paralysis by overanalysis

[soondai]

I still can't pull the trigger.
Letting the quest for the "perfect" reader get in way of getting a "good enough." Heck, pretty sure there are several than are more than good enough.

I'm basically looking for an ipod for books. I've already assembled a pretty good collection to read when I get it (whatever it ends up being), so the respective bookstores and formats are not really an issue for me. Don't care at all about downloading straight to the reader-- I plan to assemble and manage my library on my pc and tote around a dozen titles or so on the reader.

Money is tight. 150 is the ceiling. 100 would be better.

Kobo:
I'm still pulled to this one since its release was the catalyst for my reader quest. When it came out so much cheaper than the rest, I was very intrigued.

Pros:
bare-bones reader
holds plenty for my needs

cons:
seemed very sluggish when I finally got to play with one this week
maybe a little too bare bones: no landscape view for example
too expensive: costs more than a K3 when you count sales tax

jetBook lite:
available for 99 bucks thru newegg. I've put in the the shopping cart once, but didn't check out.

pros:
price
sounds like it does the job when its working right

cons
battery life and the need to buy/maintain rechargeable batteries.
not really that much cheaper than a K3 after adding batteries, memory, sales tax.
felt a little cheap when I checked out the Libre at 2 borders (it also was not working in either store)
some reviews on newegg say it often dies within a year

Kindle:
I feel like Han Solo in the Death Star's tractor beam. I keep trying to resist, but I think it may be inevitable.

cons first on this one:

I really don't like the fact you cannot change the battery yourself. Even though you can expect it to last 3 years, this almost makes it seem like it is intentionally disposable. I know you can send it in. But the fact they then send you a different one does not diminish that impression.

A little out of my price range if a 35 dollar cover is truly a necessity. If it's really that fragile I wish it came with some sort of bare-bones protection

mobi only. right now DRM and conversion aren't a problem, but I don't know how confident I can be that will continue.

pros:
by all accounts the most bang for the buck.

in it for the long haul. Amazon will still be there in 5 years and still be in the Kindle business

Nook:
Enjoyed playing with one yesterday. Not sure why it still seems like an afterthought instead of a contender.

pros:
I really like that you can add your own memory and change your own battery.
open system with an active dev community making improvements
seems like a fine reader

cons:
25 bucks more than Kindle after tax
pricey covers seem to be a must according to the consensus


So I just don't know.

A Kobo 2 than aimed for better/speedier performance and a 99 dollar price that acknowledged the lack of bells and whistles would probably be irresistible to me. This is my ideal.

A Nook 2 that came in at or under the Kindle price (and was well-reviewed) would also make me jump.

But that Kindle tractor beam is locked on. If I don't get a boost from elsewhere soon I suspect I'm gonna get pulled in.

Any feedback on my reasoning or info on what might be coming down the pike would be appreciated. Do you all think a 99 dollar quality reader will be a reality by Xmas. No way I can wait longer than that. (and ideally I would love to have something for my Oct birthday)

[HarryT]

The Kindle 3 is an excellent reader. I'd certainly recommend it.

[ProfCrash]

I had the K1. When the K2 came out I remember posting I wouldn't buy it because it didn't have the memory card slot and the replacable battery. Then someone asked me how many books I have on memory cards (answer none) and if I was having problems (no then and still no today).

When I bought my DXG a few months back I still hadn't used the memory card slot on my K1 and I had bought a back up battery for a trip from Washington DC to Sydney but ended up not needing the battery. I read for thirteen hours with no problem.

So while the idea of the replaceable battery and the memory card slot look nice on paper they were features I never used. I have a feeling that I am not the only one who never used those features.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by soondai

I still can't pull the trigger.
Letting the quest for the "perfect" reader get in way of getting a "good enough." Heck, pretty sure there are several than are more than good enough.

I'm basically looking for an ipod for books. I've already assembled a pretty good collection to read when I get it (whatever it ends up being), so the respective bookstores and formats are not really an issue for me. Don't care at all about downloading straight to the reader-- I plan to assemble and manage my library on my pc and tote around a dozen titles or so on the reader.

Money is tight. 150 is the ceiling. 100 would be better.

Kobo:
I'm still pulled to this one since its release was the catalyst for my reader quest. When it came out so much cheaper than the rest, I was very intrigued.

Pros:
bare-bones reader
holds plenty for my needs

cons:
seemed very sluggish when I finally got to play with one this week
maybe a little too bare bones: no landscape view for example
too expensive: costs more than a K3 when you count sales tax

jetBook lite:
available for 99 bucks thru newegg. I've put in the the shopping cart once, but didn't check out.

pros:
price
sounds like it does the job when its working right

cons
battery life and the need to buy/maintain rechargeable batteries.
not really that much cheaper than a K3 after adding batteries, memory, sales tax.
felt a little cheap when I checked out the Libre at 2 borders (it also was not working in either store)
some reviews on newegg say it often dies within a year

Kindle:
I feel like Han Solo in the Death Star's tractor beam. I keep trying to resist, but I think it may be inevitable.

cons first on this one:

I really don't like the fact you cannot change the battery yourself. Even though you can expect it to last 3 years, this almost makes it seem like it is intentionally disposable. I know you can send it in. But the fact they then send you a different one does not diminish that impression.

A little out of my price range if a 35 dollar cover is truly a necessity. If it's really that fragile I wish it came with some sort of bare-bones protection

mobi only. right now DRM and conversion aren't a problem, but I don't know how confident I can be that will continue.

pros:
by all accounts the most bang for the buck.

in it for the long haul. Amazon will still be there in 5 years and still be in the Kindle business

Nook:
Enjoyed playing with one yesterday. Not sure why it still seems like an afterthought instead of a contender.

pros:
I really like that you can add your own memory and change your own battery.
open system with an active dev community making improvements
seems like a fine reader

cons:
25 bucks more than Kindle after tax
pricey covers seem to be a must according to the consensus


So I just don't know.

A Kobo 2 than aimed for better/speedier performance and a 99 dollar price that acknowledged the lack of bells and whistles would probably be irresistible to me. This is my ideal.

A Nook 2 that came in at or under the Kindle price (and was well-reviewed) would also make me jump.

But that Kindle tractor beam is locked on. If I don't get a boost from elsewhere soon I suspect I'm gonna get pulled in.

Any feedback on my reasoning or info on what might be coming down the pike would be appreciated. Do you all think a 99 dollar quality reader will be a reality by Xmas. No way I can wait longer than that. (and ideally I would love to have something for my Oct birthday)

Best Buy is running a special on the Nook, Buy one and get a $25 Barnes and Noble E-Card. also there is the Nook Wi Fi which is $139. also the BN has some deals on covers, I got a great one for $29 but you can go online and find some even cheaper.

I truely enjoy the Nook.

[Boston]

Originally Posted by soondai

pros:
by all accounts the most bang for the buck.

For me, this would be the decision making point

plus you get the better Pearl screen.

If I were looking for my first ebook reader and didn't want to overspend, I would go with the K3 without any hestitation

[desertgrandma]

Don't forget you get free shipping, even without prime, from Amazon, and i depending on where you live sometimes no tax.

There customer support is awesome also.

I would go for the K3 in a heartbeat if my K1 ever gave out......but it shows no signs of doing so!

[soondai]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

So while the idea of the replaceable battery and the memory card slot look nice on paper they were features I never used. I have a feeling that I am not the only one who never used those features.

The battery is the thing that bugs me and it isn't 100 percent rational on my part. But if I spent 140 bucks on a Kindle I'd expect to have it (or at least be able to have it if I choose to) for at least 5 years. And the thought I'd have to send it back when the battery dies seems kinda crazy. It was theoretically the same with the K2, but realistically you could change your own. Not with the 3.

They seem to be looking for subscribers who'll buy books and every few years upgrade their device.

I'd like to simply buy a reader and have no further ties required beyond the warranty.

But I think there is a very good chance I'll get the Kindle and end up one of the worst customers they've had: spending somewhere between 0 and 25 dollars on content from them while I own it.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by soondai

The battery is the thing that bugs me and it isn't 100 percent rational on my part. But if I spent 140 bucks on a Kindle I'd expect to have it (or at least be able to have it if I choose to) for at least 5 years. And the thought I'd have to send it back when the battery dies seems kinda crazy. It was theoretically the same with the K2, but realistically you could change your own. Not with the 3.

They seem to be looking for subscribers who'll buy books and every few years upgrade their device.

I'd like to simply buy a reader and have no further ties required beyond the warranty.

But I think there is a very good chance I'll get the Kindle and end up one of the worst customers they've had: spending somewhere between 0 and 25 dollars on content from them while I own it.

You won't be the only one. There are a decent number of folks who brag about how they spend less then $1 a book when you add in all of the free books they download, both new and classics from other sites. Then again, you could do that with any e-reader.

I hear what you are saying about the battery. I guess that part of the problem is that no one has a good idea about long the batteries will actually last. I don't know of anyone with a properly operating K2 who has had problems with their battery. I have seen folks with K1's reporting that they have replaced the battery and noticed an improvement in the devices performance. Then again, the K1 has a different battery then the K2 so I am not sure that we can compare the battery life.

[Noah98]

I would narrow the list down to the Kindle and the nook.

The Kindle is the best overall value and will satisfy most people. The nook is the alternative that offers things that the Kindle doesn't. I personally prefer the nook, but you can't go wrong either way.

As far as covers go, every ereader should eventually have one. I wouldn't let that factor into your decision. You can find cheap ones that fit any of your choices.

Here are the main advantages of each (as I see it):

Kindle:
Slim build quality (nice weight, ergonomics)
Graphite color is not reflective
The best ebook store
Pearl screen
Excellent battery life
Simple, intuitive navigation, highlighting, dictionary lookup
Browse the internet over 3g

nook:
epub support
Library checkout
Lend me feature
Easy to replace battery
Expandable memory
Ability to buy ebooks through: Kobo, Booksamillion, Sony, etc.
In store promotions and customer service
Color books covers, web images, etc. through the touchscreen
Optional swipe for page turns (touchscreen)

The decision comes down to personal preference. Some people absolutely hate the touchscreen on the nook. Others can't stand the keyboard on the Kindle. It is all about what is important to you.

[sun surfer]

I second that the nook is good. You don't have to have a cover for it any more than for any other reader, it's just recommended to keep it in good shape, just like it'd be good to have a cover for any reader.

Also, the nook 2 is probably coming out soon, and will probably be competitively priced with the Kindle 3, and the original nook will probably be even cheaper then.

Honestly, looking at your pros and cons you listed for each, I'd suggest the nook because it seems to have most of what you want, even though you list it as an afterthought.

I was close to getting the Kindle too but instead went with the nook and am happy I did.

From what I've heard about Kobo and looking at your cons, I wouldn't recommend it. It will be more sluggish than the Kindle or nook from what I've heard. The jetbook lite I don't know enough about.

Of the remaining two on your list, I think you'd be happy with either a Kindle or a nook, so it's really your preference.

[kacir]

Those my personal observations.

1. Kobo
No way. Too barebone. The books in device are in a database, you can't even delete books it came with. Serious bugs in the first version of firmware.

2. JetBook lite.
Nice machine. Rechargeable batteries are plus in my eyes. You can carry spares with you, so you won't get stranded without power. The difference between the batteries you need to buy and the battery you get in Kindle will be negligible once you need to change battery in Kindle and you will need to send it for replacement.

3. Kindle 3
You can't go wrong with this one. It only supports mobi and pdf, but conversion is very easy.
The ony flaw I see in K3 is that it is not configurable enough. I am spoiled by my current device.

4. Nook
For me personally it never had appeal. I do not know why. Perhaps it is the small LCD display.

5. There is also Sony.
You can't go wrong with Sony. Very well built devices, stable software, reads library books.

6. My personal favorite is PocketBook 360 that I own at the moment.
Extremly configurable, supports high range of formats, ergonomically very nicely done.
At the moment, I am afraid, the price is too high, especially when you compare it with Kindle 3.

7. There are lots of second hand and refurbished devices available for interesting prices.

If you are outside USA, the Kindle 3 has even more appeal, because Amazon is THE ONLY ONE that sells device in the rest of the world for exactly the same price as in USA. All other manufacturers typically sell 100 dollar device for 100 euro.

[soondai]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I second that the nook is good. You don't have to have a cover for it any more than for any other reader, it's just recommended to keep it in good shape, just like it'd be good to have a cover for any reader.

Also, the nook 2 is probably coming out soon, and will probably be competitively priced with the Kindle 3, and the original nook will probably be even cheaper then.

I think the Nook1 feels like an afterthought right now because it costs about 25 dollars more when you throw in tax.

A Nook2 that matched or beat the Kindle price would be a slam dunk for me. So would a 99 dollar Kobo if they sped it up.

I suspect I'm heading toward a K3 unless there is some sort of announcement from one of those 2 (or out of left field) before my birthday next month.

I'm glad to hear that you Nook users are happy w/ it.

[ProfCrash]

You don't sound all that excited about the Kindle so I don't know why you would buy one. I get the feeling that you would end up regretting the purchase.

I have read your list of cons for the Kindle. If those are things you feel strongly about then getting a K3 would be a bad idea. The good news is that you would have 30 days to return it and get a full refund if you buy it from Amazon.

[soondai]

Originally Posted by kacir

5. There is also Sony.
You can't go wrong with Sony. Very well built devices, stable software, reads library books.

Thanks for weighing in.

I really liked the 1st generation Sony's I saw. But the reflective screen complaints scared me away from the bigger one. I completely would have gotten the pocket reader on clearance, but it really is disposable. I read the cost of sending it in for battery replacement was well over 100 dollars.

The new 650 would be my perfect reader if it were 100 bucks cheaper. I really am on a budget though.

And I could definitely see myself going with the jetbooklite if newegg slashes it to 80 or the new Mini comes in at under 100.

[v1k1ng1001]

Out of those choices, I'd try to work with the Kindle.