I'm Not A Tekkie - Need Recommendation Please

Beach Mouse · 10-23-2010, 05:28 PM

I'm not very technical and most of the posts I've been reading regarding which e-Book reader to get may just as well have been written in a foreign language. LOL I don't need all the gizmos, technical stuff, etc.

..... all I want is to be able to read a book easily and clearly.

What I need in an e-book reader is:

Simple and idiot proof
Easy to read with the ability to enlarge fonts if needed.
Able to read in sunlight.
Easy to download (or buy, whatever it's called) books.
Easy to turn pages (for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
Comfortable, lightweight, etc.

Is there such an e-reader? Which e-reader is recommended for simple reading? I understand that the two main contenders are Kobo and Kindle. I would suppose that the latest version of either would be the best .... right?

Can anyone help me decide? Mucho thanks in advance.

James_Wilde · 10-23-2010, 06:21 PM

Well, the Kindle is almost unique in not supporting epub, a format for ebooks which is open and very widely (= by almost every other machine) supported. And the Kindle is intended to be very nearly tied to buying books from Amazon. For that reason possibly almost any other reader would be a more flexible bet.

Kobo appears to be a good model, and came at the top of my list when I was going to buy, but it's not available here in Sweden. And that's the next point. It makes sense to buy something that's readily available where you live, unless there's some impelling reason - like outrageous prices - to do otherwise.

Personally I bought an Iriver Story, the previous model to the current one. It has its pimples, but basically I'm happy with it. I think you will find that most people in here would say much the same about whatever model they have, so it's swings and roundabouts. Go round a few tech stores and see what's available, and what you like. They all work pretty much the same.

Good luck.

tubemonkey · 10-23-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Mouse

Is there such an e-reader? Which e-reader is recommended for simple reading? I understand that the two main contenders are Kobo and Kindle. I would suppose that the latest version of either would be the best .... right?

Can anyone help me decide? Mucho thanks in advance.

Go with the Kindle. It's the same price as the Kobo, but has more features and better specs.

Most importantly for you, the Kindle will allow you to turn pages with either hand without you having to shift your hold. The Kobo is designed for right handed use only.

James_Wilde · 10-23-2010, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Go with the Kindle. It's the same price as the Kobo, but has more features and better specs.

Hi, Tubemonkey. Those features, are they features that help with managing e-books or are they features like a calendar, notebook, etc, that don't do a thing for your library? I ask because when I was looking at the two front-runners here in Sweden, I opted for the Iriver as these features gave it the edge over the alternative. However I've never used any of them and never will. The diary I have on my computer, and the note taker requires that I leave the book I'm reading so it's no use for taking notes on a book, and what else would I use it for on an e-reader?

mldavis2 · 10-23-2010, 06:45 PM

If you don't intend to get into conversion of formats, you should first look at what type of reading you intend to do with your eBook reader. If you buy a lot of current titles and top 100 books, most of those are available with Amazon which would suggest a Kindle. If you intend to 'borrow' eBooks from your local library, the Kindle won't work (without a lot of conversion work and DRM-stripping which isn't simple or legal). Sony looks good to me for ePub (library and Barns & Noble stuff). I bought a Kindle 3 and love it for its size, weight, one hand operation and access to Amazon's 750,000 titles.

tubemonkey · 10-23-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

Hi, Tubemonkey. Those features, are they features that help with managing e-books or are they features like a calendar, notebook, etc, that don't do a thing for your library?

The Kindle has twice the battery life and a sharper display. The Kindle also has the following features that the Kobo does not have:
- web browser (Wikipedia, email, etc)
- MP3 player (audiobooks, music)
- image viewer
- speaker
- text 2 speech (turns text into speech)

JeremyR · 10-23-2010, 07:47 PM

You would want the Kindle 3 with 3G built in.

If you aren't a techie, then dealing with wifi might be a bit too much, especially as at least on mine, the K3's wifi is very finicky.

JaneD · 10-23-2010, 08:01 PM

I've got to agree with Jeremy: if you go with a kindle, get the 3g. I've got one and have never been able to access the wifi, no matter where I was. Without the 3G I'd have been obliged to move books via usb to the device. 3G just makes it effortless to buy books from the Amazon bookstore.

Yes, you're tied to Amazon (somewhat - there are other sources of books on the web, including this site), and it's annoying that it doesn't support epub. But it's the easiest for someone who isn't as tech-literate. I wasn't, and I really love my kindle.

James_Wilde · 10-24-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The Kindle has twice the battery life and a sharper display. The Kindle also has the following features that the Kobo does not have:
- web browser (Wikipedia, email, etc)
- MP3 player (audiobooks, music)
- image viewer
- speaker
- text 2 speech (turns text into speech)

OK, I'll buy that. Those are all features that I'd like on an e-reader.

jj2me · 10-24-2010, 10:02 PM

I agree wholeheartedly with the recommendations of the Kindle 3 with 3G.

I made a similar recommendation about a year ago to a friend who seems to have the same characteristics as you (although she wouldn't have posted in this or any forum, as she doesn't like computers). She loves her Kindle 2 with 3G! And she hasn't ever had to use the computer for any part of her Kindle usage.

I can't judge how easy the page turns will be for you, however. They're long, narrow edge buttons. I think they'll be fine, but can't say for sure.

neilmarr · 10-25-2010, 06:08 AM

Good to have your company, BeachMouse. You don't go into detail about which hand or both your arthritis affects, but there are several devices on the market that provide more than one page turning option. For instance, with my Sony 505, I can change pages whith my left thumb on a 'wheel' at bottom left of the screen whilst holding the machine in my left hand, or bring my right forefinger into play to turn a page by tapping a button on the right hand side of the screen. I don't have arthritis, but I do suffer from numbness and frequent cramps in my hands, so I find this idea. Also my eyes ain't what they used to be, so being able to increase font size by two or three times makes for a really comofrtable read. Good luck in your choice. Best wishes. Neil

GA Russell · 10-25-2010, 03:00 PM

Welcome Beach Mouse!

If price is a factor (you don't say that it is), I recommend that you give consideration to the jetBook Lite. I am very pleased with mine, particularly with its new firmware v16e.

With the JBL, you download the eBooks onto your SD card (like you use with your digital camera) which you insert into the JBL. It's easy.

ProfCrash · 10-26-2010, 10:49 AM

Wait until the Nook 2 is announced to see what it can do and what its specs are. We should know more in a couple of hours.

The K3 is lightweight and easy to use. Amazons store is the largest e-book store out there and it can be used internationally.

It sounds to me like you would be able to make a good decision for you by simply comparing the bookstores. Go to each device makers stores and see which ones have the books you want the most. Then check some of the bigger stores that can be used my multiple readers (For the Nook that is Kobo books and I think Sony) and see what they have.

Keep in mind that if you buy from a store other then the one tied to your device you will problably have to sideload the books. There are some e-book stores that you can buy from directly using the web browser on the Kindle (Smashwords and Feedbooks come to mind) but that still involves another step.

jbcohen · 10-26-2010, 11:08 AM

Touch screen or controlls? My Aluratek costs $100 and fits your needs, but its not touch screen.

desertgrandma · 10-26-2010, 11:18 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, beachmouse.

Sounds like the K3 is the one for you. Any problems encountered will be quickly taken care of by their superior CS "call me" feature.

Thats something you want to check on with other readers, I'm not familiar with their experience.

Can you return a book for a refund if bought accidentally?

Is there a re-stocking charge for returning the device you choose if you don't like it?

If you choose a reader for the library download ability, is YOUR library stocked with ebooks you are interested in? Not all are.

Good luck with whichever one your choose.

10-23-2010, 05:28 PM	#1
Beach Mouse Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: none	I'm Not A Tekkie - Need Recommendation Please I'm not very technical and most of the posts I've been reading regarding which e-Book reader to get may just as well have been written in a foreign language. LOL I don't need all the gizmos, technical stuff, etc. ..... all I want is to be able to read a book easily and clearly. What I need in an e-book reader is: Simple and idiot proof Easy to read with the ability to enlarge fonts if needed. Able to read in sunlight. Easy to download (or buy, whatever it's called) books. Easy to turn pages (for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.) Comfortable, lightweight, etc. Is there such an e-reader? Which e-reader is recommended for simple reading? I understand that the two main contenders are Kobo and Kindle. I would suppose that the latest version of either would be the best .... right? Can anyone help me decide? Mucho thanks in advance.

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10-23-2010, 06:21 PM	#2
James_Wilde Guru Posts: 802 Karma: 4727110 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Iriver Story	Well, the Kindle is almost unique in not supporting epub, a format for ebooks which is open and very widely (= by almost every other machine) supported. And the Kindle is intended to be very nearly tied to buying books from Amazon. For that reason possibly almost any other reader would be a more flexible bet. Kobo appears to be a good model, and came at the top of my list when I was going to buy, but it's not available here in Sweden. And that's the next point. It makes sense to buy something that's readily available where you live, unless there's some impelling reason - like outrageous prices - to do otherwise. Personally I bought an Iriver Story, the previous model to the current one. It has its pimples, but basically I'm happy with it. I think you will find that most people in here would say much the same about whatever model they have, so it's swings and roundabouts. Go round a few tech stores and see what's available, and what you like. They all work pretty much the same. Good luck.

10-23-2010, 06:45 PM	#5
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	If you don't intend to get into conversion of formats, you should first look at what type of reading you intend to do with your eBook reader. If you buy a lot of current titles and top 100 books, most of those are available with Amazon which would suggest a Kindle. If you intend to 'borrow' eBooks from your local library, the Kindle won't work (without a lot of conversion work and DRM-stripping which isn't simple or legal). Sony looks good to me for ePub (library and Barns & Noble stuff). I bought a Kindle 3 and love it for its size, weight, one hand operation and access to Amazon's 750,000 titles.

10-23-2010, 07:47 PM	#7
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	You would want the Kindle 3 with 3G built in. If you aren't a techie, then dealing with wifi might be a bit too much, especially as at least on mine, the K3's wifi is very finicky.

10-23-2010, 08:01 PM	#8
JaneD Addict Posts: 324 Karma: 1057749 Join Date: May 2010 Location: LA, CA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2013	I've got to agree with Jeremy: if you go with a kindle, get the 3g. I've got one and have never been able to access the wifi, no matter where I was. Without the 3G I'd have been obliged to move books via usb to the device. 3G just makes it effortless to buy books from the Amazon bookstore. Yes, you're tied to Amazon (somewhat - there are other sources of books on the web, including this site), and it's annoying that it doesn't support epub. But it's the easiest for someone who isn't as tech-literate. I wasn't, and I really love my kindle.

10-24-2010, 10:02 PM	#10
jj2me Guru Posts: 820 Karma: 8820388 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, -350; Kindle 3 3G, DX, PW 2; various tablets	I agree wholeheartedly with the recommendations of the Kindle 3 with 3G. I made a similar recommendation about a year ago to a friend who seems to have the same characteristics as you (although she wouldn't have posted in this or any forum, as she doesn't like computers). She loves her Kindle 2 with 3G! And she hasn't ever had to use the computer for any part of her Kindle usage. I can't judge how easy the page turns will be for you, however. They're long, narrow edge buttons. I think they'll be fine, but can't say for sure.

10-25-2010, 06:08 AM	#11
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, BeachMouse. You don't go into detail about which hand or both your arthritis affects, but there are several devices on the market that provide more than one page turning option. For instance, with my Sony 505, I can change pages whith my left thumb on a 'wheel' at bottom left of the screen whilst holding the machine in my left hand, or bring my right forefinger into play to turn a page by tapping a button on the right hand side of the screen. I don't have arthritis, but I do suffer from numbness and frequent cramps in my hands, so I find this idea. Also my eyes ain't what they used to be, so being able to increase font size by two or three times makes for a really comofrtable read. Good luck in your choice. Best wishes. Neil

10-25-2010, 03:00 PM	#12
GA Russell Stampeders are hot! Posts: 7,692 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Welcome Beach Mouse! If price is a factor (you don't say that it is), I recommend that you give consideration to the jetBook Lite. I am very pleased with mine, particularly with its new firmware v16e. With the JBL, you download the eBooks onto your SD card (like you use with your digital camera) which you insert into the JBL. It's easy.

10-26-2010, 10:49 AM	#13
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	Wait until the Nook 2 is announced to see what it can do and what its specs are. We should know more in a couple of hours. The K3 is lightweight and easy to use. Amazons store is the largest e-book store out there and it can be used internationally. It sounds to me like you would be able to make a good decision for you by simply comparing the bookstores. Go to each device makers stores and see which ones have the books you want the most. Then check some of the bigger stores that can be used my multiple readers (For the Nook that is Kobo books and I think Sony) and see what they have. Keep in mind that if you buy from a store other then the one tied to your device you will problably have to sideload the books. There are some e-book stores that you can buy from directly using the web browser on the Kindle (Smashwords and Feedbooks come to mind) but that still involves another step.

10-26-2010, 11:08 AM	#14
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Touch screen or controlls? My Aluratek costs $100 and fits your needs, but its not touch screen.

10-26-2010, 11:18 AM	#15
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, beachmouse. Sounds like the K3 is the one for you. Any problems encountered will be quickly taken care of by their superior CS "call me" feature. Thats something you want to check on with other readers, I'm not familiar with their experience. Can you return a book for a refund if bought accidentally? Is there a re-stocking charge for returning the device you choose if you don't like it? If you choose a reader for the library download ability, is YOUR library stocked with ebooks you are interested in? Not all are. Good luck with whichever one your choose.

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