Best ereader for a heavy library user?

domromer · 10-12-2010, 09:52 PM

Lately I've been thinking more and more about getting an ereader. The problem is that I almost never buy books. So I'd need something that can work well with libraries that rent ebooks. From what little research I've done it seems the kindle would not be a good fit, where it seems sony's models would work better.

I'm not real concerned about wifi and I'd like to spend close to $100.
I'd be very appreciative yo hear some other model recommendations.
There are so many models to choose from and it would be nice to hear from people whom actually own them.

FizzyWater · 10-12-2010, 10:36 PM

I love my Sony 650, and it works with library ebooks. But I believe the Nook and Kobo (which are less expensive and more in your price range) will read the library books, too.

Overdrive page on compatible devices

rcuadro · 10-12-2010, 10:37 PM

If I were you I would consider spending about $150 and getting the Sony PRS 505... great reader!

bill_mchale · 10-12-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domromer

Lately I've been thinking more and more about getting an ereader. The problem is that I almost never buy books. So I'd need something that can work well with libraries that rent ebooks. From what little research I've done it seems the kindle would not be a good fit, where it seems sony's models would work better.

I'm not real concerned about wifi and I'd like to spend close to $100.
I'd be very appreciative yo hear some other model recommendations.
There are so many models to choose from and it would be nice to hear from people whom actually own them.

Anything that supports Adobe Digital Editions (most readers other than the Kindle) will work with Libraries. If being able to use it with libraries and the price are your primary deciders, I would check out Borders and Targets for closeouts on the PRS-300. Borders is advertising them for about $109. There are rumors of some Target stores selling them for even less!

--
Bill

SeaBookGuy · 10-13-2010, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

If I were you I would consider spending about $150 and getting the Sony PRS 505... great reader!

The 505 is long out of production, and contains a deal-killer for library users with its format conflict. Stay away! The 300's and 600's they're unloading cheap right now have the same flaw.

Sony 350 for $179 sounds like a good bet for you, unless you want to wait for the Kobo 2 perhaps? Nook doesn't sound like a great deal for someone who has no plans to purchase books (from B & N).

desertgrandma · 10-13-2010, 12:17 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, domromer

taming · 10-13-2010, 12:29 AM

Make sure to check to see that your library actually has an e-book program (or is planning one). There are 221 libraries in Alberta that have them--and my city is not one of them, despite being the third largest in the province.

Ryan_Phx · 10-13-2010, 12:35 AM

I use my Nook for borrowing from our local library and I love it. The wifi version is $149. I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of the ereaders lately, and the Nook definitely feels more solid and well-built than the Kobo or some of the other cheaper readers. The Sonys are good, but the navigation and interface is a bit goofy, in my opinion. If I were you, I'd go to the store and get my hands on both a Sony and a Nook, and see which one feels more natural for you.

Fbone · 10-13-2010, 12:39 AM

Keep in mind that books published by Macmillan and Simon & Schuster are not available from public libraries as ebooks. You'll still need to read those in hardcover.

domromer · 10-13-2010, 12:57 AM

I like the look of the kindle. It looks like I'd be able convert the epub format for the kindle with calibre. So the kindle seems to be the most bang for your buck. I like the kobo as well but the reviews mention very slow page turning. So maybe I'll wait for 2nd version to come out.

Will the kobo work well with PDF files. I currently read many large documents on my iPad that are formatted as PDFs.

FizzyWater · 10-13-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domromer

I like the look of the kindle. It looks like I'd be able convert the epub format for the kindle with calibre. So the kindle seems to be the most bang for your buck. I like the kobo as well but the reviews mention very slow page turning. So maybe I'll wait for 2nd version to come out.

Will the kobo work well with PDF files. I currently read many large documents on my iPad that are formatted as PDFs.

If you're going to break DRM to convert to Kindle, why not just read on the iPad you already have?

domromer · 10-13-2010, 10:10 AM

The iPad makes my eyes hurt and weighs too much.

bill_mchale · 10-13-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

The 505 is long out of production, and contains a deal-killer for library users with its format conflict. Stay away! The 300's and 600's they're unloading cheap right now have the same flaw.

Sony 350 for $179 sounds like a good bet for you, unless you want to wait for the Kobo 2 perhaps? Nook doesn't sound like a great deal for someone who has no plans to purchase books (from B & N).

Ummm, what format conflict? The 505 (post firmware update), the 300 and 500 all support Adobe Digital Editions and therefore, should work just fine with most libraries.

--
Bill

blogbook · 10-13-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Ummm, what format conflict? The 505 (post firmware update), the 300 and 500 all support Adobe Digital Editions and therefore, should work just fine with most libraries.

There is an issue that borrowed epubs and pdfs can not be read at the same time on the same (Sony) reader. I don't know whether this problem still occurs with the new devices.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78529

ProfCrash · 10-13-2010, 11:19 AM

First, check with your library and make sure that they have the books that you want in e-book format. If not, start looking for where you can go to get the books you want. E-books at the library is a pretty new thing and many folks have reported their libraries not having the best selection. You may find that the selection is not to the point where you want to invest in an E-reader.

If you do find that you want one, I would say get a Nook. It is less expensive and has a better book store then the Sony. Yes, you are getting it for library use but you could find that you start buying books and you may as well have a reader that allows that to happen.

10-12-2010, 09:52 PM	#1
domromer Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Something that works well with libraries.	Best ereader for a heavy library user? Lately I've been thinking more and more about getting an ereader. The problem is that I almost never buy books. So I'd need something that can work well with libraries that rent ebooks. From what little research I've done it seems the kindle would not be a good fit, where it seems sony's models would work better. I'm not real concerned about wifi and I'd like to spend close to $100. I'd be very appreciative yo hear some other model recommendations. There are so many models to choose from and it would be nice to hear from people whom actually own them.

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10-12-2010, 10:36 PM	#2
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I love my Sony 650, and it works with library ebooks. But I believe the Nook and Kobo (which are less expensive and more in your price range) will read the library books, too. Overdrive page on compatible devices

10-12-2010, 10:37 PM	#3
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	If I were you I would consider spending about $150 and getting the Sony PRS 505... great reader!

10-13-2010, 12:17 AM	#6
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, domromer

10-13-2010, 12:29 AM	#7
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Make sure to check to see that your library actually has an e-book program (or is planning one). There are 221 libraries in Alberta that have them--and my city is not one of them, despite being the third largest in the province.

10-13-2010, 12:35 AM	#8
Ryan_Phx Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 1660 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandusky, OH Device: Galaxy Tab S2, Nook, Kindle DXG	I use my Nook for borrowing from our local library and I love it. The wifi version is $149. I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of the ereaders lately, and the Nook definitely feels more solid and well-built than the Kobo or some of the other cheaper readers. The Sonys are good, but the navigation and interface is a bit goofy, in my opinion. If I were you, I'd go to the store and get my hands on both a Sony and a Nook, and see which one feels more natural for you.

10-13-2010, 12:39 AM	#9
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,231 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Keep in mind that books published by Macmillan and Simon & Schuster are not available from public libraries as ebooks. You'll still need to read those in hardcover.

10-13-2010, 12:57 AM	#10
domromer Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Something that works well with libraries.	I like the look of the kindle. It looks like I'd be able convert the epub format for the kindle with calibre. So the kindle seems to be the most bang for your buck. I like the kobo as well but the reviews mention very slow page turning. So maybe I'll wait for 2nd version to come out. Will the kobo work well with PDF files. I currently read many large documents on my iPad that are formatted as PDFs.

10-13-2010, 10:10 AM	#12
domromer Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Something that works well with libraries.	The iPad makes my eyes hurt and weighs too much.

10-13-2010, 11:19 AM	#15
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	First, check with your library and make sure that they have the books that you want in e-book format. If not, start looking for where you can go to get the books you want. E-books at the library is a pretty new thing and many folks have reported their libraries not having the best selection. You may find that the selection is not to the point where you want to invest in an E-reader. If you do find that you want one, I would say get a Nook. It is less expensive and has a better book store then the Sony. Yes, you are getting it for library use but you could find that you start buying books and you may as well have a reader that allows that to happen.

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