First reader for student? Vitalsource compatible?

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Hi all,

I’ve essentially been forced to go completely digital this year to read my text books, and I’m wondering about getting an eReader to help me along the transition. I struggle with eye fatigue as it is and the idea of having to read all my. Textbooks on my iPad is very unappealing.

Unfortunately uni texts typically use the vitalsource app, which makes choosing a reader hard as I’m not sure what would be compatible. It can be downloaded for android, iOS, or chrome OS.

At first glance stuff by onyx and boyue look like a good fit, but I’m extremely worried about the customer service issues, as if something happens I am essentially hooped.

I’ve also been looking at supernote, Fujitsu a5x, quirklogic papyr, kobo elipsa and a few others. But my concern with these is that I don’t know if I can access my texts on them, or if they are hackable to allow me to use them as needed?

My other thought is to get something like an amazon fire and wait till tech in North America catches up, but I’m not sure my eyes like the idea.

I want something with web browsing as I use a web based note taking app, and being able to take a screen shot of a diagram on my reader and dropping it straight into remnote would be awesome.

I need something with at least a 10 inch screen for my eyes.
I’m just not sure if there’s anything available yet that really meets my needs. Any ideas?

[ottischwenk]

I have a Likebook P10 - as a reader quite excellent, Android applications work.
vitalsource app can be installed, but since I don't have an account I couldn't try it.
Other Notes devices are better suited, but notes work.
The big advantage is the price.

[Quoth]

The Amazon Fire is just an ordinary Tablet, using customised Android with an Amazon store. A Lenovo is better as it's a regular Android tablet at a good price, about 1/4 of an iPad. The Amazon Fire is cheap, but much inferior to an iPad and certainly not easier to read.

A 7.8" or 10" Boyue Likebook will let you install the vitalsource app. I use my 7.8" Mars with Android BorrowBox and Google Playbooks. The Kobo Elipsa won't run vitalsource app. The 7.8" Mars might have the same number of pixels as the 10" models. I use 3.5 strength reading glasses. No doubt for larger than "A5" equivalent PDFs, the larger pixels on the P10 is an advantage. But the 7.8" Mars is cheaper and lighter.

No eInk is great for web browsing, but it depends on the website.

For "ordinary" ebooks I use the Kobo Libra and really only use the Mars for larger PDFs, PDF scans and the books only easily to read on an associated Android App.

I use Calibre on Linux with both to manage content. Calibre is also on Mac and Windows.

[ottischwenk]

Likebook Mars is no longer available, but there is a successor, Likebook P78 - but it does not have the option of stylus input.
Likebook P10 has slightly less pixels (10 inch, 1200x1600, 200 dpi) than Mars or P78 (7.8 inch, 1404 x 1872, 300 dpi), but it is the cheapest stylus device - I like to use it.

[downeaster59]

Here's another option. Consider the Onyx Boox Note 3 or Note Air. Both have a 10.3 in. display. The Note 3 has slightly better hardware; the Note Air is a little less expensive. You can order most Onyx devices from Best Buy online and add Geek Squad protection if your budget allows. You can also order Onyx and Likebook devices from Amazon.

Likebook devices are usually less expensive than Onyx devices. It depends on what your budget allows!

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

I have a Likebook P10 - as a reader quite excellent, Android applications work.
vitalsource app can be installed, but since I don't have an account I couldn't try it.
Other Notes devices are better suited, but notes work.
The big advantage is the price.

I like the idea of a likebook, but I’m quite worried about customer service. Ever had any experience with them?

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Amazon Fire is just an ordinary Tablet, using customised Android with an Amazon store. A Lenovo is better as it's a regular Android tablet at a good price, about 1/4 of an iPad. The Amazon Fire is cheap, but much inferior to an iPad and certainly not easier to read.

A 7.8" or 10" Boyue Likebook will let you install the vitalsource app. I use my 7.8" Mars with Android BorrowBox and Google Playbooks. The Kobo Elipsa won't run vitalsource app. The 7.8" Mars might have the same number of pixels as the 10" models. I use 3.5 strength reading glasses. No doubt for larger than "A5" equivalent PDFs, the larger pixels on the P10 is an advantage. But the 7.8" Mars is cheaper and lighter.

No eInk is great for web browsing, but it depends on the website.

For "ordinary" ebooks I use the Kobo Libra and really only use the Mars for larger PDFs, PDF scans and the books only easily to read on an associated Android App.

I use Calibre on Linux with both to manage content. Calibre is also on Mac and Windows.

Hmmm lots to think about. My glasses are stronger, but my vision doesn’t fully correct so even with them I don’t get 20/20, which is why I say screen size is important. Resolution is also important. Were you able to see vitalsource on the App Store? My big hesitancy is what to do if it breaks. There’s no way to know if I could get it fixed…

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

Here's another option. Consider the Onyx Boox Note 3 or Note Air. Both have a 10.3 in. display. The Note 3 has slightly better hardware; the Note Air is a little less expensive. You can order most Onyx devices from Best Buy online and add Geek Squad protection if your budget allows. You can also order Onyx and Likebook devices from Amazon.

Likebook devices are usually less expensive than Onyx devices. It depends on what your budget allows!

I like the idea, I checked and they aren’t available from Best Buy in Canada! That would’ve been a perfect solution.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by KimberlyTheZebra

Hmmm lots to think about. My glasses are stronger, but my vision doesn’t fully correct so even with them I don’t get 20/20, which is why I say screen size is important. Resolution is also important. Were you able to see vitalsource on the App Store? My big hesitancy is what to do if it breaks. There’s no way to know if I could get it fixed…

You mail it in like pretty much every piece of electronics except Apple. They do apparently have a repair center in the U.S to handle North American customers. I haven't had any issues with my two Boox devices yet. The Vitalsource app works alright. You get it from the Google Play store. It's not the best experience because the books aren't paginated (or at least the one I have) and instead have you scroll. You can deal with that using A2 mode or use the on screen scroll buttons.

You may honestly want to consider just buying the paper books if you can or surfing the high seas for a PDF. In the one book I own I noticed a number of mistakes between the ebook and paper copies.

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

You mail it in like pretty much every piece of electronics except Apple. They do apparently have a repair center in the U.S to handle North American customers. I haven't had any issues with my two Boox devices yet. The Vitalsource app works alright. You get it from the Google Play store. It's not the best experience because the books aren't paginated (or at least the one I have) and instead have you scroll. You can deal with that using A2 mode or use the on screen scroll buttons.

You may honestly want to consider just buying the paper books if you can or surfing the high seas for a PDF. In the one book I own I noticed a number of mistakes between the ebook and paper copies.

That is for onyx? Unfortunately I can’t get the paper copies of all of them, I was able to find one. Another was 350 where the ebook was 85..it feels like we’re being forced to go digital. Last year one of my paper copies was 700! Absolutely insane. Thus trying to find solutions. Do you use vitalsource yourself?

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by KimberlyTheZebra

That is for onyx? Unfortunately I can’t get the paper copies of all of them, I was able to find one. Another was 350 where the ebook was 85..it feels like we’re being forced to go digital. Last year one of my paper copies was 700! Absolutely insane. Thus trying to find solutions. Do you use vitalsource yourself?

Yeah for Onyx. I only have one book on it as it came with the paper copy. I've occasionally used it to look something up when I've left the book at home or in my office. Are the books available as ebooks on Amazon or Kobo or elsewhere? Does your school's bookstore not offer them in paper for a reasonable cost? I haven't been super impressed by the App to purchase more for it but I no longer need to purchase texts for classes anymore and only buy ones I actually am interested in.

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Yeah for Onyx. I only have one book on it as it came with the paper copy. I've occasionally used it to look something up when I've left the book at home or in my office. Are the books available as ebooks on Amazon or Kobo or elsewhere? Does your school's bookstore not offer them in paper for a reasonable cost? I haven't been super impressed by the App to purchase more for it but I no longer need to purchase texts for classes anymore and only buy ones I actually am interested in.

Unfortunately they don’t seem to. I’m waiting for my order so I can see what exactly I have access too. No where sells them cheaply. When I can I buy them cheap used, but now in the higher level biology courses profs want us to use online platforms that come with the books to do assignments and stuff so we have to buy them new, it’s extremely frustrating. I’d rather buy them for 85 bucks as an ebook than 250 for a paper copy, but I need to be able to read them!

[KimberlyTheZebra]

Thanks all! After much digging I think I’m going to go with a Bookeen Notea! It does everything I need it too, is a good size and I feel like I can trust the warranty on it since they are from France!