Recommend an ebook reader

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#556810 12-Dec-2011 09:54

I'd like to know WHERE to buy Sony books to check title availability, because I couldn't find any information about it.

Also you have to install the Sony software on your PC, create an Adobe account (we all know how safe Adobe software is - not!) and then unlock the purchases/transfer the files by connecting the reader to a PC.

Compare this to getting the Kindle, browsing the store online, purchasing and be ready to read in less than a minute, all wireless, without connecting anything. If you get the Kindle 3G then it's anywhere, anytime...

Loismustdye

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#557120 12-Dec-2011 17:51

Personally I'm less concerned about the bookstore and more interested in the hardware. I can get the books from a number of places online, and the idea of having to wait till light home to get a new ebook after seeing it somewhe doesn't bother me in the least. For me, it was a matter of what ebook reader not the store that best suited my needs, and both Sony touch won out ahead of the kindle by a mile.

crackrdbycracku

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#557130 12-Dec-2011 18:09

Loismustdye: Personally I'm less concerned about the bookstore and more interested in the hardware. I can get the books from a number of places online, and the idea of having to wait till light home to get a new ebook after seeing it somewhe doesn't bother me in the least. For me, it was a matter of what ebook reader not the store that best suited my needs, and both Sony touch won out ahead of the kindle by a mile.

My understanding of the process for buying eBooks for the Sony or other ePub readers is like this:

Buy the eReader.
Find the book at a store like eBooks.com and buy it using the reader if you have Wi Fi.
Download Adobe Digital Editions to your PC
Connect your eReader to your PC and validate your new eBook.

You new eBook is now ready to be read on your eReader.

I ask because the guy in the Sony shop didn't really seem sure he knew what he was talking about.

And you'er right there are plenty of places to get free books such as the Baen Free Library and ManyBooks and all that.

I too preferred the Sony hardware, particularly using the touch screen to turn pages, I might wait for Kindle Touch to be released world wide.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#557139 12-Dec-2011 18:26

Loismustdye: Personally I'm less concerned about the bookstore and more interested in the hardware. I can get the books from a number of places online, and the idea of having to wait till light home to get a new ebook after seeing it somewhe doesn't bother me in the least. For me, it was a matter of what ebook reader not the store that best suited my needs, and both Sony touch won out ahead of the kindle by a mile.

I understand that. And some people are happy with this. But "get the books from a number of places online" might work for someone with a bit of tech knowledge, but for most people it's the convenience of a huge catalog such as Amazon or Kobo that counts. No messing around, no searching, breaking encryption (if pirated) and so on...

igiveup

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#557329 13-Dec-2011 10:26

I have a Sony PRST1 and have no problem getting books from Kobo.
I did write a whole screed of information on how to set up the ereader for best results and posed it and it just disappeard into cyber space when I posted. So my user name says it all

Nety

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#557337 13-Dec-2011 10:46

igiveup:I did write a whole screed of information on how to set up the ereader for best results and posed it and it just disappeard into cyber space when I posted. So my user name says it all

Back button is your friend if that happens.

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acsonline

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#558068 14-Dec-2011 21:43

With the Sony prs-t1 reader you need to activate it for adobe drm only once. Then you can browse via the included browser and download books from there (if you wish to).

That's what I do anyway for overdrive ebooks (that you can borrow from your local library).

Saying that - the kindle is a more seamless experience.

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gbwelly

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#558448 15-Dec-2011 20:42

I don't know much about Kindles so in terms of models I'll use the dick smith names and call them the 3G and The Wifi.
Saw a Kindle 3G at work like the one at dick smith, the build quality was really good. The only grizzle in my house with the 1st gen Kobo(s) is the page turn is only at the bottom right. So I thought I'd get my wife a Kindle Wifi from DSE for christmas as it has the mid mounted page turn buttons and I didn't want a keyboard or a $289 price tag like the 3G. Well the feel of the wifi model is pretty sloppy, the buttons seem loose and feel like brittle plastic. The much mocked 1st gen Kobo page turn speed was not really much slower than the kindle wifi. Then I spotted the Kobo touch for $10 more from whitcoulls. What a kick mule device for $199. Must do about 9 FPS when scrolling sliders/pdfs. Pretty good for eInk.
Now the missus can turn the page anywhere along the right margin. I'm going to get another to replace my old Kobo too.
The issue of buying a book via 3G on the train/at a cocktail party/while rock climbing etc never comes up round my place. :-)
Consider the Kobo Touch "recommended" (for $199 -fair price IMO)

Makuta

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#560464 21-Dec-2011 22:07

So I now have 2 kindles. One for me and one for wifey.

Do we need 2 separate Amazon accounts or can i register her kindle on my Amazon account??

Also still not sure how I can upload a boook to the 2 kindles we own. Is this 'legal" and easy to do??

Thanks guys

freitasm

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#560466 21-Dec-2011 22:13

You can have both Kindle devices on the same account. The only problem is if you both have the same books and read them at the same time - if you synchronise the Kindle to Amazon then the last page read will show up on each other's devices - like sharing a bookmark, where someone keeps moving it if two people are reading the same book.

I don't understand your question about loading the books. You mean Amazon books? You can load in as many devices as you want.

Makuta

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#560471 21-Dec-2011 22:16

Thanks what I mean is, if I purchase a title ( and pay for it once) can it be loaded onto both kindles?

freitasm

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#560473 21-Dec-2011 22:17

Yes, it can. And you can load the same title on Kindle for PC, Kindle for Android, Kindle for iPhone, Kindle for Windows Phone, etc... They will all synchronise automatically and you will always be on the "last page read" - hence my comment about avoiding reading the same book as your partner at the same time ;)

mattwnz

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#560510 22-Dec-2011 00:15

acsonline: With the Sony prs-t1 reader you need to activate it for adobe drm only once. Then you can browse via the included browser and download books from there (if you wish to).

That's what I do anyway for overdrive ebooks (that you can borrow from your local library).

Saying that - the kindle is a more seamless experience.

Yes Overdrive for library borrowing is why I got a Sony over a kindle, as well as the ability to listen to audio books. I would far prefer to borrow at no cost (apart from my property rates), than buy books. Also touch screen is an advantage, as the touch screen kindles aren't yet available in NZ, and only the keyboard version of the kindle will play audio books, not the new basic version.
But the kindle is the cheap option for people who like to buy cheap. I don't know why kindle isn't supported on Overdrive in NZ, like it is in the US.

Nety

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#560682 22-Dec-2011 13:04

mattwnz:I don't know why kindle isn't supported on Overdrive in NZ, like it is in the US.

Simply a matter of time. They only released support in the US a couple of months ago and have already stated that support will be going world wide. IMHO I think they are using the US to iron out any bugs or issues before releasing it globally as well as I am sure getting publishers sorted out for a global roll out.

crackrdbycracku

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#560695 22-Dec-2011 13:21

Yeah, Wellington Library told me they will support Kindle 'soon', your guess as good as mind as to when that might be.

Also I have just seen that there is a hack for the Sony eReader, I am guessing that the Sony Reader PRS-T1 is the same PRST1WC we get here. According to the post it can run the Kindle app and all.

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2011/10/23/sony-reader-hacked-now-runs-kindle-ezpdf-and-more-video/

Anybody done this? Got feedback?

As I like the Sony hardware more than the Kindle this has put eReader plans on hold.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

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