ebook readers

[gilljoy]

Well everyone I'm very very very tempted to go and buymself a nice ebook reader,

currently looking at a kindle but I'm also tempted by the cheapest iPad model,

Whats the general oppinion, worth paying the extra for an ipad?

[jackvdbuk]

cheapest kindle £111, cheapest ipad £429? really depends if your going to use it for than just kindling, are you going to feel safe carrying half a grands worth of kit on the night bus after a drink? its bigger than a kindle in size so not as portable

[Saracen]

If you want it solely or almost solely to read books, the screen technology in proper ebook readers (like Kindle, or the Sony thing, etc) is FAR better then an iPad .... but nowhere near as versatile.

If, on the other hand, you want a general purpose machine that you will sometimes read books on, then by all means go for an iPad. Personally, though, I think they're over-priced fashion statements.

Sadly, there isn't a machine available that is as good at both types of use as each of these is in it's intended use, so you either have to decide what you really want it for and compromise on the other functionality .... or buy one of each.

For me, the ease on the eyes of the Kindle (and Sony, etc) screen tech means I can read for protracted periods without the eye strain I'd get from doing that on a conventional screen. The experience is very similar indeed to reader a proper book. So it all depends on what you'll really use it for.


Oh, and I keep hearing rumours on colour versions of the electronic paper screens in kindles etc being round the corner. When, and at what price, and how good they'll be I've no idea.

[g8ina]

Im perfectly happy with my Kindle 3 and I read more now than ever before.

I used to do 2-3 paperbacks a week when I read, then illness put a stop to that (difficult to hold the big books I read, and eyesight problems), then I got better a bit and started reading again a few months ago, and am now back up to my 2-3 books a week level, all thanks to Kindle.

Colour wouldnt do anything for me TBH Saracen, nor do I use either of the experimental features of Kindle - browser and text to speech. It just holds 1700 books of my fave authors

[Saracen]

....

Colour wouldnt do anything for me TBH Saracen, nor do I use either of the experimental features of Kindle - browser and text to speech. It just holds 1700 books of my fave authors

Oh, absolutely, David. I agree entirely .... for the purpose you put a Kindle too, and that I would too. But not everyone will have the same priorities, and if you want to read books, and browse the web, etc, then not having colour would be a drawback for the latter.

My ideal machine would be something that has the usability and screen quality of a Kindle for books, the quality colour of an iPad for general web use, a much more powerful processor and good quality voice recognition, and be the size and weight of a Kindle with the screen of a high-end 17" laptop.

And .... a price under £100.

I'm not holding my breath.

Meantime, for ebooks, the Kindle (or maybe the more expensive Sony) have it hands down over the iPad if books are the main (or only) priority.

[Champman99]

I got a Kindle for Christmas and am really enjoying it! I just got the Wi-Fi version (£109 before the VAT increase) as I dont really need books "on demand".

In a way the 3G version is good value though as there are no further monthly costs to pay. The screen is really impressive and the battery life is immense.

As has been said above, if you want a device for reading then the Kindle is awesome. But dont expect it to do much else.