Anyone else have an Ereader?

[Timetrvlr]

I read a lot of novels so I get most of them from our library, I simply can't afford to buy them all new. Until my recent eye surgeries, I was unable to read small print so I was pretty much restricted to the Large Print section of the Library and that section is rather small. The librarians told me that our Provincial Library system could provide eBooks that I could download and read on the computer or I could synchronize them to an eReader, or tablet. I downloaded a few but found that I couldn't read for long on the computer, the eye strain of the screen back lighting was too much for me. I found out that the black and white screens on eReaders were not back lighted and most have means of increasing text size. That sounded like the answer to me and soon thereafter, I got one for Christmas.

What have been your experiences with eReaders?

 

[Sal]

None as of yet, I am still doing the paperback thing... but I am really happy to hear you can now indulge your passion for reading once again.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

I've had a Kobo for about a year. I think it's great, I can carry a thousand books with me wherever I go, never be without something interesting to read. It's not very good with anything that has footnotes or images in it, the software needs some work, but for most fiction it's the way to go. There's lots of free stuff available online--search for The Gutenberg Project, for instance--and no doubt lots of pirated stuff too if you're so inclined. I use a freeware app called Calibre on my computer to manage the e-library on my PC and the Kobo. Highly recommended.

 

[JamesBondo]

The older black and white kobo can be an excellent choice for someone that wants a cheap eReader.

Because there is no back light, the battery life between recharges is incredibly awesome.

However, the bundled feature that let you check your email, and browse the internet were not very good. They are clunky at best, and would frustrate a technologically challenged user. This is an area that I'm sure the new eReaders have made many improvements in, but I have no personal knowledge of how far they have come.

 

[The Old Medic]

I prefer to hold an actual book in my hands. I read 3-6 books every week. I own well over 2,000 of them, and have re-read many of them. They range from medical textbooks, to the Harry Potter Books (hardcovers of course).

 

[Spade]

Ever mix them up? By the way, my prostate's fine...

 

[DaSleeper]

I've had a Kobo for about a year. I think it's great, I can carry a thousand books with me wherever I go, never be without something interesting to read. It's not very good with anything that has footnotes or images in it, the software needs some work, but for most fiction it's the way to go. There's lots of free stuff available online--search for The Gutenberg Project, for instance--and no doubt lots of pirated stuff too if you're so inclined. I use a freeware app called Calibre on my computer to manage the e-library on my PC and the Kobo. Highly recommended.

I have Calibre on my laptop too, and it's a great program for all makes of readers, but I found it a lot of trouble, transferring the books I want to read from my Elibrary.....(I have over 2000 in there)....then loading it to my Kobo or my wife's.
If you load too many books in the Kobo, it seems to take forever to boot-up. Also Caliber seems to want to update weekly, sometimes twice a week, and it's not a "simple" update,.....you have to download the whole program and "run" it to replace the old one.
(With the Kobo) What I prefer doing...(might not be for everyone) I don't keep any books in the main memory; I put a maximum of 20 ebooks on a mini sd memory card (The Kobos we have are equipped with an external memory slot)....just drag and drop the selected books from your library folder.
After starting the ereader with the card in .....It will analyse and catalogue the books you have on the card.......Then sync your ereader wirelessly with the card in....the latest firmware update has something for the external memory as well..
I find it much simpler to transfer books this way, afterwards

The older black and white kobo can be an excellent choice for someone that wants a cheap eReader.

Because there is no back light, the battery life between recharges is incredibly awesome.

I find that feature easier on the eyes and the battery life was the main feature that attracted me to Kobo.

However, the bundled feature that let you check your email, and browse the internet were not very good. They are clunky at best, and would frustrate a technologically challenged user. This is an area that I'm sure the new eReaders have made many improvements in, but I have no personal knowledge of how far they have come.

You got that right!

 

[Timetrvlr]

I have an older Kobo but my favorite is my Sony PRS-350 with it's 5" screen. I found it in WalMart when browsing the electronics. It and 5 others were on sale for $48. I'm glad I didn't pass that up, it must have been a clearance sale because I've never seen any since for less $79. I really like it because it is so lightweight and I can slip it in my shirt pocket when visiting Doctor's offices and hospital waiting rooms.

 

[Goober]

Ever mix them up? By the way, my prostate's fine...

Only sure way to know is someone has to go in deep and look.:lol::lol:

 

[JamesBondo]

I find that feature easier on the eyes and the battery life was the main feature that attracted me to Kobo.

Agreed, I meant to highlight those features as their best selling points. I like my kobo.

 

[Timetrvlr]

We went to a yard sale Saturday and my wife spotted a Kobo Touch. The guy bought it for his wife at Christmas, she used it last in mid- January, apparently she lost interest fairly quickly. He was asking $50 for it. My wife offered him $30 and he took it. I reset it to the original factory settings, downloaded updates and registered it in my name then bought a book. I really like it, it's much lighter than my old Kobo, loaded with features and works well.

 

[Nuggler]

We went to a yard sale Saturday and my wife spotted a Kobo Touch. The guy bought it for his wife at Christmas, she used it last in mid- January, apparently she lost interest fairly quickly. He was asking $50 for it. My wife offered him $30 and he took it. I reset it to the original factory settings, downloaded updates and registered it in my name then bought a book. I really like it, it's much lighter than my old Kobo, loaded with features and works well.

Nice find. I usually see used tents, old sneakers, broken chairs, and rusty pots and pans.

E.reader sounds like a way to go.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I have been playing footsy with buying an E-Reader for over two years. Considering that part of the market I cater to is the Electronic Book I guess I really should have one. The problem I have with E-Readers is that right now the incompatibility between booksellers. If you want to buy from Amazon you have to have a kindle, the kindle paper white looks like a nice Unit retailing at around $140.00 bucks I think it will be the one I settle on. But I am disappointed that someone hasn't come up with an E-reader that can read both E-Pub and Kindle PRC, because that removes the limitation of what bookseller you can buy from.

Here's the Kindle Paper white for anyone who is interested.

 

[Christianna]

The problem with Kindle as I understand it is that the owner has limited outlets for books. Where Kobo and Sony can get books from any outlet including the public library. Then I have a friend who accidentally dropped her Kindle, and Kindle fixed it for her free.

 

[Timetrvlr]

The only problem I see with Kindle is that they are tied to Amazon, conversely, the only e-reader you can download Amazon books to is a Kindle. Seems like a regressive business model when they both limit sales. You can't even download library books on loan to a Kindle but you sure can with all the other e-readers. I take a lot of books on 3-week loan from our BC library system. I actually buy nearly all my books from the Google bookstore simply because it is the easiest system to navigate.

 

[SLM]

I've not downloaded many e-books but I just use my iPad to do so, personally I've no need to get an e-reader.

 

[petros]

 

[SLM]

Well there's your problem then.

Out of wine! How did you let it all get that far?!?

 

[DaSleeper]

My wife's Kobo crashed about 6 weeks ago......of course, after the one year warranty.....tried a hard reset....the manual one where you need a pin.....no go.
So off to the store I go.....got lucky...on sale for $80. I come home and set it up and load the books for her......
Since I like to tinker with electronics, I take the old one and get ready to take it apart, but before I do, I decide to try something else, what I call a double hard reset, hold the start button(which doesn't work) and the reset pin at the same time................no go!
For the next try "The final solution" I needed three hands so I call my wife....
The kobo has a "Home" button on the front......My wife holds it while I hold the "start" (spring loaded for on and off) with one hand and pin the reset with the other.......and "Bingo".......now we have a spare!!!

And I didn't even have to take it apart :lol:

I have been playing footsy with buying an E-Reader for over two years. Considering that part of the market I cater to is the Electronic Book I guess I really should have one. The problem I have with E-Readers is that right now the incompatibility between booksellers. If you want to buy from Amazon you have to have a kindle, the kindle paper white looks like a nice Unit retailing at around $140.00 bucks I think it will be the one I settle on. But I am disappointed that someone hasn't come up with an E-reader that can read both E-Pub and Kindle PRC, because that removes the limitation of what bookseller you can buy from.

Here's the Kindle Paper white for anyone who is interested.

You can always buy and download the books to your pc use a drm remover then use "Calibre" to convert it to your preferred format..
I've never tried it myself cause I only get books in epub...

 

[Timetrvlr]

I've not downloaded many e-books but I just use my iPad to do so, personally I've no need to get an e-reader.

As I understand it, an iPad is an e-reader, or at least that is one of it's functions so you don't need an extra device. The only advantage of having an e-reader that I can see is that they are small, lightweight, and easy to fit in a pocket, much like a paper book. I often take mine along when I go someplace that involves a lot of waiting such as the hospital or Doctors office. I see lots of people playing with their cell phones, texting, playing games, etc. That's not my thing though.

Nice find. I usually see used tents, old sneakers, broken chairs, and rusty pots and pans.

You're right, that's standard fare at yard sales. We have a saying to cover that: "You have to kiss a lot of toads to find a Prince!" Yard sales are our hobby, kind of a treasure hunt. A couple of years ago, I found this tile art for $3. and it made my whole summer worthwhile.

Never mind the carved wood Kachina on the left, the Haida ceramic tile on the right is the one I found at the yard sale.