e-book reader wars

[firecat]

First I was waiting for the iPad. It's compelling but heavier than I want in an e-book reader. But after carrying one around for a week I now feel like I'm missing something when I don't have an e-book reader to pull out of my bag when I am waiting for something.*

Then I was getting ready to buy a kobo from Borders because piranha said it was pretty good, and it was only $150, which was cheaper than any other e-book reader I'd seen.

Now Barnes & Noble's nook is $150 and comes with Wi-Fi. On the other hand, its apps look less appealing than the i[Thing] apps.

Speaking of i[Thing]s, the iPhone 4 has a much higher resolution screen. I don't want an iPhone but maybe the higher resolution screen will come to the iPod Touch before too long.


*Come to think of it, a book might serve this purpose.

Comments

[elainegrey]

"*Come to think of it, a book might serve this purpose." Lols!

I read plenty of novels on my Palm Treo; i will probably give the reading on the EVO a try. I recognize the smaller device isn't right for everyone, but the bloody monthly fee for Christine's & my plan is a nook a month, apparently.

[adrian_turtle]

I really loved reading ebooks on a Palm Pilot, partly because I could use the same device for audiobooks. An old Palm Pilot from Ebay was only $200, when I got it, and I wasn't paying for phone or data service, so it was just the 1-time cost.

When that broke, I got a Blackberry. It's also good for both ebooks and audiobooks. (It only does audio in one ear, so it's not as good for music...but that might make it safer for pedestrian use.) It's even lighter than the Palm, and I found that I don't mind the smaller screen. It has a much longer battery life, and is MUCH more able to survive being dropped, which are tremendous advantages for my lifestyle. Not being able to scroll is problematic. I'm not sure yet if it's too much of a problem, or if I want to get phone and data service for the thing, and make it the only device I need to carry.

[firecat]

and make it the only device I need to carry.

Yeah, so far you can either get one device that does everything badly, or multiple devices that do everything well, but managing multiple devices (charging them, remembering to use them, deciding which ones to bring) is a hassle.

[firecat]

Well I mean really. It's not as if I need an electronic device to read books. Yay Johannes Gutenberg!

(I just want it because all the cool kids have one.)

The 6-nooks-a-year monthly fee is why I don't want an iPhone.