The wife wants a ebook reader funny enough to read books….
I know nothing about them
Whats the best valued one out there? I guess she will want one that lights up,To read in dark
Are there any disadvatages to getting a cheap tablet something like
http://www.target.com.au/p/quad-core-7-8gb-tablet-mw71q6l/57…
cheers
Agree with the above comment. I own a Kindle Voyage, which was really expensive, but worth every cent. Doesn't hurt your eyes regardless of what lighting you're reading in, and has excellent battery life (mine lasts between 3-4 weeks with daily reading). I also use the Calibre software (free), which is great for transferring files of any e-reader format. I'm sure you could find cheap e-readers around, but would definitely recommend trying to find a lower end one in the brands specifically made for reading, like what elusive mentioned.
Agree too.
E-ink is much better for reading.
The kobo accepts any e-pub formatted book, but many of the titles sold at their store are adobe drm encrypted, which is a piece of cr*p at best and a actual criminal enterprise at worst (they were caught spying on people's hard drives).
Fortunately, calibre allows to transparently strip the drm and have a clean copy very easily.
But the same is true of the other readers. IMO kindle probably make the highest quality devices.
Also, check whether a back light. Is desirable. I prefer a lamp rather than a backlight.
As for the light - the way the Kindle Paperwhite is designed (and possibly other brands), the light isn't really a backlight. A series of LEDs light a diffusion layer that goes over the top of the screen, directing the light down into the screen to bounce back out. Basically, it acts the same way a normal lamp would. I think the only real disadvantage compared to a separate lamp is the colour, which is a pretty cool white - some people prefer a warmer white. But to each their own.
Definitely go for e-ink. It's easier on the eyes especially for long periods of time reading. As mentioned battery life can last up to a month on one charge compared to any tablet.
I'd also go for one with backlight inbuilt. No need for an attachable light and quite easy to use. Really useful when reading into the evening/night.
Check BigW. If you're in NSW there's still $60 kobo glo's around. Store at Green Valley has the blue and pink in stock when I checked last week. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/192544
wow.. thanks guys…Im glad I asked now ;)
Kindle Paperwhite definitely. Greater selection of books on Amazon, although she should work out if she wants the Aussie store or the U.S. one. I have two for my children, and a Voyage for myself. I also had a Kobo Glo, which was good, but the light was nowhere near as good to adjust or read by (too bright on the lowest setting at night), and their store is not as good. Although, Kobo very often have discount coupons.
Just remember too, that you do not have to be tied to one format (ePub/mobi etc), as you can still put other books on most devices. If you've paid for them, you should be able to read on your preferred device. You can even borrow books from libraries these days and read them in a tablet or ereader, although you may need to convert it first.
@wako - which on did you end up getting?
I ordered a paperwhite, from the eglobalcameras deal, But they cancelled my order.. SO still waiting for a decent deal to come up which there has seemed to be a few lately
Tablet screens are relatively poor, especially a cheap one like that. You'll have difficulty reading in the sun. Text might be blurry. It's difficult to read at an angle. Battery life ranges from 2h to 10h - cheap ones are at the lower end of battery life. I've seen some that might last 15-30 mins off the charger.
If reading is your only purpose, then get something with an e-ink screen. Kindle, Kobo, Nook, etc.. Main differences are the ecosystem. Kindle is fairly locked to Amazon, though you can still sideload books, Kobo seems a tad more open, dunno about the Nook. They all have backlight options. They'll run ~$120-$180 when a deal comes up, and around $200 RRP. You should be able to easily get over 20h reading time. Your best bet for picking is to go in-store and play around with them - see which interface you like more. Read reviews.
E-ink is poor for anything animated, and for images (no colour, either). But it's great for reading.