eReaders - what's your preference?

[Hattie]

What is your preferred eReader format? There may be some that we missed, or you may wish to add more info by posting a comment! If you haven't yet joined the digital book club, you might find this review of eReaders helpful.

[Hattie]

I have 4 different eReader options (Nook, Kindle, PC, android tablet), but so far my favorite is the Kindle basic because it is more the size of a paperback and I can read it in the dark without bothering DH. I do find that when I'm tired, I need to enlarge the print but then I have to turn the pages more frequently! With prices dropping, I may upgrade to a Kindle with longer battery-life and more functionality ... we'll see.

[Camper_bob]

I prefer the iPad mini. I had a Gen 1 Kindle Fire. It was a GREAT e-reader, but a terrible tablet. That Amazon Silk browser they touted as being so awesome wasn't so. And the touch screen was VERY inaccurate. Without multi-touch, it was hard to zoom in to "click" on the correct link, and I found myself spending so much time backing up after I clicked the wrong thing, it was VERY frustrating.

Now I have an iPad mini and I love it. It's a great tablet, and a pretty darn good e-reader IMHO. And it does just enough for my work that it's not a work machine, so that's nice. I have enough tech in my life at work, the last thing I want is more at home too. Give me a good smart phone and my iPad mini and it's just enough.

[DocBrown]

Nook HD 7". My wife and I both have them. Excellent reader, reasonable tablet. We're looking at the 7" Samsungs now. Our daughter bought one for her fiance. What an excellent tablet!

We also have a Kindle Fire HDX. It's OK, has a beautiful screen, but it's the large one and not convenient to carry around.

I have an allergy to all things Apple.

[dzwiss]

I had the Kindle original but when I got an iPad it didn't make any sense to have two devices. A nice feature on the iPad is that you can read in bed at night without a light or a brightly lit screen. You can have the background black and dim down the print so it doesn't disturb your sack mate.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I didn't vote because the poll was missing a selection (other). At home, I mostly use Kindle for PC on my desktop computer (I have my TV connected to the computer and read from the TV screen) or the built in e-reader app in calibre (an e-book management program). I also have them installed in my notebook computers.


When away from home, I use either my little basic Kindle (e-ink screen) in a leather cover that has a built-in light for when the place I'm in is too dark to see the screen or my JetBook Lite e-book reader (reads pretty much all e-book formats except Kindle's). I like the JetBook because it runs on AA batteries (I use rechargeables). I can easily swap them out with rechargeable batteries I keep in my purse if they run down while I'm away from the house.

[mitechie]

kindle paperwhite is so nice. I thought I'd never give up my good ole paper books but the paperwhite is so nice and fits in the camper a lot easier.

[MissLou]

I have both a Nook HD+ tablet and a basic Kindle. I greatly prefer the Kindle for reading.

[eldermike]

Paper white Kindle for me.

[Nighthawk 96]

I have a year old Kindle Fire HD 7" I use as an e-reader and not much else.

Most other stuff I can do on my HTC one M-8 phone or laptop.

I love to read and 90% of my reading is real books, mostly paper back.

Definitely an Android person.

[kjohn73]

I originally used two Sony readers, but now use my iPad. I also have four Creative MUVO mp3 players - 3 V100's and a V200. I listen to audio books by the hundreds. Whether at home or away, I listen to part of a book after I hit the sack. Librivox, Project Gutenberg (human-read), and my good old library are some of the sources for audio books. Some years back, I bought a ten DVD set of mp3 books. Hundreds and hundreds of books on that set!

I think mp3 audio books are a well-kept secret, especially for people with poor or no eyesight. Also a great thing for people who can't read, or those who are not able to read and gain any satisfaction from doing so. I know people who can read, but have never read a book in their lives!

[tugboat95]

Kindle fire HD. Looked at the IPad but I just dont like apple products. My tablet is a reader first and that is 90% of what I use it for. Amazon has the best book selection and prices out there. If I used it to do REAL work I would have probably gone with the Ipad.

[SmokerBill]

I voted PC because it's closest to what I use for the few Kindle and library loans I read digitally. I don't have a PC. I have a Macbook.

I'm a real, paper-type book reader 99% of the time.

[Gunnar]

Mines not on the list. Kobo Glo. Within 5 months it quit. I contacted Kobo. I didn't really know what to expect because of what I had read about their customer service. For the life of me I could not find my receipt. They replaced it going by the date of the first time I had it connected to their site. Can't complain about that. I only download the free books.

[Hattie]

With Christmas just around the bend - some gift ideas:

• If time and shipping is a concern, consider giving eBooks as a gift, they can be enjoyed on eReaders, tablets, and computers too. Increasingly libraries check-out eBooks (no fines) and OverDrive has quite a selection. You can even put 'holds' on eBooks before they are received by the provider! Of course, there are also a ton of 'free' eBooks available through many sources.
• For hardware, there is quite a variety available. Personally for short trips, I take my eReader (Kindle Paperwhite), tablet (iPad Air2), and DH has his laptop. On longer trips, we add my laptop (so I can do Quicken and genealogy) and our HotSpot.

[mike837go]

I've owned an iPad for several years and had to use it as an e-reader because the first book in a series I was interested in was out-of-print.


Give me bound books any day!


No batteries to keep charged. The text stays oriented the same way no matter which way you turn it. Bound books don't have to worry about sand or getting a little damp. Nobody will steal a bound book because you set it aside for a moment.

[charles_cincy]

Let's see, I've had (have)..
1) Nook Original
2) Nook Color (7" tablet)
3) Nook Simple Touch (ST)
4) Nook HD+ (9" tablet)
5) Nook Glowlight

2, 4, 5 are in use. My Wife had an original and now uses a ST.

All my book reading is done on the Glowlight...but I admit I really miss my page turn buttons. My HD+ I use for magazines and web browsing. The color just as a basic tablet.

[Fairenatic]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

I voted PC because it's closest to what I use for the few Kindle and library loans I read digitally. I don't have a PC. I have a Macbook.

I'm a real, paper-type book reader 99% of the time.

Ditto.

I read a lot on line but for some books, paper back just seems right. My tired eyes need a screen size that gets wider as I do!

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by Fairenatic

My tired eyes need a screen size that gets wider as I do!

Haha, that's why I love my e-reader - when my eyes are tired I enlarge the print!! I agree holding a book is great, but when I used to travel a lot for work - it was easier storing my 'reads' on one device. What doesn't work well on e-readers are things with pictures or 'how-to' images.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by mike837go

...Nobody will steal a bound book because you set it aside for a moment.

The heck they won't. I've had it happen.