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| Kindle vs Sony Reader | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 5 2009, 09:46 AM (267 Views) | |
| CDE Driver | Nov 5 2009, 07:36 PM Post #16 |
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
  ![]](http://209.85.48.14/static/1/pip_r.png)
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Well, I am such a Luddite that I can't figure out why I need one of these devices. I love to read, but why is this better than books? How much does it cost to download books? Are older titles available? Is there somewhere that you can go to see what titles are available? Come on you guys, convince me! Then I can put it on my Christmas list 
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| Reynard Ridge | Nov 6 2009, 06:35 AM Post #17 |
Drivin' The Short Bus
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Reasons Why CDE Driver Might Like an Electronic Reader Device For Christmas Many classic books that are in the public domain are now available for free (or for a minimal cost). Your local library can likely lend you e-books for free. Books take up a lot of space, require dusting and ultimately begin to smell when they age. E-books are IMMEDIATE. NO waiting for Amazon, your local library to buy the thing, or your local book store to carry it. You want it, you order it and within minutes, can be reading. They are easier to READ. Hard to explain this one, but I am avowed reader. I learned to read early, read as a hobby for years and could NOT IMAGINE that anything could ever take the place of a book in my hands. The e-reader (and I have read both Sony and Kindle books) are EASIER to read than books. Lighter in the hand, easier on the eye, easier to turn pages, etc. My suggestion, actually, would be to borrow one from a friend a read a book. I was all, like, "Meh," when I got my reader as a gift, but I am a serious convert. I don't read books now if I can help it; I download them.  |
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| Indy | Nov 6 2009, 06:43 AM Post #18 |
You're BANNED!
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The main reason I want to get one of these contraptions for Mr. I is that he has a sucky commute to work. And now that we're moving to be closer to my work, his commute has the potential to increase in suck so I'd also like to get him something that says "thanks for moving so I don't spend half my life in the car, here's a new toy for your troubles." He reads a lot so he's always schlepping around big books. And if he's close to finishing one, he'll wind up carrying a second book with him so he's not out reading material for the ride home. I think if he has a Reader/Kindle/Nook then he can always have a back-up book with him and his bag won't weigh 300lbs from the books. Plus, if he's out of books, he can get a new one right away. Now to decide on the version.... |
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| jn4jenny | Nov 6 2009, 06:45 AM Post #19 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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RR makes some excellent points. But as someone who's NOT a Luddite--in fact, I'm getting a PhD in Digital Media Studies--I feel obliged to mention some not-so-useful things about these devices. "Many classic books that are in the public domain are now available for free (or for a minimal cost)." Yes, and you can read them without any schmancy device. ProjectGutenberg.org for the text versions, Librivox.org for audio versions. "Your local library can likely lend you e-books for free." This is true. They can also loan you regular books, which keep you from amassing a shelf of regular books. Make sure you check your library's selection before you invest for this reason--my local library system has a very extensive ebook collection, one of the best in the nation, but even so there were very few books that actually interested me. You also get a very different reading experience from an online reader. You can't easily flip back and forth in the book, highlight, or underline an online book. If you are a "beach reader" and don't do those things, you may enjoy an online reader more. "E-books are IMMEDIATE. NO waiting for Amazon, your local library to buy the thing, or your local book store to carry it. You want it, you order it and within minutes, can be reading." Yes, they're immediate. They're also an expensive hobby--I don't know many people who buy all their books from the bookstore, but I know LOTS of people who buy all their books for their Kindle because they enjoy the instant gratification and are ready to pay for it. Even at just $20 per month, that's a $240-a-year hobby. And not only do you have to pay for any e-books that you didn't borrow from the library, but you have to pay for the actual reader. Even if you read 200 books on an Amazon Kindle, you'd still be paying a surcharge of $1+ per book for the device's price. Now just to be difficult, here's some potentially nice things about these e-readers that RR didn't mention: --You can carry a lot of books at once. --The glare-free screen is very lovely indeed. --If it makes you read more, then that's a good thing. Edited by jn4jenny, Nov 6 2009, 06:47 AM.
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| Reynard Ridge | Nov 6 2009, 07:20 AM Post #20 |
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Drivin' The Short Bus
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Alas, we do tend the view the world from our own perch, don't we?  The ex-pat community here in Nanjing is wild about the e-readers, because it means we have easy access to books. If I lived in the US, it is likely I would be less reliant on my e-reader and i-pod, and more on the paid-for-by-my-tax-dollars library.  |
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| CDE Driver | Nov 6 2009, 07:28 AM Post #21 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Okay, more questions..... E-books. Do you download them online from your library? Are there websites that you go to that have books for you to download? How much do they typically cost or do you pay an annual membership fee? Can I go to some of these sites now to see their selections? |
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| NatalieA | Nov 6 2009, 08:51 AM Post #22 |
Weanling
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has anyone tried both the Barnes and Noble E-Reader and the Kindle ipod apps? Which is better? I'm not planning on purchasing books, just reading things in the public domain, but I'm lazy and don't particularly want to download both apps to check them out... |
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| CDE Driver | Nov 6 2009, 06:27 PM Post #23 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Bumping this up to keep the info coming
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| jn4jenny | Nov 7 2009, 06:03 AM Post #24 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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I own both, but if I were reading something in the public domain, I'd be using another app entirely called Stanza: http://www.lexcycle.com/ I've even used Stanza to read homework stuff, like academic articles. I don't think the BN reader is that great. The Kindle reader is nice. But they're both restricted to the books you buy through those respective sources. I don't see how it's such a hassle to download both apps and try them both...it takes mere seconds to download the apps and even fewer seconds to check them out on your iPhone...but if that's too much, I always Google for app review before I download them. Try googling "Kindle for iPhone app review", I bet you'll get some really great ones. Edited by jn4jenny, Nov 7 2009, 08:50 AM.
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| DairyQueen2049 | Nov 7 2009, 07:26 AM Post #25 |
DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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I like the idea that trees are not dying for me to read - I'm a tree hugger, yes. I loves me my trees, and every book I bought ment a dead tree - till now. LOVE the library - and the idea that the books get more then one use and HATE the idea of books with all those germs on them coming to my house.... Most new books on the electronic devices are $ 10. With the Nookie Bookie Ican share any book I want. I really like that feature. With Kindle I have to share my Kindle - pbbbt. I want Newsweek on my Nook - poof! it is! I now want my horsey mags on the thing!!! Again saving more trees! Woooty woot!! |
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| jn4jenny | Nov 7 2009, 08:56 AM Post #26 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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DQ, I hate to point out the obvious, but you already HAD a green reader. It's called your computer.  But for those who are keeping score, I believe someone calculated that you'd need to read 22.5 books on your Kindle to break even on CO2 emissions (most of which goes toward balancing the Kindle's manufacturing process and internal environmental hazard elements, which all computers have). So you'll break even in CO2 emissions at around the $500 invested mark, assuming you paid for the books. Which you wouldn't if you rented them from the library. CDE, my local public library system has an ebook portal through Netlibrary. But you can browse books on Amazon's Kindle store (for Kindle) or at ebooks.com (Sony Reader, although I think there are other sites that sell Sony Reader books too). Edited by jn4jenny, Nov 7 2009, 09:03 AM.
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| CDE Driver | Nov 7 2009, 08:57 PM Post #27 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Well, I just read all through Amazon's information about Kindle. Since I am outside of their coverage area I guess that means that it would be senseless for me to buy that one.  Now the research starts on the Sony. 
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4:29 AM Nov 27
