Using a tablet computer for ebooks??

[henri + katie's mum]

I was thinking of getting an e-reader, but in some cases a basic Archos tablet computer (the Archos 70) would be less than $100 more.

If you have a tablet computer is there a program you can get that would let you use it as an e-reader? Could you get a program that would let you use all the interactive kids books that the Color Nook is promoting?

Any other pros and cons to this line of thinking?

I know very little about this, so I appreciate your help.

 

[sherry7]

I'm not sure I fully understand your question...are you looking for something less expensive than a color Nook?

If so, check into the Pandigital Novel. The regular price is about $180 at Kohl's, but I picked up one last week for $82 after the 30% coupon, mail in rebate, and the Kohl's Cash I got for a future purchase. This sale is over, but a similar deal tends to repeat every month or so.

It is programmed to be a color eBook reader, that works with Borders book store. It has a touch screen. However, it operates on the Android operating system, and it's VERY easy to hack by downloading a file to a SD card. (I'm a complete technical moron, and it took me less than 5 minutes to do.) As well as reading ebooks (Kindle, Borders, Aldiko), I can surf the net, check my email, run various Android apps, view pics, watch YouTube, check Facebook, play games, listen to Pandora, etc.

I haven't seen interactive books, and I'm not sure they would work on my device. It does have a touch screen though, so maybe it would.

In a perfect world, I'd have a $500 iPad that would do MUCH cooler things than this, but for the meantime this is a much less expensive alternative.

 

[RitaE]

It runs Android, right?
If so - tons of them. All the major bookstores (Amazon, Barnes, Borders, Kobo) etc have Apps in the Android market.

BueFire, the new iTune App that just came out has plans to release an Android version but I don't think they are there yet.

 

[henri + katie's mum]

...are you looking for something less expensive than a color Nook?

Actually kind of the opposite. I'm looking to spend a little more and get a little more usage out of a the device. But thanks for the info on the Pandigital Novel. I hadn't looked at that.

It runs Android, right?
If so - tons of them. All the major bookstores (Amazon, Barnes, Borders, Kobo) etc have Apps in the Android market.

I think it does run on Andriod. So, the key would be to look at available Apps? Thanks

 

[NotUrsula]

If you have any kind of PC now, you can test it out. B&N has a free Nook e-reader app available for the PC (and for Android devices other than the Nook).

The new Toshiba Libretto is being touted as the ultimate combo PC/ereader gadget; it has two screens and only a virtual keyboard, so you can read holding it vertically, on both screens.

Other than that, there are touchscreen Netbooks available for around $500 from Lenovo and Asus that provide a fairly decent portable reading experience.

 

[RitaE]

I think it does run on Andriod. So, the key would be to look at available Apps? Thanks

Yeah, I'm not that much of an Android expert but from what I understand there are two types. You have the "closed systems" like the nook color or the Velocity Cruz thing being sold from Borders. They run on Android but don't have access to the full App Market, they all have their own little App Markets -- so you have to do some tricking to get other Apps onto them.

Then you have the "Open" or whatever they are called Android tablets which seem to be much more functional.

 

[sherry7]

For good info about Android tablets, check out the forums at SlateDroid.com.

 

[mfp]

My husband has been using his tablet for yrs for reading and anime using adobe or calibre. However, the screen is NOT e-ink, so you can't really consider it a true e-reader. The e-ink is not harsh at all like a regular computer and tablet screen. He has a nook now, and uses that for reading. I have a sony pocket reader and love it. I do not find devices like the ipad attractive as an ereader. When I want to use the computer, I WANT a computer, not an ipad which would be a PITA to type on. So, I use my e-reader for reading, my laptop for my computer stuff and accept that it's better to have two devices that are good at what they do instead of one do-it-all device that is mediocre at multi-tasking.