Reader+Kindle in New Zealand

mcramer · 05-11-2008, 05:23 PM

Silly post really.....

In the 18 months that I had been looking to buy a Sony Reader I had seen a total of one unit in my travels around NZ (and indeed the world!) It was on my fourth trip to the US about 6 months ago that I actually go around to buying one.

In those six months I have not seen another e-ink based reading unit until yesterday.....

I was sitting on a plane from Wellington to Auckland and the woman sitting across the aisle from me was reading a Kindle!

Now to those of you in the US that may not be very unusual but to those of us that are a 12 hour flight from the nearest retail outlet for either reader it was somewhat of a strange experience.

Oh, and damn the Kindle is as ugly in real life as I thought it would be!

MickeyC · 05-11-2008, 06:13 PM

Hi mcramer. Have to agree with you about the Kindle. I've got a 505 but have had my hands on a Kindle for the last few days. I do like some of the features such as the wireless aspect of it but it does have a kind of plastic feel to it compared to the Sony's high tech metal. Also, it is real easy to accidentally turn pages on the Kindle.

Enjoy your 505

Onemack · 05-12-2008, 02:00 AM

Hi McCramer et al,

In all my travels I have never seen another one, of any type (dedicated bookreader), apart from the ones that I own. I have had comments whilst in transit on planes and buses, ranging from "what’s that?" to "What a cool device". I would love to see a Kindle just to see if it is really as ugly as they say. The Sony, the CyBook and the Iliad are all rather elegant with the CyBook being the best as far as looks and size is concerned.

I find it rather interesting that there seem to be so few bookreader’s around, particularly given both the high literacy and reading rate of most Western countries where they are readily available.

Just about every man and his dog has got a mobile phone, not to mention two or three TV's and a GPS in the car or on a PDA type arrangement, and I think that there are more MP3 players in the world than there are people.. But Bookreader’s are singularly absent

Just thought I would add to the pleasant waffle.

Cheers

John

Ervserver · 05-12-2008, 10:48 AM

Wherever I take my reader it draws lots of attention, people aren't aware of them.

HarryT · 05-12-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

Hi mcramer. Have to agree with you about the Kindle. I've got a 505 but have had my hands on a Kindle for the last few days. I do like some of the features such as the wireless aspect of it but it does have a kind of plastic feel to it compared to the Sony's high tech metal.

You say that as though it were a bad thing

. Modern high-density plastics are just as good a constructional material as metal and better in some ways - eg they're a lot better at dispersing energy in the event of an impact (which is why modern cars have plastic bumpers). An eBook reader in a plastic case has a better chance of surviving an impact than one in a metal case.

MickeyC · 05-12-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You say that as though it were a bad thing

. Modern high-density plastics are just as good a constructional material as metal and better in some ways - eg they're a lot better at dispersing energy in the event of an impact (which is why modern cars have plastic bumpers). An eBook reader in a plastic case has a better chance of surviving an impact than one in a metal case.

Harry, I expect you're right. Just think the Sony metal case gives it a high tech look and feel. Nonetheless, I did buy a padded cover to help it absorb impacts.

kovidgoyal · 05-12-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You say that as though it were a bad thing

. Modern high-density plastics are just as good a constructional material as metal and better in some ways - eg they're a lot better at dispersing energy in the event of an impact (which is why modern cars have plastic bumpers). An eBook reader in a plastic case has a better chance of surviving an impact than one in a metal case.

Considering that the biggest danger to e-book readers is torque and screen impacts, energy dissipation is completely unimportant to survivability.

moz · 05-12-2008, 05:08 PM

My thought the other day was that I would be happy if Sony added an extra mm or two to the PRS-505 thickness by making the case thicker. Especially if they also made the screen cover plate thicker at the same time. I fear both twisting and crushing failure modes

Onemack · 05-13-2008, 02:35 AM

Righto I give up!

Where on earth is this torque and twisting to come from, not to mention the impact damage? I seem to remember from other threads the discussion of spilt coffee and accidental dropping resulted in minimal if any damage.

The devices are too big to stick in your back pocket then accidentally sit on them. Is there some secret use for the devices that I am unaware off? Are they being used as weapons? Or perhaps propping up table legs instead of books or cardboard?

Enlighten me please!

John

HarryT · 05-13-2008, 04:03 AM

A very common cause is something like putting it in a bag with other objects, and something digs into the screen or imparts a twisting force. That can very easily facture the delicate glass substrate that's under the plastic outer face of the screen.

Onemack · 05-13-2008, 04:25 AM

It just goes to show that they fill books with what I don't know

Karen Bohan-Shaw · 03-27-2010, 10:11 PM

How can I buy a Kindle over here? I thought Amazon doesn't sell to NZ.

dsenior · 03-28-2010, 02:00 PM

I live in Christchurch NZ and have had a Sony Reader for almost a year though I bought mine in the UK. Though I do take my reader any further than the garden. I read more but I am not sure how much cheaper are ebooks are compared to buying a hardcopy. So my library is a mixture of free books and bought and so audio books which I have downloaded from Christchurch City library. I have been asking them for some time to also lend ebooks but they say there is no demand for that service yet.

GraceKrispy · 03-28-2010, 07:13 PM

I spotted my first ereader irl a few weeks ago. It was a kindle sighting as well. I was surprised at what it looked like. I've seen pictures, not sure what I was expecting, but it didn't look like I thought. It looked like a funny play toy to me

I guess I'm just used to what I have.

05-11-2008, 05:23 PM	#1
mcramer Kiwi reader Posts: 107 Karma: 349 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Device: iPad, iPhone	Reader+Kindle in New Zealand Silly post really..... In the 18 months that I had been looking to buy a Sony Reader I had seen a total of one unit in my travels around NZ (and indeed the world!) It was on my fourth trip to the US about 6 months ago that I actually go around to buying one. In those six months I have not seen another e-ink based reading unit until yesterday..... I was sitting on a plane from Wellington to Auckland and the woman sitting across the aisle from me was reading a Kindle! Now to those of you in the US that may not be very unusual but to those of us that are a 12 hour flight from the nearest retail outlet for either reader it was somewhat of a strange experience. Oh, and damn the Kindle is as ugly in real life as I thought it would be! Last edited by mcramer; 05-11-2008 at 06:17 PM.

05-12-2008, 02:00 AM	#3
Onemack Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 1160 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tasmania Device: Kindle P/W, Kobo Aura, Kobo Libre 2, Boyue likebook P10	I have never seen another Hi McCramer et al, In all my travels I have never seen another one, of any type (dedicated bookreader), apart from the ones that I own. I have had comments whilst in transit on planes and buses, ranging from "what’s that?" to "What a cool device". I would love to see a Kindle just to see if it is really as ugly as they say. The Sony, the CyBook and the Iliad are all rather elegant with the CyBook being the best as far as looks and size is concerned. I find it rather interesting that there seem to be so few bookreader’s around, particularly given both the high literacy and reading rate of most Western countries where they are readily available. Just about every man and his dog has got a mobile phone, not to mention two or three TV's and a GPS in the car or on a PDA type arrangement, and I think that there are more MP3 players in the world than there are people.. But Bookreader’s are singularly absent Just thought I would add to the pleasant waffle. Cheers John

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05-11-2008, 06:13 PM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi mcramer. Have to agree with you about the Kindle. I've got a 505 but have had my hands on a Kindle for the last few days. I do like some of the features such as the wireless aspect of it but it does have a kind of plastic feel to it compared to the Sony's high tech metal. Also, it is real easy to accidentally turn pages on the Kindle. Enjoy your 505

05-12-2008, 10:48 AM	#4
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Wherever I take my reader it draws lots of attention, people aren't aware of them.

05-12-2008, 05:08 PM	#8
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	My thought the other day was that I would be happy if Sony added an extra mm or two to the PRS-505 thickness by making the case thicker. Especially if they also made the screen cover plate thicker at the same time. I fear both twisting and crushing failure modes

05-13-2008, 02:35 AM	#9
Onemack Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 1160 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tasmania Device: Kindle P/W, Kobo Aura, Kobo Libre 2, Boyue likebook P10	Righto I give up! Where on earth is this torque and twisting to come from, not to mention the impact damage? I seem to remember from other threads the discussion of spilt coffee and accidental dropping resulted in minimal if any damage. The devices are too big to stick in your back pocket then accidentally sit on them. Is there some secret use for the devices that I am unaware off? Are they being used as weapons? Or perhaps propping up table legs instead of books or cardboard? Enlighten me please! John

05-13-2008, 04:03 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	A very common cause is something like putting it in a bag with other objects, and something digs into the screen or imparts a twisting force. That can very easily facture the delicate glass substrate that's under the plastic outer face of the screen.

05-13-2008, 04:25 AM	#11
Onemack Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 1160 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tasmania Device: Kindle P/W, Kobo Aura, Kobo Libre 2, Boyue likebook P10	It just goes to show that they fill books with what I don't know

03-27-2010, 10:11 PM	#12
Karen Bohan-Shaw Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: none	How can I buy a Kindle over here? I thought Amazon doesn't sell to NZ.

03-28-2010, 02:00 PM	#13
dsenior Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Christchurch New Zealand Device: Sony 505 and Sony T1	I live in Christchurch NZ and have had a Sony Reader for almost a year though I bought mine in the UK. Though I do take my reader any further than the garden. I read more but I am not sure how much cheaper are ebooks are compared to buying a hardcopy. So my library is a mixture of free books and bought and so audio books which I have downloaded from Christchurch City library. I have been asking them for some time to also lend ebooks but they say there is no demand for that service yet.

03-28-2010, 07:13 PM	#14
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I spotted my first ereader irl a few weeks ago. It was a kindle sighting as well. I was surprised at what it looked like. I've seen pictures, not sure what I was expecting, but it didn't look like I thought. It looked like a funny play toy to me I guess I'm just used to what I have.

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