As you may or may not have noticed, here at The Wolf's Den, I don't usually read many e-books. It's not that I have anything against them, I just don't own an e-reader. Now, I have accepted some e-books for review now and again, but I read them at my computer.
I use free programs such as Kindle for PC and Adobe Digital Editions. I tend to prefer the Kindle program, but it doesn't accept all formats (PDF), so I'm stuck with either a converted mess or using Adobe for some books. Unfortunately, sitting and reading at the computer has two major disadvantages:
First, I find that oftentimes sitting at the computer gives me too many distractions to allow me to focus on the material I should be reading. YouTube, GoodReads, DeviantArt... I swear I don't have ADD, but——Ooh shiny! Ahem, second, the eye-strain and required seating arrangements (needing to be able to see the screen) don't allow me much in the way of comfort or variety. Frankly, I love reading in bed or sprawled out on the couch—just so many ways to toss and turn and cozy-up while I read!
An e-reader seems like it would answer both of those problems. Plus the fact that I could take my e-books out of the house! The library might be a nice change of scenery now and again. Or maybe when I'm chilling at Powell's?
And that's where you guys come in! I've stayed out of the e-reader scene mostly due to expenses. Now, I'm still not rolling in dough at the moment, so I'm really trying to balance out spiffy gadgets with my budget. Here are a few brands I've heard of, ranging from $79 to $199:
Kindle
(Basic $79, Touch $99, Keyboard $139, Fire $199), NOOK (Touch $99, Color $169, Tablet $199),
Sony (Reader $130),
Kobo (Basic $100, Touch $130, Vox $200),
and BeBook (One $99, S Club $129, Neo $159).
Honestly, I'm kinda leaning towards a Kindle at the moment. I've used the PC software for about a year now, and other than the PDF issues (which I don't know if there's a better option right now) I don't have any huge problems. Plus I already have a lot of free books downloaded, and I'm sure I'll run across other freebees regularly. Plus my library already offers a large selection of e-books in the Kindle format!
So here's my checklist:
Price - Not able to spend tons right now.
Weight/Size - Not a huge issue for me, actually.
Ease-of-Use - I'm pretty tech-savvy, so unless it's a nightmare to use, I should be fine.
Loyalty/Format - I'm not really loyal to one company over another. Powell's and Jan's are indie, and Borders kinda died. But when it comes to formats, how much of a pain is it going to be getting the right book format?
Memory - I'm not planning on replacing my library, this will be primarily for review requests that aren't available in print.
Touch or Not? - Is touch worth it for ease? Or is it a stress headache waiting to happen if it gets scratched?
Durability - Along the same lines as above, I'm pretty careful with my things and I'm not typically clutzy, but will I need a force-field around this thing?
Gadgets - I don't need tons of bells and whistles, but I won't turn them down either. Not really looking at 3G, video, or net-browsing, though music might be a plus...
Extras - Do I need to budget in for extras to get full use out of this? I don't foresee a need for an adapter, but will I need/want a case, light, etc.?
A tall order? Probably. So, what's your vote?
If you could cast your vote above then leave a comment below, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a bunch, guys. I can't wait to hear from you!
Voting for Kindle Keyboard. Yes, I'm biased. But I find it so easy to use, and you don't HAVE to have a case. Formats usable- mobi, prc, pdf, doc and more.
ReplyDeleteHope you chose well!
Nina @ Death Books and Tea
Bias is totally acceptable! An informed opinion is exactly what I'm looking for, after all. Thanks for the vote and comment!
DeleteI love the Kobo. Either the WiFi (basic one) or the Vox, which I own, or the touch are great. I'd actually suggest the Touch over the WiFi, just because of the added ability to make notes, highlight and read footnotes. It's also supposed to have a better battery life. I know I was getting three to five books a charge with the older version. Formats: E-pub and PDF. Easy to load on the non-kobo e-books in pdf format through either Adobe Digital Editions or Calibre. Should work with NetGalley as a result.
ReplyDeleteThe Vox is a tablet computer masquerading as an e-reader, with the battery life that entails. Doesn't deal with PDF without loading on another app. Library books can be loaded through the Overdrive app. Non-Kobo e-pubs, well I've found the method that works best for me is to copy them onto a micro-SD card and then to load that into the reader. Does great for reading graphic novels though.