Need an Ereader for etextbook, magazines, and ebooks.

skstrials · 09-04-2014, 01:46 AM

I am looking for my first ebookreader, and I am not quite sure where to go.

MY NEEDS:
1. Use the etextbook on the reader, to replace my paper university textbooks.
- Need to be able to take pdf files and epub
- Does anyone have any specific experience with specific textbook companies such as Pearson?

2. Read magazines, newspapers.
- Can E-ink display show colors? If not, can they still be used for magazine viewing?
- Can they be used for comic books?

3. Ebooks....... okay, I don't read a whole lot of books, but I would like to get into reading.

EXTRA CONSIDERATION: Eye Health

I was told that if you look at the computer screen, tablet display too much, your eyes get tired, and it would be bad for you. This is the reason I am considering a E-ink ebookreader, rather than a tablet from Kobo or Amazon.

I am looking for 7 inch screen size or around there.

Anthem · 09-04-2014, 03:02 PM

Well, a tablet is clearly what you need for your wishlist. There just isn't an e-ink e-reader that will do all of these things in any acceptable or even "good" way. Magazines and comic books are particularly well suited to a tablet.

I would also suggest that you need to get a large tablet. Something in the 9" or higher category because magazines and comic books will really shine on the larger category of tablets. Reading books is perfectly fine on the large tablets as well, even if it may be slightly preferable on a 7" tablet.

The problem with LCD displays is that they emit light and usually have glossy screens, which can result in a lot of glare off of the screen. In the old days, the major problem with computer screens was image quality, which just wasn't that good. These days, with displays like those on the iPad Air, Kindle Fire HDX, etc., you don't really have to worry about low image quality. Glare can still be a problem and emitted light is still very real but I think people make too big of a deal out of these factors. For most people, I don't think they cause major problems. I have an astigmatism (my eyes don't bend light properly) and I don't have any issues with LCD as long as I am wearing my glasses that provide full correction for the issue. But there are plenty of people who swear otherwise, and anecdotal battles over this issue are best avoided, whenever possible.

And FYI, eyes get tired doing anything. Even on an e-ink device. I know, because my eyes get tired reading, whether I am reading paper, e-ink, or LCD.

Hope this helps.

eschwartz · 09-04-2014, 08:58 PM

Try a tablet. See if you feel comfortable reading on it. Don't reject the device that fits your needs better simply because of a maybe.

jehane · 09-05-2014, 05:28 PM

You want to check what format the e-textbooks use. I had one bought from Wiley a couple of years ago that turned out to require a proprietary platform (Vitalsource) which couldn't be used on a typical sony/nook/kobo reader, so I had to load it onto my tablet.

If you want colour, you will have to go with LCD. Just like nuclear fusion, colour e-ink has been just around the corner for some time. Personally, I find magazines (via Zinio) best on my tablet, even when I'm focussed on the text and not interested in the colour, simply due to screen size. Likewise for pdfs (ie journal articles). While I have read some pdfs on a 5" screen, those were mostly text-based books. Journal articles didn't work as well. I don't read comics on my reader but from other feedback I've read, they apparently are also better with a larger screen.

Another consideration is aspect ratio. For pdfs and magazines, 4:3 is best. AFAIK, only the iPads (of the mainstream brands) are 4:3. The Androids are mostly 16:10, which is best for movie viewing. I have found this out the hard way. I'm actually currently researching 4:3 10"+ Android tablets so if anyone has recommendations I'm all ears!

Purple Lady · 09-05-2014, 07:01 PM

Glare and light output can definitely be a problem for some people, but there are things you can do to help. I put a non-glare screen protector on all my devices and keep the brightness at a minimum. I generally keep my brightness at 10 - 20% and that helps reduce battery use as well.

09-04-2014, 01:46 AM	#1
skstrials Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: None	Need an Ereader for etextbook, magazines, and ebooks. I am looking for my first ebookreader, and I am not quite sure where to go. MY NEEDS: 1. Use the etextbook on the reader, to replace my paper university textbooks. - Need to be able to take pdf files and epub - Does anyone have any specific experience with specific textbook companies such as Pearson? 2. Read magazines, newspapers. - Can E-ink display show colors? If not, can they still be used for magazine viewing? - Can they be used for comic books? 3. Ebooks....... okay, I don't read a whole lot of books, but I would like to get into reading. EXTRA CONSIDERATION: Eye Health I was told that if you look at the computer screen, tablet display too much, your eyes get tired, and it would be bad for you. This is the reason I am considering a E-ink ebookreader, rather than a tablet from Kobo or Amazon. I am looking for 7 inch screen size or around there.

09-04-2014, 03:02 PM	#2
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	Well, a tablet is clearly what you need for your wishlist. There just isn't an e-ink e-reader that will do all of these things in any acceptable or even "good" way. Magazines and comic books are particularly well suited to a tablet. I would also suggest that you need to get a large tablet. Something in the 9" or higher category because magazines and comic books will really shine on the larger category of tablets. Reading books is perfectly fine on the large tablets as well, even if it may be slightly preferable on a 7" tablet. The problem with LCD displays is that they emit light and usually have glossy screens, which can result in a lot of glare off of the screen. In the old days, the major problem with computer screens was image quality, which just wasn't that good. These days, with displays like those on the iPad Air, Kindle Fire HDX, etc., you don't really have to worry about low image quality. Glare can still be a problem and emitted light is still very real but I think people make too big of a deal out of these factors. For most people, I don't think they cause major problems. I have an astigmatism (my eyes don't bend light properly) and I don't have any issues with LCD as long as I am wearing my glasses that provide full correction for the issue. But there are plenty of people who swear otherwise, and anecdotal battles over this issue are best avoided, whenever possible. And FYI, eyes get tired doing anything. Even on an e-ink device. I know, because my eyes get tired reading, whether I am reading paper, e-ink, or LCD. Hope this helps. Last edited by Anthem; 09-04-2014 at 03:05 PM.

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09-04-2014, 08:58 PM	#3
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)	Try a tablet. See if you feel comfortable reading on it. Don't reject the device that fits your needs better simply because of a maybe.

09-05-2014, 05:28 PM	#4
jehane Book addict Posts: 441 Karma: 2650464 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Antarctica/Australia/Ohio Device: Sony PRS-300/T1/Asus TF101	You want to check what format the e-textbooks use. I had one bought from Wiley a couple of years ago that turned out to require a proprietary platform (Vitalsource) which couldn't be used on a typical sony/nook/kobo reader, so I had to load it onto my tablet. If you want colour, you will have to go with LCD. Just like nuclear fusion, colour e-ink has been just around the corner for some time. Personally, I find magazines (via Zinio) best on my tablet, even when I'm focussed on the text and not interested in the colour, simply due to screen size. Likewise for pdfs (ie journal articles). While I have read some pdfs on a 5" screen, those were mostly text-based books. Journal articles didn't work as well. I don't read comics on my reader but from other feedback I've read, they apparently are also better with a larger screen. Another consideration is aspect ratio. For pdfs and magazines, 4:3 is best. AFAIK, only the iPads (of the mainstream brands) are 4:3. The Androids are mostly 16:10, which is best for movie viewing. I have found this out the hard way. I'm actually currently researching 4:3 10"+ Android tablets so if anyone has recommendations I'm all ears!

09-05-2014, 07:01 PM	#5
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	Glare and light output can definitely be a problem for some people, but there are things you can do to help. I put a non-glare screen protector on all my devices and keep the brightness at a minimum. I generally keep my brightness at 10 - 20% and that helps reduce battery use as well.

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