What's the #1 item you check before buying an ereader - Page 3

WT Sharpe · 12-13-2010, 09:00 PM

I checked "Other" because making annotations and having the ability to copy passages to other applications on my PC is paramount. For me, if a reader doesn't serve a secondary function as a research tool, it's not worth taking home.

dengar · 12-13-2010, 10:31 PM

I voted for the device. It can support 10,000 different formats but if I don't want to hold it I wont use it.

Jakie · 12-13-2010, 10:38 PM

I too chose device. Although I would love to say that I am choosing the one that is the best device, with the most features, per dollar, and easiest to use, but the hard reality is that I will purchase the most reasonably priced unit, when I am ready to purchase. Hence, I am looking at the jetbook lite ($90 at newegg.ca) or the refurbished sony prs 300 ($100 at London Drugs). I still check out the Kindle 3, and my girlfriend wants the Kobo wifi.

Xanthe · 12-13-2010, 11:25 PM

The device itself.

I was intially going to check ebook format, because that was one of the main criteria when I bought my first current ereader, but then I realized that above and beyond that, I was looking for a reader that would give me options regarding turning pages and hand positions for holding it. I prefer having an ereader that would handle a lot of formats natively, but Calibre makes that not a problem, really. I don't read technical PDF's so that's not a blip on my radar.

The ability to buy books from the ereader's store is a non-issue for me. I don't need to be tied into one media source. Besides, Aluratek and Pandigital don't have a ebook store, and Sony's just doesn't operate smoothly enough for me to make it a preferred choice.

andykeating · 12-14-2010, 01:23 AM

i think everything matters a lot.. but for me most important is supported ebook format..

BookCat · 12-14-2010, 03:24 AM

Price, closely followed by reputation ie what the general consensus is regarding the device's reliability and lack of glare etc. eink is important too, I don't like the backlit devices.

But none of this is important if I can't afford it. Feeding the cats is more important than buying a new ebook!

dogsballs · 12-14-2010, 03:58 AM

weight. I read mostly in bed lying flat on my back holding the reader above me. after a while thoes extra few onces make all the differance

astra · 12-14-2010, 05:25 AM

Hardware.
1. Screen and battery.
2. Availability of s/w to create ebooks myself.

haiyeekayakee · 12-14-2010, 05:57 AM

Ebook formats jumped out at me first, but then I thought that maybe the device itself is more important what with the ability of Calibre etc to convert formats.

But after thinking about it a bit more I went back to format support, because to me that indicates how open/closed/locked down a manufacturer is, and openness is very important to me - I will do as little as possible to support a locked down platform, no matter how superficially enticing it may initially seem.

tubemonkey · 12-14-2010, 06:08 AM

It's color. I will not buy a white, silver, or other light colored reader. The glare from the bezel is quite distracting and bothers my eyes. The reader must be black, dark charcoal, other similar dark color.

Current devices with the correct color include the Nook Color, Kindle 3, and Kobo WiFi.

I have my tablet with the Nook Color, so now I'm looking for an eInk reader. Since B&N chose not to upgrade the Nook, my field seems to be limited to the Kindle and Kobo.

ApK · 12-14-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's color. I will not buy a white, silver, or other light colored reader. The glare from the bezel is quite distracting and bothers my eyes. The reader must be black, dark charcoal, other similar dark color.

That's interesting. Many folks have wanted the opposite, claiming that dark bezels contrast with the screen background too much and are a distraction, while a light color blends in. I recall several comments on the Amazon forums that people exchanged their K3 wifi for 3G just to get the light color option.

I'm not sure myself. I'm leaning to light myself, as that's what we currently own. Aesthetically I think I'd prefer dark, so I'll have to go check a dark one out for it's ergonomics.

Xanthe · 12-15-2010, 12:52 PM

That's one of the few things that I don't like about my Sony - the brushed aluminum frame. It makes the reader look really good, and l like that from the aesthetic sense, but when I'm reading a book, I'm always aware of that frame because of the way it catches the light. My Aluratek is white and that seems to make the frame disappear. My PDN has a black inner margin and a white frame and that too seems to make the frame disappear.

benham · 12-17-2010, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's color. I will not buy a white, silver, or other light colored reader. The glare from the bezel is quite distracting and bothers my eyes. The reader must be black, dark charcoal, other similar dark color.

Current devices with the correct color include the Nook Color, Kindle 3, and Kobo WiFi.

I have my tablet with the Nook Color, so now I'm looking for an eInk reader. Since B&N chose not to upgrade the Nook, my field seems to be limited to the Kindle and Kobo.

This is an interesting observation because the type on my blue Sony 505 appears easier to read then my wife's silver Sony 600

Ankh · 12-17-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

For me, it was simply a matter of "what's available in Canada? (circa 2008). The Sony PRS-505 was. Everything elso was not. Sony got me then, and I've continued to like the Sony PRS units since. Once I get into a nice rut, it will take something magical for me to move to another device where I'll have to relearn everything all over again.

Interesting.

"What was available in Canada" played a big part of my decision, too. ePub format support was more important, though, so that's my choice. The third expectation was that the device itself will will be hacked and improved by the OI community, which has not materialized, mainly due to the quirks of 505 implementation.

Great piece of hardware, but Sony will, most likely, lose my business when I go for upgrade. "No software updates" policy of Sony is the reason why.

SeaBookGuy · 12-17-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The reader must be black, dark charcoal, other similar dark color.

Current devices with the correct color include the Nook Color, Kindle 3, and Kobo WiFi.

I have my tablet with the Nook Color, so now I'm looking for an eInk reader. Since B&N chose not to upgrade the Nook, my field seems to be limited to the Kindle and Kobo.

The Sony 650 comes in black, or is WiFi a must?

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, 09:00 PM	#31
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I checked "Other" because making annotations and having the ability to copy passages to other applications on my PC is paramount. For me, if a reader doesn't serve a secondary function as a research tool, it's not worth taking home.

12-13-2010, 10:31 PM	#32
dengar Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 2810 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: PW2, K3, Ipad 4, Kindle Fire	I voted for the device. It can support 10,000 different formats but if I don't want to hold it I wont use it.

12-13-2010, 10:38 PM	#33
Jakie Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 225544 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Keremeos BC Device: Kindle PW5, Kobo Libre2	I too chose device. Although I would love to say that I am choosing the one that is the best device, with the most features, per dollar, and easiest to use, but the hard reality is that I will purchase the most reasonably priced unit, when I am ready to purchase. Hence, I am looking at the jetbook lite ($90 at newegg.ca) or the refurbished sony prs 300 ($100 at London Drugs). I still check out the Kindle 3, and my girlfriend wants the Kobo wifi.

12-13-2010, 11:25 PM	#34
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	The device itself. I was intially going to check ebook format, because that was one of the main criteria when I bought my first current ereader, but then I realized that above and beyond that, I was looking for a reader that would give me options regarding turning pages and hand positions for holding it. I prefer having an ereader that would handle a lot of formats natively, but Calibre makes that not a problem, really. I don't read technical PDF's so that's not a blip on my radar. The ability to buy books from the ereader's store is a non-issue for me. I don't need to be tied into one media source. Besides, Aluratek and Pandigital don't have a ebook store, and Sony's just doesn't operate smoothly enough for me to make it a preferred choice.

12-14-2010, 01:23 AM	#35
andykeating Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	i think everything matters a lot.. but for me most important is supported ebook format..

12-14-2010, 03:24 AM	#36
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Price, closely followed by reputation ie what the general consensus is regarding the device's reliability and lack of glare etc. eink is important too, I don't like the backlit devices. But none of this is important if I can't afford it. Feeding the cats is more important than buying a new ebook!

12-14-2010, 03:58 AM	#37
dogsballs Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 509332 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: sony psr-505	weight. I read mostly in bed lying flat on my back holding the reader above me. after a while thoes extra few onces make all the differance

12-14-2010, 05:25 AM	#38
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Hardware. 1. Screen and battery. 2. Availability of s/w to create ebooks myself.

12-14-2010, 05:57 AM	#39
haiyeekayakee Member Posts: 23 Karma: 524 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS650	Ebook formats jumped out at me first, but then I thought that maybe the device itself is more important what with the ability of Calibre etc to convert formats. But after thinking about it a bit more I went back to format support, because to me that indicates how open/closed/locked down a manufacturer is, and openness is very important to me - I will do as little as possible to support a locked down platform, no matter how superficially enticing it may initially seem.

12-14-2010, 06:08 AM	#40
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,763 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	It's color. I will not buy a white, silver, or other light colored reader. The glare from the bezel is quite distracting and bothers my eyes. The reader must be black, dark charcoal, other similar dark color. Current devices with the correct color include the Nook Color, Kindle 3, and Kobo WiFi. I have my tablet with the Nook Color, so now I'm looking for an eInk reader. Since B&N chose not to upgrade the Nook, my field seems to be limited to the Kindle and Kobo.

12-15-2010, 12:52 PM	#42
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	That's one of the few things that I don't like about my Sony - the brushed aluminum frame. It makes the reader look really good, and l like that from the aesthetic sense, but when I'm reading a book, I'm always aware of that frame because of the way it catches the light. My Aluratek is white and that seems to make the frame disappear. My PDN has a black inner margin and a white frame and that too seems to make the frame disappear.