Via the Whispernet on my new Kindle. And then was immediately bitter when I realized I’d never be able to read it on anything but a Kindle. Though Amazon makes it very easy to purchase, which I’m sure is seductive. And sheer brilliance in offering the beginning of the book free to hook the reader in.
Also, I read in bed last night. On my Ebookwise. Heh. My husband noticed the lack of a backlight immediately when I showed him the Kindle and we discussed how most of my reading is done in bed or low-light situations. He felt it was kind of worthless without a backlight, lol (though I kind of agree, given how much I depend on the backlight on the Ebookwise). I did try reading the Kindle with a booklight, but so far I still find the Kindle awkward to hold and I always felt like the light was shining in my eyes.
Next week the Sony Reader arrives*, and I hear the new Bookshelf app on the iPhone is rocking and I’m planning on trying that once I upgrade my firmware, so maybe I’ll add a comparison of reading devices to my epublishing articles. Or just write one here. I can do Ebookwise, Sony, Kindle, iPhone and iPaq. Maybe the people who do the Cybook and the Astak Mentor should send me one so I can compare those too. I think that’s a fab idea, don’t you?
*In case anyone is wondering, no, I don’t need this many ebook readers for my personal use. I’ll have them for taking to conferences so I can plug ebooks and let people try the different devices at the same time.
My DH bought me a Sony eReader a couple weeks ago when they were finally released up here in Canada. At first I was bummed because it doesn’t deal with PDF’s very well, but it’s easy to hold, and I love the placement of the page turning buttons. But there’s no backlight, so it isn’t great for low-light situations either.
(And of course, it’s not waterproof so I can’t take it in the tub, LOL.) And for my non-Sony-bought books, I have to use a different program to convert them, but I’m married to a Gizmo Guy and am a former tech support analyst, so that’s a snap for me. And now I love it!
Leah Braemels last blog post..A Friday Funny
Leah, just put your reader in a gallon size ziploc bag. Instant waterproofing
Have you tried using Calibre? I understand that works quite well for creating PDFs that play well with Sony, though I don’t have any actual experience with that, of course.
AngieYes, Calibre is the program I’ve been using – in order for my trifocalled eyes to be able to read them, I have to set it to double height when it’s converting and then it works really well. It’s a very easy program to use – I’d highly recommend it – it even converts the MS Reader .lit files. I think my husband would pitch a fit if he found me with it in the tub even if it was in a baggie. (I’ll give it a try one day when he’s not looking, LOL)
Leah Braemels last blog post..A Friday Funny
I have a booklight that is similar to this one from BN.com (except I don’t have any of the dimming issues that one seems to have) that I got at Target. I put it on the spine of the Reader cover and flip it back (so that round part is inside the spine. The flexible head makes it easy to maneuver the light to the perfect angle. It also works great for paper books.
Nicoles last blog post..5th Anniversary
Since you own like every ebook reading device in the world, or at least the notable examples in each category, how’s the iPhone as an eBook reader? I keep meaning to ask you this one, because I am not paying for a dedicated reader, no matter how dedicated I am to ebooks.
Mays last blog post..Audiobooks versus Ebooks
Have you tried an iLiad? They aren’t available in New Zealand as yet, but I am extremely curious about them. I would like a device that has a bigger screen than my Palm T/X and the only disadvantage that I can find from reading specs about he iLiad is that it appears to have no backlight! iRex Technologies have 2 versions – 1 with wireless connectivity and 1 without wireless conectivity.
May, Jane has a fab review of the iPhone readers today: http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/07/13/review-ereader-and-bookshelf-app-for-iphone/
Before this last firmware upgrade I wouldn’t have recommended the iPhone for reading. I found getting books on it too cumbersome. I’m going to upgrade my firmware, though, and check out Bookshelf. I know Jane really loves it because she emailed me yesterday positively gushing, lol.
Shelley, I would love to try an Iliad but they’re expensive. $700! Even for a dedicated ebook reader like myself, that’s a really expensive gadget for just reading ebooks. Here’s a link for anyone following along at home: Iliad
I think that’s part of the reason the Cybook and the Iliad haven’t been as widely discussed (well that and Sony and Amazon have just had better marketing), but the price plays a huge part.
Anyway, Shelley, unless you’re willing to give up eink technology and go with an Ebookwise, you’re not going to get a backlight. Sony reps told me a few months ago they were working on a screen overlay that would light the screen, but that’s still in the works.
Nicole, that booklight just looks so cumbersome to me. I think I’m resistant, too, because it’s so easy for me to move around in bed and lay in different positions with the Ebookwise, since it’s backlit and I can rotate the screen.
hi brianna’s mommy – we just launched a social network for kindle owners and book lovers yesterday evening.We’re in pre-Alpha – Would appreciate it if you could join and help build the community (amazonkindle.ning.com – moving to a more book oriented url during alpha)More details at http://thekindle.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/social-network-for-kindle-owners-and-book-lovers/ including ‘3 Free Kindles in the first 3 months’ promotion and other information.
abhis last blog post..abhi started a discussion called What Profile Questions make the most sense?
Ooh, thanks, because I don’t read Dear Author. I’m just generally going to wait until somebody comes up with a phone I can read on. I’m coming to realise that there is such a thing as having too many electronic devices.
Mays last blog post..Audiobooks versus Ebooks
Oh the temptation!! I’ve been eyeing a Bookwise or a Sony for over a year now. *sigh* I can’t justify the cost at this point though. The backlight is a huge pro for me, the lack of the purchasable storage (bookwise) is a con. I have a nice Sony Clie, PDA and the only thing I use it for is reading, but the battery life on it with the light on is abyssmal. One of these days I’ll get a new toy.
Well, Diane, at least the Ebookwise is cheaper than the others out there. And as clunky as it is, I still love it!
OMG I LOVE my Kindle… I don’t read in low light so have not bothered trying a book light. I did not like them on a real book. I LOVE that I can read outside with no glare, which always pissed me off with the backlit screens