E-book readers - your opinions?

[Stan_Lite]

In an effort not to derail and clutter the book review thread, I thought I'd make this one.

I recently bought a Sony PRS-600 Reader Touch. The main reason I bought it is that my job means I work away from home for a month at a time with no access to a bookshop. I am confined to reading whatever I bring with me or whatever I can find on the rig. Some rigs have a "library" where people will leave any books they don't want to keep for others to read if they want. This one doesn't so I have to make do with what I bring. If I have a quiet month, it's not unknown for me to read 3 or 4 books while on the rig. I usually carry 4 books with me just in case - I can't really carry any more due to the weight and bulk. That's all very well and good but once I'm on the rig, I'm stuck with what I took with me. If I get there and decide I don't fancy any of the books I brought, I'm stuffed - I just have to read them anyway.

Now that I have the reader, I don't have that problem any more. I quite literally have a library of thousands of books I can choose from. I have 200 or so already on the device and I can download any book I can find on the internet (for the appropriate fee). I no longer have to decide which books I'm likely to want to read while I'm away, nor do I have to lug 2 kilos of paper around with me.

I find the reader comfortable to hold, easy to read and easy to navigate. Page turning is achieved either at the touch of a button or, because I have the "Touch", a swipe of the screen. I can also store photos on it (albeit in black and white), I can play music through it while I read, I can make notes and mark pages for later reference and I have access to a dictionary - all in one device. Marvelous.
I do still like the feel of a real, paper book in my hands but the convenience of this device more than makes up for the tactile loss. All in all, I'm delighted with it and consider it to be the best £230 I have spent in a long time.

I'd be interested to hear how other people get on with them (or not) and peoples opinions on them.

[karbon]

ill tell you once the iphone 4.0 software laucnhes

[leowyatt]

The one Burble's got is very nice

[LeperousDust]

I think they're of limited use personally, i like them, but at current prices i'd never buy one. In your situation as you say its perfect though, quite simply! I'm impressed with the hardware and as e-ink evolves were onto something good hopefully So i'm all for them, i just think a lot of people have them for the wrong reason. Also a real e-reader is far far far and above better than any LCD device pretending to be one (ip** i'm looking at you! )...

[Kitten]

I think they're nice, but I don't have any reason for one. I love the feel of a good book and will carry one with me everywhere. However the only place I'd really use a reader would be on holiday and for the cost, I just wouldn't trust myself with it anywhere it might get damaged. I also stare at a screen for so long every day, I think it's good to get away from it when I want to relax and read. I always have a few books loaded on my iphone though, just in case I get stuck somewhere without a book *FEAR*

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by LeperousDust

I think they're of limited use personally, i like them, but at current prices i'd never buy one. .

This and after using an Ipad. I would have no problem reading books on it for very long periods so would make a much more sensible option. Smart phones are far to small.

[Stan_Lite]

I've tried reading books on an LCD screen and found it a horrendous experience. I can read on my e-reader for hours very comfortably.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

I've tried reading books on an LCD screen and found it a horrendous experience. I can read on my e-reader for hours very comfortably.

have you tried on an ipad though. LCD screens differ massively and the Ipad screen is very easy to read from IMO.

[Stan_Lite]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

have you tried on an ipad though. LCD screens differ massively and the Ipad screen is very easy to read from IMO.

I haven't tried an ipad. I would have no other use for one. I spend more than half my time on the rig where my existing laptop and e-reader fulfill every need I have far better than an ipad would.
When I'm at home, I would have very little use for it either having easy access to 4 PCs and 3 laptops. If I bought one, it would just end up being a very expensive e-reader.

The Sony Reader is ideal for me as all I want it to do is allow me to read books. Regardless of how good the ipad screen is, I doubt very much whether any backlit screen would be as comfortable to read as an e-ink screen. Also, the ipad weighs 1.5kg whereas the Reader Touch weighs a measly 286g. I wouldn't fancy trying to read in bed for more than 5 minutes holding onto the ipad.

[Pebs]

I'm lucky in that I have no need for one. I adore the physical presence of books, reading is a huge part of my mental wellbeing (drama much?!). I've had access to the afore mentioned reader and while it does exactly what it says on the tin it left me wanting.

God I sound nuts don't I. I'm lost without books, it's really that simple.