What's the best inexpensive e-reader?

[Chocolate Lab]

The book thread made me think of this...

A few years ago, I got a Sony Reader, back when it was the state of the art. When it crapped out and an attempt to fix it didn't work, I got the updated version for Christmas. But it's really barely better than the one from years ago, and I feel like it's actually pretty lousy for today's technology.

So who makes the best one now that's reasonably priced? I see ads for different ones, but haven't tried them.

One condition is that it needs to take PDFs straight off my PC, so that rules out the Kindle.

Any ideas?

 

[YosemiteSam]

If you want a reader that can do magazine well and do a bunch of other stuff, look at an iPad or Android tablet though they are expensive.

On the other said, I absolutely love my Kindle. Magazine suck in it, (no layout or color for pics) but for mostly text (like books) it absolutely owns. You don't even need the G3 if you have WiFi at home / Work. The WiFi only is $139 or $114 *with special offers*. Not sure what that is, but I got the G3 Kindle for $189 and I would pay that for the WiFi only if I had to buy another one.

EDIT: Missed the last part of your post, but I thought the Kindle does read PDF.

EDIT2: Starting with Kindle 2, PDF is supported.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I have one from a Canadian bookstore chain (Koboreader), got it as a gift, came with about 100 classic novels of literature so it was worth it in that regard.

Kindle is probably the best though.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Hmm, I didn't realize that you could copy PDFs over to the Kindle like that... Last I heard you had to email them to yourself, which seems like too big a pain to mess with.

I even like that it's not a touchscreen... Was looking at the new Nook online, and it looks like a typical resistive lousy touchscreen. That's one thing I don't like about my Sony.

An ipad or android tablet would be perfect, but I don't want to spend that much. Besides, I don't know what else I'd use it for. I have a Sprint EVO which is already a larger smartphone and good enough for browsing.

Any other ideas out there on some of these other devices I see out there?

 

[TheCount]

The book thread made me think of this...

A few years ago, I got a Sony Reader, back when it was the state of the art. When it crapped out and an attempt to fix it didn't work, I got the updated version for Christmas. But it's really barely better than the one from years ago, and I feel like it's actually pretty lousy for today's technology.

So who makes the best one now that's reasonably priced? I see ads for different ones, but haven't tried them.

One condition is that it needs to take PDFs straight off my PC, so that rules out the Kindle.

Any ideas?

Get the new Nook, if you're looking for the latest feature set and the price isn't crazy.

The Kindle has an advantage in that they have an ad supported version, where you agree to let them display ads on your device from time to time, and in return they knock off some of the price.

 

[junk]

The Kindle with ads and no 3G is $114. I'd pay the extra and get one without ads which is, I believe, $139.

For just a reading device, I absolutely love the Kindle. I find myself reading quite a bit more now that I have it.

Great screen.....the e-ink is easy on the eyes. Small enough that you can easily use it in cramped spaces (like an airplane). Works great in sunlight. Great battery life. Technically, its very solid.

I'd recommend it to anyone and have bought a couple for gifts already.

 

[hutch1254]

Just bought the Kindle 3G/Wifi for my wife for her birthday and it pretty much smokes everything out there. I'm very impressed with it. I'm sorry that doesn't help you with your PDF need, but it really is the pro of the bunch.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I just got the new Nook Reader today actually. It's got a touch e-ink screen, it's speedy, and it's compact. I went based on the really positive reviews it's been getting since it came out recently.

 

[VietCowboy]

I got the BF the Nook Color this past April for his Bday, and rooted it for Android but it would make a great plain old e-reader too.

 

[theogt]

Used iPad on craigslist.

 

[Doomsday101]

If you want a reader that can do magazine well and do a bunch of other stuff, look at an iPad or Android tablet though they are expensive.

On the other said, I absolutely love my Kindle. Magazine suck in it, (no layout or color for pics) but for mostly text (like books) it absolutely owns. You don't even need the G3 if you have WiFi at home / Work. The WiFi only is $139 or $114 *with special offers*. Not sure what that is, but I got the G3 Kindle for $189 and I would pay that for the WiFi only if I had to buy another one.

EDIT: Missed the last part of your post, but I thought the Kindle does read PDF.

EDIT2: Starting with Kindle 2, PDF is supported.

I got my dad a Kindle last Christmas, he really loves that thing.

 

[Kangaroo]

Used iPad on craigslist.

I have to disagree not just on the Ipad but also the any android tablet they do not use e-ink and use the same back lit screens as any laptop or smartphone. Reading on a true e-reader without the back light is way easier on the eyes and gives you more of a true book feel. Sorry no Ipad, android, laptop or smartphone give you that book like feeling.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have to disagree not just on the Ipad but also the any android tablet they do not use e-ink and use the same back lit screens as any laptop or smartphone. Reading on a true e-reader without the back light is way easier on the eyes and gives you more of a true book feel. Sorry no Ipad, android, laptop or smartphone give you that book like feeling.

This. Reading on a backlit screen is okay if you are doing minimal reading. (web, news paper article, or maybe even a magazine article) If you are reading books, it's terrible. Well, unless you only read for five minutes at a time or something like that. Backlit screens cause eye-strain and headaches when reading for longer periods of time.

For books, e-ink is 1000x better than backlit.

 

[theogt]

I have to disagree not just on the Ipad but also the any android tablet they do not use e-ink and use the same back lit screens as any laptop or smartphone. Reading on a true e-reader without the back light is way easier on the eyes and gives you more of a true book feel. Sorry no Ipad, android, laptop or smartphone give you that book like feeling.

This is, of course, the general consensus. I'm not sure how much water the argument holds, however. I've read books on the iPad and it's a very easy read. You also have the ability to change the color of the page, fonts, style, landscape vs. portrait, etc. to fit your desires, so customizability (to fit ones own comfort) lends toward the iPad, I think.

Also, if you're going to spend a couple hundred on a portable device, it's probably a good idea to have it do something other than just read books. If you're going to spend less than $100 on a reader, then I suppose that's worthwhile.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I've got both the Kindle 3G and the Ipad. I've got my Kindle books loaded on my Kindle, my Ipad, my PC, and my phone. I use all 4 devices to read off of, and they all sync to the last page read. I love it because I can really power through books since I've always got one of them with me. The Kindle is by far the easiest to read and I can look at it for hours. The Ipad is back lit, but I have no trouble reading it, though it's more cumbersome than the Kindle. If I could have only one it would be the Ipad though. They're just so handy, and do so much. I rarely even yurn my PC on these days since I can do so much on the Ipad.

 

[TheCount]

Also, if you're going to spend a couple hundred on a portable device, it's probably a good idea to have it do something other than just read books. If you're going to spend less than $100 on a reader, then I suppose that's worthwhile.

Neither the nook nor the kindle cost "a couple hundred".

The versatility of the iPad is great, but I think there's certainly something to be said for the single focus of an e-ink device as well before you even get to the pros and cons of e-ink vs LED displays.

Anyone who's tried reading for long periods of time on either device will probably agree that the e-ink devices as more comfortable to use for extended book reading, the iPad is heavier than it looks.

 

[theogt]

Neither the nook nor the kindle cost "a couple hundred".

If you want a color screen, the Nook does. Otherwise they cost about $150 after tax.

The versatility of the iPad is great, but I think there's certainly something to be said for the single focus of an e-ink device as well before you even get to the pros and cons of e-ink vs LED displays.

I suppose so, but I'd prefer to just have one device that can do multiple things, not waste money on several different dedicated devices.