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About LinkBacksI was looking to buy an e book reader when I thought of getting a Nexus 7 instead, for the relatively low price jump you can really do so much more ?
Can anyone suggest why an e book reader would be better besides the lower price ?
I was looking to buy an e book reader when I thought of getting a Nexus 7 instead, for the relatively low price jump you can really do so much more ?
Can anyone suggest why an e book reader would be better besides the lower price ?
Better battery life. My kindle goes weeks without a re-charge.
e-Ink screen instead of LCD. much more natural reading experience as it looks like paper instead of a back lit screen. easier on the eyes.
The regular kindle is smaller and lighter than any of the tablets so it's easier to hold for long periods or to slip in your pocket.
Hmm, All valid points I guess but I don't really see them as much of an issue.
In this day and age you're never too far from an empty USB port of wall socket, most people spend ridiculous amounts of time with screens (TV's Phones, Computers) so we're really well adjusted to that anyway and as for weight ? A 100g more isn't really going to strain you that much unless you're holding the thing for hours on end with one hand, which isn't that often...
My personal preference is definitely for an Ebook reader (Kindle in my case) because I loathe reading books off a backlit LCD screen and end up with tired eyes very quickly but can read for hours on end from the Kindle and my eyes are fine.
You're always going to get differing views on a subject like this ... so here's mine.Originally Posted by Phaz0r18
Reading is SO much more comfortable on an e-ink screen, for me, that there is simply no comparison. I'm writing this on a 10" tablet, and as someone working with computers since the days before screens when we used punch card input and printouts, you can imagine I've spent more time than most working with screens, and am more used to them than most. Yet, for reading, I will use a book, or an e-reader, but will not do it on a tranmissive screen, be it CRT, LCD, etc.
There is something about the concentration, something about the constant scanning of eyes, something perhaps including the length of timeI do it for in one stretch, that means I end up with a headache after a fairly short period with a conventional screen, when reading a book. I can read a Kindle, however, for hours at a time with no ill effects at all.
Now, as I said, this is a personal reaction. But I can say I am absolutely convinced that reading a book on e-ink is less stressful, less strain, on the eyes.
But .... it may be that your tolerance of that strain is higher than mine. In which case, you may find reading on a tabket is fine. But I do not.
A tablet is a multifunction, multi-use device good for all sorts of things .... which is why I bought, and extensively use, one. An e-reader, on the other hand, is designed for one and only one primary task, and the ones I've used (mainly Kindles, Kobo and Sony) are FAR. better at that than any tablet.
So .... depends what you want the device for.
For reading books, get an e-reader. For multi-purpose use, get a tablet. For best of both worlds, get both.
I have a kindle and nexus 7, prefer reading on the kindle. Only downside with kindle is the limited format support, so if I was shopping again it would be for a non kindle e-ink reader.
One more point.
If the wife has gone to bed, and I go up later at night, rather than disturb her by turning lights on, I often use the tablet as a torch. After all, I'm taking it with me 'cos I often do a forum check last thing at night, so I charge it overnight, by the bedside.
Now, if that screen throws out enough light than I can use it to go upstairs, brush my teeth, get changed, etc, when you're reading a book, it's throwing that light directly into your face, your eyes. An e-reader, except the more recent backlit ones which, by the way, I do not like, emits no light at all, it relies entirely on reflected light from an external source.
A very good point, I guess if its designed with one goal in mind it'll probably be better than a jack of all trades device, I guess i've never read a book for long enough on an e-reader for it to be a problem in a long time...
That being said i'll probably still invest in a Nexus, purely to consolidate my devices into as few to carry around as possible...
I have both devices so I can read my books on Kindle or on the Nexus via Kindle app. Ebook edges it for following reasons:
1. battery life.
2. readable for most of day
3. suitable if you read longer than 15 minutes in one sitting.
Of course, that's an entirely valid viewpoint.
My post concentrated on the actual use of tbe devices, but part of the considering of what you'll use for for is when, how, how long for and for what purpose you'll use them.
And it's a balancing trick, which is why my decision and yours may be different, but both be right.
Most of the time, I use such devices in one of several fixed locations. That may not be clear, but what I mean is I may be at one of two or three different addresses, but while I'm there, I there. I'm not using it much in commuting, sitting on trains or planes, or in hotel. So, I get from one address to the other by car, unload and unpack. It's seriously not an issue taking two devices. In fact, most of the time I also have a proper laptop, and a camera bag that weighs several times what the laptop, tablet and Kindle weigh when put together.
Also, some books benefit from colour, as do mamy e-magazines. I have an 'Ecomomist' subscription on my tablet, for instance, and prefer that to the e-reader. But I'm not reading that for hours at a sitting. But "books", as in novels, well, Kindle (or other good e-reader) every single time.
Several people have mentioned battery life. I agree with them, and I typically get several weeks from my current Kindle (Touch), and a bit longer from my old one (Keyboard), bewteen charges. On the other hand, I get between a day and a half and, at best, three days from the tablet. Charging it is a bit of a pain, which is why I charge, typically, every night. I would cheerfully go on a two-week holiday with the Kindle and not take the charger.
but the tablet? Not a hope.
It's all these things that leads me to say that the best choice for you depends entirely on what your pattern of usage will be, so that, of course, is what you need to think through to avoid a mistake.
I've got both. The Nexus is fine for reading on the commute, or at lunchtime, although there is some reflection. I tried reading on the Nexus in bed one night, and soon swapped to the Kindle. I now keep the Kindle in the bedroom, and the Nexus in the workbag. Luckily, they sync with each other so you don't have to leaf through a load of pages to find where you got to on the other device. So for bedtime/beach/poolside reading, Kindle (or other e-ink reader) is the winner. For situations where you might want more functionality, Nexus. Considering you can get a Kindle for £59 now, why not get both?
Depends what you'll use it for. I like my kobo as it makes my eyes less tired and I can read it outdoors. It was only £50 too which helped.
I've recently bought a Nexus 7 and have downloaded the Kindle App. I think it's ok to use as an eBook reader for short periods as others have mentioned. Would definitely agree that a kindle or dedicated eBook reader is better for outdoor use due to screen glare.
I do however prefer the built in eBook reader app that comes with the Nexus 7 to the Kindle App, seems a lot more polished.
kindles are no good for reading textbooks. far too small of a screen and various text books have colour on them.
until they make a 10 inch coloured ebook, Tablets are the way to go IMO.
Depends on the textbook. I've got a number of law books, and believe me, heavy on colour or pretty pictures they aren't. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I've got photography and gardening books that are picture and colour heavy.
Personally, I think the best device for textbooks is one involving loads of sheets of paper, bound together down one side.
even if you ignore colour, text size and real estate is a huge issue on a kindle. some textbooks are a4 size.
Also, for technical books like mathmatics and programing books, reading and scaling that on a tiny 7 inch screen is not practical as well.
We need 10inch colour ereaders!
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