8+ Readers in comparison

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Perfect example: Onyx Boox.
Its featureset could lift it to #1 of all ePaper devices. But its design won't allow it. ...

... just it's $299 price tag keeps it from top consideration.

Have they reduced it's price recently?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure I agree with you. Jinke are Chinese, and their products (variously branded as Hanlin, Aztak, BeBook, ECOReader, etc, etc) are extremely good. To equate Chinese design with poor quality is, I think, unjustified.

It is not meant as a blanket statement condemning every single Chinese designed product. Yes, there are good and reputable companies. But a warning to proceed with caution, because chances are extremely high that you will get stuck with a terrible lemon. I would never buy from a company that is unknown to me. The simple reason being that in general companies are not trying to do the best job they can -- "it only has to be just good enough" is their motto, not "let's do this right".

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by Fbone

... just it's $299 price tag keeps it from top consideration.

Have they reduced it's price recently?

The same here. It's the only one I'd bother buying, but at 299 (and it is in € here, so if you do the maths, you realize it is really overpriced in Europe) no way.

Quite happy right now with my nook, and I think I'm done searching the perfect reader, since I cannot (and believe me, I tried) understand the product management strategy of most of the companies making/selling them.

Thanks again mgm btw for the tip on the nook, I do not regret it !

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by aceflor

The same here. It's the only one I'd bother buying, but at 299 (and it is in € here, so if you do the maths, you realize it is really overpriced in Europe) no way.

Quite happy right now with my nook, and I think I'm done searching the perfect reader, since I cannot (and believe me, I tried) understand the product management strategy of most of the companies making/selling them.

I don't think it's at all overpriced, personally. The nook has major shortcomings, the most notable of which is no folder support, hence no way to sensibly organize a large (or even not so large) book collection; I'd find that completely intolerable.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think it's at all overpriced, personally. The nook has major shortcomings, the most notable of which is no folder support, hence no way to sensibly organize a large (or even not so large) book collection; I'd find that completely intolerable.

I did at the beginning too, now I don't put many books on my readers anymore, so it does not make such a difference. Plus I softrooted it, so I still have no folders but a way to find the book I am looking for.
I am sure the onyx is grand, but I don't feel like investing more money in a new reader right now. They all need a major technological step forward for me to make a move.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Quite happy right now with my nook, and I think I'm done searching the perfect reader, since I cannot (and believe me, I tried) understand the product management strategy of most of the companies making/selling them.

I noticed you have the PB 302. Isnt that rather close to the Onyx Boox in size and features?

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think it's at all overpriced, personally. The nook has major shortcomings, I'd find that completely intolerable.

It probably is not overpriced when compared to other readers available in the non-US market. However, for US residents it seems to be especially after the latest price adjustments. It is now twice the nook's price and only $80 less than Kindle DX.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Fbone

[COLOR="SeaGreen"]It probably is not overpriced when compared to other readers available in the non-US market. However, for US residents it seems to be especially after the latest price adjustments. It is now twice the nook's price and only $80 less than Kindle DX.

I realise we all have different priorities in these matters, but for me personally, price is much less important than functionality. I'm happy to pay 3x more for a device which has the features that I want. Of course I realise that for many people, price is an important consideration when selecting a reader.

[aceflor]

I noticed you have the PB 302. Isnt that rather close to the Onyx Boox in size and features?

If it was working properly, it would be. But the screen is a disaster in the sun, and I have had a screen change done once already, but it still fades in the sun. Many functionalities are still not really working properly, and the notes function is a disaster. Not a happy camper here...

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I realise we all have different priorities in these matters, but for me personally, price is much less important than functionality. I'm happy to pay 3x more for a device which has the features that I want. Of course I realise that for many people, price is an important consideration when selecting a reader.

Same here.
Problem is, often it's really hard to actually find quality products, as most customers aim for "as cheap as possible".

My calculation is quite simple:
I've bough about 250 eBooks from B&N for nook, about the same from Amazon for my Kindles. That's at least $ 2,000 from each. Same applies for PSP and other gadgets (yes, I've got the firmware hack. But still I buy my favorites).
So, what difference does it make to pay $ 100 more for your gadget, if you spend 10 times the amount for purchases afterwards anyway?
And as you, I prefer having fun with a gadget of $ 500, than being frustrated about a low quality product of $ 200.

So my system is: Some gadgets I postpone or leave out entirely. But the ones I get should be of acceptable quality, no compromises if possible.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

So, what difference does it make to pay $ 100 more for your gadget,

The difference of being able to afford it or not ...

My gadget budget is relatively limited for various reasons
- in my country in my position I earn significantly less than I would if I was working at the same position in USA, or Germany, or ...
- despite our lower income we have to pay more for gadgets here, because if the gadget is sold for $199 in USA it will be sold for at least 200Eur here
- my interests are wide and my "fun budget" is also used to purchase tools for my modest woodworking / metalworking ( ) workshop I have built at home and other things

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I realise we all have different priorities in these matters, but for me personally, price is much less important than functionality. I'm happy to pay 3x more for a device which has the features that I want. Of course I realise that for many people, price is an important consideration when selecting a reader.

Especially for those on limited budgets and use the library almost exclusively. That initial ereader purchase may seem daunting. Of course, it's possible these company's products are not marketed for those individuals.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by kacir

The difference of being able to afford it or not ...

My gadget budget is relatively limited for various reasons
- in my country in my position I earn significantly less than I would if I was working at the same position in USA, or Germany, or ...
- despite our lower income we have to pay more for gadgets here, because if the gadget is sold for $199 in USA it will be sold for at least 200Eur here
- my interests are wide and my "fun budget" is also used to purchase tools for my modest woodworking / metalworking ( ) workshop I have built at home and other things

Sorry, I didn't want to be insensitive or rude.
My budget is strictly limited as well. That's why I've written "some gadgets I postpone or leave out entirely". I found, I regret less, to do without certain gadgets than buying a cheaper version of the very same gadget just to have it.

I very much regret, having bought the WiFi only 32GB iPad. Now I'd go for the 64GB. I've underestimated the file size and number of magazines and newspapers I'm downloading. And I didn't want to have another 3G contract - back then I didn't know about the possibility to simply cut your standard SIM into a Micro SIM. And the cheap prepaids hadn't been announced yet. So I bought a MiFi for € 180 - more than the difference between the WiFi and the 3G version. And I found this happens very often: One buys a cheaper version, then buys some tool to compensate the shortcomings. And finally, the total package has been more expensive and is less compelling.

But I understand, that's "whining on high level" as we say in Germany. Within the EU countries, most of the gadgets are easily available. And it's relatively easy in these countries, to find a second income for sponsoring ones hobbies...

[kacir]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Sorry, I didn't want to be insensitive or rude.

No, you weren't insensitive or rude.
You simply asked the question "what difference $100 makes" ...

[tomereader]

Hi mgmueller,

Thanks for this great thread, after reading all 47 pages one thing I didn't see (but then I'm legally blind, so it might have slipped by is the font size options of your readers, can they all read in something like an 18 pt font without the zooming?

And in my research (links below) some charts imply that some readers can read ade and mobi drm (would like both as main source of books will be public library) but cannot confirm...

Last I notice that some ereaders have mp3 capability but not every ereader with mp3 capability says it plays audiobooks (another public library format) is there a difference?

Thanks for keeping this thread going!

research gathered: C and p charts, comparsons, links
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg789j94_0fszf4zm4

List of ereaders (about 135)
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...en&output=html

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by tomereader

Hi mgmueller,

Thanks for this great thread, after reading all 47 pages one thing I didn't see (but then I'm legally blind, so it might have slipped by is the font size options of your readers, can they all read in something like an 18 pt font without the zooming?

And in my research (links below) some charts imply that some readers can read ade and mobi drm (would like both as main source of books will be public library) but cannot confirm...

Last I notice that some ereaders have mp3 capability but not every ereader with mp3 capability says it plays audiobooks (another public library format) is there a difference?

Thanks for keeping this thread going!

research gathered: C and p charts, comparsons, links
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dg789j94_0fszf4zm4

List of ereaders (about 135)
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?k...en&output=html

Hi,
I'm glad you enjoy my rambling...

Re. font size: You're right, I've barely mentioned it. Personally, I read in relatively small fonts, that's the reason why I didn't focus on it.
Basically, I see 2 main differences concerning font sizes on the various readers:
a.) Handling. On some readers, it's a pain to change font sizes. Sometimes you have to stumble through 2 sub menus, to find the right configuration.
One of the benchmark units to me is BeBook Neo/Onyx Boox concerning that matter: The 5-way-button consists of 2 rings. The outer one is for the more complex menus. The inner one has some standard configurations: By pressing it up or down you change font size by 1 degree. Just within the respective book, up or down. Can be different for every single book of course.
b.) Available fonts: Only few readers offer a variety of fonts. Some even offer to install your own TT-fonts.
Available font sizes: Some only offer 3 or 5 steps, others offer 10 and more.

It's hard to recommend already. But in general, concerning fonts, I recommend taking a look at PocketBook 360, Cybook Opus and BeBook Neo/Onyx Boox (same hardware, interchangeable firmware).

Concerning ADE and Mobipocket Due to legal reasons/copyright-licensing issues it's not possible, to have DRM (copy protection = Digital Right Management) for both on the same reader/firmware.
You either can have 2 sets of firmware and flash back and forth on demand, for example on iRex 1000 or the Cybook units.
Or you can have 3rd party modifications, for example the TIRWAL set. Basically, TIRWAL did combine 2 sets of firmware and merge them into his own.
Personally, I've been a fan of Mobipocket and stick to it on iRex 1000 and Cybook Gen3. But it's a dying format, ADE clearly has taken over.
That's probably mainly because of Mobipocket having been acquired by Amazon about 18 months ago. Amazon uses a modification of Mobipocket on Kindle in their proprietary AZW format.

I'd recommend, going for a reader with ADE support. Mobipocket easily can be stripped from DRM and converted to ePUB or any other format, should you own lots of Mobipocket books.

Concerning MP3/audiobooks: I don't have any personal experience in that area. I find the MP3 support of ePaper units basic at best.
My understanding is: There are audiobooks in MP3, for example ripped CDs. Those should be playable on any MP3-capable reader.
But if you purchase audiobooks, usually they have additional features. For example, some years ago I've bought a bunch of audiobooks from Audible for my Pocket PCs. I wouldn't be able to play those on most of my MP3-capable readers as they're copy protected as well and they have different tags.
But there are Audible-compatible units, which explicitly state so.
But quite frankly, I can't recommend it. Even on Sony readers, it's not really fun. I can see myself, listening to MP3s in the background while reading some casual books. But I don't see any argument for listening to Audiobooks on readers. Even when traveling, there's always room for a smartphone or walkman.