Buy a E-reader in NY-city?

[Dava]

Hi!

My mom is going to NY next week and want to buy a e-reader i a store.

She isn't very technical and will use the book to buy swedish epub-DRM books back in sweden. Otherwise I would order a Kindle 3 for her..

She want the most value for the money. 6 inch screen.

What do you recomend?



I alreadey ordered a Kimdle 3 for myself that is waiting on the hotel..

[Asawi]

JR has a store in NYC. The Sony 350 has a 5" screen, but because of the high resolution still it's as readable as a 6". Worth checking out at least! The Sony 650 is a bit more expensive than many other, but a really good reader and I think it would be worth the money if they have it in stock. (It's very hard to find a 650 anywhere now.)
http://www.jr.com/category/office/book-readers/
I guess you could also find a BestBuy or Barnes and Noble and pick up a Nook as well. As non-US people we can't take full advantage of the "buying books on the go", but that would not be a big deal for me. I would get my books in other places (like library and Swedish online stores) and sideload them.

Hope she has checked out the Swedish eLibrary! Really good!
http://www.elib.se/bibliotek/

[Dava]

How about the NOOK? Can she read non-B&N books on that?
It's quite cheap and really here style.. differ from me, she cares a lot for design.

The PRS-350 are sweet but she want a 6" screen, the Sony 650 is right over the limit.


To Asawi:Tack för tipset om JR, är kanske egentligen sådan tips vi behöver.
Bibliotekets e-boksida är redan välbesökt

[ProfCrash]

Given that she is not tech savy and in Sweden I would go with a Sony 350 or 650. Sony's have a decent presence in Europe and I am guessing that there is a Sony store that she can use in Sweden. B&N does not have a presence in Sweden so it would probably be more difficult for her to get help is she was having problems with her e-reader.

[jbcohen]

I would like to recommend a bookeen, which I am told is does the best for foreign langueges such as Sweedish. I would also like to recommend open office from openoffice.org, a office suite of software that understands Sweedish - sw.openoffice.org.

[Dava]

I think I've have to tell her to go around in the stores and feel the different devices her self. If she likes the 5" Opus it comes in pink, and even the Sony PRS-350 is really good looking

On the other hand, Calibre isn't that hard to master and most test crown the kindle 3 to be the best... I can see some advantages in that we have the same device if she needs help over the phone.

Swedish isn't that different to english that i think any E-reader should have any problem. The only letters to differ is the å, ä and ö.

It's a really tough decision...

Please come with more tips on stores in the NYC.


Thanks for the Openoffice tip, but we are already using it in our family. In fact, our entire city community try to use it during the last year. Unfortunately the non-techie city-employees complained so much that they are back to MS word :/

[Asawi]

Dava probably already knows this, but just for info for others, the brand's own bookstores mean very little to us in Sweden. Swedish eBooks can be bough in any online bookstore.

There is certainly an advantage in the two of you having the same device. especially if you live som distance apart and any support from you will be over the phone. I try to keep things that way with my daughter (I'm the tech nerd in our family). Much easier to give support over the phone that way!

The 5" Opus can in no way be compared to the 5" Sony. If you're going 5" the 350 simply cannot be beaten. The text is so crisp that even me with bad eyesight can read many books with the small font setting. On the 6" I had before I usually had to use medium, so I did not get any more text on the screen, and it was not easier to read than on the 350.

[Asawi]

After some sleep and a refreshing morning walk I would have to say that I would not suggest that your mother would get a Kindle, even if you have one.
I would not give a reader without native ePub support to anyone in Sweden who hadn't specifically asked for a Kindle, know what that would mean: No books in Swedish, and no library books at all unless you strip DRM and convert books.

Yes, with Calibre that IS dead easy, but not everyone wants to do it, and even though it IS easy it's still extra steps.

I can't put myself in your mother's situation (although it's highly likely we're the same age), cause I like tech challenges. I have a sister in law though that is an avid reader and non-techie, and also an extrremly rule abiding person. No way on earth she would accept stripping library books of their DRM! For her to have reader it woudl have to be as easy as "go to library web site, get the book, hook up the reader and transfer book to it".

If I were to give a reader to someone I would want them to be able to handle the everyday things with it herself and not rely upon being able to do it for him/her. And that they knew what they were doing. If they have to strip DRM I would want them to be aware that is what they are doing so it's actually their decision, not mine.

Sideloading to the Nook or the Kindle should be about equally easy. The brand book stores are both useless for Swedish books so sideloading would be the choice for both of them..

[Poppaea]

I have to second the Sony PRS350. I am nearsighted myself and where I had to use the S font on my 6" reader I can now use the XS font on the 350.

The Sony readers are easy to operate, come with Sony Reader Library that is easy to handle too and can sync all books your Mom buys or gets from the Library to the reader.

She will be able to see the book covers and no folders. This is for example an important point for my technically challenged Mom, as she can tap on the cover to open the book but would be intimidated by a folder which'd give the whole thing a computer look and feel.

Also there is the point of epub in Europe. Epub is the format most used over here and the easiest to get. Even when you set up her computer to do the forbidden thing, how often would you like to be called for help? Amazon has altered their DRM a couple of times over the past 4 weeks. On January 18th it was plugin 0.1.9 now it is 0.2.6...

Get a Sony and even fork out for a 650. You will get a solid piece of hardware, the convience of the SonyStore for maintance and the easy to get epubs books, granting a wide selection.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by Dava

Hi!

My mom is going to NY next week and want to buy a e-reader i a store.

She isn't very technical and will use the book to buy swedish epub-DRM books back in sweden. Otherwise I would order a Kindle 3 for her..

She want the most value for the money. 6 inch screen.

What do you recomend?

I alreadey ordered a Kimdle 3 for myself that is waiting on the hotel..

You can send her to barnes and nobles flagship store. Its amazing. She can check out the nook there and have the staff walk her through it and see if that's something she's interested in. If not at least a trip to our country's largest bookstore near Union Square Park is fantastic in it's own right.

[ProfCrash]

The Nook is probably not a great option for someone living in Sweden who is not tech savy. She is not going to have access to BN support if something goes wrong with her device and sending it back to the US will be a pain in the wazoo.

The Sony is supported throughout Europe which makes it a good reader for her. She can see one at a Best Buy. I am guessing that there is a Sony shop somewhere in NY City that she could go to.

I have no idea about the support for Pocketbook and similar devices in Europe.

I know that when my Mom asked for an e-reader I got her a DXG because I knew that the larger screen would mean fewer page turns and that she could use a very large font comfortably. I would recommend a larger screen for anyone who is in their mid to late 60's or above for just that reason.

The 5 and 6 inch screens are great for portability but when you start bumping up the font site to help older eyes read you really decrease the amount of words on the page. If your Mom does like the Sony and you can afford it, I would go with the 950. The extra inch of space makes a huge difference. My Mom has looked at the 6 inch K3 and is thrilled with the larger screen on the DXG. Just something to think about.

[elemenoP]

I think the Sony is very easy to use for finding your book on the device and reading it, since it has the touchscreen. It can be harder to load books (get them on the computer and then get them on the device), do you live close enough to help her with that?

As far as stores: there are several Best Buys and they should have the Sony, the Nook, and Kindle side by side (or at least in the same store). There is a Sony Store in the Sony Building in midtown. Someone just posted that they don't have the 650, though. I think the 650 might be out of stock everywhere right now, sadly.

Other big electronics stores to try: J&R and B&H Photo. These stores are huge and they carry a lot of things but even if they sell the smaller brands online (like Pocketbook, Opus, etc) they may or may not have them on display to look at and touch.

Sheri

[boswd]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The Nook is probably not a great option for someone living in Sweden who is not tech savy. She is not going to have access to BN support if something goes wrong with her device and sending it back to the US will be a pain in the wazoo.

The Sony is supported throughout Europe which makes it a good reader for her. She can see one at a Best Buy. I am guessing that there is a Sony shop somewhere in NY City that she could go to.

I have no idea about the support for Pocketbook and similar devices in Europe.

I know that when my Mom asked for an e-reader I got her a DXG because I knew that the larger screen would mean fewer page turns and that she could use a very large font comfortably. I would recommend a larger screen for anyone who is in their mid to late 60's or above for just that reason.

The 5 and 6 inch screens are great for portability but when you start bumping up the font site to help older eyes read you really decrease the amount of words on the page. If your Mom does like the Sony and you can afford it, I would go with the 950. The extra inch of space makes a huge difference. My Mom has looked at the 6 inch K3 and is thrilled with the larger screen on the DXG. Just something to think about.

True but it does accept ePub as I'm sure you know LOL and she can always sideload her content, which she would be basically doing no matter what device she bought. And ePub device might be better suited for a Eurpopean bookmarket.

and besides who goes to Manhatten and goes to a best buy Barnes and Noble Union Square, now that's more New York

[ProfCrash]

As does the Sony and Sony is supported throughout Europe. She is not going to be able to shop at the BN store without some fiddling.

This isn't about suggesting an e-reader that we like but one that makes sense for the OP Mom. What we know is that the OP Mom lives in Sweden, wants to read books in Swedish, and is not tech savy. That means the OP's Mom needs an ereader that reads EPUb, is easy to use, and can be easily supported if there is a problem. Both the Sony and Nook meet the first two criteria but the Nook fails miserably in the third area.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

As does the Sony and Sony is supported throughout Europe. She is not going to be able to shop at the BN store without some fiddling.

This isn't about suggesting an e-reader that we like but one that makes sense for the OP Mom. What we know is that the OP Mom lives in Sweden, wants to read books in Swedish, and is not tech savy. That means the OP's Mom needs an ereader that reads EPUb, is easy to use, and can be easily supported if there is a problem. Both the Sony and Nook meet the first two criteria but the Nook fails miserably in the third area.

true to a certain extent., though I think miserable is tough word to use. They arent' going to hang up on you if they find out your not an American. If you have an issue you can call and they will help you out.

and I thought I heard the sony 650 isn't supported Internationally, though I could be wrong.

I was simply suggesting if the OP's mom is looking to shop around and test drive some ereaders, why not make a New York destination at the Barnes and Noble's Flagship store in Unioun Square while they are at it. At the very least you are going to get a fun bookstore experience. they'll answer any and all international questions.

For an independant bookstore experiernce, The Strand is my all time favorite bookstore in Manhatten. That place is the eptiome of an independant NY bookstore wonderfull place, 18 miles of books.