Tell me about...e-readers...

[CMPunk]

I've used it to put Kindle books on my Kobo before

[photon]

Was it DRMed (maybe they did put in the decryption stuff into Calibre, just would be shocked if they got away with it)?

How did you get the actual file?

[Ashartus]

I've got a Sony PRS650 - absolutely love it. The Kobo touch is probably pretty similar; people who have tried a lot of different readers generally seem say Sony has the highest build quality and best reading software, but they cost more money than a Kobo or a Kindle. The PRS650 is a touch screen, and doesn't have any space taken up by anything like a keyboard. On the downside you need to buy books on your computer and load them onto the device (the Kobo can purchase books directly with a wireless connection, and the 3G Kindle can buy books anywhere with a 3G connection), but personally I prefer to organize my books on my computer anyhow so that's not an issue for me.

I'd definitely recommend an e-ink screen if you'll be reading mainly novels etc., and get a case with a built-in light for reading in the dark.

If you're going to stay legal, you need to consider that Kindles more-or-less lock you into Amazon (there are some other sellers with .mobi format that can be read by a Kindle), while pretty much every other reader uses EPub format allowing you to shop around for the best price a bit more. Also note that many books have geographic restrictions due to publishing contracts, so you can only legally buy them in certain countries. Last I heard Kobobooks had the biggest selection in Canada, though Amazon are close (for the US I believe Amazon have the biggest selection).

If you're not worried about legality and don't mind stripping DRM off books and converting formats, none of that matters and go with the reader you like the best.

There's a lot of good information at http://www.mobileread.com/forums/ about the different devices, formats, etc.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by photon

Was it DRMed (maybe they did put in the decryption stuff into Calibre, just would be shocked if they got away with it)?

How did you get the actual file?

I found a torrent with a massive Kindle file in it...just downloaded it and used Caliber to convert everything to Epub and that was that...didn't notice anything else

[photon]

Ah well yeah a torrent file would have the DRM stripped.

[Burninator]

If you read lots I would suggest a Kindle or Kobo. If you read very occasionally but want something to browse the web, watch videos, play games etc. then I would suggest the iPad. But when it comes to reading books the e-ink screens are hands down without question better than an iPad.

I originally bought an iPad that would double as my e-reader. Ending up selling it and buying a Kindle. It's heavy, too much glare from the screen, totally unusable in the sun and harder on my eyes. The kindle is lighter and smaller than most books, works in the sun, almost no glare and the same on my eyes as a real book (no eye strain). I have a small LED book light that I use for reading at night. I didn't like reading with the iPad at night. I found it was harder on my eyes as you are pretty much staring into a light bulb.

The iPad is a jack of all trades, master of none. The Kindle (Kobo, Sony etc.) are specialists when it comes to reading.

[photon]

When I read at night with the iPad I crank the brightness waaay down and that helps a lot.

But otherwise I concur, the eInk screens are the best for reading.

Except comics, the iPad was BORN for comic books.