Kindle eBook Reader or something else

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taxboy

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I'm thinking of treating myself this Xmas to an eBook reader. Ideally I'd like to think about reading digital versions of photo mags and photgraphy books in additon to the digital version of a traditional paperback.

I'm looking for people's experiences to see if a digital reader can really replace the paper version of magazines and books which are more photo heavy or is screen size a really limiting factor
 
I had the original Kindle and upgraded to the Kindle HD when it came out. I now wish that I hadn't as the HD is a good deal thicker. If it is only as an e-book reader, the original slimmer version is the one. If you want all the bells and whistles, an HD version is the one.
 
I still have my original Kindle and I still love it.
I just wanted something to store books...nothing more.
 
Just my opinion........ but eBook readers like the Kindle are great for reading books where you start at the beginning and go through page by page to the end with no pictures. Personally I find the original Kindle hopeless for magazines and references books. Too small a screen, too slow and difficult to navigate your way around articles that are not contiguous and are full of adverts.

Tablets may be better...... I've tried reading magazines and reference books on my 10" netbook and while better than the Kindle, its no substitute for a paper copy.

So, Kindle for books (non-reference) and paper for mags and reference books.

Just my 2p worth

Colin
 
I would say check that the subscriptions you want are available to the reader you select.

I had the original Kindle and for the price found it great for reading books and newspapers.

I now have a Nexus 7 which is more expensive but can also do a lot more. I tried a Kindle Fire but did not get on with it so sent it back and got the Nexus 7.
 
I bought a Nook ebook reader seemed like a good idea at the time

Unfortunately my fingers do not work touchscreens and can't be bothered messing around with a stylus so it sits in the draw unused

Also still prefer proper books and magazines, from what I briefly saw it was no replacement, but can imagine very handy for holidays and reading on trains, planes, buses etc
 
I just use the kindle app on my iPad - works for me bug some don't like the screen glare.

However I do agree that it can't replace a magazine.
 
If you want to read 'paper' style printing only books then an e-ink screen is excellent, and can be used on the beach etc. If you want to read image-heavy publications & colour then any half-reasonable android tablet or iPad is the way to go. All of these will take apps from Kindle, Kobo etc to read electronic books. Also investigate Calibre software for format conversion and sideloading and the gutenberg project for free books.
 
ancient_mariner said:
If you want to read 'paper' style printing only books then an e-ink screen is excellent, and can be used on the beach etc. If you want to read image-heavy publications & colour then any half-reasonable android tablet or iPad is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Exactly that. I read a lot. Kindle is by far the best device I've ever used for this (much much better than dead trees for example :) ) But it's terrible at images. My Nexus 7 works great for those. If I wanted to read a lot of magazines I'd probably get a larger tablet though.

But for books, Kindle - and not the "Fire". My ideal would be the old school Kindle with the buttons but without the keyboard. My wife has the one with the keyboard and I had to "upgrade" to the Touch when my old one wore out.
 
I have the Kobo Glo & the Kobo Aura HD, they support a wide range of ebook formats with & without DRM (Kindles are rather locked)

In the family we also have iPads & other tablets, as has been said they are best for image heavy content but are nowhere as good for "reading" especially in sunlight.
 
I have a Kobo - the one without a backlight but readable in bright light (full sun in Crete). Not sure what I could get on it in the way of magazines etc but have loads of books on it. Currently on loan to the MiL. Works as a basic tablet but very slow.
 
The Kobo is terribly slow - we have 2, but we replaced my wife's with a Nook (£30 at the time) which is much smoother. All the 7" e-ink screens are basically the same, so pick whichever controller you prefer.
 
For browsing, yes! Slower than a snail/tortoise hybrid but as a reader, plenty fast enough.
 
For books (no images) a regular Kindle has a battery that just goes on and on and is perfect, but for magazines you need a better screen with colour - the Zinio app is available on most platforms (iOS, Android, PC, etc) and has digital versions of AP and various other photography magazines. I use the Nexus 7 with Zinio, although I now find magazines a lot easier on a touchscreen laptop.
 
Have to admit that I still like the paper versions of magazines (and books) but can see that online versions are easier to carry wherever one may be (and the number of books I took on holiday would have filled several suitcases had they been paper rather than e!)
 
You might also get free magazine subscriptions from your local library too - eg Edinburgh has Amateur Photographer and Digital SLR Photography and also stuff like National Geographic and New Scientist: http://yourlibrary.edinburgh.gov.uk/node/1640

Ask at your local library or look online and see what they offer..

I use a Nook HD tablet (£50) for magazines and also use the Kindle app on an ipod for books.
 
Also have a Kobo Aura HD and also chose it because of the DRM issues with Amazon. The Kobo + Calibre just works.

I have thought about getting e versions of magazines, but I'm certain the e-ink displays of readers would struggle. For magazines, I'd get a tablet. That's why I'm happy with paper mags at the moment.
 
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