Opinions wanted - EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

[melaniejaxn]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Interesting, are you then implying that the Kindle is harder for the average person to use?

Maybe not for the average person, but for my mom and some friends-- yes. The keyboard is scary and putting things on 'shelves' is apparently easier that creating 'collections'. My mom actually prefers to go into a B&N and have one of the sales people held her download stuff.

But the average person who uses answering machine and iphones and email and such, I would get them a Kindle 3.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by mikegetz

if i could have my ideal device - it would be a nook classic w/ wifi only, pre-rooted w/ proper library management, the same turn buttons and lcd strip (i like it. sue me.) of the nook, and the 9.7" screen of a DXG - with about the same weight. maybe a hair more weight. between the PDNp and my samsung smartphone, i see enough finger streaks. i don't want a touch reader.

You might be surprised on the whole "finger streaks" issue with an e-ink touchscreen device. On my original Nook, I have a matte screen protector over the LCD screen. It really minimizes finger marks. Even so, I generally wipe it down at least once a week because the appearance will bug me. I'm fussy like that. I like my devices to look clean and nice.

The Sony 950 is an entirely different story. I wiped that touch e-ink screen down ONCE in the first month I used it! Even then, I didn't truly *need* to do it. Very few finger marks were visible and to see what was there, you needed to angle it into the light. During reading, they were a total non-issue, i.e. invisible. I only cleaned it because I was going to show it off at a library "play date".

Now, to make it clear, I don't have particularly greasy or sweaty hands, so that may help in regard to the finger streak issue. However, I do, frequently, eat while reading. I am not at all shy about taking the Sony to restaurants. And still, the screen remains very nice looking.

It's not the same issue as it is on glossy smartphone devices or tablets, those are like "Ewwww!" for fingerprints. I was revolted by the appearance of the Nook Color at the BN store. The matte screen of the e-ink touchscreen really does minimize the whole fingerprint/streak issue amazingly! I'm picky and I was surprised by how little I need to clean the Sony. I really thought I would be needing to wipe it down daily but that has been far from the case.

[mikegetz]

Originally Posted by graycyn

You might be surprised on the whole "finger streaks" issue with an e-ink touchscreen device.

Now, to make it clear, I don't have particularly greasy or sweaty hands, so that may help in regard to the finger streak issue. However, I do, frequently, eat while reading.

It's not the same issue as it is on glossy smartphone devices or tablets, those are like "Ewwww!" for fingerprints. I was revolted by the appearance of the Nook Color at the BN store. The matte screen of the e-ink touchscreen really does minimize the whole fingerprint/streak issue amazingly! I'm picky and I was surprised by how little I need to clean the Sony. I really thought I would be needing to wipe it down daily but that has been far from the case.

well, i have worn glasses since i was 5 (almost 34 years now), and have become quite anal about fingerprints. I'm that guy that has a microfibre cloth on his person at all times (and 2 in my backpack). i have dry skin, except for my nose and fingertips, which are unusually oily. yay me!

The Pandigital Novel personal is a 6" eink touchscreen - the touch overlay is a matte finish - but it is a resistive grid over a Sipex display, not IR over a Pearl display like the newer models. I bet most people wouldn't be bothered by it, but my hangup on dirty screens is probably the reason i don't care for touch readers.

i clean the screen on my nook at least once a week. my phone gets cleaned at least twice a day. I even clean my tv about once a week, along with my desktop monitor.

If i could just transfer this desire for clean to the rest of my house, my wife wouldn't have anything to do ... lol.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

...Hopefully those with multiple readers can share their thoughts on which of their ereaders they like best for general reading, and why (if they do) they may switch between one and another.

Honestly, my main reason for buying/using new readers/tablets is just the "new" factor.
I try to go for units with new features. But I quite often "double buy". For example I've got maybe 15 readers with 6" display. There's no real reason to have Kindle 3 and nook classic and 3 Sony readers in parallel.
For some I've got a technical explanation: I've loved iRex iLiad, so I went for iRex 1000S. I wanted to test the bigger display and simply wanted to have the newer, more advanced OS.
But in most cases I really just want to benchmark, test and configure. After the initial phase of euphoria, lots of units disappear silently on my bookshelfs.
I've replaced Kindle 2 and Kindle DX by the respective Graphite units for example.

Coming back to your original question, when and why switching units:
On the sofa, I exclusively use tablets. Battery duration doesn't matter than and the higher weight is still workable.
When traveling, I always take at least 1 eBook reader with me because of the battery duration. For now, this typically is Kindle DX Graphite.
And I always take the newest unit with me. And my momentary favorite (sometimes the newest one, often one of its predecessors).

If I'd have to choose, I'd use:
1 x 6" eBook reader, for example nook classic or Kindle 3.
1 x 9" or 10" eBook reader, for example Kindle DX Graphite or iRex 800.
1 x iPad.
1 x Android 10" (for now Motorola Xoom, maybe Samsung Galaxy Tab in a few weeks).
1 x tablet with more advanced OS, for example BlackBerry PlayBook or HP TouchPad.
So I guess, I could strip down my collection to 5 units or so...