A device for reading and listening

umiak · 11-20-2012, 05:53 AM

Hello,

I am very new to e-book devices and unfortunately don't know much about them.

I'm looking for a device which I could use to read books and listen to audiobooks (I often do these two at a time on my laptop). I commute a lot and think that a mobile, light and pocketable reader would be an excellent way to use the time I spend on various means of transport.
I'd really like one device with big memory (audiobooks usually take up lots of space, for instance the folder for e-books and audiobooks I have on my computer takes up almost 20GB), handling various text and audio formats, and possibly with good battery life.
What would you suggest please?

ProfCrash · 11-21-2012, 11:00 AM

Kindle 3 (aka Kindle Keyboard now) works well for this if. Amazon owns Audible and you can download your books from the cloud to the K3 easily enough. If you go with the 3G version you will be able to download books from the cloud easily enough in many different places.

susan_cassidy · 11-21-2012, 11:53 AM

You can't download audible books with 3G, you have to use USB, I think. Or, maybe wi-fi.

Synamon · 11-21-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

You can't download audible books with 3G, you have to use USB, I think. Or, maybe wi-fi.

Wifi works to download Audible audiobooks on the KK.

The Kindle Keyboard only has 3 GB of space, so it wouldn't hold very many audiobooks. I don't know if any e-ink readers have card slots for additional storage and the ability to play audiobooks. You might consider a phablet or iPod touch if you don't mind a small screen, or a 7" tablet if you want a larger one.

sqdancer · 11-22-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

I don't know if any e-ink readers have card slots for additional storage and the ability to play audiobooks.

I believe the Sony T1 does.

ProfCrash · 11-22-2012, 09:36 PM

Does the T1 have speakers?

sqdancer · 11-22-2012, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Does the T1 have speakers?

Not according to the specs I've seen, just the headphone jack.

ProfCrash · 11-23-2012, 07:42 AM

Headphone jack won't be good for listening while driving and I think adding portable speakers would defeat the purpose of a lighter device.

I did not realize that audiobooks only download using the WiFI, thanks for that info. I guess it makes sense, they are so much larger than an ebook that the data cost paid by Amazon would be larger.

I suggest the Kindle Keyboard because the touch Kindles do not have speakers and would not work for you.

You are not going to get light, mobile, 20 GB of space, and good battery life in one device. Your storage requirements probably lend themselves to a 7 inch tablet but you are not going to get great battery life. If you are OK with recharging every day or every other day, An android tablet would work well for you.

If you really want an ereader, you are going to have space issues. There are devices with memory card slots that can handle a larger memory card but having 20 GB of books can really slow down the device (at least that is what I have read).

umiak · 11-24-2012, 05:38 AM

Thank you very much everyone.

I think I might go for Kindle, but in the meantime I also found a review of another model of it: http://reviews.cnet.com/e-book-reade...-35022792.html
The aticle says that Kindle Touch has got loudspeakers too, so is there any significant difference between Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard? If not, then I'd rather have the former for practical reasons: it is smaller.
As to the memory, I think I'll simply delete and copy books on Kindle once I've finished one (I guess with 3GB memory, it will be possible to hold 2-3 books on the hard disc, unless it's a War and Peace type of book).

HarryT · 11-24-2012, 06:04 AM

The Kindle Touch is a much better device, in my view. As you say, it's smaller, and the soft keyboard on the touch screen is much easier to use than the fiddly little rubber keyboard on the KK.

I would sound a note of caution, though, about using any eBook reader as an audio player. The music management capabilities of the Kindle are primitive in the extreme. It would be much, much, better to get a book reader, and a separate MP3 player (they are very inexpensive).

11-20-2012, 05:53 AM	#1
umiak Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	A device for reading and listening Hello, I am very new to e-book devices and unfortunately don't know much about them. I'm looking for a device which I could use to read books and listen to audiobooks (I often do these two at a time on my laptop). I commute a lot and think that a mobile, light and pocketable reader would be an excellent way to use the time I spend on various means of transport. I'd really like one device with big memory (audiobooks usually take up lots of space, for instance the folder for e-books and audiobooks I have on my computer takes up almost 20GB), handling various text and audio formats, and possibly with good battery life. What would you suggest please?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Just for reading pdfs and listening mp3 files	Bernhard Hiller	Which one should I buy?	7	04-24-2012 01:21 AM
is it possible listening mp3 while reading on k3	sbilek	Amazon Kindle	10	01-16-2011 09:19 PM
Reading device(s) or PC?	Book Depository	News	2	12-02-2009 07:32 AM
Reading or listening? I need both!	jetreader	Ectaco jetBook	9	09-02-2009 10:27 AM
Yet Another Device for E-Reading	kilohertz53	Lounge	1	03-08-2008 10:52 AM

11-21-2012, 11:00 AM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Kindle 3 (aka Kindle Keyboard now) works well for this if. Amazon owns Audible and you can download your books from the cloud to the K3 easily enough. If you go with the 3G version you will be able to download books from the cloud easily enough in many different places.

11-21-2012, 11:53 AM	#3
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	You can't download audible books with 3G, you have to use USB, I think. Or, maybe wi-fi.

11-22-2012, 09:36 PM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Does the T1 have speakers?

11-23-2012, 07:42 AM	#8
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Headphone jack won't be good for listening while driving and I think adding portable speakers would defeat the purpose of a lighter device. I did not realize that audiobooks only download using the WiFI, thanks for that info. I guess it makes sense, they are so much larger than an ebook that the data cost paid by Amazon would be larger. I suggest the Kindle Keyboard because the touch Kindles do not have speakers and would not work for you. You are not going to get light, mobile, 20 GB of space, and good battery life in one device. Your storage requirements probably lend themselves to a 7 inch tablet but you are not going to get great battery life. If you are OK with recharging every day or every other day, An android tablet would work well for you. If you really want an ereader, you are going to have space issues. There are devices with memory card slots that can handle a larger memory card but having 20 GB of books can really slow down the device (at least that is what I have read).

11-24-2012, 05:38 AM	#9
umiak Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Thank you very much everyone. I think I might go for Kindle, but in the meantime I also found a review of another model of it: http://reviews.cnet.com/e-book-reade...-35022792.html The aticle says that Kindle Touch has got loudspeakers too, so is there any significant difference between Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard? If not, then I'd rather have the former for practical reasons: it is smaller. As to the memory, I think I'll simply delete and copy books on Kindle once I've finished one (I guess with 3GB memory, it will be possible to hold 2-3 books on the hard disc, unless it's a War and Peace type of book).

11-24-2012, 06:04 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Kindle Touch is a much better device, in my view. As you say, it's smaller, and the soft keyboard on the touch screen is much easier to use than the fiddly little rubber keyboard on the KK. I would sound a note of caution, though, about using any eBook reader as an audio player. The music management capabilities of the Kindle are primitive in the extreme. It would be much, much, better to get a book reader, and a separate MP3 player (they are very inexpensive).

Advert

Advert