E-reader advice-Page 2: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 21, 2011 12:37 p.m. Keith SuperDork

e-ink is the display technology used in all the black-and-white readers. Very cool stuff, it only uses power when it changes. So the battery life on readers is absolutely ridiculously long. It also reads like paper, which is why it's a different experience reading off a reader than a tablet with an LCD screen.

The floundering around is being done by the publishers, I believe. The fact that every reader manufacturer wants to be the next iTunes is a royal pain in the butt, forcing a bunch of competing and incompatible DRM on the market. Imagine if you could only watch Sony DVDs on a Sony TV, not on a Toshiba. That's pretty much what we're dealing with right now. Actually, that would be better, because I could loan my Sony DVD to a friend that had a Sony TV.

Our local library is trying to get the ebooks working properly. They've used a couple of different providers for the books. Some of the restrictions are retarded - there's no reason why I can't check out a book at the same time as someone else when it's just bits. A bigger problem is that they tend to offer a lot of series, but only books 2,3 and 5 for example.
June 21, 2011 12:58 p.m. dyintorace SuperDork

Is there much of a market for used e-readers yet? With the rapidly changing technology, I'm wondering if I should pick up a cheap used one as a way to dip my toes in the pool.
June 21, 2011 3:49 p.m. ultraclyde Reader

I really want one for long flights or travel. Much lighter than carrying 4 paperbacks - which is what I did on my last china flight. And I read all of them over the course of the flights. It also lets you take a BUNCH of books with you, so you 're not stuck somewhere with books you thought you'd like but don't.

I am leaning toward the kindle simply b/c it's the lightest. I don't need a tablet, I have a laptop. It does more anyway.
June 21, 2011 3:55 p.m. Xceler8x SuperDork

Got a kindle and dig it.

Currently it has close to 20 books on it and quite a few samples from Amazon. I read what I want depending on my mood. It's a lot easier to carry around 20 books on a kindle than in a backpack. This is the future of all books. Your children will carry around a device holding all their textbooks in something like this.

I also have an account with DeliverReads. A great collection of articles curated by Dave Pell and delivered to my kindle each week. I'm waiting for more subscriptions like that to be free and low hassle. Once Kindle goes color and touchscreen, it will be perfect.
June 21, 2011 4:08 p.m. mtn SuperDork

Is there any kind of cover you can put on the Ipad to make it easier on the eyes for bedtime reading?
June 21, 2011 4:14 p.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

Got an ipad 2 w/ the kindle app. It seems to work well. My mom uses the same app to get the free library books & loves it. Could v Be a good multiple use solution.
June 21, 2011 4:35 p.m. mapper Reader

I won an iPad2 recently and it is a neat little device. I don't see it replacing my laptop by any means but it is useful enough for what it cost me (twenty dollars of raffle tickets). My wife will get the most use of it but I really want a reader with the e-ink. I had tried the Kindle and really liked it so I ordered one. (Since i didn't pay for the iPad I guess it works out somehow). Books are cheaper off of Amazon in the Kindle format so I figure as much as I read I will have paid for it in a reasonable amount of time. I am waiting to see how many of our textbooks (Wife, son, and I are all attending college) might become available. The books with lots of diagrams will definitely be better on the iPad but I think that the more wordy/less graphic books will work just fine on the Kindle. The biggest selling point for me is that I just started having to wear reading glasses and the font size increase feature on all of the e-readers is great. Glasses bug me after a short period so now I don't have to have them to read.
June 21, 2011 4:44 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

z31maniac wrote:

Isn't it the Nook that people are hacking and running alternate operating systems on?

Nook color - it's an Android tablet running a modded OS and you can root it and get a very recent version of Android for it. T3h Intertubes have several guides on how to do that.

I'm tempted to pick one up, not because I want an e-reader (I don't) but because it's the almost-cheapest-decent Android tablet.

OTOH I need to fix at least 3 1/2 cars and need a new desktop machine so I think toys like that have to wait.
June 21, 2011 5:00 p.m. Keith SuperDork

mtn wrote:

Is there any kind of cover you can put on the Ipad to make it easier on the eyes for bedtime reading?

Turn down the screen brightness. It automatically adjusts for ambient light already if that feature is turned on, but you need to give it a general level.

It's too heavy to be a happy book substitute, though.

According to the guys at B&N, a big selling point for the Nook Color is that you can run Angry Birds on it. Sheesh.
June 21, 2011 5:21 p.m. JoeyM SuperDork

mapper wrote: I had tried the Kindle and really liked it so I ordered one

Currently reading GRM - and posting - from a kindle. It is better suited to reading than posting (which is a bit cumbersome) but it is nice to be able to use anywhere. Oh yeah, it stores books, too....