rely on calibre to convert formats.
2. buy a Kindle and an ePub reader and use both as the format dictates.
3. get a tablet (iOS, Android, or Win8) and install a collection of eReader software apps.

If you are looking for a test device for eBook development then the only good way to go is to combine both #2 and #3, above, and test on each.

Thanks for explaining the options, dwig. That makes it really simple. I'm leaning toward #1. I'm getting more comfortable with Calibre so that might be a good way to go. Appreciate it.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Thanks Boss. Kindles read .prc files too, don't they? And, you know, the tablets aren't that expensive. An HD Fire 6" is $79. But I don't have wi-fi and really wasn't going to get it, but that leads to another question: can I read ebooks on a tablet without wifi? I'm assuming I can plug an ethernet cable into a tablet. Then I could get the books on the tablet that way, then read them without wi-fi? Is this plausible?

I don't think you can connect a tablet via ethernet cable, but there are ways of sharing a cabled network if your PC has a Network card (and all laptops do).
On the other hand, calibre can send them via USB. And once the book is on, WiFi is no longer needed of course.

PRC stands for Palm Resource Container, IIRC, and uses the same Palm database format as MOBI -- in fact, the extension was changed to MOBI but they are otherwise identical.
Mobipocket books have yet another file extension as well, just to confuse things more : AZW, for MOBIs that came from Amazon's servers.

[barryem]

You'll need Wifi at least once no matter which ereader you get, at least of the major brand ereaders being sold today. The Kindle, Nook and Kobo all require that you register the device via Wifi. Actually I'm not sure if the Kindle requires that or not but you need to register it to get all the features. The Nook and the Kobo start up in the setup app and won't leave it till you've registered them. So with them it's required.

The good news is that you can go to Starbucks or MacDonalds or Hardees or the library or anyplace that has public Wifi to do this. After that you won't need Wifi again on any of those ereaders.

You're right about tablets though. In addition to not being nearly as good for reading as the e-ink readers they have to have Wifi regularly to stay useful. I've had problems with this when I've loaned tablets to friends who don't have Wifi. Within a week a few things stop working and sometimes a lot of things. Within two weeks a lot of things don't work. E-ink readers won't have this problem.

I currently have a Paperwhite and a Kobo Aura. I read with the Paperwhite because it's just a lot better screen and, for me, a more useful feature set. The Kobo Aura isn't bad but I have the Paperwhite and that spoils me.

If you get the $49 Kindle you'll have the same features as the Paperwhite but no light and the pixel density is lower, meaning rougher text and less contrast. I read on a comparable reader for several years and was perfectly happy with it but now that I've gotten used to the light I wouldn't like to go back.

The Kobo Aura does read mobi files and it reads them well enough but some of the features don't work with mobi files. Some features also don't work with epub files that didn't come from Kobo but more don't work with mobi files. I've seen some discussions about ways around this when converting but I haven't tried them. I use my Kobo for lending books to my neighbors and it works well enough and they're all happy so I don't worry about it.

Barry

[eschwartz]

The Kindle can still be used, albeit without access to Collections management, if you do not connect to a WiFi network -- the Kindle will error out and ask if you want to skip the setup and register later.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by barryem

You'll need Wifi at least once no matter which ereader you get, at least of the major brand ereaders being sold today. The Kindle, Nook and Kobo all require that you register the device via Wifi. Actually I'm not sure if the Kindle requires that or not but you need to register it to get all the features. The Nook and the Kobo start up in the setup app and won't leave it till you've registered them. So with them it's required.

The good news is that you can go to Starbucks or MacDonalds or Hardees or the library or anyplace that has public Wifi to do this. After that you won't need Wifi again on any of those ereaders.

You're right about tablets though. In addition to not being nearly as good for reading as the e-ink readers they have to have Wifi regularly to stay useful. I've had problems with this when I've loaned tablets to friends who don't have Wifi. Within a week a few things stop working and sometimes a lot of things. Within two weeks a lot of things don't work. E-ink readers won't have this problem.

I currently have a Paperwhite and a Kobo Aura. I read with the Paperwhite because it's just a lot better screen and, for me, a more useful feature set. The Kobo Aura isn't bad but I have the Paperwhite and that spoils me.

If you get the $49 Kindle you'll have the same features as the Paperwhite but no light and the pixel density is lower, meaning rougher text and less contrast. I read on a comparable reader for several years and was perfectly happy with it but now that I've gotten used to the light I wouldn't like to go back.

The Kobo Aura does read mobi files and it reads them well enough but some of the features don't work with mobi files. Some features also don't work with epub files that didn't come from Kobo but more don't work with mobi files. I've seen some discussions about ways around this when converting but I haven't tried them. I use my Kobo for lending books to my neighbors and it works well enough and they're all happy so I don't worry about it.

Barry

Thanks very much, Barry. I did not know about the wi-fi being needed. (Or about the issue with tablets.) We have it at the office I work at so that won't be a problem. (And I'm actually a quarter block from a Starbucks.) I too like the Paperwhite over the regular Kindle. I noticed your avatar says PW2. Are there different versions of the Paperwhite?

I have about a hundred hardcover and paperbacks just waiting to be read so I'm in no great need of reading material. It's just when I see some of the cool stuff available online (like at MR and Adelaide U. etc.) I want to read that too.

[robko]

Actually, with a Kobo anyway, you can do your setup through the desktop app connected via USB to device. No need for wifi as long as your desktop/laptop (heck a Win 8 tablet would work too) has internet access.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

I noticed your avatar says PW2. Are there different versions of the Paperwhite?

I have a PW1 and a PW2. The PW2 is slightly faster with a slightly better light and a couple of added software features that I don't really care about. I'm not sure I even remember what features the PW2 has that the PW1 lacks. In any case I suspect future upgrades will add them. They were identical feature-wise till the recent update on the PW2.

When I examine them the PW2 seems slightly improved. I can see the speed difference if I'm looking for and the tiny gray shadows at the bottom of the screen on the PW1 are gone on the PW2. That's out of the text area so I really don't care about it much.

In practice, while reading, I can't really tell the difference. It's something like the difference in excellent and superb.

If I was buying one today I'd get the PW2 because it's newer but if there was a price difference I'd be happy with the PW1.

Barry

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by robko

Actually, with a Kobo anyway, you can do your setup through the desktop app connected via USB to device. No need for wifi as long as your desktop/laptop (heck a Win 8 tablet would work too) has internet access.

Thanks robko. That's good to know. Esp. since I'm pretty low tech--that sounds appealing.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by barryem

I have a PW1 and a PW2. The PW2 is slightly faster with a slightly better light and a couple of added software features that I don't really care about. I'm not sure I even remember what features the PW2 has that the PW1 lacks. In any case I suspect future upgrades will add them. They were identical feature-wise till the recent update on the PW2.

When I examine them the PW2 seems slightly improved. I can see the speed difference if I'm looking for and the tiny gray shadows at the bottom of the screen on the PW1 are gone on the PW2. That's out of the text area so I really don't care about it much.

In practice, while reading, I can't really tell the difference. It's something like the difference in excellent and superb.

If I was buying one today I'd get the PW2 because it's newer but if there was a price difference I'd be happy with the PW1.

Barry

Hey, Barry. Thanks. I guess Amazon only sells the PW2 new. The PW1 (as far as I can tell) is only available used. And the used ones aren't that much cheaper than the new ones. I'd probably be leaning toward getting a new one, but the prices are back up (since Black Friday). I'll probably wait till after Christmas to see if they come down again.

[Rizla]

The Sony T2 doesn't need to wifi to register. You don't even need to register. Get em cheap on ebay. Pretty flexible and a quality unit. But no light.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by Rizla

The Sony T2 doesn't need to wifi to register. You don't even need to register. Get em cheap on ebay. Pretty flexible and a quality unit. But no light.

Thanks Rizla. I love Sony but am a little leery of getting something that's not going to be around. (What if I love it and want to buy the next generation?) (And I want something less expensive than the T2 anyway.) (And how do you know what you're getting on Ebay? So many of the ereaders say: 'Have some surface scratches as the result of normal wear.')