8+ Readers in comparison

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by repods

well ok..
so still nothing good for me..
it shows errors on complex files ?

I didn't have any errors. But I haven't tried any "professional" documents.
For me, it's just not the right choice for PDFs.
Its zooming capabilities are way to limited.
You can read it or not - that's basically all you get.
But in complex files, I'd like to be able to zoom into the respective columns, graphs or formulas.
And in "standard" text document, I'd very much prefer reflow over zoom.
I find Kindles great for the original Amazon books, basically your casual reads. But I'm not using them anymore for any sideloaded content.
For PDFs, I still recommend the iRex units.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

For PDFs, I still recommend the iRex units.

Or the iPad. That's something the iPad is excellent for.

[wendywuff]

Which has the easiest page turning. Heard some devices have a loud click, which may disturb by partner in bed.

[HarryT]

They both make an audible click, but I think you'd have to be an awfully light sleeper to be disturbed by it.

If if does disturb you, there's an optional piece of software you can install on the 360 which uses the accelerometer to turn the page. Simply tilt the 360 and the page turns.

Both the Opus and the 360 are nice machines, but for me, the 360 has the edge.

[meem]

I see you have a good experience with eBook readers.
Which one is better for you ? and why ?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by meem

I see you have a good experience with eBook readers.
Which one is better for you ? and why ?

Of all my readers?
I'll only give the top 5:

I've always been an iRex fan. iRex iLiad has been my first ePaper unit in 2007 and still is one of my favorites.
So iRex 800 clearly is one of my alltime favorites: Touchscreen (WACOM = no glare), very nice form factor, love the flipbar for turning pages.

Pocketbook 360 is relatively new to me, but quickly rose to my top 3. I absolutely hate the buttons for turning pages. They're ugly, too big. And not even real buttons, but "cut-outs" from the housing. But I don't need them, as described a few replies above. The modified FBReader allows turning pages by slightly moving your wrist (via G-sensor). It's my favorite for the beach: Put it in a ziplog bag, turn pages without buttons and easily protect it from sand or suncream.

Sony 900 is one of my most beautiful units. Phantastic design, great UI - so I don't really bother about the slight glare.

Cybook Opus is more favorable design-wise than PocketBook 360 to me. Would it have PocketBooks firmware, it would be perfect. So I'm always torn between PocketBook 360 and Cybook Opus.

BeBook Neo is a tough one. It has great features, but I don't like some design choices. It's in the top 50%, but its actual rank changes frequently.

I like Barnes & Nobles' nook and Spring Design's Alex. Interesting choices, to combine ePaper and LCD.

I rarely use iPad for reading to preserve battery, but I like it and wouldn't have any problems with the display.

[meem]

Thank you for useful information.

Is there another EReader with big screen like Kindle DX and iPad ?

[rogue_librarian]

PocketBook 901, should be available in fall or thereabouts.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by meem

Thank you for useful information.

Is there another EReader with big screen like Kindle DX and iPad ?

Most readers are 6".
iRex 800, iRex 1000, Sony 900 are bigger as well.
I find size of the display less important than featureset.
Kindle DX has one of the biggest displays.
But when using PDFs, your options are quite limited.
You can't mark any area and explode to full screen for example.
So, in direct comparison, I'd even prefer BeBook Neo's 6" over Kindle DX for complex PDFs.
But as always: It entirely depends on your files and your demands...

[meem]

Unfortunately, I need eReader especially for PDF files (text and scanned books).
There is no amazon books in my language (as I know) nor my laguage is supported yet.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by meem

Unfortunately, I need eReader especially for PDF files (text and scanned books).
There is no amazon books in my language (as I know) nor my laguage is supported yet.

For your demands, I consider Kindle DX one of the less advanced units.
For PDFs, it's still rather basic.

First of all, I'd recommend deciding about the format: Do you need display sizes >6"? You can do a simulation on your PC. You can check for the measurements on the respective websites and use the same resolution and window size on your PC.
If you can read it on your PC, you easily will be able to do so on your ePaper reader as well.
In general, for PDFs: The bigger, the better. But that's mainly true if you want to keep the layout intact. Often the document is generated for DIN A4. So if the screen is significantly smaller, you either don't see the entire text or you loose readability.
That's can be critical for "technical documents" with lots of graphs, diagrams, tables, formulas,....
But for text based files it's way less critical.

When you have decided about the display size, your choices will be rather limited anyway.
Then I'd go for file format, webstore and issues like that.

[friktion]

Hi - I'm wondering what eReader I should look at next - I now have a Sony PRS700, which I am using with an 8G SD card. I have way too many "collections" for this model and it is becoming so slow ... I have been dividing up my collections by author, and trying to keep everything on the SD card to date, but it's starting to give me glitches, etc. 1,000 books and I don't have everything on it yet (total about 1800). Format-wise, I've changed them all to ePubs thru Calibre.

So my question is: What reader would best support LOTS of collections (because I hate my library to be disorganized, it drives me crazy), be at least 6" (because my eyes are getting old LOL) and have a decent screen?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions ...

[meem]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

For your demands, I consider Kindle DX one of the less advanced units.
For PDFs, it's still rather basic.

Until now it seems good for me, but I'm looking for better and lighter and faster for PDF files, but Kindle DX is doing the job for me now partial.

Originally Posted by mgmueller

First of all, I'd recommend deciding about the format: Do you need display sizes >6"?

Yes, because I use scanned books (not only text books) like comics and magazines and so on.

Originally Posted by mgmueller

....In general, for PDFs: The bigger, the better. But that's mainly true if you want to keep the layout intact. Often the document is generated for DIN A4. So if the screen is significantly smaller, you either don't see the entire text or you loose readability......

Exactly.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by friktion

Hi - I'm wondering what eReader I should look at next - I now have a Sony PRS700, which I am using with an 8G SD card. I have way too many "collections" for this model and it is becoming so slow ... I have been dividing up my collections by author, and trying to keep everything on the SD card to date, but it's starting to give me glitches, etc. 1,000 books and I don't have everything on it yet (total about 1800). Format-wise, I've changed them all to ePubs thru Calibre.

So my question is: What reader would best support LOTS of collections (because I hate my library to be disorganized, it drives me crazy), be at least 6" (because my eyes are getting old LOL) and have a decent screen?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions ...

All my Sony readers have the problem you mention.
Even without any changes, when starting Sony 900 takes minutes to check the library.
That's why I mainly keep it in standby.

If you want to organise large numbers of books, I wouldn't use collections.
I'd go for readers with folder view.
iRex 800 for example can show the content of the entire library in a single book view. Can be endless rows, but you don't have to care about the folder where the respective book might be hidden.
In addition, you can use the folder view. Similar to Windows Explorer.
Only downside I'm aware of: In collections, you can have the very same book more than once. For example under "thrillers" and under "James Patterson". That's just 2 links, not twice the book, of course.

Features as described above can be found (at least) on:
Cybook Opus and Cybook Gen3
iRex 800 and iRex 1000
BeBook Neo/Onyx Boox
PocketBooks

[Marioninyc]

I only got my Kindle DX a couple of weeks ago. I wrote a blog about my experiences with it so far, likes and gripes. Not a tech review, but maybe helpful. Go here: http://www.marionstein.net/2010/08/0...ndle-week-two/

(of course I should write a part two about how I don't really need wireless or wifi and probably should have gotten a Sony!)