What's the #1 item you check before buying an ereader

jocampo · 12-13-2010, 09:59 AM

Just curious about what's number 1 item or feature that pushed you to take the final move and buy the ereader you have now.

I know there are probably more than one, but I would like to one which one was the most important for you when taking such decision.

Thanks in advance,

astrangerhere · 12-13-2010, 10:10 AM

The ability to carry my entire library with me. I have a Nook, and the epub support as well as the expandable memory were the winners for me. I have with me at any time at least 600 books and I am in absolute heaven with it.

JSWolf · 12-13-2010, 10:14 AM

How good the software is. Most cases, the hardware is fine. But if the software is not good, then the device is not good enough. We've seen too many devices plagued with software bug or missing features that make the device not worth buying. I don't buy a device based on what might be forthcoming. I buy based on what's there now. Anything added after purchase is a bonus.

Pookeysgirl · 12-13-2010, 10:15 AM

I selected the device itself, but I also bought it because it's Canadian, good price (back in May) and because it can hold thousands of books.

Lemurion · 12-13-2010, 10:15 AM

Number one, price.

If it didn't fit in my budget, nothing else mattered because you can't buy what you can't afford.

Number two, was screen quality. Everything else followed from that. I could always convert books, but I can't change the appearance of the screen.

ficbot · 12-13-2010, 10:23 AM

I had a Sony that was perfectly fine, but I upgraded to the Kindle because I wanted text to speech and support for non-English dictionaries.

sakura-panda · 12-13-2010, 10:23 AM

The device itself. At the time, I was aware of Kindle 1 and Sony PRS-505, and the price and library were similar enough to not make an impact one way or another.

If I were shopping now, I would likely have other considerations.

ApK · 12-13-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Number one, price.

If it didn't fit in my budget, nothing else mattered because you can't buy what you can't afford.

Well, thanks to credit cards (and sub-prime mortgages), you CAN buy what you can't afford, but it's probably a good practice that you don't.

However, there is, I think, a strong argument that other factors should come first, and if you can't afford a device that meets those other factors, just don't buy one, or save up until you can.

"I have a reader that hurts my eyes, strains my wrist, and has none of the books I want, but it was a great deal!"

We bought our reader based on:
1. It's features
2. Form factor of the device itself
3. Tied for third was our relationship with the vendor (we like shopping at Amazon), and price (we had nothing against B&N if their reader was much cheaper).

ApK

TallMomof2 · 12-13-2010, 11:14 AM

Device features and firmware first. I don't worry about ebook availability because I can put just about any ebook on any reader I own. Python scripts and Calibre plugins are beautiful.

jkeene · 12-13-2010, 11:20 AM

The device itself is crucial to me. After nine hours per day in front of computer screens, the device has to be kind to my eyes.

treadlightly · 12-13-2010, 11:35 AM

Screen clarity and ease of turning the page were key for me.

CWatkinsNash · 12-13-2010, 11:53 AM

I chose based on the device and my experience with the device's vendor, and I considered that separately from the vendor's format offerings for the same reasons TallMomof2 mentioned. I knew I wanted an eink display, and I wanted a device that was well documented and well supported. I've had my K3 for a few days now and I'm confident that I made the right choice for my needs.

desertgrandma · 12-13-2010, 11:55 AM

Actually, customer service should be listed also.

Thats a very important feature for those who have no experience, and even for those that do.

Latinandgreek · 12-13-2010, 11:58 AM

Epub, PDF and rtf support.

ProfCrash · 12-13-2010, 12:42 PM

I voted for the "device" option. As an American I have the benefit of access to a large number of books. I think that most of the mainstream bookstores sell the books that I like so I didn't feel restricted by format or bookstore when buying my e-reader.

View Poll Results: Number 1 item or feature that helped you buy your current ereader
Book's availability on the ereader online Bookstore	19	10.56%
The device itself (weight, feeling in your hands, etc)	70	38.89%
Supported ebook format	70	38.89%
Other	21	11.67%
Voters: 180. You may not vote on this poll

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12-13-2010, 09:59 AM	#1
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	What's the #1 item you check before buying an ereader Just curious about what's number 1 item or feature that pushed you to take the final move and buy the ereader you have now. I know there are probably more than one, but I would like to one which one was the most important for you when taking such decision. Thanks in advance, Last edited by jocampo; 12-13-2010 at 10:04 AM.

12-13-2010, 10:10 AM	#2
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,751 Karma: 68428716 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	The ability to carry my entire library with me. I have a Nook, and the epub support as well as the expandable memory were the winners for me. I have with me at any time at least 600 books and I am in absolute heaven with it.

12-13-2010, 10:14 AM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,757 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	How good the software is. Most cases, the hardware is fine. But if the software is not good, then the device is not good enough. We've seen too many devices plagued with software bug or missing features that make the device not worth buying. I don't buy a device based on what might be forthcoming. I buy based on what's there now. Anything added after purchase is a bonus.

12-13-2010, 10:15 AM	#4
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	I selected the device itself, but I also bought it because it's Canadian, good price (back in May) and because it can hold thousands of books.

12-13-2010, 10:15 AM	#5
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Number one, price. If it didn't fit in my budget, nothing else mattered because you can't buy what you can't afford. Number two, was screen quality. Everything else followed from that. I could always convert books, but I can't change the appearance of the screen.

12-13-2010, 10:23 AM	#6
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I had a Sony that was perfectly fine, but I upgraded to the Kindle because I wanted text to speech and support for non-English dictionaries.

12-13-2010, 10:23 AM	#7
sakura-panda Guru Posts: 934 Karma: 9558874 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Oasis; 11" iPad Pro (Books, Kindle, Kobo, MapleRead SE)	The device itself. At the time, I was aware of Kindle 1 and Sony PRS-505, and the price and library were similar enough to not make an impact one way or another. If I were shopping now, I would likely have other considerations.

12-13-2010, 11:14 AM	#9
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Device features and firmware first. I don't worry about ebook availability because I can put just about any ebook on any reader I own. Python scripts and Calibre plugins are beautiful.

12-13-2010, 11:20 AM	#10
jkeene Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 85586 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 3	The device itself is crucial to me. After nine hours per day in front of computer screens, the device has to be kind to my eyes.

12-13-2010, 11:35 AM	#11
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	Screen clarity and ease of turning the page were key for me.

12-13-2010, 11:53 AM	#12
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	I chose based on the device and my experience with the device's vendor, and I considered that separately from the vendor's format offerings for the same reasons TallMomof2 mentioned. I knew I wanted an eink display, and I wanted a device that was well documented and well supported. I've had my K3 for a few days now and I'm confident that I made the right choice for my needs.

12-13-2010, 11:55 AM	#13
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Actually, customer service should be listed also. Thats a very important feature for those who have no experience, and even for those that do.

12-13-2010, 11:58 AM	#14
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	Epub, PDF and rtf support.

12-13-2010, 12:42 PM	#15
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I voted for the "device" option. As an American I have the benefit of access to a large number of books. I think that most of the mainstream bookstores sell the books that I like so I didn't feel restricted by format or bookstore when buying my e-reader.