Looking for an eReader for my mom

yankgirl · 03-09-2010, 01:28 PM

I'm looking to purchase a reader for my mom. She will mostly be taking books out through the library. Our library only loans out books in ePub format.

I'm just not sure which one to get her. I already have a kindle - which she likes, but it can't read ePub. I'm also looking to spend about $200.00. So far I've looked at the Sony Pocket, but I was curious if anyone had any other recommendations.

Thanks!!

Kat

omk3 · 03-09-2010, 01:32 PM

Hello yankgirl.
Just a few hours ago I ordered the pocketbook 360 for my mum.

The Sony Pocket is a good device, but she really wanted a dictionary and search function too.

yankgirl · 03-09-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omk3

Hello yankgirl.
Just a few hours ago I ordered the pocketbook 360 for my mum.

The Sony Pocket is a good device, but she really wanted a dictionary and search function too.

I like that, but it's a bit out of our price range. The dictionary doesn't matter to her.

Now I was checking out the Libre...oy, so many choices!!

Purge · 03-09-2010, 06:02 PM

I can't recommend the Sony Pocket enough.

I bought one for my mother and she loves it. The battery life is superb, the feel of the thing is fantastic, it's built like a tank and the controls are easy to grasp.

If you want a barebones Reader, I would recommend this over any. It is very barebones, though.

Yar-PocketBooker · 03-10-2010, 01:35 PM

Pocketbook 301)))

JSWolf · 03-13-2010, 08:47 AM

Before you decide which reader to get your mom, you need to decide if she'd be better off with a 6" screen instead of a smaller 5" screen. My mom has a Sony Reader PRS-600 and it's a 6 screen and I think that's a much better fit for her then a 5" screen. Personally, I think a 5" screen may be too small.

wallcraft · 03-13-2010, 10:40 AM

For ~$200 the best value for the money in EInk readers is the EZ Reader Pocket Pro. Even if you don't care about most of its extra features, it has a more recent version of mobile Adobe Digital Editions than the Sony PRS-300 and 9 (vs 3) font sizes. It also comes with a cover, and you definitely need one.

Jack Tingle · 03-13-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankgirl

I'm looking to purchase a reader for my mom. She will mostly be taking books out through the library. Our library only loans out books in ePub format.

I'm just not sure which one to get her. I already have a kindle - which she likes, but it can't read ePub. I'm also looking to spend about $200.00. So far I've looked at the Sony Pocket, but I was curious if anyone had any other recommendations.

Before you buy anything, check with the library and see which specific devices they support. Most library loan systems are tailored to Sony devices and to a few PDA-based readers. You'd feel really silly if you bought a device the library doesn't support. If the library is supported by Overdrive, Sony is probably your best choice. I don't know about other suppliers.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

pilotbob · 03-13-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Personally, I think a 5" screen may be too small.

Jon, you have never liked the 5inch screen. Although most that have both a 5inch and 6inch device say there is little difference.

BOb

pilotbob · 03-13-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankgirl

I'm just not sure which one to get her. I already have a kindle - which she likes, but it can't read ePub. I'm also looking to spend about $200.00. So far I've looked at the Sony Pocket, but I was curious if anyone had any other recommendations.

For that price range I would say the Sony Pocket that you have looked at or the Astak Pocket Pro.

BOb

JSWolf · 03-13-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Jon, you have never liked the 5inch screen. Although most that have both a 5inch and 6inch device say there is little difference.

BOb

But in this case the reader may be elderly person. So in that case, bigger is better.

pilotbob · 03-13-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But in this case the reader may be elderly person. So in that case, bigger is better.

Good point... in this case I highly recommend the Kindle DX... if only it read ePub...

BOb

JSWolf · 03-13-2010, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Good point... in this case I highly recommend the Kindle DX... if only it read ePub...

BOb

Maybe an iRex 800 with the 8" screen since it should allow borrowing library eBooks.

Xanthe · 03-13-2010, 04:10 PM

Has she just looked at your Kindle, or has she read books on it? If she hasn't read a complete book yet on it, I would say loan it to her, let her read a complete book and find out if she likes that screen size, which font size she prefers, which control locations would be preferable, if she likes the flashing during page changes (otherwise she might like one with a reflective LCD screen which has seamless page changes).

And the suggestion made earlier regarding which readers the library recommends is a good one.

omk3 · 03-14-2010, 08:27 AM

About library books... If a reader supports ADE drm, is it possible that you still cannot borrow epub books from a library? I thought all readers that can read drm epub can borrow books.

03-09-2010, 01:28 PM	#1
yankgirl Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 50 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NJ Device: iPhone, iPad 2, PPP(purple pocket pro) Nook Tablet, K4 & Kindle Fire!	Looking for an eReader for my mom I'm looking to purchase a reader for my mom. She will mostly be taking books out through the library. Our library only loans out books in ePub format. I'm just not sure which one to get her. I already have a kindle - which she likes, but it can't read ePub. I'm also looking to spend about $200.00. So far I've looked at the Sony Pocket, but I was curious if anyone had any other recommendations. Thanks!! Kat

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03-09-2010, 01:32 PM	#2
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	Hello yankgirl. Just a few hours ago I ordered the pocketbook 360 for my mum. The Sony Pocket is a good device, but she really wanted a dictionary and search function too.

03-09-2010, 06:02 PM	#4
Purge Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: None	I can't recommend the Sony Pocket enough. I bought one for my mother and she loves it. The battery life is superb, the feel of the thing is fantastic, it's built like a tank and the controls are easy to grasp. If you want a barebones Reader, I would recommend this over any. It is very barebones, though.

03-10-2010, 01:35 PM	#5
Yar-PocketBooker Fanatic Posts: 589 Karma: 6976 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Device: PocketBooks and Onyxes and anything E-Ink...	Pocketbook 301)))

03-13-2010, 08:47 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,982 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Before you decide which reader to get your mom, you need to decide if she'd be better off with a 6" screen instead of a smaller 5" screen. My mom has a Sony Reader PRS-600 and it's a 6 screen and I think that's a much better fit for her then a 5" screen. Personally, I think a 5" screen may be too small.

03-13-2010, 10:40 AM	#7
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	For ~$200 the best value for the money in EInk readers is the EZ Reader Pocket Pro. Even if you don't care about most of its extra features, it has a more recent version of mobile Adobe Digital Editions than the Sony PRS-300 and 9 (vs 3) font sizes. It also comes with a cover, and you definitely need one.

03-13-2010, 04:10 PM	#14
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Has she just looked at your Kindle, or has she read books on it? If she hasn't read a complete book yet on it, I would say loan it to her, let her read a complete book and find out if she likes that screen size, which font size she prefers, which control locations would be preferable, if she likes the flashing during page changes (otherwise she might like one with a reflective LCD screen which has seamless page changes). And the suggestion made earlier regarding which readers the library recommends is a good one.

03-14-2010, 08:27 AM	#15
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	About library books... If a reader supports ADE drm, is it possible that you still cannot borrow epub books from a library? I thought all readers that can read drm epub can borrow books.