e-reader/ tablet advice

50Twuncle

My wife wants an e-reader / tablet
The primary use will be to read books but also browse the web and emails..
The choice appears to be either a Kindle Fire HD or an Android tablet..
If we get a Kindle - it doesn't come with 3G but comes with WiFi - how do we pay for any books ?
Do we need to register a card or do you pay "as-and-when" ?
What she really wants is a 3G Kindle Fire HD - That also allows downloading of books from free sites .... (but that doesn't exist)
I assume that a Kindle Fire HD is limited to the download sites - can you download books from free sites ?
Any advice welcome.

mummyroysof3

A kindle is linked to amazon account to purchase books. I use a normal type kindle but bought the kids a cheap android tablet but wish I had bought a kindle fire instead. It's a shame the fires aren't 3G tbh but you can download lots of books before a holiday for example to last you or use a place withfree wifi to check emails etc

50Twuncle

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

A kindle is linked to amazon account to purchase books. I use a normal type kindle but bought the kids a cheap android tablet but wish I had bought a kindle fire instead. It's a shame the fires aren't 3G tbh but you can download lots of books before a holiday for example to last you or use a place withfree wifi to check emails etc

So - can you confirm that a Kindle can't download (or even read) PDF books downloaded for free from elsewhere ?
Do they have a card slot on them ?
If so - what is to stop you from downloading them elsewhere - sticking them on a card and displaying them on the Kindle ?
How much do books cost to download from Amazon ?
And what is web browsing like / and emails ?
Plus is the device fast to boot up ?

50Twuncle

Can Amazon books (and other "pay for") books be downloaded to an Android Tablet ?
My wife wants a light weight device to browse the web using - rather than getting her bulky laptop out .....

50Twuncle

OK She's decided that Android may be better
Next Question - which one ?
a 10" - quad core Jelly Bean model ???
Rather than 7"

mummyroysof3

I have never tried to put anything on mine that doesn't come from amazon. Sorry but can't advice on other tablets as I bought cheap one for kids which as I said I wish I had bought a kindle fire and I have an iPad. In regards to the prices etc of kindle books spend some time browsing the kindle store to get an idea. I read a lot of books from the free top 100 as I'm not a fussy reader.

mummyroysof3

Personally I prefer 10 inch rather than 7 for Internet usage. Doesn't matter for games or reading for me

mummyroysof3

You can get the kindle app on an android tablet. Would be the best of both worlds then...depends on what she will use it for mostly. Tablets are hard to read on the sun though so bear that in mind if will be used on holidays.

ukbuyer

21Twinkle wrote: »

My wife wants an e-reader / tablet
The primary use will be to read books but also browse the web and emails..
The choice appears to be either a Kindle Fire HD or an Android tablet..
If we get a Kindle - it doesn't come with 3G but comes with WiFi - how do we pay for any books ?
Do we need to register a card or do you pay "as-and-when" ?
What she really wants is a 3G Kindle Fire HD - That also allows downloading of books from free sites .... (but that doesn't exist)
I assume that a Kindle Fire HD is limited to the download sites - can you download books from free sites ?
Any advice welcome.

Morning

You have a few choices.
If you want an ebook reader then you cannot do better than buy a dedicated ebook reader. A tablet of any kind can do the job but the issue comes when you want to read in daylight, specifically when on holiday in the sun! You cannot read the screens.

If you opt for an ebook reader then go for either an Kobo Glow or a Nook simple touch glow light. Both have built in lights, for reading at night in the dark and both use e-ink so they are perfect for reading in daylight or bright sunlight. The Nook has just come down to £69. so this is a real steal. Look on the JLP website or google "nook" and go to the uk nook web site. I paid £109 for mine when it come out and its worth every penny. I read much more now than I ever did. It fits in a pocket so it goes everywhere with me.

On the nook and the Kobo you can add books from almost any source including the Library using Adobe Digital Editions which will allow you to transfer books with DRM (Digital Rights Management). This way you can loan books without the trip to the Library and they simply expire after the loan period.

If you want the best possible reading experience then look at the Kobo Aura. Search for WH Smiths kobo aura.. I cant post links. Had to edit them out to post.

Its a bit pricey but if you want to read then this is the BMW of ereaders. I have not seen one yet as they only recently came out.

Kindle have their ebook readers and they are very good but they are tied into the Amazon web site. This is good and bad. Buying books is easy and done through your Amazon account, linked to your credit card. You connect through Wifi or 3G depending on the model. The issue I have with this is that you unless you know a few tricks you are limited to Amazon.

With Kobo and Nook (Barnes and Noble) you can buy from almost anywhere. Its epub format and commonly used.

Do a search on calibre an essential tool to manage your books. It will also convert from format to format and its free.

OK so thats ebooks.
If you want a tablet there is a lot of choice but research carefully and think what you want them to do.

Size
7inch 8inch 9.7 inch or 10.1" are the main sizes.
They will all let you read ebooks using the Kindle, kobo, nook apps. There are also lots of other ebook reading apps out there on the google play store.

Google nexus is one of the better ones but at £159 its now very expensive for a 7" tablet. Acer have a 7" that is being promoted on ebuyer.co.uk at the moment for £99 and then £20 cash back = £79 which is OK. The build quality is not anywhere near as good and it will not have built in GPS, if that is important to you.

Archos have been around for years so I would look at the Archos 80xs or 101xs (8" adn 10.1 inch). Both come with keyboard protectors and both are pretty good tablets. My preference is the 80xs as this is more my preferred ideal size. Both have GPS built in which is something that I MUST have.. They will also tether to my mobile phone so I can use my internet connected phone, linked wirelessly, to my tablet to browse the internet. Works great.

You could also look at Samsung tablets as the build quality is great and the prices, if bought when they are promoting, is pretty good.

Remember though, if your prime reason for getting a tablet is reading and you are wanting to do this on a sunny holiday then get an ebook reader as well. One that does not have a back light can cost as little as £29 at the moment which is nuts! Look on the JLP web site! Amazing value.

Hope that helps..

Chow..... :-)

50Twuncle

ukbuyer wrote: »

Morning

You have a few choices.
If you want an ebook reader then you cannot do better than buy a dedicated ebook reader. A tablet of any kind can do the job but the issue comes when you want to read in daylight, specifically when on holiday in the sun! You cannot read the screens.

If you opt for an ebook reader then go for either an Kobo Glow or a Nook simple touch glow light. Both have built in lights, for reading at night in the dark and both use e-ink so they are perfect for reading in daylight or bright sunlight. The Nook has just come down to £69. so this is a real steal. Look on the JLP website or google "nook" and go to the uk nook web site. I paid £109 for mine when it come out and its worth every penny. I read much more now than I ever did. It fits in a pocket so it goes everywhere with me.

On the nook and the Kobo you can add books from almost any source including the Library using Adobe Digital Editions which will allow you to transfer books with DRM (Digital Rights Management). This way you can loan books without the trip to the Library and they simply expire after the loan period.

If you want the best possible reading experience then look at the Kobo Aura. Search for WH Smiths kobo aura.. I cant post links. Had to edit them out to post.

Its a bit pricey but if you want to read then this is the BMW of ereaders. I have not seen one yet as they only recently came out.

Kindle have their ebook readers and they are very good but they are tied into the Amazon web site. This is good and bad. Buying books is easy and done through your Amazon account, linked to your credit card. You connect through Wifi or 3G depending on the model. The issue I have with this is that you unless you know a few tricks you are limited to Amazon.

With Kobo and Nook (Barnes and Noble) you can buy from almost anywhere. Its epub format and commonly used.

Do a search on calibre an essential tool to manage your books. It will also convert from format to format and its free.

OK so thats ebooks.
If you want a tablet there is a lot of choice but research carefully and think what you want them to do.

Size
7inch 8inch 9.7 inch or 10.1" are the main sizes.
They will all let you read ebooks using the Kindle, kobo, nook apps. There are also lots of other ebook reading apps out there on the google play store.

Google nexus is one of the better ones but at £159 its now very expensive for a 7" tablet. Acer have a 7" that is being promoted on ebuyer.co.uk at the moment for £99 and then £20 cash back = £79 which is OK. The build quality is not anywhere near as good and it will not have built in GPS, if that is important to you.

Archos have been around for years so I would look at the Archos 80xs or 101xs (8" adn 10.1 inch). Both come with keyboard protectors and both are pretty good tablets. My preference is the 80xs as this is more my preferred ideal size. Both have GPS built in which is something that I MUST have.. They will also tether to my mobile phone so I can use my internet connected phone, linked wirelessly, to my tablet to browse the internet. Works great.

You could also look at Samsung tablets as the build quality is great and the prices, if bought when they are promoting, is pretty good.

Remember though, if your prime reason for getting a tablet is reading and you are wanting to do this on a sunny holiday then get an ebook reader as well. One that does not have a back light can cost as little as £29 at the moment which is nuts! Look on the JLP web site! Amazing value.

Hope that helps..

Chow..... :-)

Thanks - a useful writeup - I think that a Google nexus Tablet may be the best way forward - isn't technology cheap nowadays ?
My first MONO laptop (a HIGH SPEC 25Mhz processor - with a whopping 2Mb RAM and a huge 100Mb HDD) - Cost me over £1500 in about 1994 !!!

JJ_Egan

The £29 Nook is ok but i don't rate the viewing as good as on my Galaxy 10.1 Note or Galaxy SGS3 .I use Kindle and Akido e-book apps from the Play store .

Huge volume of free e-books available from many sources .

jje