Advice on reader purchase

JoshLessard · 06-24-2010, 01:51 PM

Hello. I would like to purchase an ebook reader (actually, I have one but will probably be returning it), and I would appreciate some advice. My main criteria are:

1) Supports ePub well. I'm not interested in a closed system where I'm limited to purchases from only one ebook store (i.e. Kindle). Unless the Kindle also would allow me to buy ebooks from, say, kobobooks.com.

2) Good contrast and low glare. I purchased a Sony PRS-600 because it satisfies criteria 1, 3 and 4, but the contrast and glare from the screen are horrible. Text is a darkish grey on a lightish grey rather than nearly black on off-white. Gives me a headache to read it.

3) PDF reflow. I have a lot of computer programming books in PDF format that I want to be able to read, and I don't want to have to constantly pan if I make the text bigger.

4) Skip-to-page. Many PDFs are not broken down by chapter, and I don't want to have to hit "next page" 800 times to get to page 800.

Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

neilmarr · 06-25-2010, 03:22 AM

Good to have your company, Josh. If you can lay hands on the Sony PRS-505, that would solve the glare problem. But it doesn't handle PDFs well. I've seen a couple of readers recommended here that seem to cope with PDF flow but can't remember off hand what they are. I'm sure someone will step into this thread soon to remind us. Good luck. Best wishes. Neil

JoshLessard · 06-25-2010, 10:29 AM

Hi Neil. Thanks for the tip. I've looked at the PRS-505, and I would probably have grabbed one if they were still available.

If anyone else has any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks.

vxf · 06-25-2010, 10:48 AM

Well, if you like the PRS 505, then yo will love the 900. I did not suggest it - as you want hi contrast and low glare, and well, no SONY reader shines in that regard.

But it does meet your other criteria.

JoshLessard · 06-25-2010, 11:10 AM

The non-touch Sony devices have much better contrast than the touch devices do. I think after experiencing the PRS-600, I'm going to stay away from touchscreen eReaders.

Any chance you can recommend a non-touchscreen device that meets the criteria I've layed out?

Thanks all.

Marcy · 06-25-2010, 11:38 AM

I don't have one but it sounds like you'd like the Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo. They are touchscreen, but the touchscreen is underneath the e-ink layer so it doesn't interfere with contrast. You need to use a stylus for the screen -- fingers don't work.

I don't know about #4 for this device but a quick post in the appropriate forum would get an answer.

-Marcy

Zetmolm · 06-25-2010, 01:54 PM

#4 Onyx Boox/Bebook Neo has skip-to-page

JoshLessard · 06-25-2010, 01:59 PM

Are there any brick-and-mortar stores in Canada that carry the Onyx/BeBook?

Thanks all.

boswd · 06-25-2010, 02:51 PM

The Nook should suit your needs quite well seems to hit on ever point of yours. plus it has one of if not the best contrast screens in the business. And with the latest price cut, among the best value's out their.

Sony has yet to respond making them a difficult choice, value wise IMHO.

solid e-reader

neilmarr · 06-26-2010, 02:41 AM

***I've looked at the PRS-505, and I would probably have grabbed one if they were still available***

They pop up quite often in the *Flea Market* forum here, John. But you have to keep your eyes open because they seem to be snapped up PDQ. Cheers. Neil

06-24-2010, 01:51 PM	#1
JoshLessard Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook or Kindle 3???	Advice on reader purchase Hello. I would like to purchase an ebook reader (actually, I have one but will probably be returning it), and I would appreciate some advice. My main criteria are: 1) Supports ePub well. I'm not interested in a closed system where I'm limited to purchases from only one ebook store (i.e. Kindle). Unless the Kindle also would allow me to buy ebooks from, say, kobobooks.com. 2) Good contrast and low glare. I purchased a Sony PRS-600 because it satisfies criteria 1, 3 and 4, but the contrast and glare from the screen are horrible. Text is a darkish grey on a lightish grey rather than nearly black on off-white. Gives me a headache to read it. 3) PDF reflow. I have a lot of computer programming books in PDF format that I want to be able to read, and I don't want to have to constantly pan if I make the text bigger. 4) Skip-to-page. Many PDFs are not broken down by chapter, and I don't want to have to hit "next page" 800 times to get to page 800. Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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06-25-2010, 03:22 AM	#2
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, Josh. If you can lay hands on the Sony PRS-505, that would solve the glare problem. But it doesn't handle PDFs well. I've seen a couple of readers recommended here that seem to cope with PDF flow but can't remember off hand what they are. I'm sure someone will step into this thread soon to remind us. Good luck. Best wishes. Neil

06-25-2010, 10:29 AM	#3
JoshLessard Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook or Kindle 3???	Hi Neil. Thanks for the tip. I've looked at the PRS-505, and I would probably have grabbed one if they were still available. If anyone else has any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

06-25-2010, 10:48 AM	#4
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	Well, if you like the PRS 505, then yo will love the 900. I did not suggest it - as you want hi contrast and low glare, and well, no SONY reader shines in that regard. But it does meet your other criteria.

06-25-2010, 11:10 AM	#5
JoshLessard Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook or Kindle 3???	The non-touch Sony devices have much better contrast than the touch devices do. I think after experiencing the PRS-600, I'm going to stay away from touchscreen eReaders. Any chance you can recommend a non-touchscreen device that meets the criteria I've layed out? Thanks all.

06-25-2010, 11:38 AM	#6
Marcy Guru Posts: 893 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	I don't have one but it sounds like you'd like the Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo. They are touchscreen, but the touchscreen is underneath the e-ink layer so it doesn't interfere with contrast. You need to use a stylus for the screen -- fingers don't work. I don't know about #4 for this device but a quick post in the appropriate forum would get an answer. -Marcy

06-25-2010, 01:54 PM	#7
Zetmolm Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 2031728 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: PocketBook Touch (622), PocketBook Touch Lux 2, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	#4 Onyx Boox/Bebook Neo has skip-to-page

06-25-2010, 01:59 PM	#8
JoshLessard Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook or Kindle 3???	Are there any brick-and-mortar stores in Canada that carry the Onyx/BeBook? Thanks all.

06-25-2010, 02:51 PM	#9
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	The Nook should suit your needs quite well seems to hit on ever point of yours. plus it has one of if not the best contrast screens in the business. And with the latest price cut, among the best value's out their. Sony has yet to respond making them a difficult choice, value wise IMHO. solid e-reader

06-26-2010, 02:41 AM	#10
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*I've looked at the PRS-505, and I would probably have grabbed one if they were still available* They pop up quite often in the Flea Market forum here, John. But you have to keep your eyes open because they seem to be snapped up PDQ. Cheers. Neil

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