I bought my wife the eBook from Borders. I wish I had researched it a little better. She got 100 free classics to download too.It was almost $400, btw.It's easy to use, but the Kindle2 has a feature the eBook doesn't that I'd like to have, The "Read to me" feature. I'd buy a kindle for no other reason than that. Nothing like sitting back and listening to the classics without the eyestrain...

Any time spent reading that isn't at the retort is a waste of time in my opinion.

LOL! You would think that, JA.

I have the original Kindle. I love it.

Not worth the price considering having to keep the thing charged. A niche toy but not for the masses.

Good point, DX..I'm not sure what the battery life is on my wife's eBook.

I have been strongly considering buying a Kindle 2 for my wife. The Kindle DX is larger but the price is double. I think the Kindle 2 would be adequate for her. However, I don't want to get stuck having to buy books for it. ...

Goatman is the go to guy on here for Kindle. He can tell you from first-hand experience. Not sure what Goat knows about Kindle 2 but ask him anyway,

It's supposed to last a week with wireless but you never know. Anyway after a couple months the price should drop.

A solar Kindle would be cool. But then how would you read it in the sunlight.

The battery on my kindle lasts a week to ten days.

You might want to check out the number of available volumes. Kindle is up to 410,000 books available in their store. When I got mine a year and a half ago there were onliy 120,000. They are adding more quickly

But then how would you read it in the sunlight.

I read mine at the beach and the pool. It works well in the sun

Re my #9 saying to ask Goatman

#6 | Posted by goatman at 2010-02-11 09:14 PM

Guess I should take the time to read upthread once in awhile.

>Any time spent reading that isn't at the retort is a waste of time in my opinion.

So that's why. Makes perfect sense.

If you have a Nokia s60 type of mobile phone, you can use Mobi-reader (free software) to download and read any book.

That's what I do.

See?

And see this page too.

Get an iPhone and the free Kindle app. While you are at it, get the Stanza and GoodReader apps. With these three apps you can read just about any ebook out there. Amazing what you can download these days. LOTS of free books available, not just the classics. Be aware that PDF readers are not created equally for the small screen. GoodReader is the best I've found and is only a couple of bucks for the full version.

Kindle is always offering new stuff for free for a few days to get people interested in a new author. Snap them up while they are free. I'm reading Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey on Kindle right now. Got it for free and I'll probably be reading all of Dorsey's stuff, the guy is insanely funny in a very twisted Carl Hiason sort of way.

Any opinions would be appreciated. ...

I buy used books for $2 each, and when I finish I share them with friends. They, in turn,share their books with me.

The problem with reading books on a cell phone is obvious: It is too small. If you enlarge the fong to a readable size, you are turning the page every few seconds, making it hard to keep with the 'flow' of the book, since page turns aren't instantaneous. Also, phones and PDAs are backlit. This makes it very hard on the eyes after a period of time. The Kindle is not backlit. Its page and text colors are more like a natural page and non-glare like an iphone. And by not being backlit, the batteries last much longer. You'll go through cell phone batteries after an hour or two of reading. The Kindle lasts 7-10 days. I heard Kindle 2 lasts a coupld of weeks.

Keep these things in mind if considering using your phone as an ebook.

I think my first ebook reader is going to be a Nook, the one made by Barnes & Noble. I tried one out at one of their stores, and it's a pretty cool device. My big concern is that books I want won't be available for it.

Another thing to keep in mind iphone v kindle: the surface of the iphone is glossy, making it hard to read for periods of time. The Kindle is a matte finish more like paper.

It is too small.

Nope. Not on mine.

2 newspaper columns wide approx.

you are turning the page every few seconds

I don't turn the page. I set it on auto-scroll, matching it to my reading speed. I can slow it down further or make it stop by clicking down or speed it up by clicking up.

Also, phones and PDAs are backlit.

I use dark green or yellow or light-blue on black background.

If it had been white-backlit, yes, it would've hurt me. So I use green on black.

You'll go through cell phone batteries after an hour or two of reading.

3 days between re-charging, dude. Even with full use of reader.

And that includes watching a movie on it too.

And since when is charging a mobile phone a problem? You can do it in your car even (ciggy lighter adapter).

the surface of the iphone is glossy

The "Nokia 6220 classic" (one I'm using right now) is rather more advanced than a dinky Iphone. LOL

All the pics I post here on DR are taken with that phone.

Btw, the 6220 is one of Nokia's cheaper models with the smallest screens.

I really wanted an N-82, but it didn't feel right in my hand for some reason. It has a much bigger screen.

Point is, if I can find it comfortable on my cheap-ass Nokia, anyone with a bigger screened phone would like it even more.

Anyway, the software is free. You won't lose anything by trying it out.

My big concern is that books I want won't be available for it.

So, rcade, when is the DR going to appear on the available blog lists on kindle?

Nope. Not on mine.

The reading area of kindle is much larger than the Nokia. I've seen both devices. The Kindle is 6" diagonal. I've not seen a phone that big before.

I don't turn the page. I set it on auto-scroll, matching it to my reading speed.

That's good if it works for you. I tried on my PDA when I flirted with that method of e-reading, and I found my rate of reading isn't constant. I was either getting ahead, or the scroll was getting ahead of me.

I use dark green or yellow or light-blue on black background.

If it had been white-backlit, yes, it would've hurt me. So I use green on black.

Again, great if it works for you. Most people find that a glossy back-lit surface isn't near as easy on the eye as a matte, non-lit surface.

It's all about ease of reading to me. No back light, matte surface, larger surface, all make it easier for most people. But if you are one of the few who aren't bothered by small, glossy back lit surfaces, by all means, don't waste money on a kindle. And as you pointed out, the test drive is free, so nothing lost to see if these things are objectionable.

I've tried both (on Palm PDA, not phone) and there is no way it compares with a device made exclusively for e-reading

So, rcade, when is the DR going to appear on the available blog lists on kindle?

When the thermometer reads 32F or 0C

And as you pointed out, the test drive is free

There is no "test drive". It's free forever.

They only charge you for the books you download from their library.

I, however, download from... wherever.... and convert them in about 20 seconds into "prc" format, which thing uses. Then I put it in me phone.

small, glossy back lit surfaces,

I'm not sure what you mean by glossy.

When the background is black, it's jet-black.

Of course I also like to use it with the back-light sensor turned to min.

There is no "test drive". It's free forever.

I know that. I did not mean to imply otherwise. Sorry.

I'm not sure what you mean by glossy.

Look at the surface of your iphone. It is glossy like glass or polished plastic. Look at a printed page. It is a matte finish.

Well of course it's got a glass screen... LOL... just like your Kindle.

I still don't get the difference you are talking of.

Or are you saying the Kindle doesn't have a glass front?

Or are you saying it's like an LCD watch which you use normal light to look at?

I haven't come across this Kindle thingy here so I don't know.

I found my rate of reading isn't constant. I was either getting ahead, or the scroll was getting ahead of me.

A thumb click will speed it up or slow it down to match speed..... or stop it still.

Also, I read books in "landscape mode"... the pic turns on it's sode to make it wide instead of long.

Anyway... for getting ANY fiction book online for free, you use IRC, Undernet random server, channel "Bookz" and bob's your uncle.

IRC... nothing beats "old school".

#33 Tosser> I still don't get the difference you are talking of.

Some of Apple's displays are very, very reflective. Kinda like looking at shiny black plexiglass that reflects way too much. You need to use them in a darkened room otherwise anything behind you is reflected in the screen. The Kindle is pretty nonreflective and much easier to read (from my brief experience with a loaner).

Some of Apple's displays are very, very reflective. Kinda like looking at shiny black plexiglass that reflects way too much. You need to use them in a darkened room otherwise anything behind you is reflected in the screen.

I see...

No mine's not reflective like that. It's got some anti-reflective anti-scratch coating on it. I can't see behind me without engaging the secondary camera.

When the thermometer reads 32F or 0C
#30 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis

Hey, this place isn't that bad.

lol

Call me old fashion, but I prefer books in print. There is something about holding a book and turning a page that you can't get on the ereaders. Plus, I have an extensive library and like to expand it. I probably buy 2 or 3 books a month. Now for magazines and newspapers, I think and ereader is perfect.

I agree taxman. I've tried the Kindle and while you could probably get used to it, it just doesn't feel right.

I don't have time to do the math but for someone who only reads a book every month or so, it would take quite some time to justify the cost. Here's an article that gets into it more.

That's true, joe, it's not for everyone. But with my job and the traveling I do when I'm onshore, it's great to have the world's library at your fingertips. I got a whim to re-read some Mark Twain. I was able to download his entire collection for $6 while I was in the middle of the GoM. It took about 60 seconds.

Can't beat that for convenience. But you are right about the "feel". It took a while to get used to. But then I got to like it better, especially when reading in bed. I can hold a book and turn the page with one hand.

Thing I thought was cool was that the screen isn't backlit, so you can read it outside on a sunny day just as easily as anywhere else.

Soon its going to be a waste of money to buy one of these book readers. Even the iPad has it wrong. Check out the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid for the best idea.

Before Christmas, I got an Aluratek Libre from Newegg for $135. I think they may have gone up a little since then.

I love it, but it has quirks that happen to align with how I use it.

For one it has a 5" display and it is not true e-ink, but a non-backlit LCD. It is very readable and the page turns are instantaneous (unlike true e-ink) but the battery life is only about 24 hours. This is not a problem for me because I wanted it mainly to read in bed and I can recharge it during the day.

It has an SD card slot and supports many formats. I have found epub to be the best because the reflow of the text works well. PDF is iffy since they are sometimes just pictures of the pages which doesn't work as well as scanned-in text.

My reading preferences are for old public domain history and detective/adventure stuff and I get most of my books free from feedbooks.com.

I am not really interested in new fiction, so I haven't downloaded anything I have had to pay for, yet.

All told, I am happy with my purchase but if I had it to do over I probably would have splurged a little and gone with the Sony 6" touchscreen reader.

Check out the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid for the best idea.

If you are considering it because you want to use the detachable screen as an ebook, you might want to think again. It is hard to read a backlit surface over a period of time. Keep that in mind as you consider your purchase

Check out the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid for the best idea.

If you are considering it because you want to use the detachable screen as an ebook, you might want to think again. It is hard to read a backlit surface over a period of time. Keep that in mind as you consider your purchase

So...what was my decision?

It's too early to buy anything yet. Kindle, Nook and Sony all sound like good readers. They each have pros and cons.

However, right now there's a serious lack of standards.

The book publishing industry is afraid what happened to the music industry is going to happen to them. So, they are not willing to embrace this technology.

Barnes and Noble has a service where you can "lend" books you purchased to other readers, but publishers have to allow their books to be borrowed.

It's too early to buy one of these gadgets, unless you just don't mind throwing away a few hundred dollars because you'll be buying another one in about a year.

So...I'll wait.