Good/Best reader for Library on Overdrive...

[dkperez]

Our local library is about to start with Overdrive. I read virtually all my books from the library (I go through 3 - 4 books/week, so my wife won't let me buy or we'd have to add a room to the house)......

I'm looking for a good book reader that'll give me the following:

Work seamlessly with Overdrive (I've got PCs as needed for downloading and whatever)
Provide good, sharp, clear text - my aging eyes would appreciate sharp text without flicker, sparkle, pixelation, or other things to make them tired
Have good battery life (I read that the Pandigital is only good for about 6 hours?)
Work outdoors
I read a lot in bed, so a backlight or some method of reading in the dark is necessary.
Color, I suppose, would be nice, but certainly isn't critical as I primarily read novels and mysteries.

I find reading some paperbacks difficult due to their very tiny font, so it would be nice to have a large screen - hardcover size? Although, as I understand it, that'd be a Kindle DX, which doesn't work well with Overdrive...

Price, of course, is a factor... I'm looking to do this for a LOT less than an iPad costs. I just need a reader - I've got desktop PCs, a large laptop for
on-the-road, and all I want to do with this thing is read books.

As I understand it, the Kindle does NOT work well with Overdrive. Certainly not as seamlessly as the Sony or some other readers...

I saw a reference to a Pandigital 9, but in two days I haven't been able to even get on Pandigital's site...

SO, can y'all help me narrow down my choices to units that'll work well, have batteries that last a long time, and are HOPEFULLY, reasonably priced?

[boswd]

the nook and the sony's are the two best that support epub and overdrive, the nook has an edge for price to features.

the sony uses the new pearl ink screen for sharp text the nook has a great screen as welll and after the new update it received it has now an even better screen.

can't go wrong with either but all things equal my vote goes for the nook, you get more bang for your buck in terms of wireless and screen size etc. and the Bn's bookstore platform is much better than Sony's.

[dkperez]

I just took a look at the thread(s) on how to get library books on a Kindle..... Good grief... If it's as convoluted and cumbersome as it appears, I definitely want to stay with one of the more compatible readers....

A question: It appears the libraries commonly have ePub and pdf formats. I've read in some reader reviews that the pdf format is more rigid and not as "nice" for reading... Am I correct that there's a difference between the two, and that both are rights protected?

[boswd]

novels done in PDF format's are hit or miss, some come through and it's all peachy other's not so much.

ePub format is the better of the two especially for six inch eink screens.

[ProfCrash]

If the screen is important to you then you problably want a Sony. I would go to Best Buy and compare the Sony and the Nook to see which one you prefer.

The Sony has the new Pearl Screen which is great but is a bit more expensive then the Nook.

[CandyStripe]

I have a Kindle, which will not play any DRM download except Amazon, as far as I know. I have read loads of books on the Kindle from gutenberg.org and other sites that have books that do not have a DRM restriction. My overdrive books are read on my netbook using Digital Editions. I have occasionally used my desk top to read books. I find the netbook (Acer) to be very acceptable in reading books.

[hemisphire]

I have a Kobo, and recently downloaded a number of library books from Overdrive while I was on vacation. ePub, in addition to being better formatted, integrated into the Kobo books database better (PDFs showed up in the documents section).

[CandyStripe]

. . . an afterthought: I have loaded Calibre from calibre.com as a program to manage my library. This program will convert most eBook formats to mobi for use on the Kindle and other Amazon products. The program will also download newspapers, such as NY Times, WashPost, et al in ePub format. These newspapers can be converted to mobi for reading on the Kindle - and put into any format for other devices. Callibre has many other functions. Try reading a book on your laptop using Digital Editions, which I downloaded from Overdrive. I find that I must read a complete book on a new device or new eReader to override my initial prejudice for or con a device or eReader.

[Care]

You mention having a backlight. Anything you get that is backlit will drain the battery. I have a Nook that I use with a Nook Light that clips on when I am reading in bed. It doesn't move around on my reader or cause other problems. It is also super light so I hardly notice it. The Nook works great with library books and can use any ADE DRMed epubs. The font on the Nook was fine before, but after the new update the font is much darker and stands out more. You also can change the font size so it is easier to read. My battery on my Nook lasts anywhere from 4-10 days before charging and I read anywhere from 2-4 books a week and never turn it off.

The Kindle can load some library books if they offer mobi, but around here they are all going to epub. Yes, there is a way to convert them, but most have their own DRM and you would need to strip this first. If you are planning on using library books, I would personally stay away from the Kindle.

If you are interested in the Pandigital Novel then I would look at the Pocketbook IQ. But again, if you go with a tablet the battery won't last very long.

Good luck!

[SeaBookGuy]

My library offers mobi versions of some books, which I understand can be read on Kindles (once you know your PID code), but there aren't many, and the titles are skewed towards romance, kids, etc.

Epub library books (about 70%) are fine, with the occasional one that doesn't come justified. PDF books are images (scans) of the actual print book, reading normally in the default Small font, but anything larger will affect the formatting; they're readable enough, but you'll run across things like:

And so, Lilybeth and Sarah went to (End of page in mid-sentence, mid-line)

Next screen

the butcher's shop for a joint. (nothing else on that screen)


There might also be the occasional blank page

[tomereader]

From Overdrives own Device Resource Center - Compatible eBook Devices
http://www.overdrive.com/resources/d...okdevices.aspx

Only shows 14 ereaders as being compatible:

3 Nook's, Kobo, Literati, Pandigital, and 8 Sony's

My JBL is not listed but from the Ectaco site

http://www.ectaco.com/ectaco-jetbook-lite/
Now pre-installed with Adobe DRM Support for Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) ePub Files and Barnes & Noble ePub Books I am legally blind and usually can read at the 24 font size still leaving me the 32 font size for when things get worse

The use of AA batteries is nice checking your future purchase to see if the battery is easy to replace or will require a return to the shop for a fee if you are not handy or low vision doesn't allow doing upclose work like that....

[dkperez]

Well, I've done it again........ Gave my wife a call this morning and told her I was researching book readers........................................... ................

Got a sigh in response... Turns out, she'd been planning to get me one for Christmas... Oh, well...

Anyhow, I went out and looked at the readers I could find... The Pandigital is visibly soft, and pretty hard to turn pages on..... At least using my finger it was difficult.

The Sony Daily is nice but at $300 it's not THAT nice. The tiny Sony is too small. None of the places I went had a Sony PRS-600 out for me to play with, so I bought one to try......

I also looked at the Nook and the Nook Color... The Nook Color appears to be very nice, and seemed to have a nice, crisp view... Unfortunately, NOBODY had one for sale, but I found one at the B & N near my wife. So, she'll pick it up on her way home and I'll compare it to the Sony.

So far, I'm quite impressed with the Sony. Easy to set up, easy to turn pages, easy to change fonts and orientation... I"ll know more in a couple hundred pages.... Probably by morning.

I'm now connected to a nearby library system, and have a couple books in my book bag. Once I get the Nook I'll download some onto the Sony and some onto the Nook and give both a try.

[polly]

Make sure you got a Sony 650 versus the 600. The 600 had a screen that was more difficult for reading. The 650 is gorgeous and clear. If you did get a 600, I'd take it back.

Also, take a look at the matrix, located at https://www.mobileread.com/eink/. It shows all of the readers on the market right now. Any of the ones with Adobe Digital Editions will work with your library books. Once you narrow it down to a few readers, you can post specific questions to the forums for those readers. There are readers that no one has ever heard of with great customer support here at MobileRead.

Having said all of that, I love my 650 for the screen and the ease of changing pages. My arthritic hands find the swipe on the touchscreen easier than pushing buttons.

[Care]

Awwwww, crap deal for your wife. I hate having an idea and then having to come up with something different.

That's the way to do it! I bought my Nook intending to take it back if I didn't like it, but I fell in love with it. Make sure your Nook has the 1.5 update because it improves on a lot of things. When you go to settings it will tell you which software it is running.

A lot of people love the Sonys and now that the 600 is cheaper it makes it that much more attractive. The problem is the 650 is quite a bit more expensive than say the Kindle or the Nook. I personally didn't like the page turning buttons on the Sony, but that's just me. I usually do the finger swipe on my Nook, but when on my side in bed I find the Nooks buttons easier to use.

[booklover6]

The Jetbook Lite is good for library books, and they can often be had for under $100.