Please advise: e-Reader for my dad

I

InTheCube

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
4,581
Reaction score
87
Location
InTheCube.co.za
I am looking for an e-Reader (tablet) for my dad to use at home and while on holiday, something along the lines of an Amazon Kindle or the alternatives.

I haven't done any research or price-checking yet, but here are the basic requirements:
  1. WiFi is a must, 3G is optional
  2. e-ink screen (or similar) to go easy in the eyes, and allow for long hours of reading
  3. approx. 7" form factor
  4. good online catalogue
  5. easy to use
  6. options to import your own e-Books
  7. budget is about R1500 - R2500
  8. available locally
 
SYNERGY said:
You haven't experienced customer service until you've experienced Amazon's customer service.
Click to expand...

I can't stand Amazon customer service. Anything out of the ordinary and it's like talking to a really happy village idiot.
 
Kobo from P'nP would likely fit the bill too. Pro-tip: you want an e-ink screen; whatever device it comes on isn't terribly important. Especially not if you manage your whole library through calibre (you should) which doesn't much care whether you're using a phone, tablet, Kindle, Kobo or Nook...
 
I would say go for Kobo. It has a South Africa bookstore so you can pay in Rands. Alos, you can get a KoboGlo for about 1300 at PicnPay.

Go check out the books available on their store. Also, added benefit is that it has a slot for MicoSD card.
 
Thanks guys. I've purchased from Amazon before, and will be taking out an Amazon Prime subscription as well for the Instant Video streaming service. I believe you can rent/read books for free using Amazon Prime. Has anyone made use of this?

Also, how is the Amazon Bookstore if purchasing from RSA? Are there any geographical restrictions to certain books, like we have with movies and TV series? Do I need to do any special tricks or hacks to make it work in RSA? Or does it "just work"?

I'm interested in the Kobo as well. How is there local bookstore? Going to check out what this Calibre is all about.
 
Last edited:
Just opinion but I love my Kindle. Third generation so not paper white but as an avid reader you don't care and the battery life if wifi/3g is off is perfect ( +- 3 weeks to a month ).
 
Kobo is good, I use it extensively. Only issues are its a bit slow, and transferring books to it is a pain seeing as it's wi-fi link is not terribly sophisticated so it can't pick up your stash of ebooks on your computer...

Otherwise, readability is good, and price is better... plus you aren't hooked into Amazon ebook formats etc.
 
smallearth said:
Kobo is good, I use it extensively. Only issues are its a bit slow, and transferring books to it is a pain seeing as it's wi-fi link is not terribly sophisticated so it can't pick up your stash of ebooks on your computer...

Otherwise, readability is good, and price is better... plus you aren't hooked into Amazon ebook formats etc.
Click to expand...

Which Kobo do you have? And which one do you suggest I get? What other advantages of the Kobo compared to the Kindle? Is there a local warranty?

That's one of the things I'm worried about if I buy the Kindle from Amazon.com. If it breaks under warranty, I'll have to ship it back at huge cost.
 
I have tried a colleagues Kobo and it's horrid! Bad software, slow etc

Get a Kindle, even the cheapest one. My Gran who cannot use a computer also cannot live without her Kidnle I bought her. Simple, no fuss.

For your budget you can get the Paperwhite with awesome backlight!
 
And yet I utterly love my Kobo Glo. As to warranty, the SD slot on my gf's Touch died (it didn't help that she futzed with it so much...) so we took it back, with the original invoice and PnP not only made no fuss about warranty, they gave us cash! Which we then spent straight away in getting a replacement Glo anyway.
 
The only ereader I would recommend is a Kindle. Then again, have not experienced any of the others, so yeah.

I have only had one experience with Amazon's Customer Service, re. a card that was linked to my account to start my Prime free trial, but that was sorted out quickly (bizarrely enough, wouldn't accept my Capitec Debit Mastercard for it, had to add another CC, but the Capitec card was the same one I've used for all my other Amazon purchases without hassles)

Friend of mine who also bought a Kindle, let it fall off her bed and the screen cracked, they replaced it without any issues, but it was still under warranty, if that makes a difference.

B
 
Bismuth said:
Friend of mine who also bought a Kindle, let it fall off her bed and the screen cracked, they replaced it without any issues, but it was still under warranty, if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...

Was her Kindle bought off Amazon, or a local supplier? Did she have to ship it back to the US, or locally, and what were the shipping charges like. Replacing a cracked screen for free is a big plus though. Usually that's not covered by warranties.
 
smallearth said:
Will your dad be buying his books via Amazon?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure yet. But definitely considering taking out an Amazon Prime subscription, which gives access to some popular eBooks for free, as well as access to Amazon Instant Video. Can't really take advantage of the Prime shipping benefits though.

I've checked out Calibre, and from the looks of it and the way I understand it, I can get the eBooks from anywhere, and then use Calibre to convert it to the correct format, and upload it to the Kindle. Hope I understood that right.
 
Saajid said:
...

I've checked out Calibre, and from the looks of it and the way I understand it, I can get the eBooks from anywhere, and then use Calibre to convert it to the correct format, and upload it to the Kindle. Hope I understood that right.
Click to expand...

That's the gist of it, yes. ;) It's also a very competent library management suite, not just a format converter.
 
Bump

Anyone knows where I can get a Kibo for a decent price?

I tried takealot but the pricing is crazy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X