[markvan]

[quote="ctitanic"]

A picture says more than 1000 words.

quote]

I'm with SteveHoward999. This device is huge and unwieldly compared to my Dell X51v.

I looks like that photo was taken out of doors, and I must say the screen looks great in comparison to the 2 PPC's. But I do most of my reading in doors. So that is not a concern for me. And in door reading the PPC must look a lot better with it's full range of color compared to the Kindle's 4 levels of grey. Also the DPI on my X51v(216) is far superior to the Kindle's(167).

I think the only things the Kindle has going for it is that it is readable outdoors and has a decent way of ordering books and handling DRM.

But as neither of these reasons affect me, I will stick with my PPC for reading ebooks for now.

[markvan]

[quote="ctitanic"]

A picture says more than 1000 words.

quote]

I'm with SteveHoward999. This device is huge and unwieldly compared to my Dell X51v.

I looks like that photo was taken out of doors, and I must say the screen looks great in comparison to the 2 PPC's. But I do most of my reading in doors. So that is not a concern for me. And in door reading the PPC must look a lot better with it's full range of color compared to the Kindle's 4 levels of grey. Also the DPI on my X51v(216) is far superior to the Kindle's(167).

I think the only things the Kindle has going for it is that it is readable outdoors and has a decent way of ordering books and handling DRM.

But as neither of these reasons affect me, I will stick with my PPC for reading ebooks for now.

[ctitanic]

[markvan]

Forgot to mention I have the type setting on my X51v set really small. (I got my eyes lasered about 6 years ago.) So the amount of words I see on a page are probably more than what is viewable on the Kindle in the picture.

So I guess it really comes down to the user of the device. How good their eyes are and how/when they are going to use it. I like the PPC because it can be used with one hand easily, is portable and has a better resolution (which my eyes can handle).

[Ed Hansberry]

To each his own ctitanic. Not everyone wants to carry a device as large as the kindle, and not everyone wants to read a screen as small as a Pocket PC.

The kindle isn't for everyone. Glad you like it though. It is what choice is all about.

[ctitanic]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

To each his own ctitanic. Not everyone wants to carry a device as large as the kindle, and not everyone wants to read a screen as small as a Pocket PC.

The kindle isn't for everyone. Glad you like it though. It is what choice is all about.

You are absolutely right.

I just wanted to show that out there are other worlds. When you are a reader and you carry around a paperback, to carry a Kindle or a Sony, or any of the others, its not an issue. The contrary you have the satisfaction of knowing that now you are carrying not one paperback but hundred of them.

I know that for some, to carry it in a Pocket it's a bigger satisfaction. I was satisfied too for long time but in my case I found that those cases where the illumination did not allow me to see what was on the screen were far more than what I would liked to have. It was enough for me to sit close to a door or inside of my car or in the gazebo I have near the pool in my backyard (my preferred place). Now I have gained back all those places where to read in my x51v or in my Samsung Q1 was just a dream. I do not have to sit any more in the dark.

[DaveStall]

I have been reading most of my books in electronic form since I discovered Peanut Press shortly after I bought my Palm III. The sole reason I migrated to the PocketPC platform was for the better screen to improve my ebook experience. I bought a Rocket Ebook at one point, but support quickly evaporated and the thing was way to large to be a practical mobile reading platform.

I gave up on MS Reader a long time ago, and I now read 90% of my books with Mobipocket Reader and the other 10% with Ereader Pro. Mobipocket has a fantastic conversion utility to get nearly any format into the Mobi format. I also don't have to deal with MS DRM hoops. I have never had a single issue with my purchased Ereader or Mobi books, even when changing to a brand new device so I don't see how DRM concerns are much of an issue as long as you avoid MS Reader.

[bigkingfun]

I used to read a lot of ebooks on my Pocket PC. I would almost always go looking for an ebook version of any book I wanted before I bought the printed version.

Over the last couple of years, that's changed pretty significantly. I don't read anything on my Pocket PC anymore. I still read a lot of ebooks but almost always in PDF format, and in most cases I print them out to read them.

There are several reasons I quit reading ebooks on my PPC. First, I started working from home so I have a lot less idle time than I did when I was commuting. I also always have a computer close at hand, so it's easier to read on a large screen if I want to read something electronic.

I also prefer the feel of paper, and no matter how good the screen is a PPC can't measure up to the visual quality.

There's also no DRM issues with paper. I used to have to mess around with things every now and then to reactivate MS Reader or to dig up the password and credit card number needed to open Peanut Press ebooks. Short of losing the book, there's really nothing that can stop me from reading a real book.

And lastly, part of the reason I used to read ebooks so much was the W?BIC! factor (is that still used here? I might be dating myself a little :wink: ). I'm a lot less interested in doing something just because I can than I used to be. Now I'd rather do something because it's more efficient/effective.

[SteveHoward999]

Originally Posted by bigkingfun

Now I'd rather do something because it's more efficient/effective.

Interesting how we all differ so much in our preferences.

I've been working from home all of this century (!!!). I often travel with my work, so reading in the airport or wherever is a joy with my phone or PDA as carrying 100 books takes a whole lot less space than carrying even one bulky paperback.

I spend the working day at my PC or laptop. I'm happy to be able to lie on the floor, on the couch, sit on the porch, lie in bed ... etc reading. Can't really do all of that in comfort with the laptop.

I cannot ***stand*** pdf as a book format. I find every other eBook format I've used more efficient, easier to use, more pleasant etc. And I certainly won't be printing out 500 page book on A4 or Letter paper for oh so many reasons, not least of which is sheer bulk :-)

I do actually have one physical reason why I prefer phone and/or PDA for reading my books. I have nerve issues that mean I find it hard to hold on to a book for more than a few minutes without experiencing pins and needles in my hands and pain in my elbows. For whatever reason I don't have the same issue with handheld devices ...

... then there's the hassle of turning pages v's stroking a toggle switch ;-)

[Mona13]

I exclusively read ebooks and have since my first PPC 6 years or so. I love not having the weight of a paperback. Plus if I was almost fnished with one, I had to carry two.

My husband likes me not keeping him awake at night while I read.

I read MSReader books the first year or two, hit the "activation" issue and went searching. Found Peanut Press, now eReader and never looked back. eReader is awesome. They have good sales, good DRM, and I can download my books whenever I want. I use the pro-reader and purchase/download straight to my Tilt.

I hope they're here to stay. I'd go into withdrawal. i read a lot and would really miss them.

Mona13

[KH]

I have enjoyed this thread. I have been reading eooks since the formats were truly fledgling - I lost quite a few books to defunct formats and purchased this again when they resurfaced elsewhere - and Ed once suggested I was giving eReader/Palm/Peanut Press much of their funding (and I still don't want my family to know the $$$ invested!). So, >10 years and counting. eReader is my favorite (and now, only) encrypted format. Pocket PCs are too easily replaced and I don't want to have to get permission to reactivate my books. BTW (and sorry if someone has mentioned this and I passed it by) eReader books can be read on PCs. Not that I would want to - I have several IPAQs that can be preesed into service - but it adds a level of security about the format. I love Baen Books too - has anyone noticed they picked up the PC Hodgell books (Godstalk, etc - fabulous!) from Meisha Merlin, and now the Subterranean Press line? Fictionwise is also great - and they have many incentives. I have made great progress toward replacing my library electronically.