Almost Giving Up on Getting an eBook Reader

[Superlucky]

Originally Posted by norg1

I have been reading e-books on My palm tx for 3 years...if it ever broke...I would get another palm tx..the new e-readers are too bulky and expensive, besides, the palm can do far more than these new e-readers can...love the tx.

The Palm can do far more... except for it looks like a computer screen, not paper. Dedicated reading devices are designed to be easy on the eye, and for that you need e-ink - something back-lit devices can't compete with.

[berniej]

I should have this thread renamed.

I already ordered the Kindle (international version) and I should receive it by the middle of next week. I hope I don't get disappointed with this rather expensive purchase.

[norg1]

Well...I still love the tx....and I don`t know about anyone else, but when I read, it`s for the story, not the look of the "ink".......and when I lay in bed at night and have all the lights out, and My arm is hovering in the air while I am reading.......I could stay that way alllll night....the tx is very very light...and its easy one finger page turning....awesome.....they will NEVER beat it!!!!

Small, easy to see...landscape or regular view....light, easy to use....and if I get bored reading or finish the book....a WHOLE lot of other things to do to entertain me......let`s see a kindle (or anyof the other new readers) do THAT.

[Speedy eReader]

If you are happy with the quality of the display and you can read comfortably , that is the main thing. E-Readers are cool but e-readers with some applications of a palm or iphone are even cooler. Maybe PDA's in the 2011 will have e-ink and e-readers will do PDA stuff.

[poshm]

Originally Posted by berniej

I already ordered the Kindle (international version) and I should receive it by the middle of next week. I hope I don't get disappointed with this rather expensive purchase.

Hope you enjoy your Kindle - I'm sure you will

It's far better reading from a proper ebook device than any other electronic gadget. Although I'm very happy with my ipod touch, I can only read from it in short bursts before my eyes get tired. So a useful device if you're on a short trip. Otherwise I prefer my sony reader - although I wish it would magically shrink and it would fit in my pocket!!!

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Superlucky

The Palm can do far more... except for it looks like a computer screen, not paper. Dedicated reading devices are designed to be easy on the eye, and for that you need e-ink - something back-lit devices can't compete with.

First eink was developed for profit and they could care less if it's easier on your eyes. The mfg just do not want to be sued.

Next is the key....LCD displays "can be straining on people's eyes", unless of course, you understand you can adjust the color scheme used as well as turn down the backlight. I use FBReader on my N800 and have a wonderful cream-off-white background for most reading and simply invert the display for night lights-out reading. A properly configured color scheme and properly adjusted backlight will send no more "harmful" light into your eyes than the light reflected from an eink panel. It is just with LCD you have total control over that light.

I realize many, many, many people have bought into LCD displays being bad for your eyes, but none stop to admit if they ever took the time to properly adjust the display so it does not cause problems.

BTW, when LCD's were emerging the same arguments used for eink today were given to support LCD displays. More irony I would say...but in a funny haha fashion...what goes around comes around and what the masses believe to be "great" today is tomorrow's "it's killing our children" device.

Me? I find my K1 completely worthless in typical room lighting, but if I want to sit out on my deck in the sun and read, it's amazing. But indoors I have MORE eye strain and enjoy reading less with eink compared to either my PDA or my N800 devices. Face it, eink NEEDS light to make it readable, this actually somewhat offsets the idea of battery life as well as energy savings using them when you need lightbulbs turned on in order to make them readable.

As this argument always reduces to and for the 1000000000th time it has come along, there is no hard and fast rule, it's what works for the individual.

[Superlucky]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

First eink was developed for profit and they could care less if it's easier on your eyes. The mfg just do not want to be sued.

I'm not sure what this even means. Most products were developed with a profit motive. Who cares?

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Next is the key....LCD displays "can be straining on people's eyes", unless of course, you understand you can adjust the color scheme used as well as turn down the backlight. I use FBReader on my N800 and have a wonderful cream-off-white background for most reading and simply invert the display for night lights-out reading. A properly configured color scheme and properly adjusted backlight will send no more "harmful" light into your eyes than the light reflected from an eink panel. It is just with LCD you have total control over that light.

I realize many, many, many people have bought into LCD displays being bad for your eyes, but none stop to admit if they ever took the time to properly adjust the display so it does not cause problems.

LCD screens flicker while e-ink is static, and therein lies the difference for your eyes. Also, the light from an LCD and the light reflected from an e-ink panel are completely different wavelengths, so even if you turn the back-lighting down as low as it will go, it is still harder on the eye. It doesn't matter how much I tinker with an LCD, reading for an extended amount of time becomes painful. It's great that back-lit devices work for you, but many people (I would argue most people) just don't have the eyes to read for too long on them.

[brecklundin]

don't even keep on this argument...try searching this site for a while before keeping after your flawed line of thought. Thishas been discussed to death. All you need do is learn to search, though I know search in vBulletin is marginal at best.

And fine, you feel eink is easier on YOUR eyes...good for you.

[RichyRich]

The N900 looks like it'll be a good upgrade from the N800. The only problem is the cost.

[jerry Limonta]

There are lots of options out there. We highlight 24 ereaders at www.ereaderuniverse.com

[varase]

Originally Posted by norg1

I have been reading e-books on My palm tx for 3 years...if it ever broke...I would get another palm tx..the new e-readers are too bulky and expensive, besides, the palm can do far more than these new e-readers can...love the tx.

Ugh ... went through 3 LifeDrives, 3 T3s, and a couple of TXs, a III, a IIIc, and a M515. The last three didn't break, all of the higher models did (stupid placement of Power buttons, cheap microswitches for power buttons [allow dust invasion or break from motherboard due to poor stress engineering], buggy OSes, buggy drivers [especially that stupid VFS driver which made the rest worthless]).

Reached nirvana with the iPhone, first the 3G, then the 3GS, and now the 4 (none of which have broken but I keep the old ones for backup).