which ereader is best for library users?

[globalite]

I'm brand new to the forums and need your advice, please. I am a dedicated user of my public library because buying books gets expensive. Now my library is offering eBooks so it seems like a good time to get an eReader. But which one?! Is there a particular reader that has a greater resource for free books? What else should I be thinking about?

[TedJ]

Your decision comes down to eBook format, rather than any particular reader. Most libraries lend eBooks encoded as ePUB format, so be sure that any reader you're looking at supports it.

The B&N Nook series, the Kobo eReaders and the Sony Readers are all good candidates although I'll leave others to suggest other options.

[jocampo]

Overdrive is usually the service for that. Nook, Sony and most readers that use ePub as reading format can be used.

Kindle 3 should be able to join as well at the end of this year.

Besides that, think about the online bookstore for your device. If you live in USA and you are into library lending primary, I would recommend Nook Touch. You will be able to enjoy B&N books as well or even the free in-store reading capabilities.

Compare prices too, and PDF capabilities. Sony is better reading PDFs than Nook or even Kindle 3. I do like landscape too, it's a very useful feature for poetry and IT books.

And welcome to Mobileread!

[CRussel]

Official Kindle support for libraries is due by the end of the year, but in the mean time, it is certainly possible (and not difficult at all) to read library books on your Kindle. It does require stripping the DRM from them, however, so will likely start yet another off-topic discussion. Personally, I love my Kindle 3, and love reading library books on it. But if you expect your primary source of books to be the Library, then the new Nook (if in the US) or new Kobo are probably as good a choice as any.

[artifact]

The jetBook and jetBook Lite (but not mini) also read library Overdrive books and have the bonus of no internal clock, so as long as you don't sync with ADE you can keep library books on the device for as long as needed.

With the long wait times this is a HUGE benefit IMO for a heavy library user. Grab all the books you can while you can, return them right away for the next person in the queue, and then read them at your leisure.

[delphin]

Nearly all libraries use a service called 'Overdrive' to manage their E-Book checkouts.

Overdrive, in turn, currently uses Adobe's ADE (Adobe Digital Editions) with Adobe's ADEPT DRM (Digital Rights Management).

ADE is like the familiar Acrobat reader you probably already have on your PC, but is a separate Adobe software product.

Like Acrobat, Adobe's ADE reader software is FREE, so technically, if you have any kind of netbook, laptop, or PC or Mac, you can just install Adobe's free ADE reader and start checking out and reading books right now on your PC.

(this is a good way to get familiar with Overdrive before you even buy a portable reader)

As far as which portable eBook reader you should buy goes; you have literally dozens of good choices . . .

The Sony PRS-350, PRS-650, and PRS-950 are all excellent choices if you can find one on sale somewhere at a good price. (check out the PRS-350 at Best Buy for $119)

ALL of Barnes and Nobles Nooks also work perfectly with free library books from Overdrive. (The New Nook Simple Touch is very nice, and is $139 at any B&N or online)

The original Kobo, and new Kobo Touch also work great with Overdrive books. (you can probably find an original Kobo for less than $80, and the new Kobo Touch is currently $119)

Many other off-brand readers like the Aluratek Libre, and Jetbooks will also work, as long as you make sure that they are compatible with Adobe ADE EPUB format (look for ADEPT DRM support, some models will only support Non-DRM EPUB).

Be aware that the market is EXTREMELY competitive now, with manufactures slashing prices everyday, so although some of the off-brand readers will indeed work quite nicely, unless you can find one at a HUGE DISCOUNT, they may not be worth bothering with.

Lots of the 'me too' off-brand readers are indeed usable with Overdrive, but some of these guys apparently haven't got the message yet that, in today's market, they need to be HALF what the B&N or Sony's sell for NOW (not half what they cost 2 years ago).

For example, I have seen some sellers list the Aluratek Libre for $149 with a straight face, when a brand new Nook STR sells for $139, and the Sony PRS-350 is selling now for $119 at Best Buy.

The Libre is not a bad reader, and would probably be a fine deal on clearance at something like $60, but with newer much better quality mainstream readers like the Sony PRS-350 and B&N Nook STR selling for much lower prices, a Libre at $149 is just a sucker bet.

On the other hand, if you can find something like the Jetbook or Aluratek Libre at a lower price (something in the 50 to 60 dollar range) then they might be a good alternative if you don't want to spend too much money.

Personally though, I would recommend that you consider spending just a bit more, and check out the Sony PRS-350, because it's really hard to beat it's blend of size, reliability, and user friendly touch screen interface.

Technically the PRS-350's screen is an inch smaller than some other readers, but don't let this fool you. Remember, that's an inch 'diagonally' which is only a fraction of an inch horizontally and vertically, and the PRS-350's screen actually has a higher DPI (dots-per-inch) ratio so it's razor sharp and very easy to read.

But thanks to the slightly smaller screen, Sony was able to keep the weight of the PRS-350 down to only about 5 ounces (compared to a half pound for a typical 6 inch reader, and a pound or more for the Nook Color and iPad); and unlike the others, the PRS-350 is something you can actually slip into a pocket and read on the go.

[globalite]

From looking around online, I like the look of the Sony readers. Obviously I'd like to handle one before buying, though. I'm also checking ebay and craigslist. I'm seeing a PRS-600 for $100. How does the PRS-600 compare to the PRS-650 and also to the PRS-350? The 650 looks like it's significantly more expensive than the 350. What are the features that account for the higher price?

[EowynCarter]

The 650 looks like it's significantly more expensive than the 350. What are the features that account for the higher price?

Screen size. (screen still account for a large part of the price)

Check at you libray to be sure about the format, just to sure. But most probably ePub.

Other solutions : nook touch, kobo touch, cybook.

[delphin]

Originally Posted by globalite

From looking around online, I like the look of the Sony readers. Obviously I'd like to handle one before buying, though. I'm also checking ebay and craigslist. I'm seeing a PRS-600 for $100. How does the PRS-600 compare to the PRS-650 and also to the PRS-350? The 650 looks like it's significantly more expensive than the 350. What are the features that account for the higher price?

Sorry, a PRS-600 for $100 dollars is NOT a good deal in todays market.

The older Sony touch models like the 600 used an older eInk technology and older touch screen technology.

The older eInk had LESS CONTRAST, and the older touch screens required more pressure, and were shiny creating HUGE problems with glare and fingerprints.

I am not surprised that folks would want to dump their used 600's on ebay for $100 dollars, since they can get a like-new refurbished PRS-350 from Sony for $99 dollars that is much better.

Effectively they are offering to swap you an older technology reader with serious issues, so they can go out and get a new PRS-350, Nook STR, or Kobo Touch.

To answer your question about the differences between the Sony 350 and 650 readers . . .

Compared PRS-350, the Sony PRS-650 has -

- 1 inch larger screen (measured diagonally - only a fraction of an inch vertically and horizontally)

- A built in MP3 player that can be used to play audio books or background music while you read.

- SD and 'Memory Stick' expansion memory slots.

I have a PRS-650, but find that I don't use the MP3 player much, even though it works quite nicely.

The reason is quite simple, using the MP3 playback runs the battery down in a day, instead of a week or more, eliminating one of the main advantages of an eInk reader - and I don't like putting all those extra cycles on my readers battery, when I can just as easily use my tiny external MP3 player.

The expansion memory slots are nice, but were mainly of value for audio books, which run hundreds of megabytes each (but as I said above, I typically don't play music or audio books on my 650).

For standard EPUB book titles, which average about a thousand times smaller than audio books, the internal memory of the 350 is more than adequate.

The screen difference is also not a big a deal, because the PRS-350 screen is still 800x600 resolution just like the PRS-650, the pixels are just more tightly packed, giving the 350 a higher 'DPI' (which actually gives the PRS-350 slightly sharper text when viewed from the same distance).

The reason for the huge price difference is that right now the PRS-650 is in fairly short supply, and as a result is selling pretty close to it's not-very-competitive 229 dollar list price here in the U.S.

I say that this price is 'not-very-competive' because it is almost a hundred dollars more than the similar Nook STR, and even worse compared to the Kobo Touch that sells for just $119. Of course the Kobo and Nook don't have MP3 playback, but they DO HAVE WiFi, which most would consider an equivalent (or perhaps even more useful) addition on a day to day basis.

The PRS-350 is in much better supply, and is a much better deal; no doubt in part because the introduction of the Nook STR and Kobo Touch readers has forced retailers to continue to heavily discount it from Sony's ridiculous list price of 180 dollars.

I own the PRS-650 and am pretty happy with it, but if I were doing it again, I would probably go with the PRS-350.

Sure, it doesn't have MP3, it doesn't have WiFi - It also wont make phone calls like a smart phone, can't play any games out of the box, doesn't make pasta, and makes a pretty lousy bottle opener . . .

- But it IS one hell of a nice little eBook reader that offers something that it's larger cousin the 650 does not; SOMETHING THAT NONE OF THE LARGER 6 INCH READERS HAVE; and that is an exceptional blend of sharp clear readability, and slip it in your pocket and read anywhere on the go portability.