Exact same question was asked this morning at 9.24am . Every seen the "search" button in the bar at the top? Always a good idea to check before posting.

Thanks for that, but I am wondering if they are any good in themselves? I think that thread mainly establishes that you probably can get your hands on one if you want...

Wondering about functionality - is the eink any good, can you read them in the bath

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=665452

The Sony e-book reader might be another option? I have one of those and am very pleased with it.

Threads merged.

No idea why you feel the need to be a smartarse so much. Comet addressed that in the paragraph you left off when quoting her.

No need to be so snippy. Nothing wrong with pointing out the library to those that are complaining about the cost of books. You'd be surprised at how many people don't even think about it as an option. They quite often have large print books as well, although not really a vast selection.

As for the electronic readers my mom has a Sony (I think it's a Sony) and I know you can make the font very large in order to read it. I quite liked it when I had a look, the screen looked quite a bit like paper (ie. not super bright like a computer screen).

As for the method of books I have no idea. There's always downloading (free yet illegal). I only comment on that because I know it can be done, the other methods of tricking the system I have no idea. Perhaps a google search might be in order?

Yes, I know how much you and some of your friends like to invade a thread and complete derail it.

But some of us prefer a thread to stay on topic.

(I notice that as usual you had nothing to contribute to the topic of the thread.)

I contribute plenty on here and have done for a while. Don't like being pulled up as a bitch then don't be one.

I have both toys, bought in the US and I now use them in Europe. I got the Kindle about 8 months ago, kinda wish I'd waited for the iPad to be honest but the one thing I do really like using the kindle for is subscribing to newspapers. I find I actually read more of it on the kindle thatn I ever did when I bought the actual paper.

I have my iPad registered to a US address and then I just use Apple gift vouchers (that I buy myself ... I know .. Billy no mates has to buy his own gift vouchers ;-) ) but I can then purchase US content for iTunes etc.

The Kindle is now registered in Europe and the content is from the European store but originally I had it registered in the US and had access to all the US content but my brother got sick of paying the bill and cut me off ;-)

I've used it on a recent trip to Australia and NZ and it worked a treat :-)

The system itself is very good, great quality liquid 'paper' but my only gripe on the kindle is that there is no backlight.

Yes you can change the font size on the Sony. I think the e-ink technology is great, it is nothing like reading from an LCD screen which I think is bad for the eyes. Certainly would give me a headache anyway.

The biggest advantage I have found is that it is lighter and smaller than most books and of course on holiday you can bring a whole selection of books with you.

The most disappointing thing about it is that there is not any noticeable price difference between ebooks and paper books. I buy my ebooks from Waterstones and there are sometimes offers, just as there are in the shops, but on the whole the prices are on a par.

My first ebook reader was purchased in the US whilst I lived in Bermuda. I could only buy books with a US credit card (which I didn't have) or with Borders gift vouchers, so I stocked up on them. I now have a UK book reader (I trod on the old one) and I believe that if I use a UK credit card and a UK proxy internet address thingy, I would be able to continue using it in Australia.

iPad. /thread


Seriously, why would anyone consider a kindle, or sony reader, when the iPad will do it so much better - and more!!!

The gadget show on five in the UK did a test of these book readers, and said that the kindle is not so good for anyone outside the US.

I am sure that the iPad has a lot more functionality than the Sony book reader, but it doesn't use the e-ink technology or similar. That is why I would not choose it over the Sony reader, I have never seen a kindle.

I believe that the ipad screen is much the same as a screen on a laptop, so if I were reading from it for an hour or two, I think I would end up with a splitting headache. Whereas I can use the sony reader for hours on end without causing headaches or eye strain.

I have a iriver Story e-ink reader and love it as it does what I want (to read books for hours on end) perfectly. No eye strain (as from an LCD over longer periods of time) and can carry hundreds of books with me at all times. The battery lasts for 2 weeks of reading 3 hours a day, so cant complain there either.

Obviously it does not have the multiple functionalty of the iPad, but I have other devices for internet/games/music etc if I really want them...

As mentioned there is virtually no legal way to obtain ebooks in Aus, and if you can they are oftern MORE expensive than the actual books - go figure!
The publishers are missing the boat here, unless they get legally downloadable popular books easily available and at a reduced rate to the hard copies, then people will get used to downloading illeagally - like the case was with music.
E-book readers (whether iPad, Kindle or others) are here to stay, and trying to convince people to pay for content when they have got used to getting if for free cause there was no legit way to get it, will be a tough sell.

Anyway, if you can get the content then the e-ink reader gets a huge thumbs up from me - it suprising how little you miss reading a "real" book after a while.

I don't have one myself, but a chap I work with swears by his Kindle - he says it really is the perfect medium for reading books. I'm not so convinced myself - I think I would rather buy something with a little more functionality than just reading.

As for the availability of eBooks, well I don't have much idea, though I am familiar with the ridiculous parallel importation regulations surrounding books here.

I think it's time that the media companies really had a long look at how they are distributing their content. The technology has changed massively in the last 10 years, yet they seem so unwilling to update their business models. Until they start actually catering to what the consumer wants, I can't see that 'piracy' is going to go away any time soon.


S