The Official ebook Reader Thread

Crusader

Crusader

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Since it appears that many of the members have embraced the wonders of ebook readers (reader devices) I think it apt that we have a 'device agnostic' spot to discuss ebooks, ebook readers (the devices!), share links to freebie e-books available online and find out where us South Africans can buy ebooks aside from Amazon (for non-Kindle users - yes, there ARE other devices besides the Kindle!)

I also think it might also be a good idea to have an FAQ section at the start of the thread to spread the word and help people to decide if an ebook reader is right for them. So feel free to discuss and share your experiences.

What is an ebook reader?
In general the term refers to a dedicated device used for the purpose of reading an electronic version of a book. Most devices currently on the market make use of E-ink technology.

What's so great about E-ink?
What makes E-ink displays great is the fact that they provide contrast similar to that of a printed page and is extremely power efficient. E-ink displays don't use backlights but rather reflects ambient light making it possible to read in direct sunlight. It has a wider viewing angle and causes much less eyestrain than an LCD screen. You can literally read for hours without getting the "burning eye" sensation of being in front of the computer too long.

E-ink displays only use power each time you load a new page. This means you can leave the device on the same page for an entire day and it will use a minuscule amount of power. Most current devices offer a battery life of around 8000 page turns - depending on the amount you read it would easily be able to last around 2 weeks on a single charge.

The downside of E-ink devices:
Currently E-ink screens are only available in black and white and can display only shades of grey. Color displays are in development, but not likely to be available in the very near future.
The screens aren't perfectly white. Depending on the ambient lighting the background can vary from slightly grey (direct sunlight) to a more prominent grey.
Each page turn results in a brief black flash while the the screen is reset and the new text appears. Some people might find this annoying but in my experience you get used to it quickly.
The screens are quite fragile. Care needs to be taken not to bend, knock or put excessive pressure on the screen since the glass substrate could be damaged. Handle with care and you should be fine.

Why switch to ebooks?
eBook readers allow you to literally carry thousands of books around with you in a device that weighs less than the average paperback. Depending on reading habits ebooks can be purchased at a cheaper price than a normal paperback. You'll no longer have to wait for books to be delivered since ebooks can be immediately downloaded after being purchased. There are thousands of books available for free (legally) and if you are fond of classics you can download them all from Project Gutenburg. Many authors also provide some of their novels for free as a form of promotion.

File formats
There are many file formats in use. It is important to understand the formats that your specific device can accept. Most devices can handle a variety of non-DRM formats. However when it comes to DRM-ed books you will be limited to one format.

Currently ePub seems to be the emerging standard format. Sony, Barnes and Noble and a variety of other ebook stores are in the process of converting their stores to offer ePub versions.

Provided that your existing (or newly bought) ebooks are DRM-free it is an easy task to convert one format to another should it be required. Calibre is an amazing free application that offers excellent conversion tools and an intuitive way to manage your digital library.

Which devices are available?
There is a great many devices currently available although most of them aren't directly available in South Africa so you will most likely be willing to import it yourself or use online shops (Wantitall, Take2) to import it on your behalf.

Some of the more well-known devices are:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015T963C"]The Amazon Kindle[/ame] (available directly from Amazon)
The Barnes and Noble Nook
Sony Readers: PRS-300, PRS-600 and upcoming PRS-900 (not officially launched in SA, available via Take2, and Wantitall)
Bookeen: Cybook Gen 3, Opus (available from Bookeen or via Take2, and Wantitall)
Foxit eSlick
Cool-er Reader

What's it going to cost?
Prices have dropped considerably but since this is a relatively new market devices are still expensive. Most prices range between R2800 - R4000 depending on screen size and device features.
 
Crusader said:
Since it appears that many of the members have embraced the wonders of ebook readers (reader devices) I think it apt that we have a 'device agnostic' spot to discuss ebooks, ebook readers (the devices!), share links to freebie e-books available online and find out where us South Africans can buy ebooks aside from Amazon (for non-Kindle users - yes, there ARE other devices besides the Kindle!)

I also think it might also be a good idea to have an FAQ section at the start of the thread to spread the word and help people to decide if an ebook reader is right for them. So feel free to discuss and share your experiences.

What is an ebook reader?
In general the term refers to a dedicated device used for the purpose of reading an electronic version of a book. Most devices currently on the market make use of E-ink technology.

What's so great about E-ink?
What makes E-ink displays great is the fact that they provide contrast similar to that of a printed page and is extremely power efficient. E-ink displays don't use backlights but rather reflects ambient light making it possible to read in direct sunlight. It has a wider viewing angle and causes much less eyestrain than an LCD screen. You can literally read for hours without getting the "burning eye" sensation of being in front of the computer too long.

E-ink displays only use power each time you load a new page. This means you can leave the device on the same page for an entire day and it will use a minuscule amount of power. Most current devices offer a battery life of around 8000 page turns - depending on the amount you read it would easily be able to last around 2 weeks on a single charge.

The downside of E-ink devices:
Currently E-ink screens are only available in black and white and can display only shades of grey. Color displays are in development, but not likely to be available in the very near future.
The screens aren't perfectly white. Depending on the ambient lighting the background can vary from slightly grey (direct sunlight) to a more prominent grey.
Each page turn results in a brief black flash while the the screen is reset and the new text appears. Some people might find this annoying but in my experience you get used to it quickly.
The screens are quite fragile. Care needs to be taken not to bend, knock or put excessive pressure on the screen since the glass substrate could be damaged. Handle with care and you should be fine.

Why switch to ebooks?
eBook readers allow you to literally carry thousands of books around with you in a device that weighs less than the average paperback. Depending on reading habits ebooks can be purchased at a cheaper price than a normal paperback. You'll no longer have to wait for books to be delivered since ebooks can be immediately downloaded after being purchased. There are thousands of books available for free (legally) and if you are fond of classics you can download them all from Project Gutenburg. Many authors also provide some of their novels for free as a form of promotion.

File formats
There are many file formats in use. It is important to understand the formats that your specific device can accept. Most devices can handle a variety of non-DRM formats. However when it comes to DRM-ed books you will be limited to one format.

Currently ePub seems to be the emerging standard format. Sony, Barnes and Noble and a variety of other ebook stores are in the process of converting their stores to offer ePub versions.

Provided that your existing (or newly bought) ebooks are DRM-free it is an easy task to convert one format to another should it be required. Calibre is an amazing free application that offers excellent conversion tools and an intuitive way to manage your digital library.

Which devices are available?
There is a great many devices currently available although most of them aren't directly available in South Africa so you will most likely be willing to import it yourself or use online shops (Wantitall, Take2) to import it on your behalf.

Some of the more well-known devices are:
The Amazon Kindle (available directly from Amazon)
The Barnes and Noble Nook
Sony Readers: PRS-300, PRS-600 and upcoming PRS-900 (not officially launched in SA, available via Take2, and Wantitall)
Bookeen: Cybook Gen 3, Opus (available from Bookeen or via Take2, and Wantitall)
Foxit eSlick
Cool-er Reader

What's it going to cost?
Prices have dropped considerably but since this is a relatively new market devices are still expensive. Most prices range between R2800 - R4000 depending on screen size and device features.
Click to expand...

:wtf:

think i'll have to stick to paperbacks for awhile hey:whistle:
 
For heavy readers it is quite possible that the cheaper ebook prices could pay for the device itself within a year. From my experience you could save between R20 - R50 per book and that's not counting the costs saved on classics and other freebies.
 
I have an eSlick. It quickly become one of my all-time favourite gadgets, mostly because it's super convenient to be able to carry several books around with you on one device and also because it's actually a lot more comfortable to hold for long periods than an actual book.
 
BCO said:
I have an eSlick. It quickly become one of my all-time favourite gadgets, mostly because it's super convenient to be able to carry several books around with you on one device and also because it's actually a lot more comfortable to hold for long periods than an actual book.
Click to expand...

Hahahaha try to get on a train with that:wtf:

books are a much safer method for me:p
 
The readers are too expensive as are the prices of the books - esp when you consider the publishers no longer have to print the copy you're reading.
 
The problem atm is that E-Ink is a nascent technology and actually there is only one company who makes all the panels - hence the homogeneity of their appearance. So it's expensive until an alternative comes round. There are some interesting alternative technologies in the pipeline - one which converts a standard LCD screen to non-reflective/non-backlit which means you can switch modes on the fly; that is the most promising to me.

I dont see the future in standalone book readers, although they do offer some real benefits. Apple's (*rumoured) tablet should bring convergence closer. Atm I use my iPod Touch with Stanza and Isilo and I love it. The screen is sufficiently bright and non-reflective to be used in just about any situation. But I am very impressed with the Nook, from the reviews they need to sort out the software but still a sexy piece of kit.
 
I'm using the free MobiReader software on my cellphone... and just grabbing free books wherever I can, Baen, Tor, etc.

I've read hundreds of books that way, the black on white screen does not bother me at all. And it is even nicer when I have not had to fork out a single cent to do this! :p
 
Look, an ebook reader isn't a necessity and other devices can work just fine, but reading on e-ink is definitely a more comfortable experience than LCD. It's a very "nice to have" device, but not a "must have".
 
I'd love a real ebook reader. But it's a bit outta my league atm so the iPod does the trick in the meanwhile. for the iPod i can't recommend Stanza highly enough - the paging action is very addictive.
 
Last edited:
The ebook market is just now getting to the point where it's going mainstream. Prices should drop as volumes increase.

As for ebook prices some of them do tend to be expensive (more than hardback) but if you shop around and tend not to buy new releases immediately bargains can be had. Publishers are struggling to determine where ebooks should fit in and how to price them. Even if there's no printing costs the costs for marketing/editing/DRM still contribute to the price.
 
Awesome news for eSlick owners:

New Features in the eSlick 2.0 Build 1130 Firmware Update

The free eSlick 2.0 Build 1130 Firmware Update includes some fantastic new features and has enhanced many of the features from previous firmware updates.

EPUB Support
Foxit eSlick now supports EPUB format, which is an XML-based format for reflowable digital books and publications. Now you can download EPUB eBooks onto your eSlick and the text will automatically display in an optimized format to fit the screen size.

PDB (commonly known as eReader) Support
Foxit eSlick now also supports eReader format, which is widely accepted by several software formats. eReader format is commonly used on mobile devices.

Image Support
Supports viewing image files in GIF, BMP, JPEG, and PNG format.

On-screen Virtual Keyboard
With this on-screen keyboard, you can use your navigation buttons to enter alphanumeric data in any text environment, including password entering and folder naming.

Working with Folders
eSlick now allows users to fully interact with a folder management system, enabling you to create a new folder as well as copy, move, and delete folders.

My Bookmark
A useful feature that empowers users to add customized bookmarks when reading PDFs, helping users to quickly return to marked pages to resume their readings.

Rendering Text in Landscape Mode
Now the text files can be rendered in landscape mode which allows you to view the screen horizontally.

Optimized Text-rendering Engine
An optimized text-rendering engine boosts the rendering speed for the text files dramatically.

Bug Fixes
Many bug fixes including a bug where reading history cannot be recorded when viewing a magnified TXT file.
Click to expand...

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ebook/update.html
 
I was meaning to ask if you tried the new firmware on the eSlick yet. The new firmware seems to make it a contender again especially with the ePub support added.
 
eBook Readers: Stink, Stank, Stunk

http://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=11753&tag=content;col1

Each of these three e-book readers have enough things wrong with them that you should consider the “39 and a half foot pole approach” this holiday season.

He’s a mean one, that Mr. Pogue. He’s a nasty, wasty skunk. His heart is full of unwashed socks and his soul is full of gunk. Right?

Um, no. Although I sometimes disagree with Pogue and his assessment of many consumer electronics products, after observing our own Mobile Gadgeteer’s hands-on Nook video tour, I happen to think he’s probably dead-on with his analysis — the Nook ain’t ready for prime time.

Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link for more.

The Nook has a number of problems which I think will prevent wide adoption and brisk post-holiday sales in its current generation, but I don’t think these problems are unique to Barnes & Noble’s e-reader. Simply put, every single e-reader on the market has some set of trade-offs that makes them undesirable in their current incarnation and not yet ready for widespread adoption. Some suck less than others, but generally speaking, as a genre of devices, they all pretty much Stink, Stank, Stunk.

Also Read: E-readers need to get better soon, or else (ZDNet Education)
The Amazon Kindle: Stink

What can I possibly say about the Kindle that I haven’t said ten times already? Fine, the Kindle owns the lion’s share of the eBook market, but let’s not kid ourselves here, as an industry, eBooks are in their infancy, and the Kindle has every possible negative attribute and limitation that you can possibly list that makes it an undesirable ebook reader in a market that hasn’t yet reached even a modicum level of maturity. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, this is not the end as it relates to the evolution of ebooks. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Let’s begin with the fact that Amazon is under the impression it can operate like Apple, and feels it has enough weight and influence that can control the entire content stream up through the user experience (UX) and the device level. This may work for the music industry and the iPod, but not for publishing. People want to buy (or borrow) their content from the store (or library) of their choice and read it on the device of their choice, which makes the Kindle a fail. Sure, you can read your Kindle books on a PC or your iPhone, but you are effectively locked into Amazon’s store.

What else stinks about the Kindle? Storage cannot be expanded. The hardware and software platform is completely closed and can only read Amazon’s AZW and MOBI ebook formats, rather than the open EPUB and encrypted Adobe DRM EPUB formats the other readers are embracing. After being on the market for nine months, The Kindle 2 only just got an update which gave it the PDF reading capabilities of the more expensive Kindle DX version, but the limited storage capability on both models hampers a large amount of PDF content from being loaded onto the unit.

More Kindle stinkage: It runs on Linux, but Amazon has no developer program so that the functionality of the device cannot be extended. Amazon’s obsession with integrating 3G wireless into each and every device rather than providing ubiquitous Wi-Fi connectivity increases the cost overhead of both the books and the price of the unit as well as requiring two different models for North America and the EMEA region. And last, but not least, the build quality of the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX leaves much to be desired from a durability perspective.
The Sony Reader: Stank

SONY has been in the e-reader game for even longer than Amazon, so from the perspective of who has the most maturity level in reader design or what device you should be looking at for possible purchase this holiday season, I would have to hand it to the Reader series of devices. Still, as good as the SONY Reader series units are, they’ve got certain characteristics that have a certain foulness about them that you cannot avoid discussing when comparing them to the other products on the market.

There’s a lot to like about the Reader Touch and the Reader Pocket, enough that I might be able to overlook their glaringly apparent stankage.

The build quality of the hardware is absolutely top notch — there’s very little fear that with heavy use and wear, that these devices will be easily damaged, given their mostly metallic construction. The user experience is the best of any of the devices available, having an easy to navigate touch screen icon driven GUI. The mid-range PRS-600 has SD and SONY memory stick expansion and can read a wide variety of data formats including EPUB and PDF, and can accept content from stores other than SONY’s. The device also has the ability to read free/paid content from the Google Books database as well as lent titles from public libraries.

So where’s the stankage here?

Well, let’s start with the fact that at $299.00 retail the PRS-600BC is more expensive than its two major competitors, the Kindle 2 and the Nook, which sell for $259. This wouldn’t be nearly as much of an issue if the Reader Touch had all the features of its competitors, which would give it the “Premium” sort of brand positioning SONY typically occupies with its consumer electronics products.

Unfortunately, the PRS-600 Touch lacks any form of wireless connectivity, 3G or Wi-Fi. To top it off, the only way you can purchase or upload 3rd-party books to the device is through USB connectivity with a proprietary iTunes-like SONY e-book Library application for PC and Mac, which is about as unintuitive and poorly designed as I have ever seen for any “Sync manager” type application for any device.

While you can also use 3rd-party apps like Calibre (which runs on Windows/Linux/Mac) to manage your content library on and off the device, this wireless/onboard content store feature omission really makes the device a lot less friendly to work with. If you want on-device ebook purchasing and wireless connectivity, you’ll have to go for the “Daily” version of the Reader, the $399.00 PRS-900BC.

Like the Kindle, the SONY readers also run on Linux, but are completely closed platforms. That’s the ultimate stank in my book for a device that is otherwise the best in its class.
The Barnes & Noble Nook: Stunk

It would seem that on paper, the Nook has all the qualities you would want in an ebook reader. It embraces open standards (EPUB, PDF, multiple content store support like the SONY) it runs on an open developer platform (Google’s Android) and includes both 3G and Wi-fi with an onboard book store, with a replaceable battery and Micro-SD expandable storage. It also has the same Google Books and library content loaning capabilities as the SONY. The problem is that in its current implementation, the Nook is a big whopping Stunk.

Having not had any real face-time with the device, perhaps I’m being too judgmental. But having watched Matthew Miller’s comprehensive walkthrough video and viewing the agonizingly slow UI response time and screen refresh, combined with David Pogue’s scathing review, I’m going to have to give the Nook a big “wait until they get the Stunk out” before I can recommend anyone purchase Barnes & Noble’s ebook offering.

How can Barnes & Noble get the Stunk out? Well, the first thing I would do is get a virtual device profile and ROM image out for the Android Software Developer Kit and allow the Open Source community to debug the hardware and see if the response time on the device can be improved, as well as submit other exploitative applications and tweaks for the device so that the UI isn’t so unwieldy and klunky.

This is, of course, a device with an OS that was meant to be hacked and modified and continually perfected, but it’s currently being treated if it was just like the Kindle or the SONY reader — locked down. And that’s not in the spirit of what Android is all about.

Frankly, I think that Barnes & Noble might actually sell more books from their store if they released the existing Nook store app to the Android Market for phones like Verizon’s DROID, which has a high-res screen that is more than adequate for e-book reading. Sure, it’s a much smaller screen, but at 480×854 pixels, it has the highest resolution and crispest display of any smart phone currently on the market. And nobody would ever call the DROID slow or unresponsive.

The biggest weakness of the Nook is the lag time between the capacitive LCD UI and the refresh rate of the e-ink. If this response time can be improved by a factor of 3, the current implementation of the device might become usable. I think a second generation Nook that used something along the lines of a touchscreen, high performance e-paper dual mode display like Pixel Qi’s might make the UI more pleasant to deal with.

So there you have it. All e-book readers currently on the market have serious trade-offs that make them Stink, Stank or Stunk. Where do you sit with the current generation of devices?
Click to expand...
 
I have the Sony PRS 600. Really awesome ereader and my far better than any paperback. Doubt I'll ever buy a paper book again. Can't live without my ereader and use it every day.

Pity sony doesn't see fit to bring them in and sell them in SA
 
i only recently got into e-books for my phone and got the latest Dan Brown book and about 9 other books to read.
 
Reading ebooks on a ebook reader and on a phone / lcd or monitor is two different things completely. The ereader with the e-ink does not hurt your eyes. Its absolutely an awesome product. I can read 10 hours a day and still feel fine. The books are also somewhat lighter than the paper versions. :D
 
I haven't actually tried e-ink before but I have to say I have no problems reading on an lcd screen. I can sit for hours with my ipod touch without getting strained, even in broad daylight in a moving car. I just got used to it since I began to use a pda for reading like....4 years ago or so.
 
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