Which e-reader to buy?

[Johanbgoot]

We just did a major cleaning of our house and donated a couple of hundred books to a local NGO.  I have promised the wife to move from hard copies but I find it so hard to give them up.  So I am looking to buy an e-reader.  I have tried my wife's iPad and I did not find it that difficult but I don't need an iPad just an e-reader.  I want one that can be read outdoors in bright sunlight. I have looked at the Kindle Fire and the Paperwhite but know I'll receive some input/advice here that will be helpful, so I look forward to your comment/suggests.  Thanks, Johan

[kimmer]

I have the plain Kindle (not the paperwhite or fire) and find it easy to read in bright sunlight, and in bright indoor light – but more difficult to read in softer indoor light. I have a book light that came with the cover and find that helps, but it also produces glare on the screen, which is totally annoying. So I'm considering getting a paperwhite.

If you want a "mini" tablet, I'd suggest the fire, but if you don't want a reader that surfs the web, checks mail, etc., then consider the paperwhite.

I can't speak for the Nook, or other ereaders as I've never used them.




PS: Moving this to the Tech forum where I think it will get more response.

[Frances144]

I just could not get on with my kindle.  I use my iPad and gave my kindle away.

[rgray]

Similar with my Kobo.  My daughter likes hers but I find my slighhtly older model to be slow, tedious and arcane especially compared to my first generation iPad.  Frankly I can't wait until Mavericks comes out with iBooks as I'd much rather use my MacBook for everything.  Personally I don't like tablets of any sort.  I particularly hate editing on the iPad.  I feel that tablets have been grossly over-sold.  Just my $0.02Cdn.....

[RNKIII]

My only experience is with iPads, had a 1st gen and now have a 4th gen, and have really liked both of them.
I read quite a bit, both from iTunes purchased books and checked out from our local library. Can't speak to reading in differing daylight conditions, as there are too many bugs about to sit on the deck for long.
Agree with rgray, that editing is somewhat difficult on the pads, but I've found that 'expanding' the text to edit helps.

Hope you find something that meets your needs.

Bob K.  rnkiii

[Paddy]

I love my iPad - and I have read with it out of doors. You can't use sunglasses because the screen darkens in the sunlight, but if you have a hat to shade your eyes, you can read in bright sunlight. I was doing it almost every afternoon out at our pool, at the end of the day after most of the work was done. Until summer decided to depart over a week ago and hasn't been seen since, that is.

A friend has a Kobo and an iPad and has just about given up reading on the Kobo. It's lighter, which is nice, but it's slow and nowhere near as versatile.

The only problem with buying books on the iPad is that it's so easy! Finish one...go onto the next, even if it's 3AM and you really should be asleep!!

Re: editing on an iPad - if they'd just add a forward delete key (PLEASE??) then life would be soooo much better. That and the ability to put the cursor in the middle of a word.

[Xairbusdriver]

I agree that a Forward Delete is very nice, I can never remember how to do that on my wife's MBP! But I wasn't aware that the cursor couldn't be placed anywhere one wanted. Even with my fat fingers, I can touch where I want the cursor to be almost every time. And there is a little magnified image doodad that shows exactly where it will be. I can then move my finger left/right/up/down without it ever leaving my hand! I suppose what you mean is having a cursor movement key... four of them?!

OTOH, I find that most of the books I've loaded have already been edited.

[Paddy]

I guess it's the accuracy of getting the cursor where you want it. It just never seems to cooperate for me - the only time it lands up in the middle of a word is when I don't want it to.

Forward delete on the MBP is fn+delete. The lowest left key and the upper right (full size) key. Try to avoid the power button in the far upper right, if doing this without looking!

[Highmac]

Probably an apt warning to someone who, IIRC, described in some detail the efforts required to remove a camera memory card from an iMac's CD slot

Thanks for the forward-delete tip, Paddy  

I do find the iPad keyboard infuriating. I very quickly gave up the idea of touch-typing and had to relearn hunt-and-peck

[dboh]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 1 2013, 11:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Forward delete on the MBP is fn+delete.

Thanks for this! I don't think there's been a time I've come to this site and not learned something.

[Xairbusdriver]

As for the 'forward' delete key on a laptop, I just turn 180 degrees and 'forward' becomes 'backward!' I thought that capability is why they put it only on laptops.