Advice on buying a new Ereader

edercito · 11-16-2009, 03:08 PM

Hi all,
I have been a leech in these forums for over a year now. I have a Kindle 1, but I think it's time to get a new reader. I'd like to get one before Christmas but I can be patient if need be.

One of the things I'm looking for is a reader that can download content wirelessly, particularly newspapers. I'm not too impressed by the Kindle 2, so I'm looking at the Nook and the Daily Edition. I admit this is an odd comparison given price difference and the fact that neither of these devices is out yet. Nevertheless, here it goes:

To me the main difference between these two readers is the bigger and touch sensitive screen on the Sony Daily Edition. I don't care too much about content, as I mostly read public domain works. And while the bigger screen might make reading PDF's a less painful experience, I don't think ereaders are quite there yet, so I'll keep wasting paper in the meantime when I read my beloved physics papers.

My question to current Sony Touch Edition owners is if you had two devices X and Y with roughly the same specs except for the two main differences listed above, would this be worth a 50 % price difference? Any comments would be highly appreciated.
Eder

Dulin's Books · 11-16-2009, 03:18 PM

what is your price limit?

edercito · 11-16-2009, 03:33 PM

Hmm, probably the maximum I'd be willing to pay for an e-reader is $400.

JSWolf · 11-16-2009, 03:37 PM

Sony Reader PRS-900 (Daily Edition)

wallcraft · 11-16-2009, 03:43 PM

Your best option is probably the iRex DR800SG. Like your other options, it isn't out yet but its 8.1" screen is going to be better for "original layout" newspapers than the others and it has some content lined up. See IRex’s Hamilton Details Plans For Publishers; NewspaperDirect, News Stand, Storefronts.

Dulin's Books · 11-16-2009, 07:10 PM

i'd wait until after January 7th just to see the price of the Que.....

Nitrousoxide · 11-16-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

i'd wait until after January 7th just to see the price of the Que.....

This. I'm really excited about the Que.

edercito · 11-16-2009, 10:57 PM

I had written off the DR800sg thinking that it was $449 at BestBuy, but if the price is $399 I'll check it out when it's released. I have read about the Que; unfortunately I'm not as excited as they usually use the phrase "business user" when they describe the device. I fear that means a "business" price as well.

HansTWN · 11-17-2009, 01:48 AM

Well, if the Que has a bigger and unbreakable screen, WiFi and better functionality it would definitely be worth more than the DRG 800.

LDBoblo · 11-17-2009, 02:56 AM

My hunch is that that Que is gonna be pretty sluggish like most of the other choices out there too. The kind of device that will make people say "wow this would be awesome, if only it were good".

I'll hold off on actual judgment until the release, but I'm not too optimistic about it.

brecklundin · 11-17-2009, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edercito

I had written off the DR800sg thinking that it was $449 at BestBuy, but if the price is $399 I'll check it out when it's released. I have read about the Que; unfortunately I'm not as excited as they usually use the phrase "business user" when they describe the device. I fear that means a "business" price as well.

But don't forget devices targeted for business users almost always also have a business grade build quality as opposed to consumer grade device build quality. Better materials & QC cost extra and are worth every penny. Not sure any reader device is worth $400 but, who knows anymore.

As an example look at HP's Compaq business lines of laptops and other devices, the Latitude line from Dell, and I forget if Lenovo has a business line. The consumer grade devices from the same company are cheaply built. One reason is few, I forget the number but it was at least 80%, consumer grade devices ever leave the house. I have to wonder if the same holds true for consumer build readers. Though I am not sure the market has really diverged just yet...but, it will eventually.

Nitrousoxide · 11-19-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

My hunch is that that Que is gonna be pretty sluggish like most of the other choices out there too. The kind of device that will make people say "wow this would be awesome, if only it were good".

I'll hold off on actual judgment until the release, but I'm not too optimistic about it.

Why would you think it'll be sluggish?

LDBoblo · 11-19-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitrousoxide

Why would you think it'll be sluggish?

Everything shown from Plastic Logic thus far (working pre-B&N demos) has been very slow in use. Also, they're still EPD and will have to play within those limitations. There aren't any EPD readers that aren't slow.

Again, I'm reserving judgment for when there are actual products out there to be seen, but there's no reason to assume that the Que will have swift performance when Plastic Logic's technology has never been shown that way. Sure sure, they always say "well it's not been optimized yet", but it's highly unlikely that it'll be completely different.

HarryT · 11-19-2009, 02:03 PM

The other unknown factor with the Que is that it runs Windows CE rather than Linux. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is an unknown, as far as performance is concerned.

wallcraft · 11-19-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

Everything shown from Plastic Logic thus far (working pre-B&N demos) has been very slow in use.

The demos were presumably not using the (up to) 800 MHz Marvell ARMADA 166E which will be used in the shipping device. Marvell says that EInk screen refreshes will be faster, and the enTourage eDGe will be using this processor in a netbook/reader combo device (so it has to be reasonably capable).

11-16-2009, 03:08 PM	#1
edercito Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stanford, CA Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 Wifi	Advice on buying a new Ereader Hi all, I have been a leech in these forums for over a year now. I have a Kindle 1, but I think it's time to get a new reader. I'd like to get one before Christmas but I can be patient if need be. One of the things I'm looking for is a reader that can download content wirelessly, particularly newspapers. I'm not too impressed by the Kindle 2, so I'm looking at the Nook and the Daily Edition. I admit this is an odd comparison given price difference and the fact that neither of these devices is out yet. Nevertheless, here it goes: To me the main difference between these two readers is the bigger and touch sensitive screen on the Sony Daily Edition. I don't care too much about content, as I mostly read public domain works. And while the bigger screen might make reading PDF's a less painful experience, I don't think ereaders are quite there yet, so I'll keep wasting paper in the meantime when I read my beloved physics papers. My question to current Sony Touch Edition owners is if you had two devices X and Y with roughly the same specs except for the two main differences listed above, would this be worth a 50 % price difference? Any comments would be highly appreciated. Eder

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11-16-2009, 03:18 PM	#2
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	what is your price limit?

11-16-2009, 03:33 PM	#3
edercito Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stanford, CA Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 Wifi	Hmm, probably the maximum I'd be willing to pay for an e-reader is $400.

11-16-2009, 03:37 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,956 Karma: 138256890 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Sony Reader PRS-900 (Daily Edition)

11-16-2009, 03:43 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Your best option is probably the iRex DR800SG. Like your other options, it isn't out yet but its 8.1" screen is going to be better for "original layout" newspapers than the others and it has some content lined up. See IRex’s Hamilton Details Plans For Publishers; NewspaperDirect, News Stand, Storefronts.

11-16-2009, 07:10 PM	#6
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	i'd wait until after January 7th just to see the price of the Que.....

11-16-2009, 10:57 PM	#8
edercito Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stanford, CA Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 Wifi	I had written off the DR800sg thinking that it was $449 at BestBuy, but if the price is $399 I'll check it out when it's released. I have read about the Que; unfortunately I'm not as excited as they usually use the phrase "business user" when they describe the device. I fear that means a "business" price as well.

11-17-2009, 01:48 AM	#9
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	Well, if the Que has a bigger and unbreakable screen, WiFi and better functionality it would definitely be worth more than the DRG 800.

11-17-2009, 02:56 AM	#10
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	My hunch is that that Que is gonna be pretty sluggish like most of the other choices out there too. The kind of device that will make people say "wow this would be awesome, if only it were good". I'll hold off on actual judgment until the release, but I'm not too optimistic about it.

11-19-2009, 02:03 PM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The other unknown factor with the Que is that it runs Windows CE rather than Linux. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is an unknown, as far as performance is concerned.

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