Has the JB lost its price advantage?

[Kralik]

If my jetBook was still working, I wouldn't have felt compelled to buy another device. It serves me quite well. However, from the perspective of a new buyer (again), I felt I could get something better for just a bit more. As far as percentage, $120 (Sony sale) is 33% more than $90 (Libre sale). But in absolute dollars--$30--it's not too much.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by Kralik

If my jetBook was still working, I wouldn't have felt compelled to buy another device. It serves me quite well. However, from the perspective of a new buyer (again), I felt I could get something better for just a bit more. As far as percentage, $120 (Sony sale) is 33% more than $90 (Libre sale). But in absolute dollars--$30--it's not too much.

Quite understandable. This would be an interesting time to be looking as
well. There seems to be more low cost options than ever, and a few new
approaches to consider. The Sony is certainly a proven performer.

Luck;
Ken

[Catlady]

I'm happy with the JBL after less than two months; if I'd waited, I might have been enticed by the Nook Color. Web access and games didn't appeal to me in B&W, but color makes a big difference. Otherwise, I don't feel like I gave up any features. (My lust for the Nook Color waxes and wanes--I am going to wait till after the holidays when the dust settles.)

I would not buy an e-ink device with that horrible page flash. How can people stand it? For that reason alone, I'm glad I got the JBL.

[greenapple]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I would not buy an e-ink device with that horrible page flash. How can people stand it? For that reason alone, I'm glad I got the JBL.

Well, this is true perhaps for the older generations of ebook readers.

The page flash is very, very minimal now, on my new kindle 3. Page turning is as fast as my jetbook. Kindle 3 is really a joy to use.

[Kralik]

I would have to agree with greenapple--page flash is very quick on my new Sony. But even better than the jetBook: I can rapidly flip pages and see them as they zoom by. I don't know enough about the technology to know exactly how it works, but it does not flash when flipping pages. On the MR wiki for another eBook reader, they say that the fast page turn time is about 0.1s... sounds about right for the Sony. Very nice to skim forward 20-30 pages and see the content quickly as I go.

Unless I can get a non-backlit screen (like current JB and e-ink), I don't want color.

[Catlady]

I looked at the Nook in BN about two months ago and the Kindle 3 in Staples about two weeks ago, shortly after Staples began carrying Kindle. The Kindle especially had terrible page flash. I have not seen a Sony in person.

I also looked at numerous YouTube video reviews and side-by-side comparisons of different readers. They all showed the page flash. I've had Kindle users especially tell me there is no page flash or that it is so minor they don't even notice it, but I played with that Kindle 3 in Staples, and there was definitely noticeable and annoying page flash.

I didn't know about page flash when I first looked at that Nook, so it wasn't like I was looking for/expecting to see it.

[petechan]

Kralik,

With regards to the Sony PRS-350 which you have, two questions:

1. Has the previous conflict in having both a PDF file and an ePUB file in the same library been resolved? In the previous PRS-300 there seemed to be a firmware problem which did not allow you to keep these two different files open.

2. Do you know if after synching the ebook reader and downloading library books, if one sets back the internal clock, lets say to 2009. Will the library ebooks then not expire for a while?

[Kralik]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to either of those two questions. Regarding #1, can you describe the problem in more detail? If so, I could test it. For #2, I do not have a library from which I can check out ebooks.

[greenapple]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I looked at the Nook in BN about two months ago and the Kindle 3 in Staples about two weeks ago, shortly after Staples began carrying Kindle. The Kindle especially had terrible page flash. I have not seen a Sony in person.

I also looked at numerous YouTube video reviews and side-by-side comparisons of different readers. They all showed the page flash. I've had Kindle users especially tell me there is no page flash or that it is so minor they don't even notice it, but I played with that Kindle 3 in Staples, and there was definitely noticeable and annoying page flash.

On my Kindle, I don't notice any page flash unless I deliberately want to catch it. But with my older iRiver Story, the flash is noticeable indeed.

Right now, Kindle is my preferred reading device. Its font, the ease of use, the clarity of the words on the screen, and the comfortable way it sits on the palm, and the ease of turning the pages all add up to it being a very good ebook reader. Well, my jetbook is already gathering dust since I bought the Kindle, and that's saying something.

[quickgrayfox]

I would have a very hard time replacing my JB Lite with another brand of ereader. I've had mine for 3 months now and have had no problems. The things I like best are the replaceable AA batteries, various ebook format support, and most especially support of the DRM PDF and epub books. I wish I knew who to thank for the incredible support of ebooks in the state of Tennessee, but with over 7500 books available from their library system, I have not had to buy a single book. A pretty good reason for me not to buy a Kindle.
On another note, I'm not sure I understand the desire for the touch screen on an ereader. It strikes me a little like the old LED wrist watches that required 2 hands to tell the time. I can hold the JB Lite in either hand and have easy access to page turn buttons with the same hand. I'm not sure there are many (any?) touch screen ereaders that would let you read one handed.

[Kralik]

You can read one-handed on the new Sonys since they have dedicated page turn buttons as well as the touch screen. They do, however, favor the left hand. I've read a few people that use it in either hand and use their thumbs for the page flick. I mostly use the buttons.

[Number_6]

Originally Posted by greenapple

On my Kindle, I don't notice any page flash unless I deliberately want to catch it. But with my older iRiver Story, the flash is noticeable indeed.

Right now, Kindle is my preferred reading device. Its font, the ease of use, the clarity of the words on the screen, and the comfortable way it sits on the palm, and the ease of turning the pages all add up to it being a very good ebook reader. Well, my jetbook is already gathering dust since I bought the Kindle, and that's saying something.

The same is true with the latest 1.5 firmware on the Nook (non-color). The page flash is kind of like the flashing light on the JBL; if you're deliberately looking for it you'll see it, but otherwise it goes unnoticed.

Sadly, my JBL is also starting to gather some dust now that I have the Nook. I just found out that I could "root" the Nook and run android apps on it. I now have a better PDF viewer, FBReader, better browser, Google Reader app, media player with playlist support, Twitter client, ability to download books from Stanza catalogs, and even do WSJ and NY Times crosswords. Not bad for a $99 ereader. Plus I can run the study Bible epub that would not work on the JBL and follow along with a companion audiobook of the Bible.

Perhaps one day the JBL will also be hacked and could then run third party apps as well. The JBL served me well for the last few months, but it has now been regulated to my backup reader I take along when camping or hunting instead of my daily reader. If you've never experienced a rooted Nook, then you've only seen the "crippled" version of the B&N ereader.