Spec me an E-Reader

welshdragon

welshdragon

welshdragon

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Right, firstly if I have posted this in the wrong place please could a mod move it?

I am after an E-Reader. Must be capable of displaying pdf's which I'm sure most do, and be a minimum of 6" screen size. I have used the Sony PRS505 which belongs to my mother of all people and whilst good, I find it's interface slow, although this could be readers generally as I have no basis for comparison and have stuck a mammoth load of books on there.

I am tempted by one of the new Sony's or a Kindle 2, which can be had reasonably on flea bay. The Sony desktop software is in my opinion cr@p, so drag and drop would be nice.

Can anyone offer practical experience using the kindle or an alternative?
 
atmax1 said:
Then i think Kindle or ipad is best bet, I'm sure i read the Kindle is best around.
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:confused: Kindle?Good? You must be joking mate DRM and Propriety formats i think
Ipad has a good rep though or an Iliad but they are ouch:eek: expensive
Personally i have a BeBook ,have had it for about 18 months displays books in most formats which is what i wanted it for :)
Just my opinion on the Kindle maybe the points i made won`t worry you too much but have a google on the kindle and see for yourself :)
 
I have the sony touch, has a 6inch touch screen is quick supports most formats and used with calibre software rather than the sony rubbish is excellent.

I would highly recommend it.
 
I wouldn't recommend the Ipad as a reader, at least if you're going to be reading it much as it's a standard LCD/TFT type screen which will not be comfortable to read for long, and the battery life is going to be absolutely pants compared to a reader with an eink screen.

I'd probably suggest one of the larger screen proper ebooks (IIRC there are a couple in the states with larger screens).
 
Gaidin109 said:
I have the sony touch, has a 6inch touch screen is quick supports most formats and used with calibre software rather than the sony rubbish is excellent.

I would highly recommend it.
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You'd definately recommend the touch? Heard negative comments about it, but that could be over analytical reviewers!
 
Stay away from the ipad as a serious ebook reader its not as good due to the non e-ink display.

I have the sony prs 550 (basically the non touch version) and its great I can not recommend it enough. But, as mentioned use the free and brilliant calibre program (which you will probably use with any eoobk reader other than the kindle anyway)
 
Right that settles it, getting a Sony. With regard the touch, I've heard murmours the touch screen layer affects reading angle etc is this true? Will prob go for the touch if not the case and it comes recommended?
 
I would try and get to a store where you can check out the touch screen in person, iirc it does detract a little from the possible reading situations compared to the non touch screen, but it should be better with PDF's (IIRC it's got a slightly faster CPU).

However AFAIK none of the smaller ereaders are great at handling PDF's as they are all a little under A5 size at best, so any A4 PDF is going to have to either be shrunk down, or shown half at a time with the obvious issues that creates for diagrams, pictures and readability of the text in the PDF.

At the moment the number that can display A4 PDF's comfortably is limited, and they are much more expensive (IIRC one of the Kindle models for example is intended for text books etc)
 
I have a Sony 505, I absolutely adore it. It's virtually unbeatable for train journeys and holidays, and it's probably the #3 student gadget after a phone and laptop. So much easier than carting books around.

The touch screen makes the screen slightly reflective, so it's not as good in the sun or (more importantly) under flourescent lights - such as on a train or in a waiting room, exactly where you're likely to want it.

You're right that the interface is slightly slow, but to be honest, you spend so little time using the menus that it doesn't matter. It still only takes a moment to find a book (about as long as finding it on the shelf, for me).

The screen is excellent, I almost never find reflections a problem, and I can actually read it in lower light than I can most books
The buttons for page-turning are in places which actually make sense for your hand, it's pretty light - I can hold it one handed for 500 pages without getting tired.
It takes two different types of memory card (Memory Stick and SD), useful if you have a few spares lying around.

The only issue I can think of is that I don't think you can use LIT files (calibre easily converts, however)- PDF is fine though (the zoom function is surprisingly intelligent), although LRF is faster on page turns and seems to use slightly less battery.
 
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I'm diching my Sony 505 for an iPad. The Sony is good, but the screen is just too small. Agree about 'Calibre'. Its all you need for coverting and transfering books to the reader.
 
i have a first gen irex iliad, lovely big screen but they are expensive.
trouble is with ebooks the range of books is poor imo that you'll end up buying a dead tree version or downloading a scanned in copy.
 
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