eReader recommendation

[leo]

Hi all,


am thinking of indulging in a eReader, thinking of getting either a Kindle or Kobo.

For me, I only (so far) read free ebooks and borrow books from National Library.

My eyes also get tired easily when using laptop (can tear/cry at the end of the workday) so not sure if Kindle paperwhite is the one for me (also rule out tablet).

Am thinking of using the ereader to download free children ebooks too (to lure my DD away from my hb’s tablet!)

I also have some pdf books that I simply have no time to read.

How bad is the web surfing btw?

So basically what I am looking for is
1) able to read free ebooks (from NLB or other sources). I don’t mind doing easy conversion/copying from one device to another
2) not straining on the eye (understand that PW’s light cannot be turned off, will the lowest lighting still be straining lousy eyes like mine?)
3) able to read PDF
4) text to speech (optional, was thinking of using that for my DD)
5) long battery life

Any recommendations? Please advise. Thanks!

[sharonkhoo]

I have been using a Kobo for the past 1.5yrs, and we recently bought a 2nd one as my teenagers also use it sometimes. I am the main user, though. We haven't tried children's books as my kids are older. See my other comments in blue below.

leo:

So basically what I am looking for is
1) able to read free ebooks (from NLB or other sources). I don't mind doing easy conversion/copying from one device to another
This is my main use for the Kobo as we live overseas and English books are hard to find. Kobo reads EPUB format and most NL fiction titles come in this format. The other source of books is Project Gutenberg for out of copyright titles - my kids read classics this way.

2) not straining on the eye (understand that PW's light cannot be turned off, will the lowest lighting still be straining lousy eyes like mine?)
Our model (Kobo touch) has no light. The screen is matte and I find it no greater strain than reading on paper.

3) able to read PDF
Kobo does accept PDF format but cannot re-wrap the words. If you show the whole screen, the words are too small to read. If you make it bigger, you can't see the whole line. Not good for reading a book.

4) text to speech (optional, was thinking of using that for my DD)
No.

5) long battery life
Have never taken much notice, but I can read several (maybe 6 more books?) before charging.

[bakergirl]

I've been using Kindle 4 for quite some time now and it's not too bad, quite worth it! Except that I dont think it has the 'text to speech'? For kindle and pdf stuff, in my case it depends on the pdf itself, because some of the pdf are shrinked but some are read-able. Battery life is definitely good, it last for quite a long time!

[ChiefKiasu]

I have a Barnes & Noble Simple Touch. Really handy. Can be rooted to download and use all kinds of Android apps, so you can choose other software ereaders if you don’t like the built-in one. Best thing is that it supports epub format with SD card slot, so you are not tied to Amazon’s Kindle format, and can read all kinds of downloaded ebooks.

[leo]

Hi all,


thank you for your replies.

Quite interesting, 3 person recommending 3 different devices

slmkhoo, may I know where did you get your kobo? I look at Amazon and they are selling the kobo glo at a higher price than Kindle paperwhite. I like the fact that it has expandable slot which is missing from KPW.

Bakergirl, I suppose you usually get books from Amazon? Can it use to netsurf (I know that Kobo and BN can)?

ChiefKiasu, I am not as technical as you LOL. Funnily though, the reviews for BN does not seem to be as good as the other two.

[sharonkhoo]

leo:

slmkhoo, may I know where did you get your kobo? I look at Amazon and they are selling the kobo glo at a higher price than Kindle paperwhite. I like the fact that it has expandable slot which is missing from KPW.

I bought our first one online from the Kobo website, possibly from Borders, but I can't remember exactly. My 2nd was bought last year from a seller on Taobao (I live in China at the moment). I have 2 Kobo Touch so I can't comment on the Kobo Glo or Paperwhite. So far I have not even used a quarter of the memory on my ereaders, so I haven't felt the lack of the expansion slot.

I don't know if it matters to you, but both Kindle and Nook are actually not supposed to be sold in Singapore. To buy them, you need to have some kind of work-around with credit card or registered addresses or use a vpn, as far as I've heard. I picked Kobo because there are no restrictions and there are lots of free EPUB books available.

[ChiefKiasu]

There are many 3rd party resellers for Kindles and Nooks in Singapore. No need to buy through e-commerce if you are not comfortable with the shipping charges.


Regardless of what you use, you will not do without the http://calibre-ebook.com/. It is free and works with all the readers I have. I get to properly manage my thousands of e-books with reviews, covers, ratings, etc. It's like my own personal local library. The built-in convertors make it easy for you to create the appropriate version of e-book for your reader.

[Harlequin]

ChiefKiasu:

There are many 3rd party resellers for Kindles and Nooks in Singapore. No need to buy through e-commerce if you are not comfortable with the shipping charges.


Regardless of what you use, you will not do without the http://calibre-ebook.com/. It is free and works with all the readers I have. I get to properly manage my thousands of e-books with reviews, covers, ratings, etc. It's like my own personal local library. The built-in convertors make it easy for you to create the appropriate version of e-book for your reader.

Hi, Chief.
May I know where in Singapore can I send my Nook for repair? I bought online from B&N, it'd be too troublesome to send back to USA for repair.

It repeatedly shut off after turning on for 5-10mins, i can't launch any of my ebooks :sad:

Please help, TIA. :thankyou:

[ChiefKiasu]

Harlequin:

Hi, Chief.
May I know where in Singapore can I send my Nook for repair? I bought online from B&N, it'd be too troublesome to send back to USA for repair.

It repeatedly shut off after turning on for 5-10mins, i can't launch any of my ebooks :sad:

Please help, TIA. :thankyou:

Err... you may be out of luck. Did you buy it in Singapore or from the US? If you bought it from a local vendor, you can try to get him to do it for you. I bought mine at http://trendsmobile.com/main1/default.asp, you may try to see if he is willing to repair it for you for a fee.

BTW, digital paper e-book readers don't really \"turn off\". It uses power only to rearrange the bits and then it is off automatically. If you turn off wifi, it consumes next to no power on standby.

[Harlequin]

ChiefKiasu:

Harlequin:

Hi, Chief.
May I know where in Singapore can I send my Nook for repair? I bought online from B&N, it'd be too troublesome to send back to USA for repair.

It repeatedly shut off after turning on for 5-10mins, i can't launch any of my ebooks :sad:

Please help, TIA. :thankyou:

Err... you may be out of luck. Did you buy it in Singapore or from the US? If you bought it from a local vendor, you can try to get him to do it for you. I bought mine at http://trendsmobile.com/main1/default.asp, you may try to see if he is willing to repair it for you for a fee.

BTW, digital paper e-book readers don't really \"turn off\". It uses power only to rearrange the bits and then it is off automatically. If you turn off wifi, it consumes next to no power on standby.

I bought it from B&N online store.... Oh, dear; no where to repair it in Singapore? :faint:

The screen black out, nothing can be activated; so I would have to manually off it with the on off button and to restart again; but 5 to 10mins later, it auto switch off/black out again! :imdrowning: