E-Book Readers

[Jojimbo]

I've been looking into ereaders recently and just wanted to get some suggestions. I'm in the UK as well, as that effects availibility and 3G access for some models.

I'm looking for something with a large screen as I will be using it mainly for reading textbooks (7~10" seems ok, although I havn't seen/used one in person before). Card reader is a must as I have a fairly large amount of books (unless pdf files shrink considerably when you put them on the device). No so bothered about file types that can be read, although native .pdf/djvu is nice as I wouldn't have to convert several GB of them.

I also wanted to know what people thought of different display types, how good is e-ink vs others (although there appear to be a lot of display types being dem'ed atm), I tend to get eye strain when reading .pdf file books in PC so I'll like to avoid that type. I'll probably be using it lectures/room mostly, but being able to read it outside would be nice.

I was looking at Amazon Kindle DX however no card reader means I'll have to pick out books I want to store (dunno how badly this will affect me tbh, just increases ease of use) but it's other features seem good although it is on the high/mid price range. 3G access is quite nice, however I won't complain if I have to DL them online and copy them from my PC.

I'll also consider the iPad, apps are being brought out/are out that let it read almost file major format as far as I can tell and it has a bit more functionality than a standard ereader (colour is a plus as well). Battery life isn't anywhere as long as an ereader and apparently it can be hard to read outside due to glare. That and I would prefer to wait for 2nd Gen at least before buying one and that could take a while.

[Linliel]

iPad for textbooks. Especially if they have pretty pictures.

eta: I have a Kindle and I wouldn't read textbooks on it.

[Zeb]

These two are on the higher end of the spectrum for ebook readers but I think they're worth looking at from what you said you wanted.

http://www.entourageedge.com/

https://www.springdesign.com/us/index.action

[Cephius]

I have the Sony E-reader pocket edition, and it's the only one I ever used and thus the only one I can comment on. I do love it though, it displays PDFs fine along with the sony format and you can convert books pretty easily. I think it's an 8" screen, I like the text. I get headaches easily reading, but on the e-reader I've been fine for hours.

I think it's pretty cheap too, my boss got one off the Dell website for like 80 bucks? They're usually 200. That might have been with a corporate discount though.

[Jojimbo]

Just watched a youtube clip of Kindle DX review on pdf, lack of zoom when reading them pretty much kills it.

enTourage eDGe looks awesome and I would actually buy it, but I can't get it in the UK atm and the only internationally shipped one on eBay is $599 + $60 P&P.

There were a few ereaders at CES '10 that look promising, Samsung E10 (10"), Skiff eReader (11.7") and QUE Pro (10.7") + possibly a few others. QUE is bloody expensive though ($650/800), others don't have pricing/launch dates.

Alex/Sony eReaders look a bit small to display page sizes I want, most of the textbooks are A4 in size.

EDIT:: What Sony one is 8"? I can only see 5" pocket and 6" touch

[levish]

The kindle dx is a 9.7" display reader, what do you need zoom for?

I had a normal kindle and I'd take eink over any type of LCD for any sort of book reading. My big qualm comes with the normal 6" kindle's display and reflowing protected PDF's but that should be a non-issue with a DX

[Jojimbo]

There was a youtube vid of someone using Kindle DX for a pdf textbook, could barely read it (the writing was tiny) and it lacks zoom/text increase (something about treating pdf's as pictures). Might not be an issue if pdf is reformated + cropped, although doing that to 500+ books doesn't sound like fun.

[Linliel]

I honestly would avoid e-readers for textbooks full stop. They're just not conducive to study, since you can't flip through them easily, etc. etc.

Get the real life books. Seriously. It's so much easier and you'll find them much easier to study from.

A Kindle or similar is not good for serious work-related reading. It's unfortunate but true. But I've tried (with French and Philosophy) and it's just not as good as being able to pick up the physical book in your hands and flip through it. For books you read from start to finish (novels) they're fine. But you'll miss being able to flip.