Chinese ebooks

bminata · 12-05-2009, 05:08 AM

I want to buy an ebook reader for my mother, but she reads mainly in Chinese. Which ebook readers should I buy? Suggestions or informations?

LDBoblo · 12-05-2009, 05:51 PM

Well many reader devices can be converted to Chinese (I know the PRS-505 can), but e-ink is pretty suboptimal for displaying traditional Chinese characters.

You could always check out the Chinese website http://www.mobread.com for general information. There are many things to consider when buying a reader. How do you plan to get books? What formats do you want to or expect to get? What kind of functionality do you want? Will she be reading simplified or traditional Chinese?

As a general rule, I am OK with English books on my PRS-505 as long as I can convert them to a more pleasant PDF. Chinese books I tend to only buy in paper format (though I understand that's not always very convenient). I've tried a lot of different ways to get my Chinese ebooks up to snuff visually, and e-ink just doesn't cut it for me. However, if she is OK reading very large text (probably 15pt or bigger), it's not bad.

Addendum: Just tried out some 12-16 point fonts, and a few are OK at 12, most are OK at 14. Feels odd reading such huge type when all of my books are just fine with smallish text that is still highly readable.

jamessz · 12-06-2009, 02:15 AM

I suggest you buy kindle DX.
you can go to some chinese website,such as
http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthre...extra=page%3D1
You can find some books in chinese

HarryT · 12-06-2009, 04:12 AM

I'd go for a Hanlin device (aka BeBook, Astak, etc). They have Chinese support "out of the box", and the Hanlin V5 even has Chinese TTS.

bminata · 12-06-2009, 09:46 AM

Actually, I still don't know how or where to get Chinese ebooks, but I see someone already answered that in this thread

I'll look into the sites and devices mentioned. I myself read mostly English books for my Kindle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

Well many reader devices can be converted to Chinese (I know the PRS-505 can), but e-ink is pretty suboptimal for displaying traditional Chinese characters.

You could always check out the Chinese website http://www.mobread.com for general information. There are many things to consider when buying a reader. How do you plan to get books? What formats do you want to or expect to get? What kind of functionality do you want? Will she be reading simplified or traditional Chinese?

As a general rule, I am OK with English books on my PRS-505 as long as I can convert them to a more pleasant PDF. Chinese books I tend to only buy in paper format (though I understand that's not always very convenient). I've tried a lot of different ways to get my Chinese ebooks up to snuff visually, and e-ink just doesn't cut it for me. However, if she is OK reading very large text (probably 15pt or bigger), it's not bad.

Addendum: Just tried out some 12-16 point fonts, and a few are OK at 12, most are OK at 14. Feels odd reading such huge type when all of my books are just fine with smallish text that is still highly readable.

osnova · 12-06-2009, 01:00 PM

Hello there.

I've released the Chinese Bible for free but so far there has been no feedback (I don't speak/read Chinese). If you get around to it, can you report how it works.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61495

chancekang · 12-08-2009, 12:50 PM

For Sony prs500, by tuning around with the font set and converting to LRF format in Calibre, I found it was pleasant to read Chinese on it. If you don't mind a little bit messy format, by this I mean stuff like uneven line break etc., it works flawlessly. Features include adjustable font size (S,M,L), bookmarks, portrait and landscape reading.... I am sure PRS505 may do a even better job.

Popular readers like Kindle and Sony ebook reader, they both have extensive community support in Chinese. So, you really can't go wrong with either of them.

HarryT · 12-08-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chancekang

Popular readers like Kindle and Sony ebook reader, they both have extensive community support in Chinese. So, you really can't go wrong with either of them.

Would it not be better to buy a device which natively supports Chinese in the first place, rather than have to mess around with one that doesn't?

Sorry - I guess I just don't see the benefit of buying a device which doesn't support the language that you want to use, rather than one which does. It's not as if there's any shortage of devices which properly support Chinese - after all, pretty much all of them are actually made in either the People's Republic or China or the Republic of China!

deltame · 12-08-2009, 10:12 PM

Agree with HarryT. Actually the Hanlin devices (aka BeBook, Astak, etc) not only support Chinese but also have native language support for many other languages. The native language support and user replaceable battery were the two main factors in my decision for getting a Hanlin V3 in addition to my kindle 2. Now that Hanlin device has ADE support, I also use it for reading library ebooks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would it not be better to buy a device which natively supports Chinese in the first place, rather than have to mess around with one that doesn't?

Sorry - I guess I just don't see the benefit of buying a device which doesn't support the language that you want to use, rather than one which does. It's not as if there's any shortage of devices which properly support Chinese - after all, pretty much all of them are actually made in either the People's Republic or China or the Republic of China!

chancekang · 12-09-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would it not be better to buy a device which natively supports Chinese in the first place, rather than have to mess around with one that doesn't?

Sorry - I guess I just don't see the benefit of buying a device which doesn't support the language that you want to use, rather than one which does. It's not as if there's any shortage of devices which properly support Chinese - after all, pretty much all of them are actually made in either the People's Republic or China or the Republic of China!

Well, if you ever had a chance to hold devices like Hanlin in hand, you might easily notice some hardware build quality difference (based on user review, i wasn't fortunate enough to try one). Products built in the same country does not necessarily mean they share the same quality.

I hate to say, but in most case, stuff made/designed by Chinese manufacture usually means great functionality but terrible hardware quality. Reading the tech specs is always much pleasant than actually using it. For sure there are exceptions, but there is a reason why they are called exceptions.

GA Russell · 12-09-2009, 07:43 PM

bminata, I wouldn't make a decision without considering the Dr. Yi, which offers TTS in Chinese.

http://www.jcnip.com/

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Dr._Yi

HarryT · 12-10-2009, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

bminata, I wouldn't make a decision without considering the Dr. Yi, which offers TTS in Chinese.

http://www.jcnip.com/

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Dr._Yi

Excellent suggestion. I'd already mentioned the Hanlin V5 (aka "BeBook Mini", "Astak Pocket Pro", etc etc) which supports TTS in both Chinese and English.

lene1949 · 12-11-2009, 03:15 PM

I have a Hanvon N516, which has a lot of preloaded books in simple and traditional Chinese.

12-05-2009, 05:08 AM	#1
bminata Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 6366 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bandung, Indonesia Device: KPW, KFHD, K3, K2, iPad	Chinese ebooks I want to buy an ebook reader for my mother, but she reads mainly in Chinese. Which ebook readers should I buy? Suggestions or informations?

12-05-2009, 05:51 PM	#2
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Well many reader devices can be converted to Chinese (I know the PRS-505 can), but e-ink is pretty suboptimal for displaying traditional Chinese characters. You could always check out the Chinese website http://www.mobread.com for general information. There are many things to consider when buying a reader. How do you plan to get books? What formats do you want to or expect to get? What kind of functionality do you want? Will she be reading simplified or traditional Chinese? As a general rule, I am OK with English books on my PRS-505 as long as I can convert them to a more pleasant PDF. Chinese books I tend to only buy in paper format (though I understand that's not always very convenient). I've tried a lot of different ways to get my Chinese ebooks up to snuff visually, and e-ink just doesn't cut it for me. However, if she is OK reading very large text (probably 15pt or bigger), it's not bad. Addendum: Just tried out some 12-16 point fonts, and a few are OK at 12, most are OK at 14. Feels odd reading such huge type when all of my books are just fine with smallish text that is still highly readable. Last edited by LDBoblo; 12-05-2009 at 06:13 PM.

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12-06-2009, 02:15 AM	#3
jamessz Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: China Device: kindle dx	I suggest you buy kindle DX. you can go to some chinese website,such as http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthre...extra=page%3D1 You can find some books in chinese

12-06-2009, 04:12 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd go for a Hanlin device (aka BeBook, Astak, etc). They have Chinese support "out of the box", and the Hanlin V5 even has Chinese TTS.

12-06-2009, 01:00 PM	#6
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 582 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	Hello there. I've released the Chinese Bible for free but so far there has been no feedback (I don't speak/read Chinese). If you get around to it, can you report how it works. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61495

12-08-2009, 12:50 PM	#7
chancekang Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: sony prs 500	For Sony prs500, by tuning around with the font set and converting to LRF format in Calibre, I found it was pleasant to read Chinese on it. If you don't mind a little bit messy format, by this I mean stuff like uneven line break etc., it works flawlessly. Features include adjustable font size (S,M,L), bookmarks, portrait and landscape reading.... I am sure PRS505 may do a even better job. Popular readers like Kindle and Sony ebook reader, they both have extensive community support in Chinese. So, you really can't go wrong with either of them.

12-09-2009, 07:43 PM	#11
GA Russell Argos win Grey Cup! Posts: 7,679 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	bminata, I wouldn't make a decision without considering the Dr. Yi, which offers TTS in Chinese. http://www.jcnip.com/ https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Dr._Yi

12-11-2009, 03:15 PM	#13
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I have a Hanvon N516, which has a lot of preloaded books in simple and traditional Chinese.

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