Which reader is best for me?

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by shore_pk

As for the Sony models, I read they can't use Kindle or B&N books. Where do you *buy* books for them? I will want to purchase some books that I can't get at the library.

There is a Sony store you can buy from. Plus, you can read books bought at the Kobo store on Sony, and most other e-book stores besides Amazon and B&N sells books that you can read on a Sony.

After reading your posts, I would recommend the nook for you, actually. I think it has the most of what you want, and it's coming out with yet another software upgrade within the next few weeks to make it even better. But if the price is not prohibitive for you, then the Sony 950 fits most of what you want as well.

[elemenoP]

Bear in mind, no reader allows for loading a library book via wifi or 3G, only "sideloading" via USB. (am I right about that?? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

If you can figure out how to "convert" a library book so that it works on Kindle, then you have already figured out the same tech that would allow you to read a book from Amazon or B&N on a Sony Reader. It is the same thing: stripping the DRM.

eP

[polly]

Originally Posted by shore_pk

Where do I get the plug in that I need? I think I will try downloading and converting an epub before I make a decision.

As for the Sony models, I read they can't use Kindle or B&N books. Where do you *buy* books for them? I will want to purchase some books that I can't get at the library.

I'm going to look at the Sony models (and whatever else they have) at Best Buy today and see what I think. I've never used or seen an ereader at all. I would be interested in the 650 but I really would like wifi.

I may decide that I don't need pearl ink which would give me some other options.

Thanks so much!

There are lots of book stores that sell books that will work on a Sony. Try www.inkmesh.com or www.adderall.com. The only ePubs that WILL NOT work on a Sony are ones from B&N and Apple.

The difference between a Pearl screen and the older eInk screens is remarkable. I have a reader with each and the Pearl screen is amazing. I would never consider a reader without it now.

As has been noted already stripping DRM off of a book is a grey area of the law right now and gets even murkier when you're stripping it off of a library book. You can argue that if I bought the book, I should be able to read it where I want. You can also argue that even if you remove the DRM, deleting it when it expires might be ethically OK even if not legal. MobileRead does not allow specific guidance on how to do it, but ApprenticeAlf has a blog that will likely help. Click on Promotional Ebooks at Inkmesh, and you can find free books with DRM for testing.

As you're looking at readers, look at form factor, ease of use, how you plan to use it, etc. I have never once found that I wanted to immediately buy and download a book using 3G. I have readers that do a nice job organizing what I have and I always carry a wide variety of books on them, especially when I travel. I have used readers where turning the pages became so painful for my arthritic hands that I had to stop reading.

I'd suggest that you sort through the advice, think about what's important to you, and buy the one that meets your needs.

[shore_pk]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I've read more reviews and I saw the Kindle, Nook & Sony 350 & 950 at Best Buy today.

The 950 was too big and the 350 was too small. I did like how the Sony worked. I would probably like the Sony 650 but I really think I would like wifi and it is really priced too high.

Wifi (and possibly 3G) are important considerations for me because I do not have any other portable device with internet. I live far from any major town and when I go to town I often wish I could look up information about a product, inventory of a product at a store (before driving even further for something), a phone number or an address or map and I wondered if the browser and 3G would on an ereader would suffice for these things. I can't imagine that I would use it for much more than that. I know a reader is meant to read books and that really is what I want it for but I thought I might gain an added benefit. Do the browsers on the Nook and Kindle work about the same, is one particularly better than the other?

PDFs are not important too me unless I find that a book is only available in that format.

I successfully changed an epub from my library to mobi without difficulty today. Of course I can't view it on a Kindle. Do the books retain their formatting well? Converting wasn't too hard but of course not having to do that would even be better. I know that I will probably use a lot of library books or free books. Only on occasion would I purchase a book.

As for the Kindle and the Nook - I though the Kindle screen looked better than the Sony but the display was placed too far from the Nook for me to compare them. Does the Nook have pearl ink?

I still am not sold on the Nook even though it really may have more of what I want. I did see that updated review on cnet that says the firmware updates have helped the Nook but it sounded like it was still sluggish compared to the Kindle. Also, I tried using in the store and found it a bit frustrating compared to the Sony. I don't know if it had the current firmware and I couldn't try navigating the Kindle because it was in demo mode and just ran sample screens (no functions worked).

I have another consideration that might help me make a decision. One of the primary books I would be reading would be the bible. Being able to jump to a specific reference (Matthew 6:10 for example) would be a nice ability and I don't know if there is an app for either the Nook or Kindle that might allow for such a thing.

I also would like being able to search for a word and highlighting, which I guess both do.

TY again,

Linda

[ProfCrash]

The Nook does not have the Pearl screen. The new firm ware has not been released yet. I believe it is suppose to be released this week.

I think both the Nook and the Kindle have a search feature that should allow you to move around the Bible easily enough.

[sun surfer]

I didn't know it either at first, but the size of the 950 is actually about the same as the nook and Kindle. It's because it doesn't have a section on the bottom of the body (for a touch screen on the nook, and a keyboard and buttons on the Kindle).

As has been said, the nook is getting software updates within a week or so. It's already faster than it used to be (it's now as fast as the K2), but with the update it should get even faster, probably to be comparable to or possibly even better than the K3.

But I will say, the internet browser on the nook is not so great (unless the udpate helps). I've only used it a few times and it was slow and weird (I'm not sure if the Kindle is the same or worse or better). So because of that I pretty much just use the wifi to browse the nook store and download samples and books, which is nice and fast and easy to get to from a nook menu button, but sometimes use wikipedia and the like which is slower.

[speedlever]

I am currently learning about ereaders and am bouncing back and forth between the Nook and the Kindle.

One thing that I discovered in my research that may be important to shore_pk who likes to read the Bible is that I would consider the Kindle3 to be superior in one important way: ease of term search and highlighting.

I discovered this while viewing a video review which is lengthy, but informative. Some of the test criteria was bogus (TTS feature of the Kindle) but again, the part I think would be important to the Bible reader is the ability to mark and search for text.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxkCELCrQ_A The relevant portion starts at about the 7:00 mark.

[shore_pk]

TY for all the replies. I have decided to go with the Kindle 3. The Sony 950 would be my next choice but the price is just too high.

[booklover6]

Good choice! If you order today you might have it in your hands Wednesday!

[calgarygrandma]

Hi, newbie here and a grandma at that! I have been trying to find comparisons between the 650 and 950 and can't seem to find one. We won't have the prs 950 here in Canada for at least 6 months. Disregarding the G3 thing, should I wait or ask Santa for a 650. I would really appreciate some input. Thank you in advance. ( I have never owned an e reader)

[elemenoP]

I can't wait for desertgrandma to greet calgarygrandma! The meeting of the grandmas!

[elemenoP]

well maybe I should say something helpful. I have a 650 and I love it. I think a 950 would be better if you read PDFs (bigger screen helps with formatting) or periodicals (download them wirelessly). If not, get the 650, it's great.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by calgarygrandma

Hi, newbie here and a grandma at that! I have been trying to find comparisons between the 650 and 950 and can't seem to find one. We won't have the prs 950 here in Canada for at least 6 months. Disregarding the G3 thing, should I wait or ask Santa for a 650. I would really appreciate some input. Thank you in advance. ( I have never owned an e reader)

It depend on what you think is most important in an e-reader. I prefer the larger screen and would not buy an e-reader without 3G.

[speedlever]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

It depend on what you think is most important in an e-reader. I prefer the larger screen and would not buy an e-reader without 3G.

I'm curious why you say that (3G)? Perhaps I'm missing something.

For me, we have wifi most places we go. I'm trying to think of a situation where I would be outside the range of wifi and need to go online wirelessly. I'm not opposed to 3G, but trying to see what I'm missing if I don't have it. Still drawing a blank. Perhaps the difference is that I have 0 experience with ereaders.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by speedlever

I'm curious why you say that (3G)? Perhaps I'm missing something.

For me, we have wifi most places we go. I'm trying to think of a situation where I would be outside the range of wifi and need to go online wirelessly. I'm not opposed to 3G, but trying to see what I'm missing if I don't have it. Still drawing a blank. Perhaps the difference is that I have 0 experience with ereaders.

I have been in places where there is no WiFi and wanted to buy a book so the 3G was great to have. It could very well be that things have changed in the last year and that there are more free WiFi spots so that it would be easier to connect then it was a year ago. I guess I like knowing that I can get what I want pretty much where ever I want.

Not to mention, the 650 does not have WiFi or 3G capability. So the choice is between a larger e-reader with WiFi and 3G or a smaller e-reader without WiFi or 3G. If it was my choice I would get the 950.

For the price of the 950, I would get the K3 and save the $70 to spend on books.