preferring 505 over Kindle, what else should I consider? - Page 2

tlc · 02-14-2009, 07:28 PM

Thanks to all so far.

I thought of one more factor. I mostly hold a book in my left hand, although I do switch off. The 505 (the only device I've seen in person) has (different!) paging buttons on each side. That may be a side effect of landscape mode. Do the others work for lefties? Is page turning a two handed process?

It's hard to tell if some features are important to me or not. Take search. I don't need search to read physical books, but then again I can flip through a book quickly and search myself. Hmm. Maybe I do need search.

In general, are bookmarks a one-per-book thing? Can I bookmark multiple spots to refer back to? This might alleviate the need for search.

Again, the Kindle is a hard sell given it's tight coupling to Amazon. I love amazon, they're my go-to online store. But I want a device that's useful without amazon and e-books that aren't tied to one brand of device. The wiki says the K reads MOBI natively. Does that mean I can can put MOBIs on the K via USB and not by sending them to A? And I could use Calibre to create MOBIs from a variety of formats and put them on the K?

Does Calibre convert news and blog sites well?

For those of you that like the Cybook or Hanlin better, why are they
better for you than the 505 or Kindle?

Thanks again,
tlc

Gideon · 02-14-2009, 07:46 PM

Kindle is held comfortably in either hand, with buttons on both sides. Don't remember about the Sony.

And you can absolutely put your Mobi files on it. I do it all the time. I convert things as needed, but any mobi file you can get (especially free ones from here, feedbooks, etc.) can be put on the Kindle. And here and Feedbooks also has a way to download books directly TO the Kindle from here.

Bookmarks are as many as you like on the Kindle.

I don't know much about Calibre. It doesn't work for me. I'm on a Mac and use Parallels to use MobiPocket creator to turn most things into ebooks. But that doesn't convert other ebook formats - just pdfs, docs, html, etc.

You could also use Stanza. It seems to do an okay job except where tables of contents are involved, and then it royally screws that part up (at least in mobi files.)

Not being able to "flip through a book" is a big problem for me. I tend to use the search a lot because of that.

daffy4u · 02-14-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc

Thanks to all so far.

I thought of one more factor. I mostly hold a book in my left hand, although I do switch off. The 505 (the only device I've seen in person) has (different!) paging buttons on each side. That may be a side effect of landscape mode. Do the others work for lefties? Is page turning a two handed process?

It's hard to tell if some features are important to me or not. Take search. I don't need search to read physical books, but then again I can flip through a book quickly and search myself. Hmm. Maybe I do need search.

In general, are bookmarks a one-per-book thing? Can I bookmark multiple spots to refer back to? This might alleviate the need for search.

Again, the Kindle is a hard sell given it's tight coupling to Amazon. I love amazon, they're my go-to online store. But I want a device that's useful without amazon and e-books that aren't tied to one brand of device. The wiki says the K reads MOBI natively. Does that mean I can can put MOBIs on the K via USB and not by sending them to A? And I could use Calibre to create MOBIs from a variety of formats and put them on the K?

Does Calibre convert news and blog sites well?

For those of you that like the Cybook or Hanlin better, why are they
better for you than the 505 or Kindle?

Thanks again,
tlc

Check out the the new Kindle Myths and Partial Truths wiki page regarding Kindle formats and conversions.

tlc · 02-14-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Check out the the new Kindle Myths and Partial Truths wiki page regarding Kindle formats and conversions.

This was very informative, thanks. So would the Kindle fans here argue that the Kindle is competitive even if you never buy an e-book from Amazon or use the Wispernet?

Search is seeming like a good idea. The ergonomics look good. Hmm...

We have iPods, but buy MP3s from Amazon. Maybe Apple will sell non-DRM books someday.

Thanks,
-troy

daffy4u · 02-14-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc

This was very informative, thanks. So would the Kindle fans here argue that the Kindle is competitive even if you never buy an e-book from Amazon or use the Wispernet?

Search is seeming like a good idea. The ergonomics look good. Hmm...

We have iPods, but buy MP3s from Amazon. Maybe Apple will sell non-DRM books someday.

Thanks,
-troy

There are a few folks who pride themselves on having purchased few or no books from Amazon for their Kindles. I'm not one of them

pilotbob · 02-14-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc

This was very informative, thanks. So would the Kindle fans here argue that the Kindle is competitive even if you never buy an e-book from Amazon or use the Wispernet?

Yes! (I think I have bought [paid for] 4 Kindle books so far. Although I have 27 Kindle books in my media library). The search, highlighting, annotation, clippings and dictionary make the Kindle superior to the Sony 505 in my opinion.

But why not use whispernet? You can d/l books from feedbooks and mobileread with it... all for free. No PC even needed.

BOb

desertgrandma · 02-14-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc

This was very informative, thanks. So would the Kindle fans here argue that the Kindle is competitive even if you never buy an e-book from Amazon or use the Wispernet?

Search is seeming like a good idea. The ergonomics look good. Hmm...

We have iPods, but buy MP3s from Amazon. Maybe Apple will sell non-DRM books someday.

Thanks,
-troy

Literally, there are thousands of books for free that will rival any best seller on the market. These are classics, written by authors that knew what to do with the written word. And THIS is where the built in dictionary comes in very handy.....

If you throw in the ability to move library e-books to your kindle, even with the mobipocket format, you have a huge plus.

I once thought the whispernet was the deciding factor. Now i"m finding that I download whatever I want to the compter, thence to the kindle.

I have no problem with buying from Amazon if I think the price is reasonable. If not, I just don't buy. No harm, no foul.

Lets not forget that Amazon has some outstanding customer service, especially when it comes to the Kindle. No little thing in todays world.

We also have independent authors out there who, I am discovering, are worth a read.

Which ever device you get, If you are half as happy with yours as I am mine, you will be a lucky person!

HarryT · 02-15-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Literally, there are thousands of books for free that will rival any best seller on the market. These are classics, written by authors that knew what to do with the written word. And THIS is where the built in dictionary comes in very handy.....

I completely agree with you, but with the comment that the CyBook does this a lot better than the Kindle does, with its huge range of hundreds of different dictionaries to choose from.

AbFabGab · 02-15-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I completely agree with you, but with the comment that the CyBook does this a lot better than the Kindle does, with its huge range of hundreds of different dictionaries to choose from.

HarryT.. I can't stand it..

you keep bring up this dictionary thing with Cybook
and it's making me extremely jealous!

I LOVE my 505 but if I had to get another reader..
Cybook is very tempting - due to your comments! LOL

HarryT · 02-15-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

HarryT.. I can't stand it..

you keep bring up this dictionary thing with Cybook
and it's making me extremely jealous!

I LOVE my 505 but if I had to get another reader..
Cybook is very tempting - due to your comments! LOL

You need to consider all your requirements, of course. Yes, dictionary lookup is best on the CyBook, but equally, your Sony is best for ePub books. All readers have their pros and cons - if there was one which we all agreed was the best, we wouldn't be able to have these discussions

.

jj2me · 02-15-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

... the CyBook, with its huge range of hundreds of different dictionaries to choose from.

Can you load in translating dictionaries? How easy is it to use this device for learning a language, where you'd be looking up lots of words?

It seems no manufacturer has yet made that a consideration when they make these devices. It seems that offering a special language-learning feature could help a manufacturer establish itself in the education market. (One could also simultaneously play the MP3 of the audiobook, in either language.)

tlc · 02-23-2009, 09:28 AM

BTW,

Despite my initial inclinations, this thread convinced me to pull the trigger on the K2 last week. Got the shipping notice this morning.

Thanks!

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02-14-2009, 07:28 PM	#16
tlc Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 50288 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: KK 3G, iPad	Thanks to all so far. I thought of one more factor. I mostly hold a book in my left hand, although I do switch off. The 505 (the only device I've seen in person) has (different!) paging buttons on each side. That may be a side effect of landscape mode. Do the others work for lefties? Is page turning a two handed process? It's hard to tell if some features are important to me or not. Take search. I don't need search to read physical books, but then again I can flip through a book quickly and search myself. Hmm. Maybe I do need search. In general, are bookmarks a one-per-book thing? Can I bookmark multiple spots to refer back to? This might alleviate the need for search. Again, the Kindle is a hard sell given it's tight coupling to Amazon. I love amazon, they're my go-to online store. But I want a device that's useful without amazon and e-books that aren't tied to one brand of device. The wiki says the K reads MOBI natively. Does that mean I can can put MOBIs on the K via USB and not by sending them to A? And I could use Calibre to create MOBIs from a variety of formats and put them on the K? Does Calibre convert news and blog sites well? For those of you that like the Cybook or Hanlin better, why are they better for you than the 505 or Kindle? Thanks again, tlc

02-14-2009, 07:46 PM	#17
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Kindle is held comfortably in either hand, with buttons on both sides. Don't remember about the Sony. And you can absolutely put your Mobi files on it. I do it all the time. I convert things as needed, but any mobi file you can get (especially free ones from here, feedbooks, etc.) can be put on the Kindle. And here and Feedbooks also has a way to download books directly TO the Kindle from here. Bookmarks are as many as you like on the Kindle. I don't know much about Calibre. It doesn't work for me. I'm on a Mac and use Parallels to use MobiPocket creator to turn most things into ebooks. But that doesn't convert other ebook formats - just pdfs, docs, html, etc. You could also use Stanza. It seems to do an okay job except where tables of contents are involved, and then it royally screws that part up (at least in mobi files.) Not being able to "flip through a book" is a big problem for me. I tend to use the search a lot because of that.

02-23-2009, 09:28 AM	#27
tlc Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 50288 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: KK 3G, iPad	BTW, Despite my initial inclinations, this thread convinced me to pull the trigger on the K2 last week. Got the shipping notice this morning. Thanks!

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