8+ Readers in comparison

[jj2me]

I have 54 different MP3 players (61 if you count the 2 broken ones and 5 given away). Cost ~ $3,000 including accessories.

Never admitted the full count to anyone.

Should last me another hundred years or so (most can have their batteries replaced).

None of them are iPods, because I listen to a lot of public library audiobooks, most of which need PlaysForSure/MTP support to play. I guess this is how it started--public library audiobooks don't expire when on the MP3 player, so back then, my warped mind thought it seemed like buying a new player to hold more free audiobooks was cheap compared to the price of audiobooks/books-on-tape. Now, I'm using them fully: music, podcasts, audiobooks, portable video (e.g., TV shows moved from TiVo).

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I've always collected "stuff".
As a child, I've bought maybe 8.000 comics.
As a teen, I've bought about 4.000 paper books.
As a student, I've bought about 800 CDs.
Then I've bought about 1.000 DVDs.
(I've skipped Blue-Rays, as I hate "moving parts").
Now I have about 2.000 iTunes movies, 6.000 iTunes TV shows and 1.500 iPad/iPhone apps.
(Just to mention: I don't have rich parents, I've always had several jobs while in school or while being a student).
This may seem a lot and awfully expensive. It certainly would be expensive, if I bought such amounts at once.
But I've bought most of the eBook readers over a period of about 18 months. Maybe 1 reader per month on average. Is € 300 per month a lot for one's hobby? I totally understand, € 300 in lots of countries is a huge amount. But given the "average EU citizen", I'm pretty sure there are millions of people with way more expensive hobbies.
I've met people, who spent € 10.000 on a single vacation. Or who buy a new car (and I'm not talking about a car worth € 2.000, more in the range > € 100.000) every 1 or 2 years.
My hobby obviously is way cheaper.
Does it make sense? To me, it does.
Is it necessary? Definitely not. I've used most of my readers for less than 20 hours. But 20 hours means 2 days of fun - sometimes that's worth a lot.

Originally Posted by JerseyBiker

Well I got you beat in something. I have over 3000 CDs. Mostly jazz but also rock, blues, rhythm and classical. And I stopped buying CDs on a regular basis some years ago.

I have a 2 1/2 year old $20,000 Harley that I added close to $5000 in extras since I've had it and I will be adding more. I did the same with other motorcycles I owned in the past and don't let me get started on the boats I use to own. No your hobby is not that expensive compared to others.

~eddie

[blacktemplario]

I have only a sony 600 and i'm very pleased.
Because english is not my mother language and my e-books are almost english, i never would buy a reader without dictionary suport.

[Cla]

what's the best reader for pdf?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Cla

what's the best reader for pdf?

It depends on the kind of documents you have.

For "casual reads", it's not that critical. Usually you'll use reflow then and most readers can do this sufficiently.

For "professional documents" (contracts, proposals, technical descriptions, text books, ...) it's way more complicated. Most likely, reflow will "destroy" your document. Meaning: Formulas get crippled, graphics get "lost" and so on.
Usually, you'll go for zoom instead of reflow then.
And here's a huge difference between the various readers.
Personally, I prefer touchscreen units, so I can mark the area of interest.
And I prefer, having more or less the same format as the original document. Usually, that's A4 or letter. So, the bigger the reader the better.
BeBook Neo/Onyx Boox (same hardware, different/interchangeable firmware) has its fans, although it's only 6".
The new PocketBook readers 602/603 and 902/903 might be interesting as well.
I like my 3 iRex readers: iLiad, 1000S and 800.
I haven't seen the new Sony readers (I'll pass this time). But the "old" ones (Sony 700, 600 and 900) did have limited zoom capabilities (only valid for a single page, then it's reseted).

In general, PDF isn't one of the better formats for eBooks. If you can avoid it, you should go for ePUB for example instead.

[Cla]

thanks for the reply! I would like an ebook mainly for academic reading. And I wouldn't like to have to be converting pdf to other format (I don't know if it works well and it would consume time). Pocketbook 903 seems to be a good option, do you know when will it be released?
thanks!

[blacktemplario]

I give-up from read PDF with GRAPHICS with my sony prs-600.
I have to adquire other reader...i'm searching !!!

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Cla

thanks for the reply! I would like an ebook mainly for academic reading. And I wouldn't like to have to be converting pdf to other format (I don't know if it works well and it would consume time). Pocketbook 903 seems to be a good option, do you know when will it be released?
thanks!

PocketBook 903 already can be (pre)ordered.
The website says "delivery ca. 2 weeks".
Given the specs and my experience with PocketBook 360, it should be fine. Probably one of the benchmark units >6".

BTW: You're right re. converting. PDF is one of the worst formats for converting to other formats.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by blacktemplario

I give-up from read PDF with GRAPHICS with my sony prs-600.
I have to adquire other reader...i'm searching !!!

Theoretically, the zoom of Sony's readers would be okay.
But you have to set it for every single page.
And it's a bit annoying, using the sliders.
It's way more convenient on the iRex readers. Or on Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo.
You just mark the area of interest with your stylus and explode this region to full screen. I call this "intelligent zoom".
(Same can be done on iPad of course, which some consider best for PDFs.)
I expect the same from PocketBook.

[Cla]

so do you think the previous version of Pocketbook provides a comfortable reading of pdf files?

[Logseman]

I can attest to that. I have to convert every single one of my class files into PDF and the PB360 allows a quite comfortable experience in spite of the small size. The main reason why I'm getting a 902 is because it's more convenient, but I have been doing fine with the zoom capacities of the PB in converted presentations and texts, and even manga.

[Cla]

No doubt pb360 is a good product! But a bigger screen is more attractive to me because of the pdf reading. And PB902 seems great! Simple and basic. It will be fantastic if you do a mini personal review when you get it!

[SurelyK]

Hi - anyone using a Kindle with 3G in Canada? Is the 3G really free in Canada, or is that only in the US?

[ilka]

Hi, I am new to the community and to ebook readers.
I am living in Germany and would love to get a Nook.
Can I use the Nook in Germany and Europe to buy and download ebooks. I have read some comments that this is not possible. You would hab eto buy the ebooks in the US ??
How does that work ?
Does the 3 G work abrought or only in the US since supported by AT&T ?
Thanks for your comments ?
Ilka

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by ilka

Hi, I am new to the community and to ebook readers.
I am living in Germany and would love to get a Nook.
Can I use the Nook in Germany and Europe to buy and download ebooks. I have read some comments that this is not possible. You would hab eto buy the ebooks in the US ??
How does that work ?
Does the 3 G work abrought or only in the US since supported by AT&T ?
Thanks for your comments ?
Ilka

Hi,
you can purchase from B&N via VPN.
Without VPN, they don't allow purchasing books due to your non-US-IP.
You either can purchase via VPN on your PC or via VPN on softrooted (kind of "hacked") nook.
After that, you can download via 3G or WiFi directly on your nook. They don't check IPs then.
3G doesn't work "out of the box" outside US. You have to softroot your nook (just flashing a "hacked" firmware, absolutely easy and convenient). Then you have to add details for your service provider. No need for any kind of "programming skills". nook just needs to switch from AT&T to your provider (T-Mobile in my case, Germany like you).

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by SurelyK

Hi - anyone using a Kindle with 3G in Canada? Is the 3G really free in Canada, or is that only in the US?

3G is free everywhere (ie everywhere where Kindle is available for purchase). For downloading your purchased books.
Quote from "Important Reminder About International Delivery Fees" (pre-installed on every Kindle):
"...There is no charge for wirelessly receiving books, receiving single periodical issues, browsing the Kindle store, or using the experimental web browser while traveling internationally".

BUT:
"...Due to international costs, additional fees apply for receiving some items wirelessly outside the US:
- For subscriptions...a weekly fee of $ 4.99.
- For personal documents...the fee is $ .99 per megabyte...".