Electronic Readers

[V8Ian]

What hardware do you use? I am considering a Kindle Paperwhite. Anybody using one and is there any benefit in shelling out the extra thirty bills for the 3g model?

[Dizza]

The 3g models are usually worthwhile when it comes to E-book readers. Put yourself on a non expiring prepaid plan and you can download books, newspapers etc. on the go. And considering your average E-book works out to be less than 1mb you shouldn't need to get more credit for a while. (Its especially handy if you get yourself a subscription to the local paper, have it download on the way to work or whatever :D)

Thats what i say to customers anyway :p You probably already knew that much.
Dizza

[V8Ian]

I only envisage downloading books but like so many gadgets, once one discovers all the features and capabilities, one could find other uses for it. I went and looked at one at Dick Smiths today but didn't purchase as the assistant was very sneery when I asked questions about it. The 3G model comes with free wi-fi for the life of the device. If I subscribed to a newspaper, how well would this model cope with picture files? Do you sell these toys?

[Chops]

I bought one of these for Leeanne last Xmas, she loves it. It has the permanent WIFI, so whenever we're in range she can scrounge for another book if she wants.
She doesn't do the paper/magazine thing though, so I cant comment on that side of it.

Annnd soo, having said all that, she bought an actual book last week, :eek:, as it wasn't available on the e-book sites anywhere,, well Kindle anyway,,

[V8Ian]

Do different brands of readers restrict one to specific sites for downloading?

[Dizza]

I only envisage downloading books but like so many gadgets, once one discovers all the features and capabilities, one could find other uses for it. I went and looked at one at Dick Smiths today but didn't purchase as the assistant was very sneery when I asked questions about it. The 3G model comes with free wi-fi for the life of the device. If I subscribed to a newspaper, how well would this model cope with picture files? Do you sell these toys?

Dick Smith is a bit like that :p And their prices tend to be pretty average.
It does but obviously you need to be within range of a wi-fi network for it to work. The advantage of the 3G is that you can do that anywhere. which is handy when you are on the road.
Obviously the picture files are in black and white but you would be surprised at the quality of the images on e-readers in general.

Typically each device is limited to its specific e-book store (Kobo connects to Kobo store, Kindle connects to kindle store) but they tend to have similar content.

The newspaper subscriptions are very handy. They automatically download the latest paper for you when its released. Great for travel as you can get the news without having to grab a paper from the newsagents and drag it around in your car for the rest of the trip. (though an e-reader makes terrible kindling :p )

[Chucaro]

What about the option of purchasing a samsung 7" pad for less than $200 and read ebooks in pdf format?
Is a good option?
There are plenty sites like THIS (http://worldlibrary.net/)with ebooks

[V8Ian]

So Booktopia, Bookworld etc, who sell downloadable books (eBooks) sell different formats for the various brands?

[sheerluck]

So Booktopia, Bookworld etc, who sell downloadable books (eBooks) sell different formats for the various brands?

Most of them will be very clear about what format they're selling, and what devices they are suitable for.

I'm not sure where you are, but the local libraries down here have e-book copies to lend out.

[digger]

Ian, with your trade I thought youd prefer talking books!

[V8Ian]

Talking books are very limited with titles and genres Digger. An e-reader will prop against the glass nicely. :p

[UncleHo]

G'day Ian

Both the wife and I have Kindles,the older standard ones which we have connected to Amazon I Also have it linked to my iPad so if I can't get WiFi with the pad I just tap on Kindle and read on,my Kindle can take about 1,000 books I am old but I only have 5 loaded at the moment,(don't ask me how my wife is the set-up guru)

Using the iPad-1 at the moment,she has a 2 it is thinner and lighter one,both of ours are 16gb models.


cheers

[digger]

Talking books are very limited with titles and genres Digger. An e-reader will prop against the glass nicely. :p

I use a small projector direct onto the rear windscreen projecting in reverse so I can watch all my movies without silly interruptions like watching traffic...

makes chase sceens so much more real :twisted: (you started it :D )

[Mudguard]

Hi V8Ian,

I went the more expensive option of the iPad.

I have the Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and the local library apps on it so a lot of options.

They have lots of free books from each one and obviously you can pay if you want. I used to go to the library every time i was home on R&R and then cart 4 or 5 books with me up to site each week. It soon gets heavy. So the iPad has made it a lot easier.

Then to top it off you can put your music on it, surf the net, watch movies and i can facetime (like skype but better and apple to apple only) my kids and wife at home from my room on site. That is probably the best bit about it :)

With the book apps you can alter the size of print, colour (ie you can make it black for reading at night with the light off) brightness etc. so its flexible.

I usually get around 8 - 12 hours of use out of my battery depending on use. I think the e-readers last a lot longer.

My parents (in their early 70's) just got iPads last month and they love them.

Craig

[UncleHo]

G'day V8 Ian

If you get an iPad just make sure that you have someone that knows help you set it up,I do know that you have to get an I-tunes account,(she did that for me) and I have about a dozen things on the front page/screen,I would suggest that you buy the book "I pad for Beginners" about 20 bucks printed by " www.inaginebookshop.co.uk" you should be able to get it at Kmart or big W or one of the book shops or newsagents ,we got ours from the local news agent here on Bribie Is.


I even have a direct link to AULRO


This little jigger is so good I that you can just link into McDonald's free WiFi while you are having your daily Mac or 3 !!!!!


cheers

[olbod]

Hi V8Ian,

I went the more expensive option of the iPad.

I have the Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and the local library apps on it so a lot of optiions. :)

Craig

G,day.
I have started to notice more and more lately that people are reffering to
these "apps ".
I get the idea of what they are but what does it mean ? Is it an abreviation ?

Thanks.

[Dizza]

G,day.
I have started to notice more and more lately that people are reffering to
these "apps ".
I get the idea of what they are but what does it mean ? Is it an abreviation ?

Thanks.

Apps is short for applications and typically refers to a program on a mobile device. (for example i have an alarm clock 'app' that gives my phone that capability)

The big disadvantage of an Ipad is the backlit display. Though you can keep your kindle library on your Ipad it is much less comfortable to read.
The e-readers use e-ink to produce the image. This means that they are very similar to reading a physical book and do not wear out your eyes like the screen on an ipad or smart phone of some description does.

Dizza

[meldrew]

I have the Kindle Paper-white and am very happy with it. As mentioned above the e-ink is easy on the eyes and can be read in bright light as well.

They are also handy if reading a large novel, much easier to hold. If you go to sleep while reading,they remember where you finished and switch off automatically.

You can store heaps of books on them and the print quality is outstanding.

I only have the wireless one and download books at home. I got mine from Big W, they seemed okay price wise. If you get one, I would recommend one of the Kindle covers from Amazon they are excellent quality and make the Kindle easier to hold I reckon.

Cheers,

Ashley

[V8Ian]

I use a small projector direct onto the rear windscreen projecting in reverse so I can watch all my movies without silly interruptions like watching traffic...

makes chase sceens so much more real :twisted: (you started it :D )
I have neither the money nor time to set that up, but I like your style. Does that mean you're over-paid and under-utilized? :p

[V8Ian]

I wouldn't get another Apple device. I had an I-phone, what a prima donna that was; thought it was too good to talk to my Windows toys. The I-phone is now an I-pod only.

[Mudguard]

G,day.
I have started to notice more and more lately that people are reffering to
these "apps ".
I get the idea of what they are but what does it mean ? Is it an abreviation ?

Thanks.

Hi Olbod,

as was previously mentioned its short for 'application'.

The app ends up being a little box on the screen which is a shortcut to the program. Not sure if you have seen the iPhone or iPad where the screen has all these little boxes with pictures of the program on the screen. For instance i have a app square on my iPad for going straight to the Discovery 2 folder in he AULRO forum. I just press on it and it comes straight up. For those people who are interested in knowing how to do this i will attempt to put pics up with the destructions..... (i have used an iPhone 4, your symbols might be in a slightly different location on the screen on your apple device such as an iPad)

Go to the page or Forum page you want.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/13.jpg

then

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/14.jpg

then

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/15.jpg

lastly

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/05/16.jpg

Hopefully this works and the pics come up.

I cant take the credit for working this out. The Land Rover boys here in WA have instructions in "The Cool Wall" tab up on the W4 (http://teamw4.com/) site. Thanks fellas :D

Craig

[olbod]

Thanks Craig.
Crikey, whats the world coming to !!!
I have never seen an Ipod or any of those fancy gadjets, dont want to.
I had a mobile phone thingy for emergencies when my wife was alive but
when she died I got rid of it.
Dont see the need to ever get another one.

Thanks.

Robert.

PS: I dont need to be in constant touch with people for whatever reason.
I never get lonely.
I prefer to talk to myself !!!
Sometimes it amazes me, I go somewhere and nine out of ten people have their heads down fiddling with a phone thingy. You cant talk to them, the reply is usually along the lines of : yeh no, eh.

[olbod]

PS: to the above.
I notice more and more, out and about and on telly, that people giving a positive responce to a question, shake their head from side to side.
Is it just me going off me head ?

I havent read an E book but I recently purchased a CD set, talking book thingy.
Another Upfield Bony book entitled : Venom house.
This worked well because I got new hearing aids.

I was having trouble reading with cataracts on both eyes but all good now
with new lens implants.

[Mudguard]

Yes sometimes the technology is a bad thing. My wife and i struggle sometimes with limiting our kids with the amount of screen they have. It has such a detrimental effect on them sometimes. I love it as now i can stay in contact with my family while away for work (FIFO) so there definately some benefit.

To answer your head shaking thing. Im pretty sure in a couple of cultures shaking the head from side to side is an affirmative action.... (im sure ive read that in a book somewhere) Now to me its strange but obviously to them its not. However if it was some aussies doing that then im not sure what that is ??

[V8Ian]

No no no no: The Best of Jim Trott - YouTube

[Sleepy]

Ian,
I bought an Ipad for the missus, one reason was to use it to read books.

It does lots of other stuff and is a reasonable coffee table device but I hate it to read books due to the back lighting.

I borrowed a basic kindle from someone at work and found it much easier on the eyes for reading( no back lighting). I am going to buy one myself - eventually.

I understood it works through the 3G system free - but you pay for what you download. So not restricted to wifi - as mentioned above. Pretty sure that is how it works.

I plan on getting the entry level kindle for reading novels and newspapers etc.

[Yorkie]

we bought the kindle touch screen from amazon for the mil christmas before last, six months later we bought the fil the same thing. they love their kindles and the space they save having all the books on the one device and ability to add new books over wifi works really well for them.
as others have said the ereader screens are so much easier on the eyes for long time reading, you can get some for under a $100 at bigw so give it a try.
:cool:

[JDNSW]

Readers of this thread may be interested in this blog post by my brother.

Looking at how eBooks are made | L. R. Denham (http://lrdenham.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/looking-at-how-ebooks-are-made/)

John

[V8Ian]

The only reason I favoured a Kindle was while doing some research I came across a questionnaire asking what features I wanted. On completion, the Paperwhite and I-pad were neck and neck but ahead of all others. One important feature to me is that it can be read under all light conditions, daylight, artificial light and darkness. Surely I will require backlighting?

[Sleepy]

No expert Ian , but the one I borrowed was like reading paper, so yes you do need external light. But reading from an iPad in the dark I find hard work on the eyes.
I guess it depends what you are reading too. A magazine or newspaper for 10 or 20 minutes probably ok but a novel can be hour or longer.

[sheerluck]

No expert Ian , but the one I borrowed was like reading paper, so yes you do need external light. But reading from an iPad in the dark I find hard work on the eyes.
I guess it depends what you are reading too. A magazine or newspaper for 10 or 20 minutes probably ok but a novel can be hour or longer.

Sleepy, I use the Kindle app on the iPad, and I find that if I change the brightness and colour according to light conditions (standard black writing on white background for broad daylight, black on sepia for low light and white on black for no light/night) then I find it better than a Kindle device.

My eyesight is awful, and I have no issue at all reading with/without glasses.

[Sleepy]

Ok, thanks ill have a look at that one. The other thing I like about the kindle is lightweight device. I spose the new iPad s are little too. 🙉

[clubagreenie]

Kindle is evil.

Owned by Amazon, they have the price of ebooks pinned down to slowly drive competitors out of the market (they subsidise the losses by their other departments). When there's no more competition where will the prices go?

They only work on their native formats, even some older same origin formats weren't so compatible.

They are a nightmare to look into and try to manipulate files. I had a perfectly good one for 3 weeks that went into the bin as I wouldn't inflict it on anyone (except maybe one person I met today). All I wanted to do was delete a file, I consider myself a power user and 20 of the 21 days of ownership was searching for a method to delete a file (duplicated on upload) to no avail.

An iPad is a great option but if you're only looking at a reader plus an internet function then a cheap tablet with WI-FI and maybe 3G can be had for a song. Will read PDF's and most ebook formats with the addition of the right app(lication) and you can keep up to date with AULRO as well.

[sheerluck]

Ok, thanks ill have a look at that one. The other thing I like about the kindle is lightweight device. I spose the new iPad s are little too. 🙉

The iPad mini is slightly larger than the standard Kindle, and nearly twice the weight. And the Kindle battery life is measured in weeks, where the iPad is less than a day.

It really all depends on what your priorities and needs are.

[Graeme]

My wife has a Sony E-reader for which she downloads free books from the net to her laptop. It goes everywhere with her.