8+ Readers in comparison

[afa]

Originally Posted by grndslm

There's a review of a guy on YouTube who had about 8 or 9 eReaders, and the Jetbook was his 2nd favorite, after the Clie, which is a backlit LCD (mainly because he liked some of the Sony's features)...

That sounds familiar.

Unless I'm mistaken, I think I've seen the video you're referring to. It was actually made by the Sci-Fi author Robert J. Sawyer. He's written a bunch of novels including, among others, FlashForward - the novel on which the TV series of the same name is based.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by johndoesecond

Hi mgmueller,

It's been some time since you have it, so I'm being extremely anxious to know how you'd grade and rate and rank Ipad.

Just be careful there, as one of the most authoritative public source on e-readers around, your opinion may be a swing vote and a tipping point for the destinies of sonies, amazons, apples, nooks and other garden varieties around there.

I've got iPad for 2 weeks now. I took it with me on a 2 weeks trip to Italy, so I've tested it quite intensively.
iPad definitely will change the picture for me, respectively it already has.

On the trip to Italy, I only took iPad and PocketBook 360 with me. This has proven a great combination.
I never would take iPad to the beach or the pool. Too bulky, not comfortable enough and too shiny (certainly pretty obvious for inviting robbers).
So I brought some zipbags with me, put PocketBook 360 into one, didn't care about sun cream, sand or dirt. I didn't even press any buttons, just turned pages by briefly moving my wrist (that's the reason why I brought PocketBook 360 instead of Cybook Opus).
So I've read 4 books on PocketBook 360 and half a book on iPad. The half book on iPad I read because I had to turn down the lights ("It's 3 am, turn off the §%&%#! lights!!") and had to switch to iPad (thanks a lot for a backlit unit).
I don't have any problems at all with the screen of iPad. Neither with glare/reflection, nor with the backlit.
But I guess I'm pretty flexible here, having read on Pocket PCs, Palm Pilots, iPhone/iPod touch and various dedicated readers.
Concerning reading eBooks, iPad only has 2 disadvantages to me:
- It's heavy and I don't find the Apple cover very comfortable to hold (didn't find any better alternative yet). I don't see myself reading more than 2 hours in a row on iPad (don't do so on iRex 1000S or Kindle DX either). But for the 1.5 hours it was absolutely okay.
- The battery is critical of course. On one hand, 10 hours (for the moment, I seem to make a bit less, maybe 7 to 8 hours, using WiFi) are absolutely great, compared to my UMPC (Samsung Q1, making maybe 5 hours). On the other hand, PocketBoook 360 or most of the other ePaper readers can do way more. I can do a 1 weeks trip with ePaper readers on a single charge, but I have to charge iPhone and iPad almost every day.
But: As a multifunctional unit, iPad for most issues already has replaced my UMPC. I've read quite a few ZINIO magazines, I've played some games (Plants vs. Zombies, Fieldrunners, Sudoku, ...) and of course I've browsed the web, checked points of interest and so on.

Meaning:
I've already reduced the frequency of purchasing new readers. There's just not enough progress, to find arguments for another reader every 3 weeks or so.
I'll check the new Kindle and nook. I still wait for Que and Skiff. But there's less pressure, enough to toy around for the moment with my iPad.
BTW: I've bought the WiFi only version. I didn't want to go for a new 3G contract and didn't know about the "cutting standard SIM to Micro SIM" trick when I've ordered mine. Instead of 3G, I use my tethered iPhone, plus I use mobile WiFi, plus the WiFi hotspots from T-Mobile for example on most trains.

[grndslm]

Originally Posted by afa

That sounds familiar.

Unless I'm mistaken, I think I've seen the video you're referring to. It was actually made by the Sci-Fi author Robert J. Sawyer. He's written a bunch of novels including, among others, FlashForward - the novel on which the TV series of the same name is based.

Hmm... looks like you're right. Never heard of the guy. I'm more into non-fiction.

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Meaning:
I've already reduced the frequency of purchasing new readers. There's just not enough progress, to find arguments for another reader every 3 weeks or so.
I'll check the new Kindle and nook. I still wait for Que and Skiff. But there's less pressure, enough to toy around for the moment with my iPad.

Dude... Jetbook Lite is $99 @ Amazon, J&R, Buy.com, etc...

What's stopping you? You're not afraid are you?!?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by grndslm

Hmm... looks like you're right. Never heard of the guy. I'm more into non-fiction.

Dude... Jetbook Lite is $99 @ Amazon, J&R, Buy.com, etc...

What's stopping you? You're not afraid are you?!?

$ 99? That's too low. It has to hurt to be fun
Problem really is, it gets less and less fun to toy around with the various readers.
Most fun used to be the first week - checking out all those new features.
But there simply aren't any new features. Alex with the additional LCD has been somewhat new and innovative. But all the other readers now more or less offer the same. I just don't see anything new, Jetbook would have to offer. Maybe Que and Skiff would be interesting, given the enormous screen.
Maybe some iPad clone...

[BenLee]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Problem really is, it gets less and less fun to toy around with the various readers.
Most fun used to be the first week - checking out all those new features.
But there simply aren't any new features.

Very true. Once I get my shiny-gadget fix, I revert to just enjoying reading books again. So sad.

[jmajluf]

I´m new here.
I just decided that I need an ebook reader because my Blackbery doesn´t do it for me (it´s great but I would like the "book feel".
I need a device that wil allow me to read multiple formats, including PDF, Mobi, ..
I would also like to be able to categorize my ebooks in folders (if possible).
And I would like a touch screen and be able to highlight/add notes.
What do you suggest?
Thanks in advance!

[Darqref]

I'd like your opinions about the readers you have and the way(s) each of them page forward and back. I own a Gen3 - I'm not satisfied with the buttons, and feel it forces me into particular positions. So, for 3 different situations

1. At home in your most comfortable reading chair.

2. Traveling, sitting on a subway or bus seat

3. Reading in bed (and if something irritates your spouse or other bedmate, that is a valid concern.)


Which readers feel good, or better than others, to page forward and back? Do your hands naturally reach buttons, or places on the screen if there's a touchscreen pageturn? Changing hands, to left hand (or right if you're left handed)?

[BenLee]

Originally Posted by jmajluf

I´m new here.
I just decided that I need an ebook reader because my Blackbery doesn´t do it for me (it´s great but I would like the "book feel".
I need a device that wil allow me to read multiple formats, including PDF, Mobi, ..
I would also like to be able to categorize my ebooks in folders (if possible).
And I would like a touch screen and be able to highlight/add notes.
What do you suggest?
Thanks in advance!

By "book feel" do you mean 2 screens?

[boswd]

I think buying a cover gives you the best book feel to the ereaders.

[jmajluf]

Originally Posted by BenLee

By "book feel" do you mean 2 screens?

Not necesarilly, but the turn page feel (with a touch screen), the size, ...
Do you think ebook readers are doomed with all the iPad hype and the competitors it will bring along????

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Darqref

I'd like your opinions about the readers you have and the way(s) each of them page forward and back. I own a Gen3 - I'm not satisfied with the buttons, and feel it forces me into particular positions. So, for 3 different situations

1. At home in your most comfortable reading chair.

2. Traveling, sitting on a subway or bus seat

3. Reading in bed (and if something irritates your spouse or other bedmate, that is a valid concern.)


Which readers feel good, or better than others, to page forward and back? Do your hands naturally reach buttons, or places on the screen if there's a touchscreen pageturn? Changing hands, to left hand (or right if you're left handed)?

I agree, concerning Cybook Gen3. Opening the cover to the left and having the buttons on the left as well......far from being ergonomic. Don't like the single 5-way-button for turning pages either.

My recommendations:

1. At home in your most comfortable reading chair.
---> I'm using a few, depending on my mood, the file format or what's the most fun unit at the moment.
I like:
nook, simply like the design and form factor.
iRex 800, love the iRex UI.
Alex, similar to nook.

2. Traveling, sitting on a subway or bus seat
--->Here I've got a single favorite:
PocketBook 360, I love the size and turning pages without buttons.
I'd actually prefer Cybook Opus' design, but slightly prefer PocketBook 360's OS.

3. Reading in bed (and if something irritates your spouse or other bedmate, that is a valid concern.)
PocketBook 360 for conveniently holding it in one hand. If I have to turn off the lights, I actually use iPad (but try to avoid it).

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by jmajluf

I´m new here.
I just decided that I need an ebook reader because my Blackbery doesn´t do it for me (it´s great but I would like the "book feel".
I need a device that wil allow me to read multiple formats, including PDF, Mobi, ..
I would also like to be able to categorize my ebooks in folders (if possible).
And I would like a touch screen and be able to highlight/add notes.
What do you suggest?
Thanks in advance!

"Touchscreen" limits your choices.
Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo has lots of fans - for a relatively low price.
My personal favorites re. touchscreens are iRex 800 (would be interesting to know what happens about their expertise, now after chapter 11) and Sony 900.
Some are negative about Sony's display quality because of the touchscreen layer (glare, reflection, ...). You should test yourself.
I'm not sure, whether I would recommend iRex 800 right now. It's a great product, but future support is questionable.
Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo is very affordable and receives frequent firmware updates. I'm not too enthusiastic about the design, but it's capabilities certainly are within the top 20%.
I'm a fan of touchscreens as well. But quite frankly, on most of my readers, I'm not using it at all. On BeBook Neo for example, I'm turning pages with the buttons instead of using the touchscreen.
In my opinion, you'll only benefit from touchscreens, if you're enthusiastically into taking notes, making annotations, highlighting and stuff like that. If not, there are way more readers to check out: PocketBook 360, CyBook Opus, nook.

An interesting gadget may be Spring Design Alex: Touchscreen similar to iPhone + ePaper display similar to Kindle/nook.

Concerning your criterias:
- Folders: Vast majority of the readers has it. Even Kindle now offers collections, which is a comparable way of organising your books.
- Highlighting/notes: Not "exotic" either. There are differences though. For example, I find it less convenient, to mark the word of interest on nook than on Alex. Touchscreen has some advantages here, but it's solvable without. Kindle for example is quite advanced in that regard.

[BenLee]

Originally Posted by jmajluf

Not necesarilly, but the turn page feel (with a touch screen), the size, ...
Do you think ebook readers are doomed with all the iPad hype and the competitors it will bring along????

Uh, not at all. I think there'll be a place for dedicated ebook readers as long as they price reasonably. I do think that high-priced dedicated readers are going away fast. If the next generation of e-ink devices want to compete on price, they have to offer way more innovative features, basically making it closer to an iPad than we'd like to imagine.

[grndslm]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

But all the other readers now more or less offer the same. I just don't see anything new, Jetbook would have to offer.

It's the screen, yo!! And the AA batteries are pretty slick, as well. With 8 rechargeable AA batteries (it only accepts 4), you would NEVER have to plug the device in and NEVER experience downtime... EVAR!

But yea... it's the screen!! Non-backlit, reflective TFT LCD. That is something that not too many eReaders offer. A screen that doesn't burn your eyes... that doesn't have a black flash while the e-ink screens take an entire second or two to refresh the next page...

I mean, what more could you ask for in a dedicated eReader??

Considering it ranks so high up on everybody's list (everybody who's actually tried it, at least)... I'm still not sure what's holding you back. You do have to catch it once every week or two at $99... but it's worth $150, IMHO.

$120 Jetbook Lite > $150 radio-less B&N Nook

- The features alone are more than top dogs Amazon & BandN have offered up until this past month.
- The fact that it runs off AA batteries.
- The gorgeous, non-backlight, reflective LCD.
- The speed of the device.
- The ridiculously simple & quick controls (virtually as good as touchscreen, so long as you don't need too much "input"; with a list of 8 books, just press button #7 to select the 7th book in the list... not "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "ok"... just button "7"... that's it).

But ya know... I guess if you have an agenda to keep people from finding the best dedicated eReader, you might not want to pick up the Jetbook Lite and review it.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by grndslm

It's the screen, yo!! And the AA batteries are pretty slick, as well. With 8 rechargeable AA batteries (it only accepts 4), you would NEVER have to plug the device in and NEVER experience downtime... EVAR!

But yea... it's the screen!! Non-backlit, reflective TFT LCD. That is something that not too many eReaders offer. A screen that doesn't burn your eyes... that doesn't have a black flash while the e-ink screens take an entire second or two to refresh the next page...

I mean, what more could you ask for in a dedicated eReader??

Considering it ranks so high up on everybody's list (everybody who's actually tried it, at least)... I'm still not sure what's holding you back. You do have to catch it once every week or two at $99... but it's worth $150, IMHO.

$120 Jetbook Lite > $150 radio-less B&N Nook

- The features alone are more than top dogs Amazon & BandN have offered up until this past month.
- The fact that it runs off AA batteries.
- The gorgeous, non-backlight, reflective LCD.
- The speed of the device.
- The ridiculously simple & quick controls (virtually as good as touchscreen, so long as you don't need too much "input"; with a list of 8 books, just press button #7 to select the 7th book in the list... not "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "down", "ok"... just button "7"... that's it).

But ya know... I guess if you have an agenda to keep people from finding the best dedicated eReader, you might not want to pick up the Jetbook Lite and review it.

Maybe I have to explain something:
I'm not really "reviewing" readers.
I'm nothing else than your usual end-user. Well, maybe an end-user with some kind of purchasing-frenzy.
So I'm not purchasing readers which might be interesting for reviews. I just buy the ones I'd like to add to my personal collection. And then I'm sharing my personal experience.
And as I've written before: I've drastically reduced the frequency of adding new readers. Quite frankly, I've never (not even once) used about half of my readers for actually reading a book. I didn't read a single book on Sony 300, 600 or 700 (love Sony 505 and Sony 900 though). Same for iRex 1000S (like it, but it's way too bulky). Same for both Kindles (like the Amazon webshop, but the readers I find "standard"). Same for Cybook Gen3 (nice enough reader, but has been outranked by Sony 505). On BeBook Neo I've only read a single book, then it was replaced by the new gadgets PocketBook 360 (which I use almost every day) and Spring Design Alex (which was nice to toy around).
I'll certainly add still some readers. Que and Skiff definitely would be worth checking out. But I don't see myself purchasing too many additional 5" or 6" readers.
It's already hard enough to just keep all my readers charged...