If you own a bunch of Kindle stuff already and are looking for something exclusively to read on, I'd go with a Kindle device, for sure. The Paperwhite is absolutely solid and great (the light on the screen is fabulous and not actually "backlit" so it doesn't interfere with sleep), though I upgraded to a Voyage. The buttons were a *huge* deal for me, so that is dependent on how important that feels to you. The screen is nicer, it's a significantly smaller and lighter device (easier to fit in a purse), but the battery life doesn't seem to be quite as good. Still better than a laptop, for sure, though.
If you poke around the Kindle forums, they generally have places they can suggest you go and play with them; Best Buy definitely has them on display, and that's where I played with the Voyage before I made the upgrade.
If you have Kindle books primarily, then a Kindle device won't have to hold everything you own: Kindle stuff is saved to the "cloud" and you can download it anywhere there is Wi-Fi (or, if you go with the 3G version, you can download stuff from your cloud or buy stuff from the store anywhere at all).
I was already a huge book fiend, but the Kindle honestly changed my reading life in a big way, and if you love paper books, e-ink is going to be the best possible substitute.
I've gone to the Amazon Kindle page in order to compare them side by side and have already decided I won't be going for the original Kindle. Looking at the three options I'm not sure I can see why the Voyage is $70 more than the Paperwhite. Is it just the buttons and adaptive light sensor? The Paperwhite and the Voyage both have the same storage capacity, battery life, wifi or wifi and 3G, and the same pixel number. I'm not sure if I would bother with the higher priced Voyage for buttons and the light sensor. Is Amazon the only place I can buy a Kindle?
E-ink is the stuff they use in devices specifically made for reading and not just doing other stuff. It's supposed to imitate the ink they use in books to the best possible extent (and is very low on the power draining).
And yeah, that's pretty much the only difference (the pixel thing is a recent upgrade to the Paperwhite, admittedly). Touchscreens drive me mad while reading (and most of the time, really), so I needed the buttons to not drive myself bonkers. :x
You can generally get them at Best Buy and Target--I know there are other stores that sell them, but they seem to be very area-specific. Amazon isn't the only place to get them, though it is often the easiest.
The journey across the planet from Amazon to me is quite long and can be hard on whatever's being sent, so I would be too scared of the Kindle getting damaged in transit.
I've been looking at all my local electronics stores, most of them don't sell them at all or sell only non-Kindle devices, but I finally found that Dick Smith has a wide range of Kindles. I got a bit of a surprise at the prices, $199 for the Paperwhite and $299 for the Voyage.
Do touchscreens drive you crazy because you constantly touch the screen while reading and accidentally turn the page? Because that might drive me crazy enough to pay the $100 for the buttons.
I do a lot of accidental changing, especially when reading in bed, and for all that you can "read one handed" with both, in practice you can only swipe in one direction to move the page *forward*, which causes me problems since I apparently read either laying on the wrong side or with my Kindle on the wrong side in general and keep having to move my other hand all the way around to get to the page properly.
Like I said, though, your mileage may vary quite a bit; I get the idea that other people don't have the problems I have with touchscreens, and the Paperwhite is absolutely a solid device.
In addition, though I can't say for sure, given on your local postage service, Amazon has been pretty amazing about getting packages (especially Kindles of any kind) delivered very safely--everything is boxed right up, and they'll take it back for a full year if anything goes wrong with it.
Do you read mostly Kindle books then, or do you have a healthy mix of mobi and epubs? I own both the kindle fire HD and a nook HD+. I love both of them. But quite honestly since getting the kindle last year I mostly read on that. If you have that many books and you have an issue utilizing the cloud option than you might want to cough up the extra $$ for the larger storage space. I have about that many kindle books, and I just started getting the dreaded messages that my free space is under 10%. I know I could move around stuff to the cloud....but I'm really entertaining just asking for a new kindle with the massive storage space for Christmas. I think it has like 64Gb of space, which sounds amazing right now lol
I have a few books on my Adobe Digital Editions software, but I wouldn't worry about getting a device specifically for them. Once I get into the rhythm of reading eBooks I'll come back to the ADE books and read them on the laptop.
Thanks for telling me about Calibre. I've just spent the evening converting everything I can. I now hate DRM, and a few hours ago I didn't even know what it was.
I'd choose a Kindle device personally,the Paperwhite fits me quite well. The Ipad isn't exactly bad,but it's too expensive to me and it hurt my eyes to read on it for too long.
I love my Kindle with e-ink. It is easy on the eyes the batteries last for weeks, and I can even read it in the sun. I have an iPad and Kindle Fire I don't care to read on them much the back lighting cases discomfort on my eyes after a while. If I get books not in Mobi format (kindle format)I just convert them using Calibre, it's free and super easy
Alright, thanks I'll look into getting Calibre because it would be easier if I could read everything on the one device.
Oooh! I'm actually getting excited about the prospect of having an e-reader, I never thought I'd say that. I'll have to make an effort to get through as many library books as possible so I can get straight into a nice long eBook (I've been avoiding anything longer than 50 pages because I don't want to read it on the laptop).
I love my iPad, but I think I'd vote for an e-ink device - especially if you already read on your laptop and don't love the experience. An iPad will give you the same reading experience as a laptop, only without the clamshell construction of the laptop. E-ink is supposed to be MUCH more comfortable to read.
Thanks Jenn. Thanks to everyone's advice I now know what I want, what's best for me. I'm going to go to Dick Smith at Northland and get either the Paperwhite or Voyage (depends on how much of a deal I can get on the Voyage as to which one I get), I don't need the functionality of an iPad as I already have my laptop.
In my experience of owning a laptop, iPad and Kindle, I tend to read my ARCs on my Kindle because I'm happy to take it to work, but I don't take my iPad to work. That being said, at home at night I'll sometimes read on my iPad because my kindle's old and not backlit. I seem to be able to read faster on the iPad. i also like that I can check my emails and other apps and watch Netflix on my iPad without having to haul out my laptop and set it up. You can even get iPad minis which would be more comfortable thold and hurt less when you accidentally drop it on your face.
Personally with all the things apps available on the iPad I'd probably just go with that and use the Kindle app. if my Kindle died tomorrow I probably wouldn't replace it.
I really hope I DON'T drop my e-reader on my face, or anywhere else.
My laptop is nearly glued to me during my waking hours, I'm only imagining using the e-reader when I go to bed for my habitual before bed reading, or on the less frequent occasion when I read during the day. If I do need the internet while I'm reading I'll simply grab it off the coffee table it sits on during the short period of time that it's not sitting on me.
Like Dark Places I have a Nexus tablet and love it but still enjoy reading on my kindle the best. The only time I read on my tablet is if the books contain a lot of pictures (art) ... I find the color nicer and the images clearer. I've also had a Sony ereader and found the download process to get the books on to it too time consuming.
Sorry in advance for writing one of my crazy, long responses. :)
In my opinion, a dedicated e-reader is the best for reading. E-ink is as comfortable on the eyes as reading a regular paperback book, but even more so because you can adjust the font to your liking. If you get a device like the Kindle Paperwhite or Voyage that has the “front lit” technology, you can also have comfortable lighting no matter where you are. Tablets, phones, and computer screens are “backlit” which can cause eyestrain and which tends to glare badly in the sunlight. E-ink e-readers don’t have any glare. Another advantage to an e-reader is that you’re more likely to just focus on reading without being distracted by e-mails, games, the internet, etc.
I currently own a Kindle Voyage (I’ve also owned the Kindle Paperwhite and a few other previous Kindle versions) and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5” tablet. The tablet I own is quite a nice one, but I never use it for reading. I tried a couple of times, but it wasn’t nearly as pleasant as reading on my Voyage. If I were in a situation where I could only keep one of my devices, my Voyage is the one I would cling to.
It will be interesting to see how you feel about e-books after using an e-reader for a while. I had to read a physical paperback book recently because it wasn’t available in an e-format and it drove me a little nuts. I find e-books much more comfortable and less distracting to read. Just give it a little time to get used to it. The page turns will probably seem the oddest part but it’s so much easier and faster to be able to just tap the screen to turn the page (or press a button if you get something like the Voyage). I use the screen touch and the buttons interchangeably on my Voyage, depending on the position I’m in. I like having the option, but I’ve lived with touch-screen only and it didn’t bother me much. The main thing I love about the buttons is that I can keep both hands under the cover if I’m cold and snuggled up on the couch with a blanket over me. You can’t turn the page by touching the screen with your hands under the cover, but you CAN press the buttons through the cover.
My galaxy tab s is amazing! It has reading mode and is not hard on the eyes. It is expensive, I paid over 500 at the time I bought it. My kindle fire is nice too. Best advice, don't go too big. I have to drop kid off at school. I own almost every device there is. Be right back.
Guys, you have been AMAZING with all your answers. What everyone has said has helped me make up my mind so much faster and easier and without an impatient sales person tapping their toe while I umm and ahh about which one to choose. After reading everything and considering how I believe I'm going to be using the e-reader (hopefully how I THINK I'll use it isn't different from how I DO use it) I think my choice will be either the Paperwhite or the Voyage. I really don't see myself needing another device that I can use the internet on, I'm attached enough to my laptop as it is. The one thing that I would like the Kindles already do, connect to GR so I can quickly update my reading progress or what I'm reading and check to see if a book is part of a series while I'm at the library (no more unintended mid-series borrows for me).
Mum recently bought a Samsung iPad and has generously offered to let me read on it, but I really can't see myself being comfortable with putting the multiple erotica titles that I've picked up for free within reach of my mum, who's likely to ask probing and difficult to answer questions like "Why do you want to read a book like that?". I think I need my own semi-private e-reader rather than sharing with an overly inquisitive parent.
After all this discussion I can't wait to get my hands on it and get it all set up for some serious reading, but Mum and I aren't going shopping till next Thursday, on my actual birthday. In the meantime I'll have to keep myself busy reading all my library books before my BRAND NEW KINDLE arrives and I become temporarily preoccupied.
Thank you all again for how much help you've been. I could never have come to such a firm decision so fast without all your input. I'll post a picture of my new baby next week.
The paperwhite is where it's at. Except for comics. The kindle fire doesn't have great battery life. My kobo is nice too, but it can be a pain when my books disappear, it has happened twice. The nook, nope, but mainly because b and n doesn't have the same prices as amazon. Do you read a lot of comics? If you do, Grim recommended one not too long ago. And the galaxy tab s is good for comics. I agree about preferring to read on my kindle v.s. paperback, except at work and around water.
I'm not a comic reader, so that drawback isn't a consideration for me. I have 95% Kindle books, the rest Adobe Digital Editions and a couple on another program called Book Bazaar Reader, so a Kindle is definitely the most logical choice (even if, from what you've said, it wasn't also the best option on usability).
I don't think Kindle Unlimited works in Australia. I got the free trial (which they said worked with the laptop software), but as soon as I attempted to watch a tv show/movie or get a book I was told that they weren't available to customers in my location. I complained to customer service and was told that while Kindle software and devices work here, Kindle Unlimited doesn't due to the restrictions on what can be aired where etc. While it would be nice to get decent books at a good price (instead of mostly free rubbish, with the occasional hidden gem popping up every now and then), with so many books already downloaded I doubt I'll run out any time soon.
I LOVE my Paperwhite Kindle!!! It's lighter and smaller than any tablet, it's easy to organize books, and the lit screen is wonderful. The only downside would be if you have a lot of ebboks with color images.
Having used iPad, Kindle and Nook, I like Nook most... it... feels most like touching paper... it's not much of rational argument, I know :-) but it was also most convenient and handy.
I have an IPad Mini which I adore but I can't read it in the sunlight and even though it's small I'd rather be holding a real book. I can read all formats thanks to downloaded apps which is a huge plus for me. But I find it very easy to get distracted by checking email, poking around on the web etc. when I originally turned it on to read. I'd probably get much more reading done if I had a device devoted entirely to reading books.
If you poke around the Kindle forums, they generally have places they can suggest you go and play with them; Best Buy definitely has them on display, and that's where I played with the Voyage before I made the upgrade.
If you have Kindle books primarily, then a Kindle device won't have to hold everything you own: Kindle stuff is saved to the "cloud" and you can download it anywhere there is Wi-Fi (or, if you go with the 3G version, you can download stuff from your cloud or buy stuff from the store anywhere at all).
I was already a huge book fiend, but the Kindle honestly changed my reading life in a big way, and if you love paper books, e-ink is going to be the best possible substitute.
I've gone to the Amazon Kindle page in order to compare them side by side and have already decided I won't be going for the original Kindle. Looking at the three options I'm not sure I can see why the Voyage is $70 more than the Paperwhite. Is it just the buttons and adaptive light sensor? The Paperwhite and the Voyage both have the same storage capacity, battery life, wifi or wifi and 3G, and the same pixel number. I'm not sure if I would bother with the higher priced Voyage for buttons and the light sensor. Is Amazon the only place I can buy a Kindle?
And yeah, that's pretty much the only difference (the pixel thing is a recent upgrade to the Paperwhite, admittedly). Touchscreens drive me mad while reading (and most of the time, really), so I needed the buttons to not drive myself bonkers. :x
You can generally get them at Best Buy and Target--I know there are other stores that sell them, but they seem to be very area-specific. Amazon isn't the only place to get them, though it is often the easiest.
I've been looking at all my local electronics stores, most of them don't sell them at all or sell only non-Kindle devices, but I finally found that Dick Smith has a wide range of Kindles. I got a bit of a surprise at the prices, $199 for the Paperwhite and $299 for the Voyage.
Do touchscreens drive you crazy because you constantly touch the screen while reading and accidentally turn the page? Because that might drive me crazy enough to pay the $100 for the buttons.
Like I said, though, your mileage may vary quite a bit; I get the idea that other people don't have the problems I have with touchscreens, and the Paperwhite is absolutely a solid device.
In addition, though I can't say for sure, given on your local postage service, Amazon has been pretty amazing about getting packages (especially Kindles of any kind) delivered very safely--everything is boxed right up, and they'll take it back for a full year if anything goes wrong with it.
Oooh! I'm actually getting excited about the prospect of having an e-reader, I never thought I'd say that. I'll have to make an effort to get through as many library books as possible so I can get straight into a nice long eBook (I've been avoiding anything longer than 50 pages because I don't want to read it on the laptop).
Personally with all the things apps available on the iPad I'd probably just go with that and use the Kindle app. if my Kindle died tomorrow I probably wouldn't replace it.
My laptop is nearly glued to me during my waking hours, I'm only imagining using the e-reader when I go to bed for my habitual before bed reading, or on the less frequent occasion when I read during the day. If I do need the internet while I'm reading I'll simply grab it off the coffee table it sits on during the short period of time that it's not sitting on me.
In my opinion, a dedicated e-reader is the best for reading. E-ink is as comfortable on the eyes as reading a regular paperback book, but even more so because you can adjust the font to your liking. If you get a device like the Kindle Paperwhite or Voyage that has the “front lit” technology, you can also have comfortable lighting no matter where you are. Tablets, phones, and computer screens are “backlit” which can cause eyestrain and which tends to glare badly in the sunlight. E-ink e-readers don’t have any glare. Another advantage to an e-reader is that you’re more likely to just focus on reading without being distracted by e-mails, games, the internet, etc.
I currently own a Kindle Voyage (I’ve also owned the Kindle Paperwhite and a few other previous Kindle versions) and a Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5” tablet. The tablet I own is quite a nice one, but I never use it for reading. I tried a couple of times, but it wasn’t nearly as pleasant as reading on my Voyage. If I were in a situation where I could only keep one of my devices, my Voyage is the one I would cling to.
It will be interesting to see how you feel about e-books after using an e-reader for a while. I had to read a physical paperback book recently because it wasn’t available in an e-format and it drove me a little nuts. I find e-books much more comfortable and less distracting to read. Just give it a little time to get used to it. The page turns will probably seem the oddest part but it’s so much easier and faster to be able to just tap the screen to turn the page (or press a button if you get something like the Voyage). I use the screen touch and the buttons interchangeably on my Voyage, depending on the position I’m in. I like having the option, but I’ve lived with touch-screen only and it didn’t bother me much. The main thing I love about the buttons is that I can keep both hands under the cover if I’m cold and snuggled up on the couch with a blanket over me. You can’t turn the page by touching the screen with your hands under the cover, but you CAN press the buttons through the cover.
Mum recently bought a Samsung iPad and has generously offered to let me read on it, but I really can't see myself being comfortable with putting the multiple erotica titles that I've picked up for free within reach of my mum, who's likely to ask probing and difficult to answer questions like "Why do you want to read a book like that?". I think I need my own semi-private e-reader rather than sharing with an overly inquisitive parent.
After all this discussion I can't wait to get my hands on it and get it all set up for some serious reading, but Mum and I aren't going shopping till next Thursday, on my actual birthday. In the meantime I'll have to keep myself busy reading all my library books before my BRAND NEW KINDLE arrives and I become temporarily preoccupied.
Thank you all again for how much help you've been. I could never have come to such a firm decision so fast without all your input. I'll post a picture of my new baby next week.