Best eReader?

[jeff061]

Well it's the same as a desktop computer monitor or laptop so.....

[samifan24]

I'll say this for the Kindle WiFi vs. Kindle 3G argument: it literally takes seconds to download a book on WiFi. I don't really see the need for 3G at all. Just download four or five books before you go on a trip and save some money on your Kindle.

[gstelmack]

I'm a big fan of Kindle (I like Amazon's store), the Nook is certainly a decent option (and others here prefer it), and no way would I purchase an LCD screen to read on due to eye strain. Reading the eInk displays is just as easy as reading a book for me.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

I'm a big fan of Kindle (I like Amazon's store), the Nook is certainly a decent option (and others here prefer it), and no way would I purchase an LCD screen to read on due to eye strain. Reading the eInk displays is just as easy as reading a book for me.

Agreed. I have a 2nd gen Kindle and love it. And I love amazon's interface. I've never played with a Nook and the Nook wasn't around when I got my Kindle. I wouldn't get the Nook Color because it's an LCD screen, and if I were to do that, may as well get an iPad or a decent Android tablet.

Although I have no real notion of how B&N is doing in general, the only reason I might be slightly preferential to Kindle is because I'd expect B&N to go out of business before Amazon.

/tk

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Agreed. I have a 2nd gen Kindle and love it. And I love amazon's interface. I've never played with a Nook and the Nook wasn't around when I got my Kindle. I wouldn't get the Nook Color because it's an LCD screen, and if I were to do that, may as well get an iPad or a decent Android tablet.

Although I have no real notion of how B&N is doing in general, the only reason I might be slightly preferential to Kindle is because I'd expect B&N to go out of business before Amazon.

/tk

+1

[Comey]

While I have an iPad, I use the Kindle app exclusively for my books. I just prefer it to what else is out there.

[TexasT]

+1

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by jeff061

As far as kindle vrs nook(b&w), I don't think the conversation has changed.

As for the LCD question, I would pay twice as much for an eInk display than I would for an iPad or similar device if I was looking to use it as a book reader.

It has changed. Kindle announced a week or so that they are going to start doing the whole library thing like the Nook does.

From my perspective, that was the only thing the Nook B&W had on the Kindle.

[Doug5984]

Thanks for all the help guys- I ended up going with the wi-fi only kindle. All things considered it looked like the better buy.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by wade moore

It has changed. Kindle announced a week or so that they are going to start doing the whole library thing like the Nook does.

From my perspective, that was the only thing the Nook B&W had on the Kindle.

What does "the whole library thing" mean?

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

What does "the whole library thing" mean?

Being able to check-out ebooks for free from your local library.

[wade moore]

Dola:

Coming to Your Kindle: Library Books - NYTimes.com

[Wolfpack]

Nook Color recently introduced an app store since it's an Android OS underneath all the eReader veneer. However, I expect that B&N will keep a pretty stringent control over what appears in the app store as opposed to the greater free-for-all that the actual Android app store has. We went with the Nook Color because we knew it could be more than an eReader, but wouldn't tie us up in wireless contracts or cost an arm and a leg to get. No, it's not a full-blown Android tablet, but that option is there to do so if we want it to be.

[Passacaglia]

So I'm thinking of finally taking the Kindle plunge.

Does anyone know much about this $114 version with "special offers and sponsored screensavers that display when you're not reading"? Seems like that's a pretty minor hassle to deal with in order to save $25.

Is the 3G worthwhile? I was thinking it might be nice to have since I don't have a data plan on my smartphone, and it might let me check my email and maybe wikipedia every so often. But I dunno -- lurker says hers is too slow to bother using it, but I probably have more patience than her. On the other hand, I don't really get urgent emails, and probably don't need the distraction while I'm studying or reading. For those who have it or don't, what would you choose if you could do it again?

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

So I'm thinking of finally taking the Kindle plunge.

Does anyone know much about this $114 version with "special offers and sponsored screensavers that display when you're not reading"? Seems like that's a pretty minor hassle to deal with in order to save $25.

Is the 3G worthwhile? I was thinking it might be nice to have since I don't have a data plan on my smartphone, and it might let me check my email and maybe wikipedia every so often. But I dunno -- lurker says hers is too slow to bother using it, but I probably have more patience than her. On the other hand, I don't really get urgent emails, and probably don't need the distraction while I'm studying or reading. For those who have it or don't, what would you choose if you could do it again?

My understanding is that the ads are on the screensaver and on your home screen with it.

I bought the wi-fi only kindle and I truly see no need for the 3G...I hit enough hotels and free wi-fi spots it does not justify the extra to me.

[jeff061]

I did just read a new Nook that competes with the Kindle is about to be announced, may want to wait.
Gadgetbox - Barnes & Noble announcing new e-ink reader on May 24?

As for the $114 version, yeah, I though it was a great idea until I saw it still costs $114. I personally don't think it's worth it.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

My understanding is that the ads are on the screensaver and on your home screen with it.

I bought the wi-fi only kindle and I truly see no need for the 3G...I hit enough hotels and free wi-fi spots it does not justify the extra to me.

Oh yeah, I just noticed it does say the bottom of the home screen -- so that means it will take me longer to scroll through everything? Does it have folders yet?

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

So I'm thinking of finally taking the Kindle plunge.

Does anyone know much about this $114 version with "special offers and sponsored screensavers that display when you're not reading"? Seems like that's a pretty minor hassle to deal with in order to save $25.

Is the 3G worthwhile? I was thinking it might be nice to have since I don't have a data plan on my smartphone, and it might let me check my email and maybe wikipedia every so often. But I dunno -- lurker says hers is too slow to bother using it, but I probably have more patience than her. On the other hand, I don't really get urgent emails, and probably don't need the distraction while I'm studying or reading. For those who have it or don't, what would you choose if you could do it again?

Hey Pass - I bought the Kindle 3 Wi-Fi edition. I didn't want to pay extra for the 3G. My phone serves as a hot spot, so if I absolutely had to, I could connect it via my phone from pretty much anywhere in US. My limited experience with the EMail & Web-browsing was very poor, so I would not consider that "worth" the extra bump. I don't have the newer "ad-sponsored" version, but I just read an article that said it was the best selling model.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Oh yeah, I just noticed it does say the bottom of the home screen -- so that means it will take me longer to scroll through everything? Does it have folders yet?

You set up collections and add what books you want.

I have

Fesist Collection
Jordan Collection
Clancy Collection
GRRM Collection
etc..

I open the collection and my books are right there..

With the ads on the home screen it just means you lose a little screen space while you look at what your books are.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I did just read a new Nook that competes with the Kindle is about to be announced, may want to wait.
Gadgetbox - Barnes & Noble announcing new e-ink reader on May 24?

As for the $114 version, yeah, I though it was a great idea until I saw it still costs $114. I personally don't think it's worth it.

How much money would you have expected it to cost?

[jeff061]

From the hip? I don't know, well under 100. I don't think it costs Amazon anything to make the Kindle, especially with how much they make on the eBooks.

I fully expect them to be pretty much free, maybe with some type of eBook purchase commitment, within the next couple years. But that's a different discussion .

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

You set up collections and add what books you want.

I have

Fesist Collection
Jordan Collection
Clancy Collection
GRRM Collection
etc..

I open the collection and my books are right there..

With the ads on the home screen it just means you lose a little screen space while you look at what your books are.

Sounds cool -- when I got the one for lurker, it didn't have any folders. I'm planning to put a lot of study manuals on there, and don't want them to clog up the home screen. Thanks!

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by jeff061

From the hip? I don't know, well under 100. I don't think it costs Amazon anything to make the Kindle, especially with how much they make on the eBooks.

I fully expect them to be pretty much free, maybe with some type of eBook purchase commitment, within the next couple years. But that's a different discussion .

Definitely. If you're looking at price points, sure, a $99 Kindle would have made sense. But if you look at it the other way, $40 seems like a lot to pay in order to get an ad-free model.

I'm still not sure -- I'm going to buy one that was a gift that the recipient didn't want, and I don't know which kind it is yet, so I'm debating whether to try to return it and get a different kind.

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

You set up collections and add what books you want.

I have

Fesist Collection
Jordan Collection
Clancy Collection
GRRM Collection
etc..

I open the collection and my books are right there.

Doh! I never knew about the collections functionality

[jeff061]

I spend to much money on all sorts of dumb crap, so not the best person to ask . But in these situations the idea of that ad being there for as long as I own it, everytime I see it in my head I'm going to be thinking $25 lousy bucks. One of those OCD tics.

[MacroGuru]

Originally Posted by jeff061

From the hip? I don't know, well under 100. I don't think it costs Amazon anything to make the Kindle, especially with how much they make on the eBooks.

I fully expect them to be pretty much free, maybe with some type of eBook purchase commitment, within the next couple years. But that's a different discussion .

With the travel you plan on doing for work...trust me, it will turn into a blessing when you get one.

I was packing 3 books a week with me for my flights and evenings in hotel rooms.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I spend to much money on all sorts of dumb crap, so not the best person to ask . But in these situations the idea of that ad being there for as long as I own it, everytime I see it in my head I'm going to be thinking $25 lousy bucks. One of those OCD tics.

haha I can totally see that -- although another thought is that it's not like you get your choice of screensavers on the ad-free model -- it's pictures of random authors. So you might be thinking "I could have saved $25 and not have to look at a picture of Jane Austen all the time"

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Definitely. If you're looking at price points, sure, a $99 Kindle would have made sense. But if you look at it the other way, $40 seems like a lot to pay in order to get an ad-free model.

I'm still not sure -- I'm going to buy one that was a gift that the recipient didn't want, and I don't know which kind it is yet, so I'm debating whether to try to return it and get a different kind.

Oh, I should have said -- I do know it's the wifi, just not which one. She said "it's going for $114 now" which seems to imply that she didn't pay that much for it, but she just thinks that's how much it costs now. I asked her, but I bet that's what it is. I also don't know the color -- I hope it's graphite, but I guess I'll get a case, so that's not a huge deal.

[Doug5984]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

So I'm thinking of finally taking the Kindle plunge.

Does anyone know much about this $114 version with "special offers and sponsored screensavers that display when you're not reading"? Seems like that's a pretty minor hassle to deal with in order to save $25.

Is the 3G worthwhile? I was thinking it might be nice to have since I don't have a data plan on my smartphone, and it might let me check my email and maybe wikipedia every so often. But I dunno -- lurker says hers is too slow to bother using it, but I probably have more patience than her. On the other hand, I don't really get urgent emails, and probably don't need the distraction while I'm studying or reading. For those who have it or don't, what would you choose if you could do it again?

That's the one I ended up getting- and the ads are no big deal at all, I kind of like them- the first one I got was a $20 Amazon gift card for $10, so I did that and used it to buy my first few books- a few days ago another ad was buy one of these best sellers and get a $10 gift card, some of the books are $5- so I download one of those and get $5 free...just haven't figured out which one I want yet.

[ISiddiqui]

I have a 3G Kindle. It's nice, but not necessary. As said, plenty of wi-fi areas around, but it tends to be nice to load up a new book on the train when I finish a previous one.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by jeff061

From the hip? I don't know, well under 100. I don't think it costs Amazon anything to make the Kindle, especially with how much they make on the eBooks.

I fully expect them to be pretty much free, maybe with some type of eBook purchase commitment, within the next couple years. But that's a different discussion .

They might not cost a lot to make, but I'm pretty sure they license the eInk technology that's used. I doubt that comes cheap.

[jeff061]

Right, but I think the majority of the money is made from their books though. So having a device in the hands of more people will be beneficial. I'm not criticizing them, especially since they have consistently lowered their prices. I just think they will continue to consistently lower them until it hits zero. Especially if the Nook keeps the heat up.

[ISiddiqui]

I doubt it'll be 0. The device is fairly nice in and of itself. Yes, you want the device in the hands of more people, but if you start giving one away for free, people are going to think its somewhat junky... besides, why not profit somewhat from the device itself. I think $100 will be the final settling point, as new devices end up costing from 100-200 (esp when color e-ink becomes a settled technology).

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

why not profit somewhat from the device itself. I think $100 will be the final settling point, as new devices end up costing from 100-200 (esp when color e-ink becomes a settled technology).

To keep people from going to a competing device and losing all the book sales that go with it(which are more important than the device itself). If the Nook drops down to 99, which wouldn't be shocking, I fully expect the Kindle to undercut it by $10. I'd say the only reason the Nook doesn't cut it's price is because they know Amazon is willing to go further.

[MacroGuru]

Love my kindle...

Just copied over a boat load of PDF's I have of a variety of books...works great...

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Doug5984

That's the one I ended up getting- and the ads are no big deal at all, I kind of like them- the first one I got was a $20 Amazon gift card for $10, so I did that and used it to buy my first few books- a few days ago another ad was buy one of these best sellers and get a $10 gift card, some of the books are $5- so I download one of those and get $5 free...just haven't figured out which one I want yet.

Seriously? So some of the ads are even Amazon coupons? Win-fucking-win!!

[Doug5984]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

Seriously? So some of the ads are even Amazon coupons? Win-fucking-win!!

The one this weekend was download any one of this list of books for $1- I stopped going through the list around 150 books or so and decided to get the hunger games (it was on sale for like $5 so only saved $4- but it was the only book on the list that I knew I wanted to read soon- they had some other good books I've heard of that were around $10 but I wasn't planning on reading those soon), I won't have time to read it for at least a few weeks but it was was worth it for $1

I'm really glad I got the one with the ads, they are never in the way of anything- and the amazon ones are awesome deals.

[Passacaglia]

I got the Kindle with ads, also. I haven't taken them up on anything yet, but the amazon deals are nice. I could do without all the cover girl and oil of olay ads, though.

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by Doug5984

The one this weekend was download any one of this list of books for $1- I stopped going through the list around 150 books or so and decided to get the hunger games (it was on sale for like $5 so only saved $4- but it was the only book on the list that I knew I wanted to read soon- they had some other good books I've heard of that were around $10 but I wasn't planning on reading those soon), I won't have time to read it for at least a few weeks but it was was worth it for $1

I'm really glad I got the one with the ads, they are never in the way of anything- and the amazon ones are awesome deals.

Those special offers sound great. I wonder if there's a way regular Kindle owners can access them?

[gstelmack]

Kindle 3G with Special Offers is $140 at Best Buy (typical price) but it comes with a $30 gift card...

[rowech]

I've been disappointed with the whole ebook process. I can't believe the amount that publishers are charging for ebooks. $22? Really? $15 for a book that's in paperback? I wish people would stop paying these insane prices or that the authors would start offering their books for download from their website so as to pocket all of their money directly.

Feel like buying an ereader was a waste really.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by rowech

I've been disappointed with the whole ebook process. I can't believe the amount that publishers are charging for ebooks. $22? Really? $15 for a book that's in paperback? I wish people would stop paying these insane prices or that the authors would start offering their books for download from their website so as to pocket all of their money directly.

Feel like buying an ereader was a waste really.

I make sure not to buy any book priced higher than the paperback, or really over $10 unless it's more of a text book / research piece. Agreed that publishers are really gouging when the cost to produce the book is minimal and there are no recurring materials costs.

[Doug5984]

Originally Posted by rowech

I've been disappointed with the whole ebook process. I can't believe the amount that publishers are charging for ebooks. $22? Really? $15 for a book that's in paperback? I wish people would stop paying these insane prices or that the authors would start offering their books for download from their website so as to pocket all of their money directly.

Feel like buying an ereader was a waste really.

Is this for the kindle? I just ask because none of the books I've bought yet were over $8, and just quick browsing the amazon top 100 most are under 10, with a few at $12- just wondering if I am in for a surprise once I get caught up and start reading more current books.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Doug5984

Is this for the kindle? I just ask because none of the books I've bought yet were over $8, and just quick browsing the amazon top 100 most are under 10, with a few at $12- just wondering if I am in for a surprise once I get caught up and start reading more current books.

Yes, Kindle has this. However, Kindle also has lots of smart publishers, especially smaller houses. I've bought books I'd never have tried simply because the author released a sequel and did the smart e-business thing of dropping the price on the first one drastically.

My reading is turning out like my video watching these days - I'm finding enough inexpensive-but-surprisingly-good options to avoid paying what the price-gouging conglomerates want me to pay for the mainstream stuff.

[rowech]

Here are some examples...

Amazon.com: The Lion: Nelson DeMille: Books

Amazon.com: American Assassin: A Thriller (9781416595182): Vince Flynn: Books

Amazon.com: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War (9780143111979): Nathaniel Philbrick: Books

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by rowech

I've been disappointed with the whole ebook process. I can't believe the amount that publishers are charging for ebooks. $22? Really? $15 for a book that's in paperback? I wish people would stop paying these insane prices or that the authors would start offering their books for download from their website so as to pocket all of their money directly.

Feel like buying an ereader was a waste really.

This is what my mother ran into. I bought her one and she loves the device, but she doesn't have a lot of money to spare and won't spend the money on books. I showed her all the free and cheap books out there, but they don't seem to interest her.

[Doug5984]

Originally Posted by jeff061

This is what my mother ran into. I bought her one and she loves the device, but she doesn't have a lot of money to spare and won't spend the money on books. I showed her all the free and cheap books out there, but they don't seem to interest her.

Just an idea- does her library do e-books? Mine does but I haven't tried it yet. It looked like a very very simple process- the library can only rent x number of copies of each book, but my girlfriend looked and they have all the books I'm reading available right now.

[jeff061]

Yeah, they have limited Kindle support, not enough to fix her problem. I believe the Kindle is going to support the same system the Nook does(if it doesn't already), but she has friends with Nooks and they say even with them the choices at the library are very limited. If they expand it that would be perfect, she is a library fiend as is. But I think part of the problem is some publishers straight up refuse to allow their ebooks to be available through libraries.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

I am really digging the kobo app on the ipad. It has this thing called reading life that keeps all sorts of stats on how many books you have read, how fast you read etc has charts, graphs. Fun to nerd out to and a good motivator to keep reading.

[Passacaglia]

I want to buy a case for my Kindle, and a while back, it had some special offer for a deal on Kindle accessories, but now it's not there. Does anyone know if I can find it, or when it will come back?