Anybody have an e-reader?

[JimsCAL]

Bought my wife one of the new Kindle WiFis ($139). Great screen for use in the sun and even can check email and websurf.

[TintedChrome]

I have two.. a Kindle2 and the Sony PRS-505 (touch screen).

Both are great, and both are good at different kinds of books. I find PDF's don't work particularly well on either (the Sony sometimes tries to reformat it, and until recently the Kindle didn't allow zooming in and out - a problem with small txt)..

Also, the touch screen on the Sony is great, but introduces an element of glare - the kindle's screen doesn't suffer from this problem, but I find navigation can be cloogy..

If what you're reading is mostly text then they work really well. If what you're reading is diagram or picture heavy, you're probably better off with something like an ipad.

Just like everything else, there's a really good forum dedicated to e-readers - MobileRead Forums. The guys and gals there are sure to be able to answer any questions you may have..

[svsirius]

I have an iPad for book reading amnonst other task [not navigation]. I primarily bought it for the book function and now have significantly expanded use [email/work stuff]. I have four readers on it ibooks,kindle,B&M,Borders and good reader - all were free apps at the time. depending on the title one or the other maybe the best source. all in all no regrets however I still think they charge too much for ebooks.

[CatalinaRob]

I bought a Kindle and love it for reading in-general. This past summer, I used it on my boat on a few weekend-sleepovers. I subscribed to a newspaper and it automatically uploads the daily paper which is nice when your on the hook.

You can also check your email with the Kindle but its really not best suited for such use. The 3g (I think its 3g) access comes free with the unit.

- Rob

[speciald]

I have a Kindle and a droid phone . I have both the Kindle app and Audible.com app on the Droid. I like using audible books offshore so as to limit the chance of sea sickness. I use Bluetooth headphones with the Droid. On-island in Sint Maarten, I must download new books to my laptop and then transfer them to the Kindle as the 3G doesn't work there yet. I'm a big reader - more than one book/week.

[Cruisingdad]

Have Kindle and it is very prized. That thing will run forever without little charges. It is perfect for a boat - esp small boats.

That being said - I still maintain a collection of paperback (and leatherback) books that I cannot get rid of. Like was said above, I still enjoy holding a book and the Kindle cannot replace that. But be aware that you can get pretty much any book (some of the old classics for free or almost free), it has a dictionary that id's words fo ryou when neccessary, has a bookmark function so you always find your place... it is the future. Paper books will die (IMHO). Also, you can easily read it in the cockpit or bright daylight whereas others do not have that option (like a laptop or some other screens).

THey have a sale going on right now for like $139 IIRC. We paid $189ish for ours... wish we would have waited!!

Brian

PS As I recall, Kindle also keeps track of the book syou buy so that if you lose your Kindle, you can get them back I think for free from their database. But that is hear-say. We keep a close eye on ours, when my son is not stealing it away to his V berth (no kidding).

[cb32863]

Also, in regards to Kindle, Amazon has a free version for your PC. So if you already have a laptop, you can down load the Kindle reader application to your laptop and then get your books as you would if you had a Kindle.

[GEO42]

When the wife and I where cruising most stops visited by cruisers had book
swaps but that was befor Kindle. My wile is an avid reader and loved browsing the book swaps in every port.

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by GEO42

When the wife and I where cruising most stops visited by cruisers had book
swaps but that was befor Kindle. My wile is an avid reader and loved browsing the book swaps in every port.

Agreed. Have the same thing here.

Brian

[eryka]

@Larry and Suzi - Many thanx for the links - there are 642 (!!!) books in the "nautical" category and Dan is reading one on our netbook right now.

@Brian - Nothing will ever replace for me the curiosity of looking at what is for exchange at bookswaps. Especially when you find, for example, a cache of books in another language, like German, in an English-speaking place and wonder about the journey those books came on.