ebooks: thumbs up or down? Which brand?

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by Secguru

Regarding free e-book downloads, many of them are complete copyright infringements, totally pirated books offered free on the internet, including all of the technical books I have authored.

You cannot imagine how an author feels to work for two years on a book, only to have a bunch of websites pirate it and offer it for free.

Despite the temptation to download an e-book to an iPad, Kindle or Sony for free, it pays to remember that authors and publishers ARE damaged by this. What is the incentive to write or publish when all that work is stolen and transmitted to non-paying readers?

Perhaps, but not all are. Many of the classics are, in fact, out of copyright. Im a fan of these.

[Canlib]

We have been using a Kobo for a while and love it and the iPad is my favorite mobile device.
Got a color nook for Xmas and I'm dazzled. Now if B&N will support Canada life will be grand!
Even without the ability to buy books, we load up the readers from the e-books section at the public library.
Comparing the three devices is a bit like apples and oranges. The Kobo is the old model and it was under $100. Loads and reads books just fine even in Waikiki sun. The nook (2air should like the name) was $250 comes with a wireless browser and color screen. Still needs a computer connection to load non-Barnes and Noble books, pdfs etc. The iPad is a lot more money for a lot more machine.
IMO any e-reader is better than hauling paper around.

[jcanavera]

We have a Kindle 1 and an iPad. The iPad has a Kindle app so she gets almost all of her reading material from Amazon. The nice thing is that she can read the same book from either device and that both the Kindle and iPad app can keep track of where she is with the book. Her choice of device is completely dependent upon the reading conditions. The Kindle is the best choice in reading in bright light. The iPad showing its benefits when dealing with pictures and colors.

Jack

[JBinKC]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

Rodney,

Having used the Kindle for a while are you glad you spent the extra $$ for the 3G function?

Kevin

I say don't spend the extra $$ for the 3G function. The wifi version holds hundreds of books, so load it up and head out.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by JBinKC

I say don't spend the extra $$ for the 3G function. The wifi version holds hundreds of books, so load it up and head out.

We were tempted to save the cash go the WiFi only route but chose the 3G/WiFi instead. Glad we did as it works great for us. The telltale was when we went to purchase...all the 3G's were sold out but they had plenty of the WiFi only versions.

Great device none the less.

Kevin

[LisaP]

Love the Kindle app on my TMobile phone. Easy to read and my book is with me anywhere i go.

[Silverexpress]

My sister in law has a new !pad and really likes it. We took it to Costa Rica and was able to connect to wireless networks and check on email and such. A nice unit and everyone liked to use it. I will likely get one at some point. Far easier and lighter to pack around than a laptop.

[cda3]

I'll admit that I'm a bit of a techie and for either work reasons or personal play, I tend to accumulate a variety of tech gadgets. I use my PC workstation or laptop for business, my MacBook for consulting and personal use, my iPhone for phone, email and text, and I have had a Kindle reader that I love. I thought my iPad would replace most of the devices for everyday use. It hasn't. Don't get me wrong. I love it. I answer emails and use it for reading newspapers and a bunch of other daily tasks.

When it comes to reading a book, I still pick up my Kindle. It looks like a book, feels like a book, and reads like a book. No eyestrain, no temptation to check my emails, no distracted surf on the web - just the joy of falling into another literary world.

My advice is if you need a multi-purpose device then wait until April when the iPad 2 is introduced and pick one up (or check out the new Android Zoom when it is released later in the year.) If you mainly want to read a book - jump at the Kindle. It is a great price, a great gadget and backed by a great company. And you won't pay AT&T or Verizon for a monthly wireless data package!

Rissa