Kindle or?

[Cozwin]

Okay, so If you asked me a year ago if I wanted a kindle I would of laughed at you, and then this month I decided to try reading books on my android tablet (small 7") and Ipad... and found it very handy and nice to read, so after reading up on the kindle a little, I have some questions.

Which is better Kindle or Sony Readers, main difference seems to be the supported formats from what I have seen but any input from people on this would be useful, if I buy sony it will likely be a second hand/refurb older model, while kindle second hand market is almost price of new so will be buying the new kindle with directional buttons only.

Not too fussed about capacity as I can't see myself needing access to 300+ books anytime soon, I currently only own about 40 books total and only read any besides these every now and then.

So any help?

[Splash]

Kindle all the way for me, though I've not actually tried the Sony reader so I can't comment on the screen. Reading on the Kindle screen is a pleasant experience, whereby reading on a backlit screen the likes of which you're currently doing causes eye strain - if the Sony reader has e-ink too then I guess it's down to management software and where you're likely to buy your books from.

One thing I will say about the Kindle is that the Amazon support is pretty cool - mine developed a slight issue (albeit after I'd been reading in the bath, but they didn't need to know that) and Amazon shipped me out a new unit, with 30 days (iirc) to return the dying unit. No questions asked.

Of course, I now have a waterproof cover

[MaddAussie]

Ive got the Sony PRS-350 (i think) the pocket touch. I bought i because it was slightly smaller than the kindle (but with the same screen size). I use Calibre to manage the eBooks I have as I found it slightly better than Sonys bundled app. The screen is about the same between the two devices although the sony is touch screen.

[pollaxe]

I just got the 2011 6" Wireless Kindle from PC World/Currys - it's effectively got a tenner off as you get a £10 voucher back (which is valid from next month until some time in December. I spotted it on HUKD here.)

I've got something coming up which means an eBook reader is a better choice than a coat stuffed full of paperbacks. I've resisted for a while as I prefer 'real' books and have dabbled with iBooks on my first gen iPad but the 6" Kindle seems a good alternative as it fits nicely in a pocket. Like Oz above, I use Calibre too as you can convert all kinds of formats that way. I believe there are numerous hacks out there which means you change quite a bit of stuff but as I only bought it on Friday, I've not really looked into that side of things, yet.

I am appalled at just how expensive eBooks are though.

[vicar]

kindle imho.

[TheAnimus]

My dad has a sony and a kindle, the kindle is better mostly due to the ecosystem around buying the ebooks. He bought the sony one first before getting the kindle after seeing mine.

I have just a kindle 3G, for me been able to buy a book when I'm out n about is a great killer feature, the fact it works in most countries, no extra cost.

As such I'd have to say I think that the kindle is the obvious winner by a long shot.

Still thou, the pricing of some ebooks is shocking, especially as you can't sell or buy second hand.

[Smudger]

Another vote for Kindle from me. I've done a bit of work at a publisher, where there were Sony Readers and Kindles, and it was the Sonys that I was always getting calls about, asking me to fix them. Mainly, they just freeze randomly...

[g8ina]

+1 Kindle, I never go anywhere without mine. I did try reading books on my Sony Arc android jobbie but its nowhere near as good, even if it does do colour.

[Butcher]

Just bought the new cheapo kindle, so far it seems good.

Not tried calibre or anything yet - just dumped some books into my amazon account and a few seconds later they're on the device. Seems pretty straight forward.

Also tried some PDFs - drop them over the usb cable (behaves like a pendrive) and they show up. Impressed with the pdf rendering really - as good as you get on a computer it seems.

[MaddAussie]

Another vote for Kindle from me. I've done a bit of work at a publisher, where there were Sony Readers and Kindles, and it was the Sonys that I was always getting calls about, asking me to fix them. Mainly, they just freeze randomly...

Mines never frozen once.. strange

[scaryjim]

... I decided to try reading books on my android tablet (small 7") and Ipad... and found it very handy and nice to read ...

... reading on a backlit screen the likes of which you're currently doing causes eye strain ...

tbh, I've never found reading a backlit screen to cause any more eye-strain than staring at a page of printed text. I find the refresh of an eInk screen very distracting and easily as strain inducing. So, if you already have a 7" android tab and an iPad, and you're happy reading on them, why would you buy yet another portable device to clutter up your house / bag / pockets? If you do find backlights cause you significant eye-strain then fair enough, but if you (as you say in the OP) find it "nice to read" on your existing devices, why shell out for another one?

So my vote is stick with what you've already got

[TheAnimus]

tbh, I've never found reading a backlit screen to cause any more eye-strain than staring at a page of printed text. I find the refresh of an eInk screen very distracting and easily as strain inducing.

What are you talking about the refresh is every page turn. How is that going to distract, or induce eye strain? I mean its when a page turns, you could always just blink!

[scaryjim]

... when a page turns, you could always just blink!

So I have to deliberately time a blink perfectly so I don't see the page refresh? That'll take some practice

I'm not saying eInk displays are rubbish, and yes, the refresh is only once a page, but it's *every* page, and I do not want to have to remember to turn my head away or shut my eyes every time I turn a page whilst reading a book. That's just silly. And as I said, reading a backlit screen simply doesn't strain my eyes, so for me an eInk reader doesn't provide enough benefits to make it worth having one instead of a general purpose tablet. Everyone elses mileage will, of course, vary.