UPDATE: I bought a Sony Touch, read my thoughts after six months.
Photograph by goXunuReviews
An ebook reader is the latest gadget I want and I’ve been offered one for my upcoming birthday; I had the same offer last year and turned it down, as I didn’t think it was worth purchasing any of the available models, but I’m hoping it is different this year.Part of me wonders if I’m just after a new toy, however as I’ve read ebooks on my Palm Tungsten E and my HTC Desire I think it is a device I would certainly use, I’m just finding it difficult to select a model.
The easy solution will be to get an Amazon Kindle now that it is available in the UK, but having done some research I’m not sure it is the device for me, but equally no other device is standing out.
I’ve been here before when I bought a new mp3 player last year. I had been happy with my Creative Zen Micro until the battery connections started failing; I didn’t want to just buy the upgraded model, but wanted to see what had changed in the market since I’d bought my first player so started my research. I had assumed I would be spoilt for choice, but I obviously have unusual requirements and in the end only found one player, the upgrade to my old player that satisfied them all.
I think the ebook reader is the same situation. There is a model out there for me, among the many available, I just need to find it.
My requirements
I don’t think my requirements are very difficult, but I guess the market for ebook readers is still new and the sellers are still working out what they can get away with, plus I think my options are restricted because I live in the UK. My requirements are:
- available in the UK
- fit in my handbag
- have note taking functionality
- have wifi functionality
- be able to borrow ebooks from the library
- be able to share ebooks with my husband (if he gets a device in the future)
- to be able to purchase ebooks at a reasonable price
The options
Note taking and wifi seem to be present on most models I’ve looked at so they are not decision factors. The biggy is the file format and particularly the Digital Rights Management used. The impression I’ve got is that Amazon have personalised their file format so much the Kindle is not compatible with borrowing ebooks from the library.
The DRM format that seems to meet my requirements is Adobe Digital Editions as this is used by libraries and I can register my account on up to six computers and six devices. Helpfully Adobe provide a list of supported devices but I’m not sure that this is up to date as there are some devices missing that say they are compatible e.g. iRiver Cover Story or Sony Touch.
I’ve found a few lists that compare ebook readers, but none of them are up to date, so although they are useful they do not provide definitive information.
6 inch ebook reader comparison matrix
Buying ebooks
The other part of the decision is knowing where I can buy ebooks from. There seems to be a large variation in price and I don’t want to buy a reader that means I can only buy ebook from a site that is more expensive than paperbacks. From the quick look I’ve had, the prices seem to be lower on sites tied to specific devices e.g. Amazon Kindle books. Although I know there are plenty of free ebooks available from places like Project Gutenberg, I still want the option to buy newer books at a reasonable price.
As you can see I’m a little confused about my options and would appreciate any advice you have. Do you have an ebook reader? How do you use it? Have you found the file formats limiting? Where do you buy your books?
I’ve had a couple of Sony eReaders in the past and I now have a Kindle 3G. It’s as well made as any of the Sony eReaders but it’s made of plastic to keep the cost down. The screen is excellent and screen refresh is better than any other eBook reader I have seen; this is down to the new eInk Pearl screen.
None of the libraries in my area have eBook lending facilities so this didn’t really matter to me. I have bought a few books from the Kindle Store, downloaded a few free books from the Kindle Store and used the the facility available at http://www.truly-free.org/
The Kindle won’t read ePub but Calibre (PC & Mac) does conversion to the Kindle format. PDFs are a mixed bag; A4 formatted PDFs or textbooks are just too big for a 6″ screen.
Overall, I’m very happy with my purchase. I’ll upgrade again when there is a cheap colour tablet with a screen that’s as easy to read as the Kindle. Not sure how long I’ll have to wait though!
Austin.
Austin,
Thank you for your comment. It is interesting to hear from people who have used more than one type of reader. Why did you move from Sony to Kindle? Was it just for the 3G or were there other features?
None of the libraries in my area offer the borrowing of ebooks either, but I hope it is coming. In the mean time I’ve found at least one UK library that is happy for me to join their elibrary without living in the region – brilliant. Thank you for the link, I haven’t come across that site before.
I know what you mean about colour ebooks. I saw a story on BBC Click programme that showed some colour ebook material and it looked brilliant. They demonstrated it with a magazine and when you touched one of the pictures it became a video. Unfortunately it was a prototype and no one appeared to be interested in using it in devices.
Hello Kate,
I am in a similiar situation yet I like the Kindle a lot and have been very tempted with it I do really like the Ipad which from teh research I have done has a fantastic screen resolution and would fit into my girlfriends handbag.
Also I could then do away with my netbook as the Ipad has all the functions and a lot morer have I missed the point.
Good luck and I look forward to seeing what you end up buying
Danny
Danny,
Thank you for your comment. I think Amazon have produced a very good package with the Kindle, but I have decided that being able to borrow ebooks from the library is a required feature and unfortunately that limits me to the Sony e-readers (and I’m not happy with their price / feature combination). The people I know with Ipads love them, but I want something that is not backlit, plus I’ve only just got a smart phone so don’t think I need to move to a table until that has got boring!
HI Kate,
What did you buy in the end?
I had a play with the kindle and quite liked it but i still love the iPad… I getting a free one from an affiliate program I am involved with which will be lovely 🙂
Danny