iPad is cool, but it's not a good e-reader in my opinion if only for one thing: its backlit lcd. I want something that looks more like natural ink on paper that's easy on the eyes. Yet I held off buying the kindle because I find its size too cumbersome. Last night when I happened to notice the new Kindle 3 is a 6 inch, I decided to give it a try. So today during lunch I rushed to Best Buy. I wanted to compare the 3G vs wifi version. To my disappointment the demo units aren't setup for this purpose. You can't use the search the web feature and to test it I had to buy it. So I picked up a white 3G version first, paid, walked out of the store, and tested it in my car. (1468 #$%! words omitted here). Now I walked back in and picked up a wifi (graphite color only).
I've since loaded some PDF books to my kindle and it works great. No iTunes to mess with. The kindle is mounted like a hard drive and all you do is drop the files in the documents folder.
But I still need to figure out a way to strip the DRM off some epub books I bought from Apple. Anyone tried that?
Pro: easy on the eye, sleek, much longer use/standby per battery cycle, support common file types, hard disk mode, and did I say PERFECT SIZE?
Con: web browsing is nice to have, but don't count on it. Not touch screen (the navigation controls are clumsy). I wish some website would come up with a kindle adapted format.
Any Kindle users out there? I remember someone mentioning it before.
- posted on 04/30/2011
Kindle is cool, but it's not a good e-reader in my opinion if only for one thing: its Amazon proprietary ebook format and no support of EPUB
Since you're advertising Kindle here, I have to advocate for Sony's e-reader :)
Pros:
1. support open ebook format EPUB and some common file formats including PDF;
2. e-ink display (no backlit straining the eyes);
3. touch screen, thus no cumbersome buttons taking up the space like Kindle;
4. compact size;
5. long battery life;
6. mp3 in 6" and 7" versions;
7. memory card slots in addition to the internal flash memory (I yet to have any use of it);
8. solid build, not just plastic;
9. build-in dictionary in several languages
Cons:
1. no wifi except in the 7" version, but who needs network while reading;
2. no Chinese language support yet, so one can only use it for Chinese PDF, but not Chinese EPUB;
3. price - posted on 04/30/2011
Been using the kindle since first generation. Very easy on holding up books purchased on amazon. Can find tons of free books as well, most of them classic without copyright issue.
There are now many i-read programs on iPhone and iPad I used them for Chinese books. Devices-wise I like iPhone the best, due to it's size, even though I carry all four of them on the road.
moab wrote:
iPad is cool, but it's not a good e-reader in my opinion if only for one thing: its backlit lcd. I want something that looks more like natural ink on paper that's easy on the eyes. Yet I held off buying the kindle because I find its size too cumbersome. La... - Re: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 04/30/2011
Unsecured EPUB is not really the issue. There are easy ways to convert them to the Amazon propriety format. Problem solved. (it works just like the library management piece you have to install anyway like with the Sony e-reader, yes/no?)
How do you like the touch screen on the Sony e-reader? Can you do pinch to zoom? That'd be a real big selling point to me.
浮生 wrote: - Re: RE: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 04/30/2011
wow. I am already feeling funny carrying two.
Rzp wrote:
even though I carry all four of them on the road.
- posted on 04/30/2011
Just downloaded a free EPUB file and tried. Works like a charm. So for me file format is not an issue. I may take another look at the Sony next time I go to a Best Buy store.
Also, are there jailbreaks available to allow Chinese support on the Sony e-reader?
moab wrote:
Unsecured EPUB is not really the issue. There are easy ways to convert them to the Amazon propriety format. Problem solved. (it works just like the library management piece you have to install anyway like with the Sony e-reader, yes/no?)
How do you like the touch screen on the Sony e-reader?
浮生 wrote: - posted on 05/15/2011
Reading Chinese e-books? I jailbroke my kindle 3 today. May try the "duokan" system some time.
http://www.duokan.com/forum/thread-1829-1-1.html
http://www.duokan.com/forum/thread-7709-1-2.html
http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/221437389.html?fr=qrl&cid=88&index=1 - posted on 05/15/2011
moab wrote:
Unsecured EPUB is not really the issue. There are easy ways to convert them to the Amazon propriety format. Problem solved. (it works just like the library management piece you have to install anyway like with the Sony e-reader, yes/no?)
I wouldn't know as I have no comparison.
How do you like the touch screen on the Sony e-reader? Can you do pinch to zoom? That'd be a real big selling point to me.
The touch screen is quite convenient. It's sometimes a bit over sensitive though. For instance resting your figure on the screen may end up turning the page, as it's said to use some reflection mechanism.
No you cannot pinch to zoom. But why do you need it? Wouldn't you just change the font size if it's too small?
Jailbreaks: I didn't check. I downloaded some Chinese books in PDF. A few don't work though; perhaps those PDFs need external font.
- RE: Kindle, finally | vs. Sony e-reader | Chinese supportposted on 05/15/2011
我有一个nook eink。主要用来读epub。有免费3g,可下载bn书店的一些书的samples。总体很喜欢。放手里的感觉很结实。缺点是不能在其browser下载文件。 - RE: Kindle, finally | vs. Sony e-reader | Chinese supportposted on 05/15/2011
下载的bn书店的书的免费sample不少都是整篇的essays,introduction之类,是实在的真货。对浏览者而言足够了。 - Re: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 05/22/2011
E-ink display is nice. Right size is important. But what good are they if I can't navigate and zoom in/out easily? My solution: - (and fusheng you have to see this).
- Re: RE: Kindle, finally | vs. Sony e-reader | Chinese supportposted on 05/22/2011
good to know.
腐儒 wrote:
下载的bn书店的书的免费sample不少都是整篇的essays,introduction之类,是实在的真货。对浏览者而言足够了。 - Re: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 05/22/2011
pure text vs text w/ illustrations
浮生 wrote:
No you cannot pinch to zoom. But why do you need it? Wouldn't you just change the font size if it's too small? - Re: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 05/24/2011
moab wrote:
E-ink display is nice. Right size is important. But what good are they if I can't navigate and zoom in/out easily? My solution: - (and fusheng you have to see this).
看到了,谢谢,the point being?:)不好意思,gadget上我很落后,至今我的手机只有打电话的功能,还是别跟你瞎搀和了。 - RE: Kindle, finally (and who already has it?)posted on 05/25/2011
目前为止,ipad对我最有用的是在床上看网络上的电影,这个屏幕大小自己看正好。
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