Posted on 06/28/2010 7:17:21 AM PDT by C19fan
Thanks.
I heard that Google is releasing an e-reader some time this summer, I want to wait and read the reviews on it before I decide.
We just got a Nook...battery is user-replaceable, it has micro-SD memory card support, but I was a little disappointed to learn that it requires removing the back cover of the Nook to add the memory card (no slot), and was fairly tricky to install. I will be using USB to transfer files from now on...(leave SD card in it permanently).
The “read-in-store” feature is nice (if you have a B&N “brick & mortar” near you), it allows you to read any/all e-books available for 1 hour per day in store on their Wi-Fi.
We like it so far!
For me, Kindle, hands down. The “Wispernet” connectivity allows you to download books (and gives limited internet access) ANYWHERE! Without any connectivity fees. Without having to hook up to a computer.
Amazon alone has more than 30,000 books FREE, before you even get to Project Gutenberg.
Device becomes very natural in your hands, so much so that (strangely) I prefer it to actual books. In general, it is very cool to have (up to ) hundreds of books already downloaded and waiting for you, any number of which are opened to your last page read, in one small device. I love being able to read “Plato’s Republic” or “The Lightning Thief” in a waiting room without a book cover to advertise the extent of my nerdiness!
Ping
It's definitely commercial-quality software... no, I take that back -- it's BETTER than commercial quality. Literally.
He could easily charge real money for it, and people would gladly pay -- people who'd rather use it instead of the "bundleware" that comes with their readers.
I've barely scratched the surface in what it can do, it's incredibly powerful -- has a very comprehensive commandline interface in addition to the GUI -- is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux -- and, has built-in ebook reader, which can be run from inside the main program OR as a standalone (I told Windows to use its ebook reader as my default for all of the typical ebook formats, so, when I doubleclick on LIT or EPUB etc etc etc, it pops up instantly and I'm in the books, without having to load the main program. It can even read PDF files (and, the main program can convert from PDF and HTML as well as "normal" ebook formats).
Unlike most freeware (and all too much commercial software), it has a GOOD help file (in the form of a cross-indexed EPUB file) that you can download -- it's like 6MB or so -- it's all online on the website (in HTML format), but, if you download the standalone, you can load it right into the program. If you NEED to use DRM'd content, then you need to use the proprietary software that comes with your reader, but for NON-crippled content, you really can't beat calibre. (I doubt I'll ever need DRMware, unless our "local" (ur-rural) library ever gets into ebook lending, so I can't really see myself inflicting the Sony software on myself. Baen despises DRM, and refuses to put it on any of their ebooks -- for six bucks I bought that novel, which gives me lifetime right to download it in ANY format, and/or read it online any time I want. A pity other publishers aren't that clued. Fortunately, my tastes in fiction run pretty much along the lines that they publish (hard-SF), and between them and Gutenberg I just don't have enough eyes (or enough years left in my life) to really worry about having to fork out nutso fees for crippled ebooks that I won't be able to back up, move to a different reader if I upgrade.)
One last item -- someone said that their Sony 300 could ONLY be charged via USB, and ONLY when the godawful Sony software was running. The 600 is a bit more flexible -- it will charge as soon as it's plugged into the computer, without ANY software running -- unfortunately, it will NOT charge if it's connected to a USB charger (the display says "USB" but the charging LED doesn't light up), BUT... it DOES have a cylindrical jack for a 5V charger, and I ordered a couple from ebay for something like three or four bucks each, free shipping, after someone on Woot mentioned them:
The main benefit of this sort of charger -- besides not needing a computer fired up -- is that it'll let me use the reader while charging (with USB, the reader goes into "USB mode" -- it charges, it lets you sync, copy files to/from the player -- but, it does NOT let you READ anything until after you disconnect it. With the "normal" charger, that's not an issue).
I don't know if those chargers are still available (I just pasted in the link, ebay takes forever to load over my dialup modem), but, if they're out, it'll at least show you what kind of charger to look for.
I agree about the Libraries. I am one of our users too. My wife is even more so.
Our living room is full of library books right now.
YES they are all properly checked out. :P
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