Advice for the frequent traveler?

Gaston · 06-11-2010, 11:59 PM

Which one would be most convenient for the frequent traveler?
I'm currently living in Chile (South America), but I travel to Canada/USA every week or so.
Which e-reader would be most convenient for me, in terms of international compatibility, fees, etc. ?

Thanks in advance.

emai7s2 · 06-12-2010, 03:07 AM

The Jetbook Lite is the only one that uses standard, user replaceable AA batteries. For any other machine, you'll need to bring a recharger and various adaptors with you when you travel.

HarryT · 06-12-2010, 04:11 AM

I'm not sure what fees you're referring to. All eBook readers are pretty "international friendly".

Gaston · 06-12-2010, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure what fees you're referring to. All eBook readers are pretty "international friendly".

I heard the Amazon Kindle 2 charges about 5$ for 'roaming charges' whenever you're delivered a newspaper (New York Times, etc.) outside of the US. Is this true?
Also, I don't mind having to carry chargers and adapters and whatnot. What bothers me is if there won't be any 3G coverage in my country.
I've been really impressed with the Kindle 2's features, but to be honest, I don't know the slightest thing about e-readers.

Gaston · 06-12-2010, 10:31 AM

Also, I've heard people talking about the 'International Kindle'. What is this, and is it any different from the normal Kindle 2?

Gaston · 06-12-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure what fees you're referring to. All eBook readers are pretty "international friendly".

Here's just one of the many examples of someone having trouble while using an e-reader outside the US.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23479

Help?

HarryT · 06-13-2010, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaston

Here's just one of the many examples of someone having trouble while using an e-reader outside the US.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23479

Help?

No, that's nothing to do with travelling with an ebook reader. That's simply a matter of regional restrictions on book sales, which are an entirely different matter.

Unless you have a particularly pressing need to buy books while you're travelling, there are no issues here. Buy books when you're at home - an ebook reader will store an effectively unlimited number of books.

The issues you seem to be talking about here are those with 3G communications. The overwhelming majority of devices do not have 3G. You buy books on your PC from an eBook web site, and copy them to the reader via a USB connection. There are no travel issues associated with such devices at all.

brecklundin · 06-13-2010, 03:49 AM

something else...unless you plan on reading large PDF's with lots of graphics, image files or anything else that are consistently in the 20MB range or higher, don't let the amount of memory worry you. Even and ereader device with just 521MB of user memory can hold somewhere around 1000 books. By today's file size standards, ebooks are teeny-tiny in size with few being near 1MB and most being in the 200KB-400KB range.

Also if you are going to be away from power for extended periods (talking a week or more) and plan on using the device more than a couple hrs/day, the readers which use AA batteries might be worth your consideration or at least a device with a user replaceable battery. Though these days flying with extra batteries can be a whole can-o-worms in itself. But my Kindle 2 International (the only 6" reader they sell now) will last me a couple weeks if I read a couple hours a day the whole time and do not use the wireless.

Most readers are in the 1-2 week range depending on how you read and the quality of the battery used as well as the quality of the devies power management (cheap readers can sometimes cut-corners here).

but if you are going to be near power at least once/week or can carry a laptop that can charge your reader via USB, pretty much any reader either an e-ink type display will do ya fine. After that it gets complicated decided which "features" matter to you most. Have fun!

Gaston · 06-13-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, that's nothing to do with travelling with an ebook reader. That's simply a matter of regional restrictions on book sales, which are an entirely different matter.

Unless you have a particularly pressing need to buy books while you're travelling, there are no issues here. Buy books when you're at home - an ebook reader will store an effectively unlimited number of books.

The issues you seem to be talking about here are those with 3G communications. The overwhelming majority of devices do not have 3G. You buy books on your PC from an eBook web site, and copy them to the reader via a USB connection. There are no travel issues associated with such devices at all.

This is great, thank you!
One last question though:
What is the difference between the 'Amazon Kindle 2' and the 'Amazon Kindle 2 International? '

HarryT · 06-13-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaston

:
What is the difference between the 'Amazon Kindle 2' and the 'Amazon Kindle 2 International? '

No difference. All Kindle 2s are "international". It used to be the case that there was a Kindle model made specifically for the US market, with a CDMA radio rather than GSM, but it's no longer made.

MsAstoria · 06-13-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaston

This is great, thank you!
One last question though:
What is the difference between the 'Amazon Kindle 2' and the 'Amazon Kindle 2 International? '

Amazon kindle 2 is the USA version (whispernet only) where the international is set up for many countries wi fi services. Perhaps there are different languages available too? Don't know about that.

Ah. Did not know that, Harry, thanks!

HarryT · 06-13-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsAstoria

Amazon kindle 2 is the USA version (whispernet only) where the international is set up for many countries wi fi services.

This is not correct; the Kindle does not support WiFi. As I said in my previous post, all Kindle 2's now sold are "Kindle 2 International" models.

Gaston · 06-13-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

This is not correct; the Kindle does not support WiFi. As I said in my previous post, all Kindle 2's now sold are "Kindle 2 International" models.

Thanks again, HarryT

MsAstoria · 06-13-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

This is not correct; the Kindle does not support WiFi. As I said in my previous post, all Kindle 2's now sold are "Kindle 2 International" models.

Perhaps I used the wrong terminology, I referred to wi-fi instead of wireless for downloading e-books. From amazon:
Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries.

HarryT · 06-13-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsAstoria

Perhaps I used the wrong terminology, I referred to wi-fi instead of wireless for downloading e-books. From amazon:
Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries.

Yes, definitely the wrong terminology, I'm afraid; WiFi is something entirely different

.

06-11-2010, 11:59 PM	#1
Gaston Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Advice for the frequent traveler? Which one would be most convenient for the frequent traveler? I'm currently living in Chile (South America), but I travel to Canada/USA every week or so. Which e-reader would be most convenient for me, in terms of international compatibility, fees, etc. ? Thanks in advance.

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06-12-2010, 03:07 AM	#2
emai7s2 Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 128170 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Palm & PPC	The Jetbook Lite is the only one that uses standard, user replaceable AA batteries. For any other machine, you'll need to bring a recharger and various adaptors with you when you travel.

06-12-2010, 04:11 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm not sure what fees you're referring to. All eBook readers are pretty "international friendly".

06-12-2010, 10:31 AM	#5
Gaston Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: none	Also, I've heard people talking about the 'International Kindle'. What is this, and is it any different from the normal Kindle 2?

06-13-2010, 03:49 AM	#8
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	something else...unless you plan on reading large PDF's with lots of graphics, image files or anything else that are consistently in the 20MB range or higher, don't let the amount of memory worry you. Even and ereader device with just 521MB of user memory can hold somewhere around 1000 books. By today's file size standards, ebooks are teeny-tiny in size with few being near 1MB and most being in the 200KB-400KB range. Also if you are going to be away from power for extended periods (talking a week or more) and plan on using the device more than a couple hrs/day, the readers which use AA batteries might be worth your consideration or at least a device with a user replaceable battery. Though these days flying with extra batteries can be a whole can-o-worms in itself. But my Kindle 2 International (the only 6" reader they sell now) will last me a couple weeks if I read a couple hours a day the whole time and do not use the wireless. Most readers are in the 1-2 week range depending on how you read and the quality of the battery used as well as the quality of the devies power management (cheap readers can sometimes cut-corners here). but if you are going to be near power at least once/week or can carry a laptop that can charge your reader via USB, pretty much any reader either an e-ink type display will do ya fine. After that it gets complicated decided which "features" matter to you most. Have fun!