e-book readers - which one to choose for elderly relative?

Legacy_user

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~Beanie~

Kindles are definitely lighter than iPads. Kindles are less than 170g, a 1st gen iPad is 1.5lb!

No, all e-readers do not have back-lights so if that is what you want, you would need to make sure you purchase one that has that feature.

There is no compatibility between makes. Kindle uses .mobi format; Nook and Kobo use .ePub format, not sure about others.

Don't know how other brands compare, I only have a Kindle but have no complaints about it at all and would quite happily buy another one should anything happen to my existing one.

macman

E-readers are very different to tablets in terms of screens. If she already has a Kindle library, then a Kindle Paperwhite is the obvious choice, subject to the above.
All e-readers except Kindle use e-pub. Kindle is a proprietary locked format and you can't (legally) read e-pub books on it..

System

Thanks for replies above
Anyone else have any ideas for me?
Thanks

pedrothefish

due an illness my wife can no longer hold paperbacks due to them being too heavy. She now uses the basic kindle and doesnt have any problems with the weight now.

More4me

One more thing to consider is that local libraries are now offering e-books and magazines to download, usually free, will this be compatible with the e-reader you are planning to purchase?

Humphrey10

rosyq wrote: »

My elderly relative has an iPad with Kindle app installed so is used to reading e-books.
She says the iPad is too heavy to hold so she's wondering about a Kindle or similar.

iPad minis and the iPad Air are a lot lighter than previous iPads (iPad 2 = 601g, iPad Air = 469g), so one of those might be light enough.

However if she is just using it to read e-books then get a Kindle Paperwhite - much cheaper, lighter, and easier to read on than an iPad.

macman

More4me wrote: »

One more thing to consider is that local libraries are now offering e-books and magazines to download, usually free, will this be compatible with the e-reader you are planning to purchase?

They will be unless it's a Kindle. All UK libraries use e-pub.

System

Thanks for all your replies folks
She's going to find out what her library have to offer, but I'll probably get a kindle if they're easy to read on.
Thanks

poppy10_2

I'd definitely go for the Kindle, the experience much more like reading a paper book than the glare from LCD screens on tablets. Plus they are easier to use as they only really have one function