Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacNoobGuy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 18, 2012
497
0
hey all, i was just wondering what's the best e-reader available right now. i've got a Sony E-Reader PRS-T1 and it has been ok, but i was wondering what else is out there for me to check out. i know the PRS-T2 came out, but it seems like the exact same thing.

how are the amazon and nook e-readers better? i'm not familiar with e-book readers at all.

thanks, i'd really appreciate any help.
 

flameproof

macrumors 6502a
Jan 14, 2011
615
18
hey all, i was just wondering what's the best e-reader available right now. i've got a Sony E-Reader PRS-T1 and it has been ok, but i was wondering what else is out there for me to check out. i know the PRS-T2 came out, but it seems like the exact same thing.

I have a T1 too and for me it's no question that the T2 is better! But not good enough to buy it. Really, a faster page turning is nice, but not forth $120 or so.

The PaperWhite looks interesting. But then, there are also T1 cases with illumination....

What is great about Sony is that it can read all sorts of formats. Not sure Kindle can do the same.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,481
43,407
I think Kindle Paperwhite but I also think this category of devices is on the endangered list. More people will be opting for the full tablets. Why spend 119 on (as Alton Brown of Good Eats says) a unitasker, when for a little more money you can get a Kindle Fire 2012 or a Nexus 7 that does a whole lot more. Just my $.02
 

m00min

macrumors 6502
Jul 17, 2012
419
90
I think Kindle Paperwhite but I also think this category of devices is on the endangered list. More people will be opting for the full tablets. Why spend 119 on (as Alton Brown of Good Eats says) a unitasker, when for a little more money you can get a Kindle Fire 2012 or a Nexus 7 that does a whole lot more. Just my $.02

Battery life.

I've got an iPad but I've also got a Sony Reader. The Sony needs charging every month / couple of weeks (depends on usage). If I use my iPad to read it'll need charging every other day.
 

ewils19

macrumors 6502
Oct 15, 2011
323
21
Dallas, TX
I have a Nook Simple Touch and I love it. My sister has a Kindle Touch and its great too but I prefer the Nook because it has a MicroSD slot and it has physical buttons on either side of the screen that you can use to turn pages.

If you do alot of night reading I'd suggest getting a Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight.
 

Calidude

macrumors 68000
Jun 22, 2010
1,730
0
I think Kindle Paperwhite but I also think this category of devices is on the endangered list. More people will be opting for the full tablets. Why spend 119 on (as Alton Brown of Good Eats says) a unitasker, when for a little more money you can get a Kindle Fire 2012 or a Nexus 7 that does a whole lot more. Just my $.02
Insane battery life, weight, somebody might want something even smaller than those tablets, no interest in a tablet for a computing device, need for emulation of crisp paper for better reading, full integration with Amazon, price is lower, etc.

I mean really, there's a bunch of reasons why this is not on the "endangered list".
 

iosuser

macrumors 65816
Mar 12, 2012
1,003
748
I think Kindle Paperwhite but I also think this category of devices is on the endangered list. More people will be opting for the full tablets. Why spend 119 on (as Alton Brown of Good Eats says) a unitasker, when for a little more money you can get a Kindle Fire 2012 or a Nexus 7 that does a whole lot more. Just my $.02

I have an iPad 3, 7" Galaxy Tab+, and a Kindle keyboard. I'm not a big reader but for reading a book, I definitely prefer the Kindle. It's just much much easier on the eyes and much more comfortable to hold. I'll probably upgrade to the new Paperwhite. 8 weeks of battery life with the light on is amazing. I actually don't remember the last time I charged my Kindle keyboard and it's still at 50%.

So IMO the Kindle Paperwhite is the best dedicated e-reader out there.
 

ucfgrad93

macrumors Core
Aug 17, 2007
19,537
10,823
Colorado
I think Kindle Paperwhite but I also think this category of devices is on the endangered list. More people will be opting for the full tablets. Why spend 119 on (as Alton Brown of Good Eats says) a unitasker, when for a little more money you can get a Kindle Fire 2012 or a Nexus 7 that does a whole lot more. Just my $.02

There are many reasons to get an e-ink reader over a tablet. I think the main ones are these:

1. Price. E-ink readers are less expensive. One of the new Kindles introduced is only $69.
2. Size. They are smaller than tablets, and weigh a lot less.
3. Outdoor readability. E-ink is very easy to read in bright sun.
4. Battery life. My Kindle can go 3 weeks on a single charge.
 

grapes911

Moderator emeritus
Jul 28, 2003
6,995
10
Citizens Bank Park
NOOK Simple Touch with Glowlight - Worth every penny. It works in the sun and in the dark. E Ink is so easy on the eyes that I wouldn't use anything else if you really plan on reading. The battery is great. It's light, compact, and easy to hold. It has both buttons and a touch screen.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,481
43,407
There are many reasons to get an e-ink reader over a tablet. I think the main ones are these:

1. Price. E-ink readers are less expensive. One of the new Kindles introduced is only $69.
2. Size. They are smaller than tablets, and weigh a lot less.
3. Outdoor readability. E-ink is very easy to read in bright sun.
4. Battery life. My Kindle can go 3 weeks on a single charge.

I'm not saying the kindle e-reader does a poor job, quite the contrary its an exceptional product, but for a little more money you get a fully functioning tablet. MY point is that I think as tablets mature, we'll see the popularity of e-readers wane as more people opt for the tablet over the e-reader.
 

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,972
I'm not saying the kindle e-reader does a poor job, quite the contrary its an exceptional product, but for a little more money you get a fully functioning tablet. MY point is that I think as tablets mature, we'll see the popularity of e-readers wane as more people opt for the tablet over the e-reader.

Smartphones popularity will wane as for a little more money you can get a desktop PC.
 

grapes911

Moderator emeritus
Jul 28, 2003
6,995
10
Citizens Bank Park
I'm not saying the kindle e-reader does a poor job, quite the contrary its an exceptional product, but for a little more money you get a fully functioning tablet. MY point is that I think as tablets mature, we'll see the popularity of e-readers wane as more people opt for the tablet over the e-reader.
My wife and I went the other direction. We had a tablet, but it doesn't cut it when you are reading for extended periods of time. The E-ink readers are so much easier on the eyes. I believe as tables mature, so will e-readers. I think they are for two different markets and will remain so. I can't see an LCD ever replacing my e-reader. Now, if LCDs are replaced with some other technology, maybe that's another story.
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
I love my basic Kindle because it's a dedicated e-reader and I am not tempted to do other things like when I read on my iPad.

However, I just pre-ordered the new Kindle Paperwhite, 6" High Resolution Display with Built-in Light, Wi-Fi.

I've had the basic Kindle since November 2011, but I really like the idea of the new light display on this new Kindle - which is the only reason I ordered it. I'm looking forward to getting it and using it a lot because I tend to read a lot in the evenings or night and don't usually like having a lot of lights on in the apartment.
 

scott craft

macrumors 6502a
Feb 10, 2011
689
138
Louisiana
I've got the original kindle and I love it. I buy from amazon, check out library books and put PDF ebooks on it. When it wears out I will get whatever the Amazon equivalent at the time is.
 

maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,481
43,407
My wife and I went the other direction. .
My kindle touch is basically unused at this point, I have little desire to use it, because the iPad provides a better experience. I know my experience may not be typical but still I think as time goes on e-readers will fade and tablets will expand
 

0dev

macrumors 68040
Dec 22, 2009
3,947
24
127.0.0.1
Bear in mind Kindles are very delicate. The screen on mine broke while it was in a case and safely stored in the car and I'm not exactly the first one either.

TBH tablets like the Nexus 7 or even the new Kindle Fires are so cheap these days you're far better off opting for one of those.
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
My kindle touch is basically unused at this point, I have little desire to use it, because the iPad provides a better experience. I know my experience may not be typical but still I think as time goes on e-readers will fade and tablets will expand

I'm going to go the opposite way and say that dedicated e-readers will be around for a long time. There are millions of book worms who like having the dedication and lightweight device to read with. I don't know if all the brands will stick around, but I think the Kindle line will be the king in this category. I also think there are many folks out there who are not tech savvy and only have an e-reader and no desire for a tablet.

I love my iPad but when it comes to extended reading, I prefer the Kindle.


Bear in mind Kindles are very delicate. The screen on mine broke while it was in a case and safely stored in the car and I'm not exactly the first one either.

TBH tablets like the Nexus 7 or even the new Kindle Fires are so cheap these days you're far better off opting for one of those.

I actually dropped my iPhone 4S yesterday, corner first, onto the screen of my $79 Kindle screen and it never hurt it or marked it up at all. I think it was a 4 to 6 inch drop too, all by accident of course. So I would say they're not too delicate and fragile.
 

flameproof

macrumors 6502a
Jan 14, 2011
615
18
My wife and I went the other direction. We had a tablet, but it doesn't cut it when you are reading for extended periods of time. The E-ink readers are so much easier on the eyes. I believe as tables mature, so will e-readers. I think they are for two different markets and will remain so.

People who prefer the movie over the book will never understand what you are talking.

Any good illumination one can recommend for my T1?
 
Last edited:

MacNoobGuy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 18, 2012
497
0
one other thing i'd like is to be able to take notes with a stylus. what devices have a stylus? the sony T1 did and it was pretty good.

the other thing was a keyboard for me to be able to take notes about the book. it doesn't have to be a physical keyboard, just something i can make notes with.

basically, i want to be able to make notes really well.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.