silverthunder | (no subject)

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So, who all has a Kindle? Is it any good? Easy to use? Durable? How do you think it holds up against Sony's new PRS-600?

I really hate the touchscreen Sony loves so much (particularly since it makes the screen reflective and that would bug the crap out of me), but their non-touchscreen models apparently aren't as good (someone correct me if I'm wrong about this). However, Sony has the advantage of supporting the format used for library books (Kindle does not). I also don't care about wireless networks and downloading books immediately to the device, so that feature doesn't give Kindle any particular advantage in my opinion.

I don't know if I'd actually end up using up the space on the Kindle (3GB is a lot for books, and I can always keep a backup on my PC and swap books in/out if I somehow end up with that many of them), but the Sony has SD slots that allow you to expand the memory, which is another plus. Unfortunately, Sony starts out with only 512MB.

Another nice thing about the Kindle is the price. It's about $60 cheaper than the Sony. Even with the shipping cost added to that, it's still going to be less expensive.

Small instant-gratification issue: I could buy a Sony from Future Shop and have it immediately, but Kindle is temporarily sold out and won't be shipped before Sept 20th according to Amazon. I am not a patient person. It is tempting to go with Sony just so I can have it now.

One of my co-workers just got the new Kindle and loves it, and one of my friends has a Sony PRS-700 (very similar to the 600, I understand) and loves it. I'm kind of wavering between them - which would I like better? I don't know.

Any thoughts or insight?

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I've been using Calibre a lot since I get the JBL - I haven't touched any DRM books lately though I remember having to jump through several software hoops to strip it off an old purchase. The hardest thing to convert even with Calibre are pdfs - you have to convert to rtf, do find and replace for footer/header info and then convert that file to your ebook format.

The LCD used on the JBL isn't quite the same as those on the iPad and laptops - the screen is more greyish and works even in bright sunlight (its not backlit so you need a reading light on when using it, just like a regular book/e-reader)

E-ink page loads are definitely going to improve over the next few years (as it is now it takes a sec or two for a page to switch)

I had assumed all e-readers would bookmark/switch pages/hold your place if you go back or temporarily shut off the screen D:

Been carrying the JBL while running around vancouver and its pretty awesome - have folders for different sections of books (slash vs fantasy vs fanfiction) and it loads up a lot of formats of ebooks but the best are epub, mobi, rtf, html and txt. Posted about it here (http://gossymer.livejournal.com/391640.html) just this past week. I think its weakness against other readers is probably typography, since you can't use your own fonts yet - that might change in future though since they do update the software/OS \o/

The Kobo does hold your place in the book. What I want is the ability to bookmark additional places in the book and return to them later. Also the ability to skip to a specific page in the book. XD Unfortunately, it doesn't offer either of those things. Otherwise I'd probably be going for a Kobo right now, since our local Chapters sells them.

As far as I can tell, the Kindle has provided support for pdf files in the Kindle 2, Kindle 3G and Kindle Wi-Fi (this is the one I'm looking at). It's ePub that they don't support.

From what I've read, the Kindle, Kobo, and new Sony are very quick to switch pages, so the technology is coming along. The old Sony e-readers (the ones that are cheaper and don't have touchscreens) are slower.

I'm not too concerned with fonts; I can read a number of different fonts and it doesn't bug me too much. Maybe I should consider a Jetbook Lite, even though I'm iffy about the LCD screen. XD I'll look it up. Do you add files and folders to it like you would a USB drive or does it have its own system?

Anyway, new Kindles won't ship until Sept 20th according to Amazon, so I have some time to look into alternatives.

The problem with pdfs is that they don't show up well on screens smaller than the files are designs for (so if the pages are A4 sized when loaded to the e-readers they get shrunk and can't be read easily) - so other formats are usually preferred

Oooh didn't know that! I had looked up youtube demos of the e-readers so haven't seen the page switching in person for the latest versions

Am very nitpicky about fonts lol but reading on the JBL isn't a problem in any case :) It's pretty much just files/folders so its super easy (none of that installing additional software to set it up, just transfer the ebooks and you're good to go)

I know some sites have sales for the JBL for $99.99 but not sure about the jetbook itself - youtubing the e-reader will let you see how it runs though :D

I found the page switching to be fairly quick - I have to admit, after checking out the JBL on youtube, it is quicker, and if you're annoyed by the black flashing every time the page turns... yeah, that's still there on the others.

I will probably have to see when I try out the Kobo if this is going to be an issue for me or not.

It actually sounds like the JBL has everything I need... (I could probably still buy books from amazon and transfer them onto this device, right? If not, no biggie, I can buy them elsewhere, but it'd be convenient since I already have an account with Amazon and like to buy from them) Even the batteries are probably not that much of an issue. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn't find it in-store to test out, but maybe I'll try out the ones I can and do a little more review-hunting and checking things out on youtube and see how I feel.

Like I said, I really am just looking for something that's going to mimic a real book for me as much as possible. And the price is very attractive on this one, too.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get yours?

Kindle's Mobi format should work without a problem but if its DRM-ed AZW, then it probably would need stripping and then converting >_> There are some ebook stores (fictionwise and smashwords) that most people seem to default to if they're not using the Kindle

I got mine off of Newegg Canada but Buy.com and Amazon.com are cheaper usually if you can get it from USA - the JBL goes for $99 while the Jetbook is about $135 I think.

Eh, I'd probably just order from another ebook store. Not like it's that big a deal, and I'd rather be spared the hassle.

I'll check out Newegg Canada. :) Better if I can see the price in Canadian funds right off the bat. But if worse comes to worse, I can always go Amazon (too bad their CA site doesn't carry any ebook readers).

Hmm... I really like that Jetbook Lite is so cheap, and has the bookmarking functionality that I want (not sure about skipping to a specific page). I like the idea of having folders for different sections of books, too. And since the LCD screen isn't backlit, it's probably not going to cause strain on my eyes or anything. I like that page turns are smooth and pretty well instant, too.

I don't like having to use batteries in it - I would prefer a lithium-ion battery that you can plug in to charge. Also, I couldn't find anything about how much memory is on there. I guess since it is expandable, it's not much of an issue. I assume it's probably 512mb?

Is loading books onto it a nice smooth process? The Kindle is supposedly just like using a USB drive. How is the JBL?

I'm going to head up to Chapters today and try out the Kobo, just for the heck of it and to see what it's like. Maybe it will still impress me. ;) Also going to see what Future Shop has in stock.

Thanks for the rec!

It can skip to a specific page and the Jetbook (non-lite) version uses lithium-ion - I've found those types tend to die on me faster over the years (my mp3 player, my laptops) until the charge doesn't stay anywhere as long as it should so I went for rechargable AA batteries in the Lite ^^

Not sure about memory TBH - I use a 2GB card in it that I pop into the laptop when I want to load books (super fast) though you can use a usb drive too.

I remember when buying my mp3 player I narrowed it down to two and ended up buying both via credit card - then I just returned the one I liked less XD If you have the opportunity to test them out in person, that's definitely the way to go :D

I don't think I'll be able to test-buy any of these, particularly the Kindle since you have to order it through Amazon and I'd imagine it would be a pain to try and return it. The ones I can buy at Future Shop, maybe... I think they have a 30-day returns policy. I'm not sure about the Kobo - I'll check into that.

I found on a website that the JBL has 128MB - the smallest I've seen. But again, it doesn't really matter bcause it's so cheap and I can get a 2GB SD card for it anyway. I like the idea of loading books onto the SD card and just popping it back into the reader.

Forgot about the Kindle's order system ^^ Youtube vids would be the next best alternative probably :)

I remember I had about 40 books on the reader before I switched to my SD card and now the external storage acts as a mini-library so anything I feel like reading is a click away. The pop-in/pop out is much easier than having to deal with USB connections so would recommend external storage id you plan on transfering books from your computer.

TBH, I use the ebook comms on lj (if I love the books I usually end up buying them later anyway) so transfering from the laptop is key ^^

Yeah, I've been looking at Youtube vids, and my co-worker brought in his brand new Kindle on Wednesday (he's off until Tuesday now), so I could probably ask to take a longer look at it. He's told me a lot of what I know about what you can do with it, too.

One of my friends has a Sony PRS-700, so I'm hoping she'll let me play around with it when I see her next.

The Kobo, of course, I'll try in-store.

I really wish I could try out the Jetbook Lite, just to see what it feels like and how it is to hold and to read from. I checked it out on YouTube and liked what I saw of the demo, but it's still not quite the same. I did see a couple of reviews that said it stopped working for them after about a month and wouldn't even power on - which scares me a little.

Anyway, I'm not in a rush right now. I'll continue checking things out. Unless, of course, something really impresses me and I decide I must have it immediately. XD We'll see.

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