Please tell me about e-readers

[Randi]

I rarely pay any attention to new technology if if doesn't seem like it is anything I might use.

But now I keep seeing more ads for these e-readers, & am curious as to how they work.

Like how do the books get on the reader? Is there a charge? What happens to the book after you've read it? Do they only work on battery or can they be plugged in?

I still like real books, & use the library so they cost me nothing.

 

[Philagoofy]

You'll get far better responses than mine because I don't know too much about them. There are at least 2 different brands, a Kindle from Amazon and Barnes & Noble's Nook. They have different models with different capabilities, from basic to more advanced. You'd have an account with either bookstore & through your computer or wireless internet, you can download books onto the e-reader.

There is a range of book prices from 97 cents or so on up. There are also free books available (usually older books) or there are sites you can go to other than Amazon/B&N for free books.

The e-reader holds a lot of books. You can keep them or delete them when you'd like. I have a very basic Kindle, haven't upgraded. What I really like is the dictionary. If you come across a word that you are not familiar with, you can look it up right there. It can be plugged in or you can use the long lasting battery.

I've know people who swear by paper books, then they've reluctantly tried an e-reader and became hooked. They are also great when you go on vacation, you don't have to bring several books if you are voracious reader.

 

[clarabelle]

I have a Kindle Fire

The books just appear after I buy them -I think it is cell phone technology?
I am not sure about that part -it always works. I pretend it is magic

Yes you do have to buy them -most are around 10 dollars some more some less. There are many that are free- especially from unknown authors.

Once you buy the book it is yours forever

You can lend Kindle books for two weeks I think -you do it through the Amazon website

I find that Kindle books have many more typos than regular books.

I do not like e-reader books for something with lots of pictures -like a cookbook

I have "old lady eyes" and like that I can enlarge the font on my kindle.

 

[RitaE]

It is likely that your Library lends eBooks now. Those you check out for a lending period and when the period is up you can no longer open or read the book. One of my volunteer positions at our local library is to give new technology presentations & question/answer sessions and using an eReader is a frequent topic.

Books are put onto the device by a couple of different methods. You can hook it up to your computer and manually transfer them, or they can be sent to your device by wireless methods .... 3G or WiFi.

The cost largely depends on what type of books you read. New releases by major authors are priced equivalently to hardbacks, others priced similar to mass market paperbacks, and some newer and backlist titles are anywhere from free to $3.99 or so.

The pricing is all over the place, just like with paper books.

Yes, the devices run on battery and they have to be plugged in periodically to charge - like a cell phone.

If you have a smartphone or iTouch or tablet you can use it as an eReader to test it out.

I still like real books, & use the library so they cost me nothing.

BTW, if you ever want to irritate the snot out of a message board of people go to an eReader forum and tell them that you read "real books." But just for the record, the eBooks are also real books. Same authors, same stories, same words -- nothing fake about them.

 

[jrmasm]

You can borrow ebooks from participating libraries.

 

[poohfriend77]

I rarely pay any attention to new technology if if doesn't seem like it is anything I might use.

But now I keep seeing more ads for these e-readers, & am curious as to how they work.

Like how do the books get on the reader? Is there a charge? What happens to the book after you've read it? Do they only work on battery or can they be plugged in?

I still like real books, & use the library so they cost me nothing.

I have the basic Kindle. It has a few very basic word games (word scramble/hangman type games), but I can't check my email, surf the web, or download game apps. For that you'd need a Kindle Fire, newer Nook, iPad, etc. I like the basic version because the screen is NOT backlit, so it doesn't bother my eyes if I read for a long time.

I would say 90% of the books on my Kindle were free. If you're not picky about looking for a specific author or best seller, there are tons of free choices!

Once I set up my Kindle account with Amazon, it is super easy to download books. I can either do it right on my Kindle (as long as I have WiFi), or I can do it by shopping on Amazon on my laptop. I think that's easiest. I can search for a specific book, or search for free books. When I find something I want, I click "buy" and it automatically sends the book to my Kindle. The next time I turn it on, I can sync the Kindle, and the book shows up on my list. All the books stay there (it will hold a LOT!), until I delete them.

I do still read a lot of "real" books from the library, garage sales, that friends pass on, etc. But I love my Kindle too, especially for traveling! I love having a dozen books ready for me to read, with only one device in my purse.

 

[Lisaren]

For a voracious reader that likes to keep books an e-reader can really cut down on clutter. You can also borrow books from many libraries for an e-reader. It also allows me to take many books on vacation in a very small package. I also do not have to have a charge for almost any vacation because I chose the most basic Kindle version and the battery can last about 10 days even with heavy reading. My mother has the Kindle Fire and charges hers every night - still not too big a problem for most people. I have not tried the borrowing yet, but have heard it works well from friends that have tried it. Of course, after the two weeks, the book just disappears from your device, so a slow reader my have problems with the borrow feature.
I purchase my books from Amazon and read many of the self published free books also offered at Amazon. I use my desktop to purchase the books, turn the Wi-Fi on my Kindle and the books appear. I have also used some of the other sites to download free open source books - books that are old enough to no longer be limited by copyright.
I love my Kindle, but I also know they are not the best choice for everyone.

 

[mmouse37]

I am on my 2nd e-reader....I was one who only wanted a "real" book in my hand as I love the feel and smell of a physical book. But, that said I was given a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago and fell in love. I soon got over my objection of not having a physical book with the convenience of the Kindle. I can store up to 3,000 books on it and I load a bunch on when I go on vacation and have tons of reading material with no weight or bulk.

Last Christmas I bought myself the new Kindle Paperwhite. I love it. It is backlight so I can read it anywhere...bright sun, shade, dark rooms, night time. I just love it. Crisp black and white contrast like a real book. I did not want to surf the web or check email on it so I did not want the Kindle fire.

The Kindle Paperwhite is amazing. I am about to start the process of signing up with my library for borrowing.

Some e-readers like the Kindle Fire have a different screen that makes it difficult to read outside. The Kindle Paperwhite does not have that problem.

My only gripe with e-readers is that they were supposed to be less money for the books but lately e-books seem to be just as much as a physical book. You can find inexpensive books but any popular one tends to be expensive.

MJ

 

[Nakkira]

Not to mention there are lots of sources for legal free books as well. In fact I know that for the Barnes and Noble Nook (I have one) you find almost limitless free reading material. (A lot of Classics and independent authors trying to make a name for themselves) Just don't expect Best Sellers to be free. Those you will have to buy.

If you are just looking for an ereader and not a tablet I would stick with the E-Ink versions. Easier on the eyes.

For what it is worth, I love mine. I am a voracious reader and it is great having hundreds of books with my all the time.

 

[pryncess527]

I'll ditto the Kindle love. I've had an older Kindle Keyboard for a long time, I love it. I love that it does NOT have a touch screen. I love that it's not good at anything except being an e-reader. Because it's a great e-reader.

I love having 400 books in my purse at any given time. I still buy the occasional hard copy book from time to time, but I strongly prefer reading with my Kindle, which I really never thought I'd say. It's amazing how wonderful it is to be able to read with only one hand . . . such a strange thing to love, but I do.

 

[barkley]

find out what system your local library supports-that's what drove dh's choice so now instead of schlepping to the library every week or so he can go on-line and see if the books he's interested in are available in electronic format and just download them.

 

[CoP Luv]

I have the Nook Simple Touch and I love it! I like it because it is a dedicated ereader (cannot check email, facebook, or anything else online except the Barnes and Noble store). I have bought a few books, but I mostly download them for free from my library. In the last two years, I feel that the library selection has grown so much and I can almost always find what I am looking for. I do sometimes have to wait for the book to become available, but it's never too long.

I love that the screen is not back lit. I spend way too many hours on the computer and don't like to read books on that type of screen.

I love traveling with my Nook too. I don't have to load up a bag with books...now I just bring this little device that easily slips into my bag and doesn't take up much room.

 

[Philagoofy]

Oh yes, about reading with one hand, while you're lying in bed reading, you don't have to keep shifting the book or crook your neck if you are laying on one side. That may not make much sense or seem important, but believe me, it's so much nicer to just be reading one side of a book.

 

[suzimar57]

my DS got me the Kindle Fire for christmas - and i LOVE it!

i'm a voracious reader, and believed only a "real" book was for me

boy was i wrong! - convert here!!

plus i can check emails, shop at amazon - it's changed my life!

and the convenience of having several books available to read wherever i go is wonderful!

 

[Aladora]

I am on my 2nd e-reader....I was one who only wanted a "real" book in my hand as I love the feel and smell of a physical book. But, that said I was given a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago and fell in love. I soon got over my objection of not having a physical book with the convenience of the Kindle. I can store up to 3,000 books on it and I load a bunch on when I go on vacation and have tons of reading material with no weight or bulk.

Last Christmas I bought myself the new Kindle Paperwhite. I love it. It is backlight so I can read it anywhere...bright sun, shade, dark rooms, night time. I just love it. Crisp black and white contrast like a real book. I did not want to surf the web or check email on it so I did not want the Kindle fire.

The Kindle Paperwhite is amazing. I am about to start the process of signing up with my library for borrowing.

Some e-readers like the Kindle Fire have a different screen that makes it difficult to read outside. The Kindle Paperwhite does not have that problem.

My only gripe with e-readers is that they were supposed to be less money for the books but lately e-books seem to be just as much as a physical book. You can find inexpensive books but any popular one tends to be expensive.

MJ

I second all of this!

My husband bought be a Kindle a few years ago for my birthday and I thought I would hate it. This year, I bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite for Mother's Day!

I'm in Canada so the Amazon experience is a bit different (Amazon Prime sucks big time here for instance!) and I am not sure if libraries here loan books in the Kindle format yet. They brought it in for American libraries last September but when I checked a few months ago, Canadian ones did not have them.

To get books onto my Kindle, I either buy them directly from Amazon and they just appear on my Kindle when I am in a wifi area or I use a program called Calibre. Calibre will also convert books into the correct format for whatever e-reader you are using. You can also e-mail the books to your Kindle using it.

I debated the Kindle Fire but I didn't like the weight of it, I love how light my Paperwhite is!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Love my Kindle.

I had an original keyboard one for about 3 years. DD dropped it landed just right to break it. (I had dropped it many times before... I'm a horrible electronics owner.)

I have DH's now since he never uses it. It's the model after the keyboard. Still basic, no keyboard.

I use it everyday!

 

[GS for life]

Love my Nook, the oldest version they made. I also have a kindle since some books are cheaper with amazon. I rarely read on my iPad since the eInk technology is easier on my eyes. I have over 300 books on my nook.
It makes packing so much easier and lighter so I do not have to bring all the books. My girls have the simple ereaders too. There is a lot more room in the car for our 12 hour drive to Disney.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[elgerber]

I love that you can get a book anytime you want! Easier if you have a 3g E-reader, but often with w-fi as well. Really late at night, stores are closed? Weather really bad, you don't want to go out. Home with a sick kid, can't go anywhere? Grab a new book on your Kindle and you are set!

 

[LJSquishy]

The Kindle Paperwhite is the best eReader available.

The Kindle Fire is more of a hybrid device: part eReader, mostly Tablet (like the iPad). If you want something specifically for reading, I would not get the Fire.

A lot of books are free, but usually not the ones you are specifically looking for. Buying a book for the Kindle is essentially the same price as buying a physical paperback copy. It doesn't really save you money. You can "rent" books from your library on your Kindle which is nice. eReaders are very portable and the battery lasts up to 8 weeks before needing to charge. There is a Wi-Fi only version which means you must have a wi-fi connection (usually at home, or at Starbucks, etc) to download a new book. Then there is a 3G version (you do not have to pay for a 3G subscription) which allows you to download a book anywhere, anytime, even if you're riding in a car.

The Paperwhite is much more gentle on your eyes because of the special lighting technology they use. The Kindle Fire's are much different and are like using an iPad with the screen really dim. If you are wanting a Tablet + eReader, the Kindle Fire is a good choice (or an iPad which can do the same thing), but if you are specifically using the device to read, the Paperwhite will suit your needs much better.

 

[RitaE]

Just to clarify

The current crop of eInk readers (The Kindle Paperwhite, the Nook with Glo Light etc) do not have a backlight. They are front lit which is like having a book light shining down on the page.

Tablets (The nook HD, the Kindle Fire, the iPADS etc) are back lit. This means they are LCD screens like your computer and your tv and the lighting is coming from behind the screen. Some people find this more tiring on the eyes and it is also more difficult to view outside.

The eInk front lights can be turned on and off and you are left with just the eINK screen which is incredibly easy to view in outdoor lighting. That makes these devices ideal for reading outside as well as in bed at night. You can turn the light on and off as needed. However, these are pretty much reading devices only ... they are not iPADS or Kindle Fires with games and movies etc.

The backlit tablets you can adjust the brightness but never turn the lighting completely off.