Buying my first ereader, India.

PsychiatricCase · 08-21-2014, 01:26 AM

It seems many of the ereaders are more expensive than in other countries. I want a first-class ereader under 6000 rupees. I'm confused because for that price it seems I can get an overpriced nook simple touch or a kindle basic without touch. The kobo glo seems decently priced but I saw in a video review that it was very slow, when you changed fonts or sizes, it took so long to refresh, so I'm not sure. I would like physical scroll buttons. I'm also confused as to how I would use these, although Amazon has a big presence in India through it's online shop, I've never heard of Barnes&Nobles or Kobo in India, so I do not know if it would be easy to get books. One thing I would like if there was a quality Android-based ereader that I could just use a Kindle app to read which worked well. I definitely want e-Ink though. I don't mind going with a Sony or Pocketbook or Onyx if they are better and without software bugs (I've read of a device getting stuck, etc). But I need it to be available in India for an affordable price. Ideally, I would have liked a Paperwhite but the cost is too overpriced here, so no go. Thanks for any advice.

meeera · 08-21-2014, 01:37 AM

Kobo does have an Indian ebook store, but no current ereaders with physical buttons. I've not noticed the Kobo Glo to be particularly slower than Kindles, though, in the ones that I support and fiddle with.

xibalban · 08-21-2014, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychiatricCase

I want a first-class ereader under 6000 rupees.

It's like saying, you want a Volkswagen at the price of a Maruti. I doubt that you'd find even used ones at that price.

However, since your definition of "first-class" is missing, we cannot just make a wild guess. Only Onyx has Android based eInk eReaders and they aren't available in India. As it is, the Paperwhite 2 (without special offers aka ads) offered by Amazon India is quite reasonable. The website often runs Rs 1000 - 2000 discounts on the device, so grab it when you find it.

Your budget of Rs 6000 is still a very limiting factor, IMHO.

PsychiatricCase · 08-21-2014, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xibalban

It's like saying, you want a Volkswagen at the price of a Maruti. I doubt that you'd find even used ones at that price.

However, since your definition of "first-class" is missing, we cannot just make a wild guess. Only Onyx has Android based eInk eReaders and they aren't available in India. As it is, the Paperwhite 2 (without special offers aka ads) offered by Amazon India is quite reasonable. The website often runs Rs 1000 - 2000 discounts on the device, so grab it when you find it.

Your budget of Rs 6000 is still a very limiting factor, IMHO.

Sorry, by 'first-class' I meant good, decent quality, not necessarily top of the line. I don't think I can afford more than 6000 at the moment. The Kobo Glo is selling on ebay for just under 7000, if it's good, I might go for that. Only problem, I'm not sure if I can sideload books on it or read a Kindle store-bought book on it. I'll have to check if their store has competitive ebook prices compared to Amazon.

meeera · 08-21-2014, 03:41 AM

You can sideload epubs, no problem. Kindle books, if they have DRM locks (Digital Rights Management), you will need to remove the DRM first (google "Apprentice Alf"), then convert to epub using Calibre.

If you prefer to buy from Kobo, check out the Kobo discounts thread in this forum - codes of 50% or more are frequently posted.

danicca · 08-21-2014, 04:32 AM

Nook Simple Touch could be rooted to use android. It's old version, so I'm not sure if newest kindle app works.
Amazon and iBooks have their own drm, the rest of stores (google play if it's available) mostly use adobe, so it's easy to sideload.

PsychiatricCase · 08-26-2014, 03:04 PM

I've placed an order for the KIndle Basic version for 5999 inr. I guess it was the familiarity of the amazon store that's attractive. And I did want physical page turn buttons. I hope I've made the right decision and that it is a good device. Can I sideload other bookstore books and expect good formatting and reading experience? (Although that's secondary as the Amazon store is the big reason I'm buying this.) Is possible to play audiobooks on the basic kindle? (Just out of curiosity.)

crich70 · 08-26-2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychiatricCase

I've placed an order for the KIndle Basic version for 5999 inr. I guess it was the familiarity of the amazon store that's attractive. And I did want physical page turn buttons. I hope I've made the right decision and that it is a good device. Can I sideload other bookstore books and expect good formatting and reading experience? (Although that's secondary as the Amazon store is the big reason I'm buying this.) Is possible to play audiobooks on the basic kindle? (Just out of curiosity.)

Well the K3 (Keyboard) can read text based books aloud though I don't know if any of the more recent models can. Certainly the PaperWhite 1 can't as far as I know. I've not had any trouble loading books from other vendors nor had an problems with the formatting though as someone else said you will need to convert if you want to read a book that is in epub format as Kindle doesn't read epubs.

Dr. Drib · 08-26-2014, 08:11 PM

I see that for 4000 more rupees (US$ 66), you can buy the Kindle Paperwhite.

My suggestion is to save up the additional money (or perhaps buy a refurbished one from Amazon).

xibalban · 08-26-2014, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychiatricCase

I've placed an order for the KIndle Basic version for 5999 inr.

Congratulations, and welcome abroad the Titanic of book reading. Price being the constraint for you, I think you've made a good choice. Where did you order that from? I'm from India too and I normally find it best to buy electronics directly from the US, when possible. There are quite a few excellent package forwarding services available online, and the savings in cost is substantial.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsychiatricCase

Is possible to play audiobooks on the basic kindle? (Just out of curiosity.)

Nope! And, in my humble opinion, it is not even required. Audiobooks and TTS can be read (err heard) on a smartphone easily. Besides, it would prove to be a very good battery eater for the eReader which otherwise boasts of a very long battery life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I see that for 4000 more rupees (US$ 66), you can buy the Kindle Paperwhite.

True, and that would be a better choice any day.

PsychiatricCase · 08-27-2014, 08:22 AM

Thank you, folks. I also have it from Amazon's customer service that the Kindle device I bought is advertisement-free. I guess that's a nice thing.

08-21-2014, 01:26 AM	#1
PsychiatricCase Member Posts: 10 Karma: 882 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: none	Buying my first ereader, India. It seems many of the ereaders are more expensive than in other countries. I want a first-class ereader under 6000 rupees. I'm confused because for that price it seems I can get an overpriced nook simple touch or a kindle basic without touch. The kobo glo seems decently priced but I saw in a video review that it was very slow, when you changed fonts or sizes, it took so long to refresh, so I'm not sure. I would like physical scroll buttons. I'm also confused as to how I would use these, although Amazon has a big presence in India through it's online shop, I've never heard of Barnes&Nobles or Kobo in India, so I do not know if it would be easy to get books. One thing I would like if there was a quality Android-based ereader that I could just use a Kindle app to read which worked well. I definitely want e-Ink though. I don't mind going with a Sony or Pocketbook or Onyx if they are better and without software bugs (I've read of a device getting stuck, etc). But I need it to be available in India for an affordable price. Ideally, I would have liked a Paperwhite but the cost is too overpriced here, so no go. Thanks for any advice.

08-26-2014, 03:04 PM	#7
PsychiatricCase Member Posts: 10 Karma: 882 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: none	I've placed an order for the KIndle Basic version for 5999 inr. I guess it was the familiarity of the amazon store that's attractive. And I did want physical page turn buttons. I hope I've made the right decision and that it is a good device. Can I sideload other bookstore books and expect good formatting and reading experience? (Although that's secondary as the Amazon store is the big reason I'm buying this.) Is possible to play audiobooks on the basic kindle? (Just out of curiosity.) Last edited by PsychiatricCase; 08-26-2014 at 03:14 PM.

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08-21-2014, 01:37 AM	#2
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Kobo does have an Indian ebook store, but no current ereaders with physical buttons. I've not noticed the Kobo Glo to be particularly slower than Kindles, though, in the ones that I support and fiddle with.

08-21-2014, 03:41 AM	#5
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	You can sideload epubs, no problem. Kindle books, if they have DRM locks (Digital Rights Management), you will need to remove the DRM first (google "Apprentice Alf"), then convert to epub using Calibre. If you prefer to buy from Kobo, check out the Kobo discounts thread in this forum - codes of 50% or more are frequently posted.

08-21-2014, 04:32 AM	#6
danicca Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 517736 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: kindle	Nook Simple Touch could be rooted to use android. It's old version, so I'm not sure if newest kindle app works. Amazon and iBooks have their own drm, the rest of stores (google play if it's available) mostly use adobe, so it's easy to sideload.

08-26-2014, 08:11 PM	#9
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,441 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I see that for 4000 more rupees (US$ 66), you can buy the Kindle Paperwhite. My suggestion is to save up the additional money (or perhaps buy a refurbished one from Amazon).

08-27-2014, 08:22 AM	#11
PsychiatricCase Member Posts: 10 Karma: 882 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: none	Thank you, folks. I also have it from Amazon's customer service that the Kindle device I bought is advertisement-free. I guess that's a nice thing.