Recommend an ebook reader

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Recommend an ebook reader

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

990 posts

Ultimate Geek

#556324 10-Dec-2011 13:07

I just bought a couple of Kindle Touches back from the US for my mother and sister, a friend just bought the new kindle and my girlfriend has the kindle keyboard. All are fantastic. If you're considering an e-reader I wouldn't consider anything but a Kindle.

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#556399 10-Dec-2011 16:33

freitasm: As said in the first page, if you are not into instant gratification and want to save a couple of bucks (while supporting us), you can order the Kindle directly from Amazon through our Amazon Kindle order page...

You should check the price though, make sure it's what you are looking for, etc. Even after shipping and currency exchange it should be just under the local price.

Make sure on the billing page you set the currency to USD. By default it sets to NZD but the exchange rate they use is always appalling. Set USD and let your bank do the exchange rate as they will be a lot better. My experience is that using www.XE.com provides a good idea of what the exchange rate from the bank will be and then just add a dollar or two for the overseas currency change.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

Loismustdye

931 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#556408 10-Dec-2011 16:47

I had a play with both the kobo touch and the Sony t1 touch, and coming from an iPhone/iPad they were both a joy to use. Consequently I've ordered the Sony t1. Both were incredibly light to hold, and a far more pleasant experience than the kindles dse had on display.
Of note, whitcoulls has the wifi kobo for $139, not a bad price all things considered.

mattwnz

20165 posts

Uber Geek

#556430 10-Dec-2011 17:55

Loismustdye: I had a play with both the kobo touch and the Sony t1 touch, and coming from an iPhone/iPad they were both a joy to use. Consequently I've ordered the Sony t1. Both were incredibly light to hold, and a far more pleasant experience than the kindles dse had on display.
Of note, whitcoulls has the wifi kobo for $139, not a bad price all things considered.

I think the sony is a good choice. Hope it does have a firmware update so it only does a full page refresh every so many pages, instead of each page, although a full refreash gives you a cleaner page.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#556448 10-Dec-2011 19:09

We bought the Sony e-reader last night for SWMBO but now she is suggesting that I buy a Kindle for myself - that way we get the best of both worlds including downloads etc.

I'm now looking into scoring a Kindle Touch

Maybe I'll get it sent to a friend in Ca and get him to forward post in out to me.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#556548 11-Dec-2011 09:19

Dumb question time.

Is the Kindle Fire operable in New Zealand? Am I wasting my time if I buy one?

My friend in the USA is only too willing to forward one on to me if I get it sent to him via Amazon.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#556552 11-Dec-2011 09:32

The Kindle Fire hardware works ok in New Zealand. The movie and music content on the other hand will not, seeing those services are only available in the US.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#556554 11-Dec-2011 09:40

Thanks Mauricio

Makuta

41 posts

Geek

#556690 11-Dec-2011 19:49

Sorry if these questions appear a little basic but your help is much appreciated!

1. So there is about $30 difference between the Kindle wi fi and the Kindle keyboard wifi...is that keyboard worth the extra and is that the only difference?

2. If we get his and hers Kindles can we purchase a book that can go onto both?

3. So when i look on the amazon kindle site i use an online currency converter and it appears the books are way under hard copy price but i now hear there are other charges that get added when you book online...what is the most cost effective way to do this??

Thanks guys!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#556691 11-Dec-2011 19:55

Makuta: 1. So there is about $30 difference between the Kindle wi fi and the Kindle keyboard wifi...is that keyboard worth the extra and is that the only difference?

Not really. Unless you like taking notes.

Makuta: 2. If we get his and hers Kindles can we purchase a book that can go onto both?

You can have more than one Kindle in one account. But you will have to turn off synchronisation otherwise it will get messy - it will always show the book in the last sync state - so whoever reads faster messes up with the other's bookmarks.

Makuta: 3. So when i look on the amazon kindle site i use an online currency converter and it appears the books are way under hard copy price but i now hear there are other charges that get added when you book online...what is the most cost effective way to do this??

The cost you see is the cost you pay. If your account is in US and you have a US address then it will have sales tax added, which is normal in the US. If your account is in NZ and you have a NZ address then what you see is what you pay.

Makuta

41 posts

Geek

#556703 11-Dec-2011 20:25

Thanks so much for your help! Looks like i will need to find out about synchronization!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#556705 11-Dec-2011 20:31

The synchronisation is in the Settings menu. Basically it allows you to read a book on the Kindle and sync to Amazon. If you open the same book on another Kindle, or your smartphone, or your PC then it will automatically jump to the page you were reading.

You can see if two people share two Kindle in the same account reading the same book it can get confusing...

CruciasNZ

879 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#556706 11-Dec-2011 20:46

If you want an E-Ink reader then I suggest the Sony Readers, my Father and I both have them now and we are both happy with them

Professional Forum Lurker

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79309 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#556715 11-Dec-2011 21:13

Where can I see titles available for Sony reader?

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#556809 12-Dec-2011 09:50

CruciasNZ: If you want an E-Ink reader then I suggest the Sony Readers, my Father and I both have them now and we are both happy with them

Hi, what is the book buying process like with the Sony eReaders?

I had a look at one in the Sony shop in Wellington. I really liked the hardware the touch screen put it ahead of the Kindle for me.

But when I asked the guy in the shop about buying books he made it sound like you could buy a book on the reader over Wi-Fi but in order to read it you would have to activate the book on your PC which had the correct software, Adobe Digital Editions, downloaded before you could read it. This had me thinking it would be a pain to be on holiday away from my PC, think of a book then be able to buy it but not actually read it till I got home. This may have been my misunderstanding or his poor explanation skills but it didn't seem as easy as the Amazon system where one account covers it.

Yeah, I know free books are available on ManyBooks and such but plenty aren't and I don't mind paying.

Anyway, keen to hear your experience.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5