Dilemma: Should I buy my mom a Sony Reader? - Page 2

CommanderROR · 11-22-2007, 05:06 PM

Hey Alexander...

I don't really know what to suggest...if your mother lives in the US then get her a reader...if she lives somehwere in the EU, get her a Cybook. The Reader ist probably the best ebook device out there, but if you can't use it's primary method of buying books, then it's only worth half the money in my opinion...

Alexander Turcic · 11-22-2007, 06:06 PM

My mom lives in Europe, but we live in different countries. The Cybook is hard to justify since it'd be so much more expensive for me ($-CHF vs. Euro-CHF).

I think I am most worried about two aspects:

1. She is using a Mac. Standard desktop software (from Sony) won't work. So will she be able to upload her own books? (e.g. by uploading directly via USB)

2. Will she remember to regularly charge her reader? She might leave it in a drawer for a couple of weeks, and I can see how the battery will deplete in no time.

JSWolf · 11-22-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by readingaloud

I wouldn't. I actually bought my mom a Rocketbook (back when those were the thing), and it didn't get used very much--it was just too fussy.

But I AM going to get her a Kindle. The Kindle seems tailor-made for this kind of user!

Is your Mom in the USA? If she is not, then the Kindle is a bad idea.

JSWolf · 11-22-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

My mom lives in Europe, but we live in different countries. The Cybook is hard to justify since it'd be so much more expensive for me ($-CHF vs. Euro-CHF).

I think I am most worried about two aspects:

1. She is using a Mac. Standard desktop software (from Sony) won't work. So will she be able to upload her own books? (e.g. by uploading directly via USB)

2. Will she remember to regularly charge her reader? She might leave it in a drawer for a couple of weeks, and I can see how the battery will deplete in no time.

She can use libprs500 to upload to the 505 on a MAC. And she can also use collections as well.
If she does plan to leave it in a drawer, teach her how to turn it off.

HarryT · 11-23-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

My mom lives in Europe, but we live in different countries. The Cybook is hard to justify since it'd be so much more expensive for me ($-CHF vs. Euro-CHF).

I think I am most worried about two aspects:

1. She is using a Mac. Standard desktop software (from Sony) won't work. So will she be able to upload her own books? (e.g. by uploading directly via USB)

2. Will she remember to regularly charge her reader? She might leave it in a drawer for a couple of weeks, and I can see how the battery will deplete in no time.

I know the CyBook is more expensive, but for both those reasons it would, I think, be a better choice than the Sony. There are no issues buying Mobi books from a Mac, and if you switch the CyBook off at the end of a reading session (or just leave it to auto power-off) the battery won't discharge if you leave it in a drawer.

yvanleterrible · 11-23-2007, 03:28 PM

My mom absolutely dreads ebooks. At 75 she's a very learned computer user because she's a writer. After publishing 4 books and with 3 in the works, she's kind of distrustful of the whole reader thing even with DRM protections. But my dad likes the reader though.

M0zza · 11-28-2007, 08:25 AM

I've bought my wife a reader and, although she hasn't used it yet, she has seen what I've been messing with on mine. And she is rather apprehensive of the kerfuffle and rigmaroll that she'll have to put up with to get non-LRF DRM'd books onto the thing.

Alexander Turcic · 11-29-2007, 02:25 PM

I am still explaining my mom how to use iMail and Safari. I don't even know how to start explaining the Mobipocket store and software to her ;(

But remote assistance through VNC might be a good solution. I am seriously considering it now thanks to you guys.

View Poll Results: Would you buy your mom an e-book reader?
Yes, I would, and I would also assist her using it.	21	53.85%
No, because my mom already has a hard time with computers.	18	46.15%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

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11-22-2007, 05:06 PM	#16
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,022 Karma: 4924 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Hey Alexander... I don't really know what to suggest...if your mother lives in the US then get her a reader...if she lives somehwere in the EU, get her a Cybook. The Reader ist probably the best ebook device out there, but if you can't use it's primary method of buying books, then it's only worth half the money in my opinion...

11-22-2007, 06:06 PM	#17
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	My mom lives in Europe, but we live in different countries. The Cybook is hard to justify since it'd be so much more expensive for me ($-CHF vs. Euro-CHF). I think I am most worried about two aspects: 1. She is using a Mac. Standard desktop software (from Sony) won't work. So will she be able to upload her own books? (e.g. by uploading directly via USB) 2. Will she remember to regularly charge her reader? She might leave it in a drawer for a couple of weeks, and I can see how the battery will deplete in no time.

11-23-2007, 03:28 PM	#21
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	My mom absolutely dreads ebooks. At 75 she's a very learned computer user because she's a writer. After publishing 4 books and with 3 in the works, she's kind of distrustful of the whole reader thing even with DRM protections. But my dad likes the reader though.

11-28-2007, 08:25 AM	#22
M0zza Geek... Apparently Posts: 211 Karma: 51260 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Herts, UK Device: Sony PRS-505 (Silver), ASUS Transformer TF300T, IPAD Air 2	I've bought my wife a reader and, although she hasn't used it yet, she has seen what I've been messing with on mine. And she is rather apprehensive of the kerfuffle and rigmaroll that she'll have to put up with to get non-LRF DRM'd books onto the thing.

11-29-2007, 02:25 PM	#23
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I am still explaining my mom how to use iMail and Safari. I don't even know how to start explaining the Mobipocket store and software to her ;( But remote assistance through VNC might be a good solution. I am seriously considering it now thanks to you guys.

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