Nook Simple touch or not?

[Blaec]

Hi guys

Im looking for an e-reader, I just want it to read books, not looking for a tablet.

Mostly going to load pdfs on from my computer, but a good range of supported formats is good. Wifi would also be useful.

Has to be an e-ink screen, and ideally touch screen but I can compromise on the touch screen if its worth it.

My research so far has led me to the Nook Simple Touch. Is this a good buy?

Thanks in advance

[Blaec]

Decided the Nook was too hard to get in Aus.

Now its down to Kobo eReader Touch vs Sony PRST1.

Kobo is cheaper, but doesn't have physical page turning buttons (which I think I might like).
Sony is more expensive, lighter and gains ability to play music.

Are there any other notable differences I am missing?

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by Blaec

Hi guys

Im looking for an e-reader, I just want it to read books, not looking for a tablet.

Mostly going to load pdfs on from my computer, but a good range of supported formats is good. Wifi would also be useful.

Has to be an e-ink screen, and ideally touch screen but I can compromise on the touch screen if its worth it.

My research so far has led me to the Nook Simple Touch. Is this a good buy?

Thanks in advance

I love my nook simple touch. It does exactly what I want it to do with so few exceptions they're not worth mentioning here.

But I read epub exclusively, not pdf.

pdf can be problematic on any reader (HA! even on computers!) but I don't know what reader handles it best.

[afv011]

I concur, 6 or 7 inches is too small for a PDF, so you need to read in landscape and scroll up and down, which is a PITA on eInk, but OK on LCD.

If you intent to read mostly PDFs, you will need either a large screen eInk (at least 10" I'd say, though larger would be better), or an LCD screen (7" is OK if you read in landscape, but again, larger is better).

[polly]

But that depends on the type of PDF. If it's well formatted and text based so that it can reflow, a 6" screen will handle it just fine. If it's full of diagrams, charts, or tables, no 6" reader will handle it well.

To the OP, I personally don't like how B&N treats side-loaded books differently than ones purchased at B&N. I think that the Sony has better software and is easier to use. I also like having hardware buttons available when I can't touch the screen. The Sony has the best reputation for dealing with PDFs.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by polly

To the OP, I personally don't like how B&N treats side-loaded books differently than ones purchased at B&N.

Both purchased and sideloaded books appear in the Library, there is no distinction. It was a different story on the nook classic, but all other nook readers have shown all content combined.

[Blaec]

Originally Posted by polly

But that depends on the type of PDF. If it's well formatted and text based so that it can reflow, a 6" screen will handle it just fine. If it's full of diagrams, charts, or tables, no 6" reader will handle it well.

To the OP, I personally don't like how B&N treats side-loaded books differently than ones purchased at B&N. I think that the Sony has better software and is easier to use. I also like having hardware buttons available when I can't touch the screen. The Sony has the best reputation for dealing with PDFs.

Mostly going to be text pdfs, so I think 6" will work.

Yeh I am leaning pretty heavily towards the Sony, but its Kobo at $130 vs Sony at $190 here.
Is the Sony worth the extra $60?

[ProfCrash]

The Sony is the best 6 inch reader for reading PDFs. If you are going to be reading primarily PDFs then I would say it is worth the extra money. If you know anyone in the US maybe they can pick one up at Best Buy for you. I have seen a topic that says that they are selling for $89 at many Best Buys here. It might take longer to get to you but could be well worth the wait in terms of the money you will save.

[toddos]

Originally Posted by afv011

Both purchased and sideloaded books appear in the Library, there is no distinction. It was a different story on the nook classic, but all other nook readers have shown all content combined.

I'm pretty sure he was referring to the fact that B&N sets aside a majority of the built-in storage space for B&N content, leaving only ~256MB available for side-loading.

B&N has started offering free re-partitioning in stores for Nook Tablet owners, but they've not done the same thing for STR owners. At least for me, storing all my side-loaded content on an SD card works well enough, though I know others have had issues with shelves when putting books on an SD card.

[toddos]

Originally Posted by Blaec

Mostly going to be text pdfs, so I think 6" will work.

Yeh I am leaning pretty heavily towards the Sony, but its Kobo at $130 vs Sony at $190 here.
Is the Sony worth the extra $60?

Not all text PDFs are well-formatted or tagged for reflow.

Personally, I'd seriously reconsider using PDF. It is not a good ebook format. If you need it for technical content, a 6-7" device is not a good size for technical books.

[Blaec]

Originally Posted by toddos

Not all text PDFs are well-formatted or tagged for reflow.

Personally, I'd seriously reconsider using PDF. It is not a good ebook format. If you need it for technical content, a 6-7" device is not a good size for technical books.

Ok, is it possible/feasible to convert pdfs into something ereaders will like better?
Sorry Im a bit new to this.

Ill have a look into getting a Sony forwarded.

Thanks for all the help so far everyone.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by Blaec

Ok, is it possible/feasible to convert pdfs into something ereaders will like better?
Sorry Im a bit new to this.

Ill have a look into getting a Sony forwarded.

Thanks for all the help so far everyone.

You can convert PDFs to ePub but the results are poor, like lines that break at random places, missing or misplaced images, random line spacing and so on. PDF is not reflowable and it is about the worst possible format for eInk readers.

[Blaec]

Originally Posted by afv011

You can convert PDFs to ePub but the results are poor, like lines that break at random places, missing or misplaced images, random line spacing and so on. PDF is not reflowable and it is about the worst possible format for eInk readers.

K. Thanks, I was looking to read uni papers on the ereader. But I can't really justify the price of a 10" or tablet.

Still interested in an ereader just for books though, time to research the Sony vs Kobo.

[jocampo]

PDFs is not an ebook format and I do not recommend anyone to read or use any eink device for that. It's too small, too slow, too painful. Even the Kindle DXG is not perfect for that. Being there, done that.

A 10 inches tablet like an iPad1, even the iPad 2, would be a better choice for reading PDF. GoodReader, for example, is a fantastic and very cheap application for iPad that allows you to read and edit PDFs very fast and comfortable.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by jocampo

PDFs is not an ebook format and I do not recommend anyone to read or use any eink device for that. It's too small, too slow, too painful. Even the Kindle DXG is not perfect for that. Being there, done that.

A 10 inches tablet like an iPad1, even the iPad 2, would be a better choice for reading PDF. GoodReader, for example, is a fantastic and very cheap application for iPad that allows you to read and edit PDFs very fast and comfortable.

Well a hacked nook touch with noreresh app makes using pdf a possibility still not the most convenient way to read pdf but if you have a nook touch why not