Buying a E-reader on a budget: What choices are there under $200?

AngelHazard · 01-06-2010, 09:02 AM

Hi, I'm new

Thinking about getting my first e-reader, but I'm unsure which to consider given the number of ereaders on the market. So far I've found the jetbook, sony pocket and the Libre. I'm not really sure which is the better of the three.

All I need is a basic e-reader that can easily read new releases and free content.

Any suggestions

Thank you for your time.

HarryT · 01-06-2010, 09:06 AM

The Pocketbook 360 is worth a look.

Bob T · 01-06-2010, 09:14 AM

The Sony PRS-300 is a nice machine for under $200....

I like mine and others seem to like theirs...

rlparker · 01-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Hi AngelHazard, I don't have a specific suggestion for you other than "try it before you buy it" if you can. That's an advantage for the Sony 300, at least around here--I saw one in Target.

And welcome to MR!

mitchwah · 01-06-2010, 06:58 PM

I recently bought a Jetbook Lite from Newegg.com at $129.99 plus free shipping. A great deal for my first ebook reader.

It is AA battery operated so if you have a bunch of rechargeables for your other devices then you're all set. The battery set lasts a week for me.

It reads multiple formats and though I haven't tried it, it claims to read DRM books bought from Barnes and Nobles. I loaded hundreds of free books into my Jetbook and I love reading from it.

Go and see other devices, too. I tried one of the Sony 300 at Walmart but I didnt like that it doesn't have an expandable memory. Good luck with your search.

Jack Tingle · 01-06-2010, 07:53 PM

Those three are the major ones. The jetBook and the Libre are cousins. There is a lite version of the jetBook, which is cheaper, and to my mind doesn't give up any useful functionality. Some people prefer it. The Sony 300 is a nice little package if you're willing to spend the full $200. I'll echo the "try before buy" advice. I'd also suggest you look at the forums for all of those units.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

DJHARKAVY · 01-06-2010, 11:07 PM

Have you read any ebooks yet? Do you purchase from a particular place, or a particular format? If so, then you might want to start by seeing which ebook readers are compatible.

I used to read on a Palm TX. When it got stolen a few months ago, I started reading on my Blackberry Pearl. But I just got a jetBook Lite, and while they still need to fix a bug or two, I like it quite a bit. It reads almost any non-DRM format, and reads the eReader/pdb format with DRM.

AngelHazard · 01-19-2010, 04:19 PM

Thank you all for the helpful information, I decided to purchase the Sony 300 pocket edition.

Filark · 01-19-2010, 04:28 PM

Congratulations!

Hope you will like it! If you have access to a library with ebooks you are all set!!

Linda! · 01-19-2010, 08:14 PM

Enjoy your Sony 300! Its a popular model and I hope it will be all that you want it to be.

Kris777 · 01-20-2010, 12:26 AM

3 main reasons why I don't llike Sony 300:

1. E Ink screen
2. no SD card slot
3. no Folders support

rmm200 · 01-20-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris777

3 main reasons why I don't llike Sony 300:

1. E Ink screen
2. no SD card slot
3. no Folders support

It is hard to say No folder support without adding the Collections feature on the Sony units is superior to folders. One copy of the volume can be listed in any number of categories like SF, Novels, Young Readers - etc. Calibre has excellent support for this.

Robert

RonF · 01-20-2010, 09:10 AM

3 main reasons why like Sony 300:

1. E Ink screen - It has a great reading screen, great clarity and contrast. I can read for hours with no eye starin.
2. no SD card slot - with 350+ books, there is still more than 50% memory left. FOR ME, this is more than enough, and I will only have around 20-30 books on the reader anyway. I can't read 700 books simultaneously

3. no Folders support - Collections is fantastic!!! I can have 1 book in memory and have it in 4 different "folders" without eating up memory by putting it in different folders.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Congratulations on your choice, you will love it. Any of those other readers listed would have been a fine choice as well and I do not think there are any readers out right now that you would be remiss to buy at this level.

ctol · 01-22-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelHazard

Thank you all for the helpful information, I decided to purchase the Sony 300 pocket edition.

I really hope you enjoy your 300 as much as I like my 600. They are both excellent readers. I sincerely hope you will find that having a ebook reader will open up a whole new world of reading possibilities. You will also find a wealth of great reading material right here in this site. Happy reading.

Sullivan · 01-22-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob T

The Sony PRS-300 is a nice machine for under $200....

I like mine and others seem to like theirs...

I would have gone or this, but regardless I really hope you have fun with your Sony 300. It's also very good!

01-06-2010, 09:02 AM	#1
AngelHazard Newbie Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: US Device: none	Buying a E-reader on a budget: What choices are there under $200? Hi, I'm new Thinking about getting my first e-reader, but I'm unsure which to consider given the number of ereaders on the market. So far I've found the jetbook, sony pocket and the Libre. I'm not really sure which is the better of the three. All I need is a basic e-reader that can easily read new releases and free content. Any suggestions Thank you for your time.

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01-06-2010, 09:06 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,547 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Pocketbook 360 is worth a look.

01-06-2010, 09:14 AM	#3
Bob T Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Carol Stream, IL Device: Sony PRS-300	The Sony PRS-300 is a nice machine for under $200.... I like mine and others seem to like theirs...

01-06-2010, 09:40 AM	#4
rlparker Ars longa Posts: 1,179 Karma: 17404 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: north carolina, usa Device: Kindle K1, K3 wifi	Hi AngelHazard, I don't have a specific suggestion for you other than "try it before you buy it" if you can. That's an advantage for the Sony 300, at least around here--I saw one in Target. And welcome to MR!

01-06-2010, 06:58 PM	#5
mitchwah Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 66 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Jetbook Lite, Ematic 7" eReader	I recently bought a Jetbook Lite from Newegg.com at $129.99 plus free shipping. A great deal for my first ebook reader. It is AA battery operated so if you have a bunch of rechargeables for your other devices then you're all set. The battery set lasts a week for me. It reads multiple formats and though I haven't tried it, it claims to read DRM books bought from Barnes and Nobles. I loaded hundreds of free books into my Jetbook and I love reading from it. Go and see other devices, too. I tried one of the Sony 300 at Walmart but I didnt like that it doesn't have an expandable memory. Good luck with your search.

01-06-2010, 07:53 PM	#6
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	Those three are the major ones. The jetBook and the Libre are cousins. There is a lite version of the jetBook, which is cheaper, and to my mind doesn't give up any useful functionality. Some people prefer it. The Sony 300 is a nice little package if you're willing to spend the full $200. I'll echo the "try before buy" advice. I'd also suggest you look at the forums for all of those units. Regards, Jack Tingle

01-06-2010, 11:07 PM	#7
DJHARKAVY Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 13444 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Blackberry, jetbook lite	Have you read any ebooks yet? Do you purchase from a particular place, or a particular format? If so, then you might want to start by seeing which ebook readers are compatible. I used to read on a Palm TX. When it got stolen a few months ago, I started reading on my Blackberry Pearl. But I just got a jetBook Lite, and while they still need to fix a bug or two, I like it quite a bit. It reads almost any non-DRM format, and reads the eReader/pdb format with DRM.

01-19-2010, 04:19 PM	#8
AngelHazard Newbie Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: US Device: none	Thank you all for the helpful information, I decided to purchase the Sony 300 pocket edition.

01-19-2010, 04:28 PM	#9
Filark Armed with a smile :) Posts: 1,421 Karma: 2463560 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, USA Device: enTourage eDGe & Pocket eDGe, Samsung Galaxy Note II	Congratulations! Hope you will like it! If you have access to a library with ebooks you are all set!!

01-19-2010, 08:14 PM	#10
Linda! Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 86 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Jetbook Lite	Enjoy your Sony 300! Its a popular model and I hope it will be all that you want it to be.

01-20-2010, 12:26 AM	#11
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	3 main reasons why I don't llike Sony 300: 1. E Ink screen 2. no SD card slot 3. no Folders support

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01-20-2010, 09:10 AM	#13
RonF Zealot Posts: 139 Karma: 306 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NY Device: Sony PRS-300, K3 WiFi, K4 NT, PW2	3 main reasons why like Sony 300: 1. E Ink screen - It has a great reading screen, great clarity and contrast. I can read for hours with no eye starin. 2. no SD card slot - with 350+ books, there is still more than 50% memory left. FOR ME, this is more than enough, and I will only have around 20-30 books on the reader anyway. I can't read 700 books simultaneously 3. no Folders support - Collections is fantastic!!! I can have 1 book in memory and have it in 4 different "folders" without eating up memory by putting it in different folders. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Congratulations on your choice, you will love it. Any of those other readers listed would have been a fine choice as well and I do not think there are any readers out right now that you would be remiss to buy at this level.