e-readers and/or smartphones?

[gk90]

I don't know much about e-readers and/or smartphones--have been looking into getting an ereader for my 13 YO DD for Christmas and was planning to get her a new phone, maybe a smartphone, for her 8th grade graduation gift in June.
But now I read about phones that have e-reader capability and ereaders that have email capability. So I'm wondering whether instead of getting her 2 gifts maybe I'll get her one big gift instead? A combined e-reader / phone--but that would probably be quite expensive?
I was thinking of $139 for the Nook Wifi and don't know much about phone plans and reading books on a phone/ tablet/android... Any ideas on this would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[SplashMo]

Well does she like to read a lot? Does she get 8 books at a time out from the library?

The e-reader is great for reading books (and PDFs but that is a bit advanced).

There is no light on the device so it is more like reading a book and can be read during the day in the sun. It also requires a light to read in dark. It is the rare kid that wants one of these... But awesome if they do!!!

Phone is good for reading books but it is not as good and may get little use in that category... (Some will disagree and they love their phone for this purpose)

Phones that can read books:

iPhone
Android
Windows Phone 7

The ones with 4.3" screens would be best.

All require a montly data plan of at least 15.00 on top of normal phone charges... ANd overage fees are an issue..

 

[Evi]

I have both a reader and a smart phone and they are very different in nature. Though I could read a book on my evo I wouldn't its just not visually worth it to me. I like my reader for books. I recently purchased the nook color and I'm still not in love. I think you should look at your budget and what she really needs. A smart phone will also come with a data plan so I'd budget that in also.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think you should get her both devices. They are totally different and although you CAN read on a smartphone, it's not ideal by a long shot. Your daughter would have to read on a backlit device from a very tiny screen and have to constantly recharge the battery on her phone in order to have it function as an ereader.



Get her either a Kindle or a Nook - wifi only for $139 or wifi and 3G for $189 (those are Kindle prices currently, and I think Nook is $10 more expensive for each) for Christmas, and get her a smartphone for graduation. She can then have the reader app on her phone and can use it in a pinch when she is away from home, but a smartphone does not replace a good quality eink reader, in my opinion.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

HI
I have a Kindle, I got the 3 G but would have been find with wi fi, I also have a droid. I use my Kindle any chance I get BUT with that being said I love that I can use my droid 2 to read, I like that I always have my phone with me...over the summer I was at a baseball game and got stuck in traffic leaving for an hour, I had my phone but not my Kindle so I read on my phone, it was GREAT!!!

check with your cell phone company, sometimes they give phones for free if you add a line...and you can get kindle or nook or both on the phones

 

[Pakey]

I have a kindle and an iphone. There is no way I could read books on my iphone. The backlighting is hard on the eyes, at least these old eyes. And the battery life on the phone leaves a lot to be desired. I tried the kindle app on my phone but I just didn't care for it.

My kindle is like reading a regular book.

 

[crazelion]

Well does she like to read a lot? Does she get 8 books at a time out from the library?

The e-reader is great for reading books (and PDFs but that is a bit advanced).

There is no light on the device so it is more like reading a book and can be read during the day in the sun. It also requires a light to read in dark. It is the rare kid that wants one of these... But awesome if they do!!!

Phone is good for reading books but it is not as good and may get little use in that category... (Some will disagree and they love their phone for this purpose)

Phones that can read books:

iPhone
Android
Windows Phone 7

The ones with 4.3" screens would be best.

All require a montly data plan of at least 15.00 on top of normal phone charges... ANd overage fees are an issue..

I disagree that need a smartphone to read ebooks. I have what call a dumbphone LG Prime and mind has a ereader on it. It may not be a name brand one but it works. I have all kinds books on to. I use the dumbphone unlimited data plan to for 15 bucks. I can surf real websites with operamini.

Now they is coming out next year with whole slew of andriod tablets. That should be able to put a ereader on.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I have a Nook and do most of my reading on it.

I also have a Droid phone (Samsung Fascinate) and read on it, too. The screen is big enough and there isn't much glare. it's really convenient cause I always have it with me.

 

[luvdisney00]

I have a Samsung Fascinate and I read on it all of the time with the kindle app. I also have an ipod touch and love that kindle syncs between the 2 devices. I don't find it hard to read on the small device, but if someone was going to buy me a kindle, I'd like that too. If I had to choose, I'd rather have the smartphone because it really does so much more, but maybe that's just me. My 15 yo daughter says she finds it annoying to try to read on a small screen and woul d ratehr have a book.