New to ereaders, does this one look like a good deal?

[gk90]

Looking for a cool Xmas gift for DD turning 13 and she said she's interested in an ereader. I know nothing about them apart from trying out a Kindle at Staples for 5 minutes. Don't want to spend more than $120 if possible. Looking at refurbed Nooks and Kindles (missed out on the ovestock and amazon deals), wondering about the Sony 300 that's available for $100 at Best Buy, and then got an email for this one:
https://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blipereader/?sk=90061&sid=D112710A1E

The color feature looks attractive. It looks like it has no wifi so you'd have to download books via computer/netbook? As far as I can tell the Sony 300 has no wifi either.
I like the access to Kindle & Nook libraries as well as being able to borrow library books (which we can do via our public library)
Anyone familiar with ereaders who can pount out more pros/cons, please?

TIA!

 

[DVCLiz]

Well, right off the bat I can tell you that the books you purchase from Amazon come in an .azw format which is not listed. Maybe they mean the free stuff that is or can be transferred into mobi format, but the bestseller you buy from Amazon is not compatible. Unless this ereader can download the Kindle app, which it doesn't say.

Personally, I'd go for a refurbished Kindle or Nook for her. It's not much more money and they are the best in the industry. You don't want to have this be a disappointment and then you've spent almost as much for a lemon as you'd have spent to get the quality product that will last her several years.

Just my two cents!!

Edited to add: the newest Kindle wifi only is just $139 - only twenty dollars over your budget. I'd REALLY try to stretch that and get the newest Kindle. It will be HUGELY superior to what you are looking at.

 

[3boymthr]

I will note too that it doesn't support all the B&N content. While some e-books from B&N are sold in epub format some is in their originally released and proprietary pdb format.

On another note, this is an e-reader that is only available from the manufacturer and when I looked it up on MobileRead I couldn't find any reference to it at all anywhere and this is a forum dedicated to all things e-book/e-reader.

So I second PP. I'd skip it. Their content cannot always be converted without stripping the DRM.

If you are looking for a less expensive version of the e-reader check out mobileread for all kinds of everday reviews, etc. as well as their comparison matrix of all devices they consider as true e-readers. http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

OTH - the Sony you are looking at is a well regarded device with a good history.

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

Looking for a cool Xmas gift for DD turning 13 and she said she's interested in an ereader. I know nothing about them apart from trying out a Kindle at Staples for 5 minutes. Don't want to spend more than $120 if possible. Looking at refurbed Nooks and Kindles (missed out on the ovestock and amazon deals), wondering about the Sony 300 that's available for $100 at Best Buy, and then got an email for this one:
https://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blipereader/?sk=90061&sid=D112710A1E

The color feature looks attractive. It looks like it has no wifi so you'd have to download books via computer/netbook? As far as I can tell the Sony 300 has no wifi either.
I like the access to Kindle & Nook libraries as well as being able to borrow library books (which we can do via our public library)
Anyone familiar with ereaders who can pount out more pros/cons, please?

TIA!

I have one my husband purchased for my birthday on clearance. It was just $40 but it is a lot like a Nook or Kindle only the brand is Pandigital. They are so great and money saving in the long run. You can purchase Nook books from Barnes and Noble for it and you can borrow books as well like the Kindle or Nook. You can also surf the web, listen to music, and check e-mail. The Pandigital reader also has a touch keyboard. I was able to get textbooks for school for almost half off the retail price downloaded to my reader. One book was almost $300 if I bought it at the school book store and online it was only $80. There are also a lot of free books available. Good luck with whatever you pick! They are really great!

 

[sherry7]

I'd stay away from that one. Like everyone else said, it's not compatible with a lot of file formats.

Rumor has it, that there is going to be a Lighting Deal on Kindles tomorrow at Amazon. I'm sure they will sell out within a minute or so, so you'll have to be glued to your computer to have a chance. But like someone else said, the Kindle is $139 with free shipping and no tax. By the time you pay shipping for the one you're looking at, it's not that much more to just get a Kindle instead.

 

[Darcy03231]

I have the Sony 300 and love it! I can buy my books from Sony, Borders and Kobobooks (and download any free books from those sites). I can also borrow books from my library. It doesn't have WiFi or 3G so if those things are important to you then don't get it. I truly didn't and don't care about either of those. With the Sony you sideload your books like you do with an Ipod. Download to the computer and then to the ereader.

If you want an ereader that's library compatible don't get the Kindle. You can't download from the library. I was down to the Nook or the Sony and then was able to get a great deal on the Sony so I bought it and haven't been disappointed. I've had it now for about 10 months.

 

[RitaE]

My opinion of it is I've never heard of it ... And doing a Google search, I can find nothing about it.

and I can tell you that if there was a machine that had worked deals to license both the Barnes and Noble and Amazon DRM, it would be pretty big news in the Tech world.

The only things I know that can claim access to all of Barnes and Noble and all of Amazon the way this machine claims to is a Android Tablet or something like the iPAd and for $99 I don't think it is one of those....

I can tell you that with a full color illuminated screen it is likely some sort of LCD and not eInk like the Kindle and nook and Sony Pocket that you've looked at.

It says Pre-Order too and I can't find any clear release date unless I'm missing it. My guess is Vaporware.

 

[ksloane]

umor has it, that there is going to be a Lighting Deal on Kindles tomorrow at Amazon. I'm sure they will sell out within a minute or so, so you'll have to be glued to your computer to have a chance.

Really? Any clues as to approximate time or know where I could watch (besides Amazon) to find out about it? I am needing 2 $189 ones for Christmas gifts so even if I only scored one at a discounted price that would be nice.

 

[momof1princess]

I'd stay away from that one. Like everyone else said, it's not compatible with a lot of file formats.

Rumor has it, that there is going to be a Lighting Deal on Kindles tomorrow at Amazon. I'm sure they will sell out within a minute or so, so you'll have to be glued to your computer to have a chance. But like someone else said, the Kindle is $139 with free shipping and no tax. By the time you pay shipping for the one you're looking at, it's not that much more to just get a Kindle instead.

i'm curious as well. any buzz about an approximate sale time?

 

[sherry7]

Really? Any clues as to approximate time or know where I could watch (besides Amazon) to find out about it? I am needing 2 $189 ones for Christmas gifts so even if I only scored one at a discounted price that would be nice.

Sorry, I don't know any details. It's really not a strong rumor though, but some people are thinking that after the fiasco with the $89 Kindles on Black Friday that Amazon will run some type of sale on the newer Kindles tomorrow.

 

[ksloane]

Thanks for the heads up. I have to work tomorrow so will probably miss it, but will check here and on amazon as i have time throughout the day

 

[momof1princess]

Sorry, I don't know any details. It's really not a strong rumor though, but some people are thinking that after the fiasco with the $89 Kindles on Black Friday that Amazon will run some type of sale on the newer Kindles tomorrow.

thanks i'll be sitting here all morning working my crappy, next-to-nothing paying ChaCha "job" (can you really call it a job when kids toiling in Chinese sweatshops earn more per hour than you do?), so i'll check amazon as frequently as i can.

 

[gk90]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I figured that the access to Kindle & Nook libraries was too good to be true.

So it looks like e-ink is really superior to TFT/LCD ?

To throw something else into the mix--Borders is having a Cyber Monday sale on their Kobo ereaders as well as on some of the Sonys and other brands I don't know anything about, including one for $89:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_ereaders?cmpid=SA_20101128_2

 

[RitaE]

The $89 one is again an LCD screen and not eInk. The main thing you will want to watch out for there is if your daughter will ever want to read outside or in bright light. If so, stay away from LCD.

Personally I'd much rather have one of the refurbished nooks for $99 (or less) or the old model Kobo for $99 (sideload only) or the new model Kobo (WiFi) for $119. Those will all work with the library Overdrive system and download standard ADE ePub digital files.

Then you can also get the new Kindle 3 with the really nice eInk Pearl screen for $139, only a little above your budget.