Which should i buy?

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by boswd

nope just defending it against your lies and distortions. Now I'll agree for international support I would go with the Sony if something breaks

but you lying about having to have an American Credit Card and how you NEED a Barnes and noble account to operate the nook. You are wrong and you know you are wrong which then of course makes it a lie.

so again to backtrack a bit. If someone outside of the US owned a nook, upon intial set up you would "skip" the setting up a BN account and then the nook becomes a regular ereader that's not tied into the Barnes and Noble eco systems.

You are then free to shop where you want as long as the ebookstore supports ePub, PDB and PDF's.

those are the facts Joe.

You need a USA address and a USA credit card information so the device can be shipped. Those are the facts! Do not confuse people here.

Now, if you lie B&N and put false information there (because only way to have USA credit cards on your name is living here or if you previously lived here) it can be shipped and register on your name!

So people who opted for the Nook, lie and put USA information there, shipped to a USA address and that person or PO BOX shipped again to the final destination. There is no way that you can skip that 1st part, unless you travel to USA and use someone else credit card.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by jocampo

You need a USA address and a USA credit card information so the device can be shipped. Those are the facts! Do not confuse people here.

Now, if you lie B&N and put false information there (because only way to have USA credit cards on your name is living here or if you previously lived here) it can be shipped and register on your name!

So people who opted for the Nook, lie and put USA information there, shipped to a USA address and that person or PO BOX shipped again to the final destination. There is no way that you can skip that 1st part, unless you travel to USA and use someone else credit card.

or if you are in America or now of someone in America then can purchase one for you. This happens quite often.

but to actually operate and use the device you do not need to be set up on the Barnes and Noble system.

[polly]

Originally Posted by boswd

or if you are in America or now of someone in America then can purchase one for you. This happens quite often.

but to actually operate and use the device you do not need to be set up on the Barnes and Noble system.

You never did answer the question about what happens when the device is DOA or stops working a few weeks after delivery. B&N is quite clear that they don't support foreign markets and will not support readers outside of the US.

So suppose that this reader in India does manage to buy a Nook and avoid creating a B&N account. How is he going to update the firmware without that B&N account that requires the credit card? I knew soldiers in Germany who had B&N accounts and still had a hard time getting the firmware updated from there. I thought the original firmware for the Nook was slow, difficult to navigate, and poorly organized. I've heard it's gotten better since then, but that takes us back to being able to upgrade.

The OP already said that he's not interested in buying books from anywhere, so I'm not sure why you continue to harp on this topic. I can tell you from experience that B&N expects both an American credit card and an American IP address before they will even discuss the Nook or their ebooks with you.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by polly

You never did answer the question about what happens when the device is DOA or stops working a few weeks after delivery. B&N is quite clear that they don't support foreign markets and will not support readers outside of the US.

So suppose that this reader in India does manage to buy a Nook and avoid creating a B&N account. How is he going to update the firmware without that B&N account that requires the credit card? I knew soldiers in Germany who had B&N accounts and still had a hard time getting the firmware updated from there. I thought the original firmware for the Nook was slow, difficult to navigate, and poorly organized. I've heard it's gotten better since then, but that takes us back to being able to upgrade.

The OP already said that he's not interested in buying books from anywhere, so I'm not sure why you continue to harp on this topic. I can tell you from experience that B&N expects both an American credit card and an American IP address before they will even discuss the Nook or their ebooks with you.

*sigh* I have said multiple times that if technical support/warranty is going to be a main concern, I would choose the Sony due to their stronger International presence over the amazon and the nook. Contrary to beliefs by some Amazon does not have a presence or a support staff for every region of the earth. Sony would come closet out of all of them

the part I was disputing was the claim you can not use the nook outside the US. Now while it is true that to set up a nook barnes and noble account and to purchase and be part of the nook/bn ecosystem, you do need an american address and credit card.

but

If you skip over the setting up a Barnes and noble account the nook works as a regular ereader, just not with the Barnes and noble bookstore behind it. but you can shop other ebookstores, download supported formats from ebookstores on your nook no matter where you are in the world just as long as the ebookstore uses an ePub, PDB or PDF formats.

that's what I was disputing, I never said the nook was the best overall device outside the US. I was merely correcting a distortion that it was unusable outside the US.

[polly]

Originally Posted by boswd

If you skip over the setting up a Barnes and noble account the nook works as a regular ereader, just not with the Barnes and noble bookstore behind it. but you can shop other ebookstores, download supported formats from ebookstores on your nook no matter where you are in the world just as long as the ebookstore uses an ePub, PDB or PDF formats.

that's what I was disputing, I never said the nook was the best overall device outside the US. I was merely correcting a distortion that it was unusable outside the US.

But do you agree that B&N went out of their way to make it difficult to use a Nook if you don't have B&N behind you? Even their cover flow was designed to work with the B&N bookstore only. Yes, you can turn it on and launch a book in any country, but I don't see where having a Nook is of value if you can't even update the firmware. IMHO, the Nook should not even be mentioned to people outside the US. You're arguing semantics that only make sense to people who understand the details.

I'd invite you to go back to the OP, read what assistance he requested, read the whole thread, including your posts, and see if you think that you interlude with jocampo helped or hindered the OP in deciding what reader is best for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's so confused now that he's dropped the idea completely.

[stickybuns]

Hey, Souther, I hope that you have been able to find some useful information mixed in with all the arguing.

Choosing an ereader largely comes down to personal preference, and as you can see, some folks feels very passionate about their personal preferences!

I checked Amazon, and while shipping to India is under $10, a Kindle will be subject to customs/import duties and fees (as would, presumably, any ereader purchased from over seas). Hopefully you won't have any nasty surprises regarding the true cost of ownership!

I wasn't able to find ereaders on Sony's India website, but you can call sales/customer service at 1800-103-7799.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by polly

But do you agree that B&N went out of their way to make it difficult to use a Nook if you don't have B&N behind you? Even their cover flow was designed to work with the B&N bookstore only. Yes, you can turn it on and launch a book in any country, but I don't see where having a Nook is of value if you can't even update the firmware. IMHO, the Nook should not even be mentioned to people outside the US. You're arguing semantics that only make sense to people who understand the details.

I'd invite you to go back to the OP, read what assistance he requested, read the whole thread, including your posts, and see if you think that you interlude with jocampo helped or hindered the OP in deciding what reader is best for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's so confused now that he's dropped the idea completely.

*sigh* *double sigh* if you go back and read my original response to the OP, I recommended a Sony. NOT a nook.


You are jumping into a fight after everyone went home.

Someone who shall remain nameless started spewing off "facts" about the nook that just weren't true, and I was just refuting his claims. That's all.

If I lived in a foreign country a Sony would be my ereader of choice. The book selection for the Kindle isn't the same vast selection we see here in the United States. The Sony accepts ePub which would be more useful in using foreign ebookstores.

I just want to make that clear. I was just correcting him on making a claim that a nook is not operational outside the US and his other false claim that it did not support PDF's. Ok?



So to the OP, out all the eink ereaders out there that will support most of your files and have the best tech support and if you need to claim a warranty. Get a Sony. and also download Calibre if you haven't already to convert any mobi books to ePub.

[stickybuns]

Souther mentioned wanting 3G coverage. Is that available on Sony models other than the PRS-950? I'm not sure what his/her budget is, but with import fees, that model could very well be cost prohibitive.

One thing that s/he should look into before making a decision is whether Indian law allows DRM stripping for personal use (i.e. in order to convert to a different format). The whole issue of epub vs. mobi may be a moot point.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Souther

My eBooks are mainly in pdf, lit, mobi & epub format. Also, I live in India. So, please help me narrow down to something which will work in my country without any technical problem, as no one will be able to rectify any problem if it occurs. My brother coming from USA next month, he will buy me one when I tell him which.

Originally Posted by stickybuns

Hey, Souther
I checked Amazon, and while shipping to India is under $10, a Kindle will be subject to customs/import duties and fees (as would, presumably, any ereader purchased from over seas). Hopefully you won't have any nasty surprises regarding the true cost of ownership!

I wasn't able to find ereaders on Sony's India website, but you can call sales/customer service at 1800-103-7799.

Stickybuns, your reading comprehension seems to be out of order.

Souther, when your brother carrys the device as if it were his own, there is no need to pay customs and duty.

As for which device, I'd strongly recommend the Sony. Their customer support sucks anyway, but their products rarely need any support. I've had Sony products for the last 30 years and only once the need for CS. And then I wished I hadn't asked for warranty repair...

The Sony is a sturdy device and well worth the money. It will read your epubs and pdf's very well and if you go for the 950 you will have a 7" screen and 3G and wifi. But the Sony is not meant to surf the web. You will be able to connect to the Sony store and to Wikipedia as far as I know, but that's about it.

But no reader is made for surfing. If you want to surf and read you should consider buying a tablet. The reading experience is not as great as with e-ink, but the surfing is nice.

[stickybuns]

No need to question my reading comprehension, I just happened to miss that Souther had posted a reply to the thread amidst all the bickering going on.

At any rate, customs laws do not magically change just because an item is walked across a border instead of mailed. Now, would I personally go ahead and risk it... um, yeah. But I can't advise Souther to do something like that without knowing what sort of penalties/consequences exist in India for customs fraud. Maybe it's a no-big-deal sort of thing where you pay a fine or a "fine" and go on your merry way and maybe not. If Souther's brother is entering the country on an Indian passport and gets tapped for additional screening by customs, he could very well be charged import tax regardless of who the end user is.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by stickybuns

No need to question my reading comprehension, I just happened to miss that Souther had posted a reply to the thread amidst all the bickering going on.

At any rate, customs laws do not magically change just because an item is walked across a border instead of mailed. Now, would I personally go ahead and risk it... um, yeah. But I can't advise Souther to do something like that without knowing what sort of penalties/consequences exist in India for customs fraud. Maybe it's a no-big-deal sort of thing where you pay a fine or a "fine" and go on your merry way and maybe not. If Souther's brother is entering the country on an Indian passport and gets tapped for additional screening by customs, he could very well be charged import tax regardless of who the end user is.

So you'd suggest everyone travelling with their reader should pay taxes evertime they cross a border? Or how is this to understand?

[HansTWN]

You may have to produce a document stating where you bought it. And it depends on the country. Customs at many European airport doesn't check incoming luggage at all. In most Asian countries all your luggage has to go through X-ray machines. If you carry something very expensive and you are not a resident you have to fill out a form and they will check that you take it back out when you leave. If you are a resident you better get a sticker at the airport when you take the item out on your trip. That won't apply if the item is obviously not brand new.

I am sure in India they check very diligently, otherwise a lot of people would handcarry items and resell them.

[speedlever]

Well, that was entertaining.

Say, are you two really Mary Matalin and James Carville masquerading as jocampo and boswd? (a little USA humor)

[boswd]

Originally Posted by speedlever

Well, that was entertaining.

Say, are you two really Mary Matalin and James Carville masquerading as jocampo and boswd? (a little USA humor)

a little USA Politcal humor,, I do love those two

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

You may have to produce a document stating where you bought it. And it depends on the country. Customs at many European airport doesn't check incoming luggage at all. In most Asian countries all your luggage has to go through X-ray machines. If you carry something very expensive and you are not a resident you have to fill out a form and they will check that you take it back out when you leave. If you are a resident you better get a sticker at the airport when you take the item out on your trip. That won't apply if the item is obviously not brand new.

I am sure in India they check very diligently, otherwise a lot of people would handcarry items and resell them.

Whenever I enter the U.S. on an international flight, I get the 3rd degree about everything that I have with me. Anything that's extra shiny and brand new gets extra attention. Although the last time I flew, it seemed that I got pulled for extra screening by customs because I didn't buy anything shiny and brand new.

Poppaea, why would you think that I expect people to pay taxes every time they cross a border? I expect people to be aware of the laws of their country, nothing more.