Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ereader

Is upgrading from a Kindle Keyboard to a Paperwhite worth it?

iamisaid — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:00:44 -0800

I've had a Kindle Keyboard with lighted case that I've been pretty happy with for a couple of years. However, I'm thinking of upgrading to the Paperwhite for the improved display. Is it worth the price, and is there any trade-off in battery life? After trying out the Kindle app on the Nexus 7, I was pretty blown away by the screen quality of my books. I actually felt more compelled to read them as a result. However, I find e-ink to be much easier on the eyes, so I'm sticking with Kindle.

The screen on my Kindle Keyboard isn't bad, but I'm wondering how it compares to the Paperwhite for long-term reading.

For those who have used both the Kindle Keyboard and the Paperwhite, do you think the upgrade is worth it solely for the better screen?

Bonus question: how does the Paperwhite battery life compare to that of the Kindle Keyboard with lighted case? Better, worse, about the same? (I know this is somewhat dependent on the Paperwhite brightness setting)

Nook Simple Touch Glolight: embedded fonts and drm-free files.

Faintdreams — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:10:37 -0800

I have a Sony prs 600 touch Ereader that is about to expire. To replace it I am considering a Nook Simple Touch Glolight I just have three specific questions about the Nook that I need answered. Details inside I am considering the Nook Glolight for two specific reasons:

1 - The built in light will mean I can read at night time, without need for additional light. I currently use, my iPad, but staring into a backlit LCD is messing up my ability to get to sleep.

2 Nooks have the Opendyslexic font as a system font built in as a system font.

I am in the UK, and so far have been unable to handle one in person, but from the spec description it doesn't seem too dissimilar in size and dimensions to the sony reader.

So I have three specific questions:

1 - So do you have a Nook Glolight and what do you think of it - particularly the reading light.?
2- How comfortable do you find holding it for long periods of reading?
3- I know I can put my own drm-free epubs (sideload) onto a nook via Calibre (or just plugging in via usb), but will hardware system fonts like opendyslexic work with my own files, or will I still have to change the css /fonts in each book individually?

I don't want to buy a kindle because most of my digital library is in epub format which kindle doesn't support out of the box

What's the best e-reader for me?

Scientist — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:39:58 -0800

I know pretty much nothing about the e-reader market right now, but I'm thinking about taking the plunge. Given my particular requirements, what is likely to be the best e-reader for me? So I've realized that lately I've been doing a lot more onscreen reading than on-paper reading -- mostly on my laptop and my phone. I'm OK with this but neither of them are perfect, and I've been thinking that since this situation seems unlikely to change in the future, it might be time to spring for a dedicated e-reader. Problem is, I don't really know what the landscape looks like for e-readers right now. I do, however, have a good idea of what I am looking for in such a device.

The three main file formats that I read are PDF, ePUB, and TXT in that order, followed by DOC/DOCX. This does not look like it is going to change for me, so I really would like an e-reader that has native support for at least the first three of those formats. I do not buy ebooks from any online markets nor do I have any interest in doing so, but I constantly have to read scientific articles which are typically provided in PDF format, and spend almost as much time reading freely-available fiction which may be presented as a PDF or TXT file but which I prefer to get as ePUB when possible. I also frequently have to read notes, memos, and other emphemeral documents which generally come to me as TXT or DOC/DOCX files. It would be nice to have basic HTML rendering capacity as well but the only truly required formats are PDF, ePUB, and TXT. I could get by with just PDF and ePUB if forced to I suppose, but good native support for at least those two formats is an absolute requirement. Yes, this rules out the Kindle. PDF support should include highlighting and annotation capability.

The other biggest requirement for me is a good screen. The whole point of an e-reader is that you are going to stare at it for long periods of time like you would a book, so I feel like having the best possible screen is kind of a key selling point. I know that I definitely want an e-paper display, that's mandatory. High resolution and high contrast, as well as an excellent backlight, seem like they would be the most important factors here. Also, it would be nice if it were bigger than the 6" size that seems to be standard these days (the PDFs I read are usually two-column documents and rarely reflow well) but that's not a dealbreaker. I think I would prefer a touchscreen interface.

It should also, of course, have reasonable build quality and a thoughtful, responsive UI -- I don't want to spend hours a day gripping something that feels like a piece of trash and is frustrating to actually operate.

I need to be able to keep my documents synced across the various devices that I use: primarily a laptop, phone, and this hypothetical e-reader. Currently I use DropBox for this, but would be willing to deal with another solution as long as it is similarly seamless. I do not require 3G support, WiFi is good enough for me as long as it is easy (ideally automatic) to keep my personal library synced across my computer, phone, and e-reader. I would like to have the option of browsing my library in the filesystem rather than in some custom library app if possible (at least on my laptop, anyway) because I am a cranky old man in that way. I would vastly prefer local storage in addition to or instead of cloud-based storage, rather than cloud-based storage alone, as I need to be able to access documents while offline.

Price is not really the main object, though obviously I do care about value for money. If there is not currently an e-reader that fulfills all of my desires, I am willing to wait -- especially if there is something in the pipeline that seems like it would work better for my needs.

Oh, and whatever it is it has to be readily available in the U.S. as that is where I live. Thanks very much for your recommendations, I really appreciate it!

Broken Screen, Broken Heart

Fairchild — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:03:31 -0800

Cracked screen on a Kindle Fire HD. Can it be repaired? I received a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas. I cracked the screen a few weeks ago. I dropped it once. It was fine and no damage. A couple weeks later I noticed a crack. It's fully functional but the crack is upsetting.

I don't think the purchaser bought a warranty. I went through Amazon Kindle Help pages and can't find repair services. I am willing to pay for repairs. Has anyone had their Kindle repaired? Is it possible? Thanks for any information.

What can I/should I do with my new-to-me used Kindle DX?

Zed — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:54:16 -0800

I've had an e-reader, but never a Kindle and never one with 3G. I understand the reading PDFs and mobi file part, but what else should I know about: what the 3G is good for; apps; hacks; subscribable Kindle-optimized content; the Kindle ecosystem? Besides Instapaper, are there other convert-stuff-to-read-on-your-ereader things I should know about? You can assume I'm already paranoid about Amazon being in my business and will back up all material to where the Bezos don't shine (and if I ever give in and buy something DRM-ed, I'll strip it.)

My computers are Linux-only, so I'm generally not interested in any Mac or Windows helper applications (unless maybe some Windows-only thing is so totally amazing it inspires me to go through the overhead of setting up a Windows VM.)

International eReader Dilemma

snorkmaiden — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:13:57 -0800

Which is the best eReader for a Canadian who wants access to lots of free reading material? I received a Kindle for Christmas. Yay! But I, and also my Kindle-giving girlfriend, want to make sure that I can get lots of reading material for free. She wasn't aware that Canadian library systems were lending ebooks, so that wasn't the one of the factors she considered in choosing the Kindle, which unfortunately doesn't work with Canadian library systems.

If I keep it, I'll be registering the Kindle in the US (where it was purchased) to maintain access to the wider selection of magazines etc. My girlfriend's library card will give me access to the NYC library system as well, but I haven't been able to find any information online about whether or not that would work when all of us (me, her, the Kindle, the library card) are in Canada.

Otherwise, the Kindle will be returned and replaced with a Kobo or a Sony eReader (unfortunately more expensive than the original gift, so probably ruled out)... which obviously comes with its own set of questions. My priority is really to have free access to a wide variety of reading material, preferably by borrowing rather than pirating. I prefer not to have a touch screen, and I don't care about lighting options or screen size. I like that the Sony isn't locked into a DRM system, and my understanding is that I could buy epub books directly from Canadian publishers with either the Kobo or the Sony, which while not free is still a plus.

What's best? Stick with the Kindle and hope I will be able to access the US library system--even though that's not quite above-board, I might have access to a better selection? Do Canadian Kindle owners have more free book access than I think? Or should I return the Kindle and get a Kobo or a Sony eReader, allowing me to borrow library books in Canada?

Thanks for your help! (Oh, and yes, I know about Project Gutenberg et. al... this question is about contemporary fiction. I'll be reading free classics regardless.)

E-readers and tablets and smartphones oh my.

Modica — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:36:21 -0800

I can't decide if a tablet or an e-reader AND a new phone* is more suitable for my purposes. I don't know much about either market which is why I come to you guys for advice. My main goal is to spend less time on the Internet and more time reading. I waste a great deal of time on the computer, time that I'd rather spend reading and writing. This is why I thought about the e-reader. I had a Kindle several years ago when they first launched that I liked but it broke down on me twice with a weird burn-in issue. But while I had it, I read a lot more due to the easy access to all my books, to periodicals (which I had never spent much time reading but read all the time on my Kindle), and due to the form factor. It also made me feel less physically fatigued than reading a book did.

The problem is, I'm doing a lot of research and reading for my writing these days and most of those come in the form of PDF articles and I know that e-readers in general have been pretty poor at PDF readability and displaying PDFs. That said, these articles are almost entirely text so there are very few graphs or charts to fiddle with. And that's to say nothing of the graphic novels that I'd like to read too.

In addition, I also take a lot of notes as I read. And from what I've read, the onscreen keyboards for the e-readers are not the fastest nor the most accurate. Now, I'm not writing big blocks of text, but I do write notes pretty frequently. Tablets would have a much better keyboard or opportunities for external keyboards.

As far as e-readers go, I want one with light. So I'm between the Kindle Paperwhite and the Nook Glolight, leaning very heavily towards the Paperwhite. And as far as tablets, I want a smaller size too, which is why I'm gunning for the iPad Mini or maybe the Kindle Fire HD.

*The bit about the new phone: For the price of a tablet, I can get an e-reader and upgrade my phone. My current phone (Optimus V) is old and terrible and by upgrading my phone (to an HTC Evo V or One V), then I'd have that internet access when I need it for things like reading blogs/internet articles, listening to music/podcasts, etc., which is primarily what I'd use a tablet for, or so I'd think having never had a tablet or used a tablet. My current phone can do these things, but not very well at all.

What would you guys recommend I do? Do y'all have experience with PDFs and graphic novels on e-readers/on the Paperwhite?

E-readers for the visually-impaired

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:08:29 -0800

Please help me pick the right e-reader for my visually-impaired boyfriend! So, my boyfriend is a very intelligent, well-read guy. He's also extremely visually-impaired (I believe he might be legally blind, but I'm not positive) and struggles with light sensitivity. His sight varies over the course of the day - sometimes he may not be able to read even the largest of zoomed-in text on a computer monitor, other times he can read the print in a regular-print-size book with only a little trouble. This means that as much as he'd sometimes *like* to read a book, it's often just not doable. It seems like an e-reader of some kind would be an ideal Christmas gift for him, since he could dynamically adjust the text size, but I'm not sure which reader would be best given his other requirements. Mefites, what's the best e-reader for someone who:

*Needs to be able to blow text up very large sometimes
*Would use it only for reading books - web, etc are not needed (the ability to look things up in an online dictionary, etc, would be fine, but not necessary. Ditto stuff like the ability to buy via reader from a bookstore). For the same reason, black-and-white-only screen would be just fine.
*Would mostly sideload books onto the reader, rather than buying them from Amazon, BN, etc. Is epub still the most useful standard for this?
*Has sensitivity to light (is a backlit LCD screen going to be a problem? or would having to turn on an overhead light to read e-ink be worse?)
*Is, er, not the most coordinated person in the world. A device that won't shatter to pieces if dropped or knocked around would be awesome, though I know all e-readers are going to have limitations on this, because screens and stuff
*Wears thick glasses, often accompanied by polarized sunglasses (I have no idea if this matters - do different screen types interact differently with glasses?)

We are in the US and not committed to any brand names - if there's a cheap, reliable off-brand reader that fits these criteria, that's as fine by us as if it has to be "Kindle or nothing", but I'm willing to spend a bit more for something that's not going to disintegrate or be obsolete within a year. Price point is ideally under $75, but up to $100 or so.

(anonymous because boyfriend knows about my Mefi addiction and may look in on me here)

Yeah it's new, but is it good?

titantoppler — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 06:53:53 -0800

I'm looking for an e-book reader. I've been pretty wow-ed by the Kindle Paperwhite, but I have some reservations as to whether I should get that (or even get an e-book reader at all) At the outset, I should state that I have a surfeit of mobile devices from which I read (an LG Optimus, an iPod Touch and a hand-me-down iPhone 3GS).

The main problem I have with these devices is the screen size and the comfort (or lack thereof). Thus, I'm looking to get a e-book reader. At this moment I'm leaning towards the Kindle Paperwhite, not so much for the backlight, but more because it has the latest e-ink screen.

The majority of the books I read are in EPUB format. I'm not so concerned about the e-book store, since most of my books are self-created (e.g. news sources and journal articles).

Questions:
1) Should I be concerned that the Kindle Paperwhite cannot read EPUBs? Are there any other e-book readers I should consider? (I'm aware of Calibre, but are there any caveats with using it?)
2) How big is the difference between the Paperwhite's screen vs. something from the last generation, e.g. B&N Nook Simple Touch?
3) How trashy is the PDF support? I'll mostly be reading journal articles where PDF files are concerned.
4) If I do decide to get it, would it be worthwhile to wait for the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales? Or does Amazon not do discounts for the Kindle?

Your advice is very much appreciated!

Cheap, 3G, or readable: pick two

nakedmolerats — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:23:37 -0800

What kind of tablet/reader is best for me? I want something with built-in 3G, but I'd rather not pay an arm and a leg for a contract. The product I am looking for may not actually exist, but I'm hoping MeFites can offer recommendations based on their experience.

Features I want:

-web browsing. I know the Kindles come with "experimental browsers" but are those really slow or annoying? I want to be able to check email, Facebook, Metafilter, etc.

-built in 3G, but free or cheap. I don't know if this is possible. I've read that some Kindles have built-in 3G, but only to access the Kindle library. I really can't afford to pay for a monthly data plan on top of my cell phone bill. But I would like to be able to get online in buses, cars, etc and not have to squint at my 3" phone screen.

- I'd prefer to use Android, and I think the iPad is pretty pricey, but if that seems closest to what I want I would consider it.

Basically, I want something I can web browse on with a bigger screen than a smartphone, maybe watch Netflix on, and use as an e-reader, but not primarily. I like the idea of a Kindle but ideally I want something that is a reader and has web functionality.

Does this product exist? A tablet-sized smartphone, without the phone functions?

(I should add that I have a smartphone and am vaguely aware of tethering, but I use Virgin and I don't think they allow that, plus I'm not very techy and don't know where to start)

My Nook Simple Touch changes pages on its own

kimberussell — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:08:08 -0800

I purchased a Nook SimpleTouch with glow light in May to replace my well-loved Nook Classic. I love it! Except it turns pages on its own. When I was done reading my old Nook, I just would close the cover & pop it in my bag. If I do that with the Simple Touch, when I return to reading I'm a goodly chunk of pages away from where I left off - either forward or backward.

I chatted with Nook support, and the rep's suggestion was that it could have been a bug in the book I was reading at the time. That's not the case, as it happens with all of my books. There are no hairs on the screen, I have a simple folding cover for it, and I've tried doing a hard reset.

My current workaround is bookmarking my current page and clicking the power off button in the back after I've stopped reading. It's a tiny pain, considering I was used to the Nook holding my page for me. But the phantom touch persists. A few days ago the Nook was one click away from signing me up for a free trial of Motor Trend magazine!

I've checked some Nook forums and found one similar question with no good answer. If I have to bring it into a B&N I will, but I was wondering if anyone in the hive has experienced this problem and if there is a solution.

True North Ereader

canoehead — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:28:13 -0800

Canadians who own Kindle or Kobo, opinions please Trying to decide whether to get Kindle or Kobo e-ink reader, what are the pros & cons of each for use in Canada specifically ?
Would like to get Kindle as is more popular but from what I understand the Kindle for Canada has a lot of restrictions compared to the US version (eg, can't get New Yorker, fewer ebook titles than US, no wireless transfer).
Am also interested in trying other things beside the ereader, such as web browsing, send to kindle, etc, does this work in Canada?
Some source say the Kobo actually has more titles available in Canada?
Any Canadians that got a US version kindle?

Books you have to meet in person?

two or three cars parked under the stars — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:40:19 -0800

What are some books you have to meet in person? Books an e-reader cannot do justice? I recently got an e-reader, and I love it to pieces. I'm reading more than ever, and can't go back - turning pages suddenly seems like far too much to ask.

But then there are books like House of Leaves and Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout, which apparently have to be held and handled and looked at to be experienced properly. Very tempting. So I'd like to know, please: What other books are like this? Thank you, MetaFilter!

Recommend good horror novels and short story anthologies

GlassHeart — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:29:18 -0800

Recommend good horror novels and short story anthologies I'm really into horror fiction at the moment want to find more of it to read. I have hardly anything that falls into the horror genre on my E-reader and want this to change.

You may recommend horror novels and short story anthologies by single authors, or various authors; it doesn't matter.

Thanks.

What kind of e-reader do I want?

desjardins — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:28:50 -0800

I want a cheap e-reader for reading longform articles in bed. It must work with Readability or InstaPaper or the like. It does not need to do anything else like games or surfing the intertubes. I have an iPhone for that. Do I want a Kindle?

Nook vs. Kindle? Please help me choose.

D Wiz — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:22:23 -0800

I am looking to purchase an e-ink reader... Been looking at the Kindle and Nook and I am having trouble deciding. One of my top priorities is that books I purchase not be lost in 3, 5 or 10 years down the road. Which device is most likely to be be future proof? I also have specific uses that I want it to work for such as being able to load PDFs of academic articles/books and access to the library (see extended explanation for more uses). Thanks for your help! Heya!

I am looking to purchase an e-ink reader... Been looking at the Kindle and Nook and I am having trouble deciding. Here are a couple of things about my expected use and some questions:

* One of my top priorities is that books I purchase not be lost in 3, 5 or 10 years down the road. Which device has the best support for this and will be easy to export to a common format?
* I do not expect to purchase a lot of books. I will be using the library as well as free books that I can find on the internet so I want something that makes this easy.
* I have a lot of PDFs of academic journal articles and books. Which device will these be easiest to read on (and if possible, take notes on)?
* I own an Android phone as well as have an iPad from work. It is not necessary to sync with these but obviously a perk that Kindle seems to have over Nook.
* I use Read It Later/Instapaper a lot and I would like to be able to quickly take articles I find online and send them to the e-reader for later reading. I noticed this for Kindle but don't know how well it works or whether the Nook has something similar. Are there ways to do this on the nook?
* I travel internationally. I know the 3G version of one of the Kindles would allow free web browsing internationally. Is this still the case?
* I'm not against rooting a device. I have heard the Nook can be rooted but not sure if this buys me anything. Will this make any of the above easier/better?

Thanks so much for your help!

What should I know about buying a Kindle DX?

theclaw — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:07:02 -0800

I'm considering purchasing a Kindle DX, but the current version is two years old and two hardware generations behind the regular Kindle. Is there functionality in the newer versions of the regular Kindle that I would miss when using the Kindle DX? Is it likely to be replaced or discontinued in the near future? Is there anything else that I should know about before buying a Kindle DX?

How do libraries acquire and manage ebooks?

burnfirewalls — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:53:34 -0800

How do public libraries select, purchase and manage ebooks? I am an author and my books are published by an independent publisher. I grew up at my local public library and consider it one of the biggest influences on my life. Given that ebook lending in public libraries seems to be skyrocketing and, given my publisher's commitment to DRM-free ebooks, it should be a match made in literary heaven, where the trumpets are replaced with the serene sliding of pages being turned. Or at least high-quality lossless audio recordings of same.

The trouble is that while I understand how libraries acquire and manage print books, I'm absolutely confounded by the processes shrouding their electronic siblings. Could librarians share how that world works?

$79 Kindle or $60 Kobo (or $99 Nook?)

dahliachewswell — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:07:15 -0800

Which of the cheapest e-readers should I choose, especially considering support for/access to lots of free ebooks? I'm currently eyeing most heartily the $79 Kindle and the $50-60 refurbished Kobo, but open to suggestions... My priorities are:
1) Cheap, $100 or UNDER would be great.
2) Good selection of books and lots of FREE books (library checking out, free downloads, etc.)
3) e-ink

I am considering the Kobo because it supports ePub format and maybe will support more free downloadable ebooks than the Kindle? I've heard lots of complaints about the Kobo but have lived with someone who owned one, it really didn't seem that bad. I'm paying less attention to the Nook/Barnes&Noble because it seems they have skipped the low-end non-touch version of the device and I am trying to go cheap as possible...but I could be convinced if ya'll think I'd be throwing my money away on the Kobo.

Or maybe I can work around the formatting restrictions on the Kindle with the help of Calibre? Would Calibre work and be relatively easy to learn/use on my Acer AspireOne Windows netbook? I'm not particularly PC-saavy but I'm open to learning new skills!

Oh, also, I'm pretty much always going to use the cable and my PC to update it, as there's not much WiFi in the rural area of developing country where I live.

Thanks for your help! There are so many options and not many reviews out there comparing these "low end" devices now that the flashy tablet hybrid things exist.

E-reader Reading Light Recommendations

backwards guitar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:40:36 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a reading light for an e-reader. Do you have a reading light for your e-reader that you absolutely love? I've just picked up a Kindle (4), and I'm looking for a decent light for use in bed, and when I'm travelling at night. Some criteria:

Not integrated into a case - I don't tend to keep my devices in a case unless I'm throwing it in a bag with other stuff.

I think re-chargeable would be the way to go. Either with its own battery, or using an AAA (or possibly AA battery).

Nothing too bulky would be my preference, and a long battery life would be appreciated.

I'm in Canada, so being able to buy it in store here, or online from a Canadian source would be best.

iPad or Android tablet to design illustrated books?

TheGoodBlood — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:23:06 -0800

I want to make e-books: should I get a Android Tablet or an iPad? I run a micropress, and we've been designing paper books for a while. Now we want to make a jump to e-books. Our books are very heavy on illustration/images and light on text, so we thought (also after seeing that Chris Ware opted for an iPad story) that we would skip the e-reader format all together at least for now and go directly to a tablet (interactivity and screen size being the main issues here).

I don't know much about tablets, but I can say that I find Apple's strict policies a pain and unfair. I know that I'd have to pay to develop an app and keep on paying, but I don't know if the iPad is the only tablet that's worth create something for right now. I'd rather try a format that's open, but I'd like to have readers too. Besides, I don't know which Android tablet would be a good one - suggestions?

Any ideas? Also, if not adopting e-readers sounds like a bad idea, let me know why!

Thanks, mefites!

If this isn't the droid I'm looking for, which one is?

indiebass — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:01:45 -0800

Black Friday gave me a deal on a Nook Color that was too good to pass up. I'd like to dual boot Android on it using the SD slot and make it a functional tablet, but there's so many Android flavors out there... which one should I use? As mentioned, I managed to pull in a brand new Nook Color on Black Friday for ridiculous-cheap, and while I would have probably preferred an iPad, I cannot afford one, so the price made my decision for me.

Primarily, I need it to read a ton of pdfs for school, and I understand RepliGo Reader for Android will even let me highlight and annotate them, which is what I want (what I really really want) but is, for some reason incredibly hard to do with most device software.

But the question is: which Android should I put on it? As a non-tech type person, I wanted to do it as easily as possible, preferably with the SD slot, and the N2A option seemed to be the easiest way, but from what I can gather, it's quite the premium on the price of the SD card, and it's running some form of Gingerbread (?) and casual asking around said should be looking for Honeycomb? but isn't there a FroYo and whatnot, and some past MeFi advice has said cyan-something... it's all a bit confusing.

No matter what I do, I don't want to void the warranty, but I think this tabletification is still a possibility. So I turn to the Hive Mind for advice. Is it worth it just to pay the extra dough for the commercially available easiness of N2A?

As always, my thanks in advance!

Two eReaders enter . . .

PhoBWanKenobi — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:14:58 -0800

Should my next eReader be a kindle touch or a nook touch? I've happily been a nook classic owner for over a year now, but I'm sick of having to recharge frequently so I'm thinking of buying a new eInk reader.

I'm not sure whether I should buy the new nook or the kindle, though. The devices are nearly identical, at around the same price point, but there are several mitigating factors:

I have a large library of nook DRMed epubs. Like, several hundred books. I'm pretty certain those could be converted, but I imagine it would be a bit of a pain, right?

I'm a book reviewer, and I frequently receive books for review in .epub format. Would owning a kindle make reading these onerous/annoying?

I have an amazon prime account. The new lending option sounds dang good.

I also really liked my 3g on my nook classic. It's no longer available with the new nook. It is available for a bit more money on the kindle. Buying books on long car rides was nice.

I'm a bit unsure of how to weigh all of the above. Anyone here have experience dealing with converting epubs for kindle, or converting a nook library, or would just generally be able to offer some guidance?

(iPad etc is not an option. I want an eInk device with a really long battery life.)

e pluribus paginis unus

General Tonic — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:51:02 -0800

How can I convert a web site, which is organized as a table of contents linking to 200 or so individual html "chapters", into one ebook? I would like to read this book, linked this morning on the blue, on my ereader in epub format. I know Calibre can convert html to any ebook format, but I'm having trouble figuring out the best method of converting 200 html files into an easily navigable and readable format for an ereader.

I'd like to avoid two hours of copying, pasting, and cleaning up. I guess I could laboriously add every single page to Instapaper and then download the result as "unread." But I thought there might be a better way. Might not.

Li'l help here?

Ebook reader with good PDF support?

daniel_charms — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:20:39 -0800

What's the best ebook reader for reading PDF-s, specifically academic papers? With the number of papers and books I read in digital form constantly growing, I've recently started looking into buying an e-reader, since reading them on an e-ink screen would seem to be easier on the eyes than staring at a computer screen all day. Some of the more popular models, however, don't seem to work for me, since they either only have very basic pdf support, no way to make annotations, or both. I've read and watched tons of reviews of different readers, but they really don't tell you much about the (day to day) experience of using such a device for this purpose, so I'd like to hear about yours.