Hi! new prospective ebook reader buyer

[awesomevegan]

Hi my name is Jen. I am 23 (almost 24, birthday in December)

I am very interested in purchasing an ebook reader at an affordable price but I am having a hard time finding the right one for me. I have downloaded quite a few ebooks from public domain sites like Project Guttenburg but haven't gotten around to reading them because when I read I tend to read for hours at a time and after reading on a computer screen for a long time it strains my eyes.

I would like to ask my family and friends to help contribute to the "buy Jen a new toy fund" but I can't decide which one to buy! lol

I find that the Kindle, iRex and CyGen are way out of my price range. I want something that is relatively small so I can carry it with me in a large handbag or when traveling, has a decent amount of storage and doesn't strain the eyes. Of course I want an affordable price and decent selection of books and/or a selection of supported file formats. PDF support would be nice but not essential I suppose.

I was considering The Sony Digital Reader 505, The eBookwise 1150, or the Ebookman. Would any of these be recommended? I like the library on Fictionwise/ebookwise website. I like that they have a Dark Fantasy category since that is my favorite genre lately. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for such a long post but I have been trying to research and I feel like such a noob.

[Ervserver]

Hello awesomevegan, I can only speak for the 505. I love it and highly recommend it . I purchased mine via the Sony website for $199 and got 100 free classic books. I saved $100 by signing up for the Sony credit card.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by awesomevegan

I was considering The Sony Digital Reader 505, The eBookwise 1150, or the Ebookman. Would any of these be recommended?

The 505 would be the preferred device due to the eInk screen vs the LCD screen. Readability and battery life is much superior. If you don't have any moral qualms about removing DRM from purchased ebooks then you will have little trouble finding content. And, even if you stick to public domain and freely avaialble there's probably more than you can read in a lifetime.

BOb

[awesomevegan]

Thank you so much for your quick replies! Is it difficult to get approved for the credit card? I have no credit history lol! I got approved for a Toys R Us card and I have no clue how that went through!

I know you can use the Sony eBook Store files on it (obviously) but does it work well with other sites content? For example fictionwise/ebookwise or free classics like Project Gutenburg? I only ask that because I like to read classics and Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Romance ie Vampires and Werewolves fictionwise/ebookwise seems to have quite a selection of those. It appears from the site that the Sony 505 is supported but since I am new to this I am not sure if I was reading it right.

Thanks again for all your help!

[MickeyC]

Hi awesomevegan and welcome to the Forum. I got a Sony 505 back in January and really like it. And I got mine at 40% off, i.e., for $170 as it was a window model on sale just after New Years. So, you might want to wait till after the Christmas season and see if your local SonyStyle store is having a sale.

[bbusybookworm]

Hi Jen and welcome to Mobilread.

As the others before my, I'll suggest going with one of the eInk devices as the difference in readability is immense.

As I am assuming that you are in the US, The sony read is currently the Cheapest option. You can find it starting at $260 on the net so look around.

The main disadvantage with the sony is the Somewhat limited selection of new books you can purchase. But that is not that much of an issue as you can pretty easily convert books for it.

If on the other hand you are interested in Amazons selection, the The Kindle is really nice and if you apply Oprah's Discount code You'll get $50 off the price bring the price down to the Sony's retail price of $300. For the extra money you get a wider selection of books and wireless delivery. The disadvantage is that you are tied to Amazon's store.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Hi Jen and welcome to Mobilread.

As the others before my, I'll suggest going with one of the eInk devices as the difference in readability is immense.

As I am assuming that you are in the US, The sony read is currently the Cheapest option. You can find it starting at $260 on the net so look around.

The main disadvantage with the sony is the Somewhat limited selection of new books you can purchase. But that is not that much of an issue as you can pretty easily convert books for it.

If on the other hand you are interested in Amazons selection, the The Kindle is really nice and if you apply Oprah's Discount code You'll get $50 off the price bring the price down to the Sony's retail price of $300. For the extra money you get a wider selection of books and wireless delivery. The disadvantage is that you are tied to Amazon's store.

Always at least attempt to get correct information out to prospective purchasers.

We are not "tied to Amazon's store" any more or less than Sony readers are "tied" to the Sony store.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Always at least attempt to get correct information out to prospective purchasers.

We are not "tied to Amazon's store" any more or less than Sony readers are "tied" to the Sony store.

Sorry should have been a little more clear.

What I meant to say was that you can by default only but protected content from Amazon's store.

This was to contrast with Sony's recent update which now allowys you to buy from any store which supports Adobe DE.

While You can buy Protected books from other stores, you do have to format shift or use a workaround (Kindlefix).

Unprotected content can be purchased from any source which provides a compatible format.

But you are right that my choice of wording was poor and gave the wrong impression.

[Elsi]

I own both a Kindle and a Sony Reader. They are both small enough to carry in a large handbag -- though I throw both into my backpack whenever I leave the house. With either device you can buy books at the company store, or you can buy from other sellers. In both cases, if you buy someplace other than the company store, you *might* have to deal with DRM removal and/or format shifting. Neither is difficult, but both are annoying. Ideally, you would be able to buy books in any format from any store, but that's not the reality today.

While the Kindle is a bit more expensive than the Sony, it does have the advantage of the Amazon store. There you will find a larger selection of current releases at lower prices (yes, those are generalizations and you're sure to find exceptions). And Amazon has gotten the "immediate gratification" thing down pat. They've made it almost painfully easy to give in to impulse buying. Shame on them for enabling my addiction!

I don't have one of the eBookwise or Ebookman devices. My understanding is that the EB 1150 is a back-lit device, so it is likely to affect your eyes in a similar way to reading on the PC. There are several EB 1150 owners/users here on the forum and they can give you more accurate assessment whether the backlighting is similar to or different from that of a PC.

Good luck with making a decision. As someone pointed out. If you buy between now and 1 November, you can get $50 off a Kindle. As we move into the holiday season, you may find deals (or not) on one device or another. Of course, the sooner you buy a device, the sooner you can start reading books on it!

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

If on the other hand you are interested in Amazons selection, the The Kindle is really nice and if you apply Oprah's Discount code You'll get $50 off the price bring the price down to the Sony's retail price of $300.

Actually $309. But what's $9 among friends.

BOb

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Sorry should have been a little more clear.

What I meant to say was that you can by default only but protected content from Amazon's store.

This was to contrast with Sony's recent update which now allowys you to buy from any store which supports Adobe DE.

While You can buy Protected books from other stores, you do have to format shift or use a workaround (Kindlefix).

Unprotected content can be purchased from any source which provides a compatible format.

But you are right that my choice of wording was poor and gave the wrong impression.

And there are a lot of stores (and places) that have unprotected content for multiple types of readers ... so any discussion about being stuck with a particular source for books is so seriously non productive.

People who purchase a device for reading electronic books should like and preferably LOVE the device they purchase. If they hate it, they will find excuses not to use it, and then they have wasted their money.

If there's a tie between two types of reader, and the type of content the reader likes/loves is not available on one of the choices (and there is no method of conversion), then I would suggest they purchase the other, or wait a year or two and see if the situation changes.

I mean ... it's not like someone's life is going to end because they didn't purchase an e-reading device this week. There are still pbooks in bookstores and libraries .... they didn't all suddenly disappear.

So, to the original poster .... trying to decide?? Here ya go:

1. Go to a regular bookstore. Make a list of the books you would purchase from that store if money were not a factor. Note the prices on the books. If anyone bothers you .... tell them you are creating a Christmas list for your husband/wife/life partner/boyfriend/girlfriend and you've agreed to a spending limit this year.

2. Get your hands on each type of reader you are considering. Do you like the design .... does it fit in your hands well .... will you be comfortable with it .... are the fonts and font sizes something you like .... is there anything about it you actually hate??

3. Visit the online sources for books for each type of reader ... free/pay .... protected/unprotected. Take out the list of books you made. Compare which of those books (if any) are available for each reader. Also check the online prices against the prices on the list you made. If one type of reader is more expensive, will you make up the difference in savings on books?

For example, if in your trip through the bookstore, you find that the only books that really interest you are the old classics ... then see how many of them are available here ... for free. If all you see that you salivate over is the latest best sellers, then go from there.

It's all about getting the reader that is the best possible fit for YOU, and only YOU know what you like. If your best possible fit isn't available in your part of the world, then lobby to make it available, or get creative about overcoming that hurdle.

There is no best reader/format/font that fits all. The more time you put into finding out what YOU like, the happier you will be with your purchase. It is your money after all.

Totally off topic (maybe only sort of off topic), but it reminds me of when I was younger and I would see a pair of high heels that were $400 or so, and which I thought were just beautiful, but when I tried them on I could barely walk in them and they wore blisters just standing there in the store.

Back then, I'd buy them and then suffer with them until I couldn't take it anymore, and they'd go in the Goodwill box. $400 for stupid shoes I wore once or twice and grew to hate for the pain they caused me.

Now .... well, screw fashion ... I'll take comfort and durability over looking good any day. And, like I tell my clients, if they want to see the hottest shoes every time I come to see them ... they can give me a few extra grand, I'll go buy the shoes, and then we'll stick them up on the desk so they can look at the shoes while I sit comfortably in my Crocs and solve their other problems. (They can visit pshrynk for the shoe fetish.)

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

2. Get your hands on each type of reader you are considering. Do you like the design .... does it fit in your hands well .... will you be comfortable with it .... are the fonts and font sizes something you like .... is there anything about it you actually hate??

This is going to be the hardest step. Many of the devices can not be viewed in a store. In the US only the Sony reader is in stores. In the UK they have actually Sony, CyBook, iLiad and DR in stores, I think. Not sure about other places.

BOb

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

This is going to be the hardest step. Many of the devices can not be viewed in a store. In the US only the Sony reader is in stores. In the UK they have actually Sony, CyBook, iLiad and DR in stores, I think. Not sure about other places.

BOb

As of about a month ago WH Smiths didn't have the CyBooks in store and looked at me rather oddly when I asked. I tried two different stores, both relatively large. I don't know if that's changed now. It was that which tipped me towards the Sony - the Waterstones next door to the second Smiths I tried had a display model I could play with. Can't comment about the iLiad & DR as I wasn't looking for those

[desertgrandma]

I bought the Kindle, sight unseen, by watching their video, over and over. I read the reviews, many of which were negative, and soon realized THOSE were either from people that didn't' even own one, or whined about the big buttons, which i don't' have an issue with, being average in the intelligence department.....just average, mind you, sometimes below! I didn't need Oprah or anyone one else to tell me it was perfect for my wants.
That being said, listen to what the people on this site say. They are readers, who use their devices for the joy of it, not for pay.

[DixieGal]

Hi Awesome Vegan!

I have the Ebookwise/Fictionwise EB-1150, and it is my baby. It's a heavier, clunkier, uglier baby, but I love it anyway. It's on sale right now for $10 off, so you can get it for $129.

I read in the dark, so the backlight was crucial to me. I also have very poor vision, and as long as I crank up the fonts to jumbo size, it is no more or less of a strain for me than any other reading medium. It also is ergonomically shaped, so it fits my hand well and so you don't notice that it weighs a pound, instead of the few ounces for the Sonys and things I saw at our Mobile Read picnic yesterday. Those Sonys are awesome!

The EB-1150 uses a touchscreen for menus and stuff, so it is very easy. You can download books in IMP format from eBookwise and here without having to change a thing. However, in order to see words more clearly, I download in PRC format and convert to IMP while selecting for the largest fonts.

It is very sturdy. I slip it into the little leatherlike envelope it came with and cram it into my purse.

If you are looking for a reading device and are considering the EB-1150, I can highly recommend it.