Hi, has anyone any experience of some of these new Android E-Readers? I was looking for something to read pdfs, things like Full Circle Magazine (http://fullcirclemagazine.org/downloads/), Linux Format pdfs and some programming manuals I've got - all Linuxy Languages of course. However, these are mostly 7" in size and although probably ok for text, I'm a bit unsure whether they would be big enough for fixed format pdfs? Anyone used one yet. Next do a 10" one but it's a bit pricey (£180) - http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/electric/carryover/10/13 I'd feel better with that one but for that price I could buy a cheap Netbook - maybe that would be the best option. Any opinions greatly received before I splash my cash. Rgds, Martin
On 08/10/10 11:02, Martin Collins wrote:
Next do a 10" one but it's a bit pricey (£180) - http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/electric/carryover/10/13
Everywhere I look the Next/Zenithink ZT180 gets really very poor reviews for being a badly made piece of tat with an unresponsive touchscreen and laughable battery life. http://www.pda-247.com/wordpress/2010/10/next-10%E2%80%9D-tablet-review/ About the only people that have anything positive to say are people that bought them purely to hack about with android on a tablet. Also Next should really fix the product feature icons, 1GB of RAM and 60GB HDD *cough*
Hi Martin A mate has just got a Kindle and it seems very good for a reader. Also you have internet access all the time too. A cheap way to surf ? Maybe it can be hacked to provide a WiFi hotpsot too? The screen can be seen from about 89 degrees from the side. The electronic paper seems very good and lives up to its name. I have a HTC Desire phone with Android on it, and I find it very good, simple and efficient. But it likes the battery more than my Blackberry. 2 or 3 days a charge, rather than once a week, depending on usage obviously! I think that the choice you have is, do you laptop? or do you iPod ? I have the laptop on my lap and feel that holding the screen up at the correct viewing angle could not be good for my wrists. In this case get the laptop. I guess I could get used to iPoding just a change I suppose. Just my 2p. Keith ----------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 11:02:42 +0100 From: mobile.sea@gmail.com To: main@lists.alug.org.uk Subject: [ALUG] Android Readers
Hi, has anyone any experience of some of these new Android E-Readers?
I was looking for something to read pdfs, things like Full Circle Magazine (http://fullcirclemagazine.org/downloads/), Linux Format pdfs and some programming manuals I've got - all Linuxy Languages of course. However, these are mostly 7" in size and although probably ok for text, I'm a bit unsure whether they would be big enough for fixed format pdfs? Anyone used one yet.
Next do a 10" one but it's a bit pricey (£180) - http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/electric/carryover/10/13
I'd feel better with that one but for that price I could buy a cheap Netbook - maybe that would be the best option.
Any opinions greatly received before I splash my cash.
Rgds,
Martin
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On 11/10/10 06:18, keithjamieson@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
A mate has just got a Kindle and it seems very good for a reader. Also you have internet access all the time too. A cheap way to surf ? Maybe it can be hacked to provide a WiFi hotpsot too? The screen can be seen from about 89 degrees from the side. The electronic paper seems very good and lives up to its name.
Please don't try and do that, some of us are liking the fact that it can be used for free emergency internet access with the built in (but somewhat limited) browser. Things like that going on and Amazon will start putting some payment mechanism in place for it.* But yes seconded, the Kindle is an awesome bit of kit. So much so I have forgiven Amazon for some of their previous silliness (including some around the Kindle initially). * That said, if you turn debug mode on you can exec stuff from the search box including the copy of netcat you uploaded via USB so it wouldn't be impossible to make it do that *cough*
On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:32:02 +0100 Wayne Stallwood <ALUGlist@digimatic.co.uk> allegedly wrote:
But yes seconded, the Kindle is an awesome bit of kit. So much so I have forgiven Amazon for some of their previous silliness (including some around the Kindle initially).
Talking of luddites... I'd like to be a real one here if I may. I actually /like/ books. I like the fact that I can lend them to people, I like the fact that I can read them in the bath, drop them when I nod off, and know that they are still (just) readable afterwards. I like the fact that I can scribble in the margins. I like way they are actually objects of beauty in their own right (can you imagine a bookshelf full of kindles?). I like the fact that the words remain the same between me putting the book down and picking it up again (that may not always be the case for electronic words). I like the fact that when I have bought a book, I can be sure that the words will still actually /be/ there when I next pick it up and won't have been remotely erased by the publisher. Oh and I like the way they feel and smell. Call me old fashioned. Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 mick wrote:
Talking of luddites... I'd like to be a real one here if I may.
I actually /like/ books. I like the fact that I can lend them to people, I like the fact that I can read them in the bath, drop them when I nod off, and know that they are still (just) readable afterwards. I like the fact that I can scribble in the margins. I like way they are actually objects of beauty in their own right (can you imagine a bookshelf full of kindles?). I like the fact that the words remain the same between me putting the book down and picking it up again (that may not always be the case for electronic words). I like the fact that when I have bought a book, I can be sure that the words will still actually /be/ there when I next pick it up and won't have been remotely erased by the publisher. Oh and I like the way they feel and smell.
I totally agree - I have hundreds, if not over a thousand books (partly thanks to having worked for Clays the book printers in Bungay for a few years in the 90s ;-). I love just furtling through them, especially my large collection of 1970s and 1980s computer reference books (VIC-20, 64, PET, 6502, BBC, Spectrum programming, etc). However, I also love the idea of a Kindle (I've been playing with the Android app version recently), as it would save having to haul around 5 or 6 heavy O'Reilly books if I fancied a spot of light tech reading on the train... Simon - -- - --------------------------------------------------------------------- Simon Ransome http://nosher.net Photography RSS feed - http://nosher.net/images/images.rss -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mandriva - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iD8DBQFMtMU48tdcY+OcZZwRAsnvAJ4nz9XUjXUg1G/wqoxdPCROkbFY5wCg4ALb LtgOtevNEySVX4qCYKG/waE= =AHcd -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On 12 October 2010 21:29, simon ransome <simon@nosher.net> wrote:
I totally agree - I have hundreds, if not over a thousand books (partly thanks to having worked for Clays the book printers in Bungay for a few years in the 90s ;-). I love just furtling through them, especially my large collection of 1970s and 1980s computer reference books (VIC-20, 64, PET, 6502, BBC, Spectrum programming, etc).
However, I also love the idea of a Kindle (I've been playing with the Android app version recently), as it would save having to haul around 5 or 6 heavy O'Reilly books if I fancied a spot of light tech reading on the train...
I had to join in the thread just because i like the word 'furtle' so much, I've nothing much to add. I too love paper books, and there can be no comparison to being able to pick one up and have a small furtle through it to see if you fancy reading it. However, I was thinking of getting my Mum one of these for her 80th next month - she's got degenerative eye disease and grumbles like mad about the choice of large-print books on offer in the local library. She's as luddite as they come, though, so not sure how the jabbing of buttons will go. Have read very favourable reports for font sizing and background quality for impaired vision. Also agree that for travelling or computer books a kindle is a great option. The number of tech books I have on the shelf that I've blinked and they're out of date....if I get Mum one, I may be wooed. Jenny PS: Whilst we're on the subject, does anyone else have their books shelved alphabetically, or is it just me? ;-)
On 20 October 2010 19:50, Jenny Hopkins <hopkins.jenny@gmail.com> wrote: PS: Whilst we're on the subject, does anyone else have their books shelved alphabetically, or is it just me? ;-)
I go for 'by subject' :D -- Regards, James. http://www.jamesbensley.co.cc/ There are 10 kinds of people in the world; Those who understand Vigesimal, and J others...?
On Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:03:12 +0100 James Bensley <jwbensley@gmail.com> allegedly wrote:
On 20 October 2010 19:50, Jenny Hopkins <hopkins.jenny@gmail.com> wrote: PS: Whilst we're on the subject, does anyone else have their books shelved alphabetically, or is it just me? ;-)
I go for 'by subject' :D
Author within subject..... Mick (Actually not currently true because I have just refurbished my "study" (or "cave" as my wife calls it) and the books are in sub optimal order awaiting further attention. I may retire before that job is finished. ' course I coiuld always buy a kindle and burn the books.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 20-Oct-10 18:50:19, Jenny Hopkins wrote:
[...] Jenny
PS: Whilst we're on the subject, does anyone else have their books shelved alphabetically, or is it just me? ;-)
Jen, Mine are shelved thalpaliceably. And, while I'm at it: one plus twelve equals two plus eleven Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <ted.harding@wlandres.net> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 20-Oct-10 Time: 22:36:20 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------
On 20 Oct 19:50, Jenny Hopkins wrote:
On 12 October 2010 21:29, simon ransome <simon@nosher.net> wrote:
I totally agree - I have hundreds, if not over a thousand books (partly thanks to having worked for Clays the book printers in Bungay for a few years in the 90s ;-). I love just furtling through them, especially my large collection of 1970s and 1980s computer reference books (VIC-20, 64, PET, 6502, BBC, Spectrum programming, etc).
However, I also love the idea of a Kindle (I've been playing with the Android app version recently), as it would save having to haul around 5 or 6 heavy O'Reilly books if I fancied a spot of light tech reading on the train...
I had to join in the thread just because i like the word 'furtle' so much, I've nothing much to add. I too love paper books, and there can be no comparison to being able to pick one up and have a small furtle through it to see if you fancy reading it. However, I was thinking of getting my Mum one of these for her 80th next month - she's got degenerative eye disease and grumbles like mad about the choice of large-print books on offer in the local library. She's as luddite as they come, though, so not sure how the jabbing of buttons will go. Have read very favourable reports for font sizing and background quality for impaired vision. Also agree that for travelling or computer books a kindle is a great option. The number of tech books I have on the shelf that I've blinked and they're out of date....if I get Mum one, I may be wooed.
Shh, don't tell anyone, but I've back-tracked a bit on my position on the kindle, I've now got one... and as soon as I've finished the paper back that I'm currently reading I've got some books lined up to read on it... Confused the shit out of me when I took it out of the box and didn't realise that the screen was actually the screen (looks very much like a piece of paper covering the screen, until you bother to read it and note that it tells you how to turn it on... ;) Actually looks like a very nice device, and there's plenty of stuff to get on it... though the current series I'm reading doesn't appear to be available :( (It's the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobbs, some of his newer stuff is available, which I might try out... but I'm going to have to get the last in the trilogy in paper back...). Also, it came named "Mr's Kindle" which is probably down to my name settings on Amazon, so I stood with the Kindle sitting on the worktop whilst logging in to amazon on my phone, hit manage kindle and renamed it... hit submit, glanced at the kindle and it'd already updated it's name :) (actually, before that when I first turned it on, I'd already grabbed some books on amazon, as it's the 3G model, when I turned it on it immediately started grabbing the books from amazon, which was quite scary! I've since turned off the wireless - it only lasts 10 hours with the wireless turned on, or a month with it turned off... so, I'll use the wireless only when I need to download new books, really quite nice device). The page turning buttons are located neatly on either side of the screen, though I think I'd have been more tempted to have put <- on the left of the screen and -> on the right of the screen rather than having both on both sides of the screen, one above the other, but that's been the only thing so far that I've found a bit wrong.
Jenny
PS: Whilst we're on the subject, does anyone else have their books shelved alphabetically, or is it just me? ;-)
I've not got 'em alphaspagettically, but instead grouped, because I have a fair number of trilogys and sets of books that belong together. If I was going to order my books in any sane way it'd be: Alphaspagetical author Alphaspagetical series or title Sequence of series I've not got round to that yet :) -- Brett Parker http://www.sommitrealweird.co.uk/ PGP Fingerprint 1A9E C066 EDEE 6746 36CB BD7F 479E C24F 95C7 1D61
On 12 Oct 21:01, mick wrote:
On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:32:02 +0100 Wayne Stallwood <ALUGlist@digimatic.co.uk> allegedly wrote:
But yes seconded, the Kindle is an awesome bit of kit. So much so I have forgiven Amazon for some of their previous silliness (including some around the Kindle initially).
Talking of luddites... I'd like to be a real one here if I may.
I actually /like/ books. I like the fact that I can lend them to people, I like the fact that I can read them in the bath, drop them when I nod off, and know that they are still (just) readable afterwards. I like the fact that I can scribble in the margins. I like way they are actually objects of beauty in their own right (can you imagine a bookshelf full of kindles?). I like the fact that the words remain the same between me putting the book down and picking it up again (that may not always be the case for electronic words). I like the fact that when I have bought a book, I can be sure that the words will still actually /be/ there when I next pick it up and won't have been remotely erased by the publisher.
Oh and I like the way they feel and smell.
Call me old fashioned.
OK - you're old fashioned! (I buy rather a lot of paperbacks recently, all fiction, but I've got over 3 hours of commuting a day - I like books because they don't need power, they are light, and you can use them everywhere... they're good things dammit... what I don't tend to buy books for is anything programming related, or linux related, the targets move too quickly, by the time you get a book, half of that has been deprecated, and the other half was probably wrong to start with :) -- Brett Parker http://www.sommitrealweird.co.uk/ PGP Fingerprint 1A9E C066 EDEE 6746 36CB BD7F 479E C24F 95C7 1D61
On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 22:08:20 +0100 Brett Parker <iDunno@sommitrealweird.co.uk> allegedly wrote:
but I've got over 3 hours of commuting a day
Pah. Call that a commute? Mine's 3 hours a day - each way.... Mick --------------------------------------------------------------------- The text file for RFC 854 contains exactly 854 lines. Do you think there is any cosmic significance in this? Douglas E Comer - Internetworking with TCP/IP Volume 1 http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc854.txt ---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 12 October 2010 21:01, mick <mbm@rlogin.net> wrote:
I actually /like/ books. I like the fact that I can lend them to people, I like the fact that I can read them in the bath, drop them when I nod off, and know that they are still (just) readable afterwards. I like the fact that I can scribble in the margins. I like way they are actually objects of beauty in their own right (can you imagine a bookshelf full of kindles?). I like the fact that the words remain the same between me putting the book down and picking it up again (that may not always be the case for electronic words). I like the fact that when I have bought a book, I can be sure that the words will still actually /be/ there when I next pick it up and won't have been remotely erased by the publisher.
There is also the issue that most libraries that operate some form of e-book borrowing scheme rely on the a format that neither the Kindle or iPad/iBooks system can understand due to DRM (Adobe Digital Editions). Thus you're then really limited to reading it on a Windows, Mac or Sony E-Reader. On the plus side, the Kindle price of most books is very reasonable and the number of titles is rather impressive. Martyn (who is hoping to get a Kindle soon)
On 12/10/10 21:01, mick wrote:
Talking of luddites... I'd like to be a real one here if I may.
Heh...see here is where we differ.
I actually /like/ books. I like the fact that I can lend them to people, I like the fact that I can read them in the bath, drop them when I nod off, and know that they are still (just) readable afterwards.
A book is ruined when it is dropped in a bath...the kindle may also be destroyed but your content isn't because when your replacement is linked to the account all previous purchases reappear via whispernet...so what's worse ? Hell you could lose or destroy the kindle at a critical point in the book and run to the nearest PC or any other device that has the kindle software available..log into your account and within seconds be looking at the very page where you got interrupted. Ok the lend thing and the inability to resell..that is a problem but it's a sacrifice you have to consider against the (generally) much cheaper price of kindle books and the convenience of on demand delivery and being able to carry your whole library in something the size of a single paperback. I like the fact that I can scribble in the margins. Ok not scribble...but you can make notes or highlight text...so no different really and at least it is erasable. I like
way they are actually objects of beauty in their own right (can you imagine a bookshelf full of kindles?).
Where you see beauty I see clutter.....I hate the fact that our house is full of dusty bookshelves full of books that may or may not be read by us again but we can't I am told throw away "just in case" In fact this was pretty much the initial reason I got the kindle. I like the fact that the words
remain the same between me putting the book down and picking it up again (that may not always be the case for electronic words).
That is the case for the kindle...in fact better than that your current position is saved so you can read the same book on mutiple devices and all the others will keep sync of what page you are on. I like the
fact that when I have bought a book, I can be sure that the words will still actually /be/ there when I next pick it up and won't have been remotely erased by the publisher.
Ok yes that did happen...and the backlash was such that Amazon had to admit to it being a stupid thing to do and have promised it won't happen again...To forgive is divine and all that...
Oh and I like the way they feel and smell.
Oh I am with you to a degree...and for truly special books you can't beat having the physical copy. But personally I am treating it a bit like how I treat buying mp3's vs a physical CD. If the album is truly special to me then nothing beats having it in a format that if looked after will never be taken from me. For most material however I am willing to sacrifice that for some convenience and deal with the loss if it happens. There are still books I will buy as physical versions just as there is still music I will buy on CD. But in reality the more convenient format has expanded what and where I absorb the content and after all it is about the content.
participants (10)
-
Brett Parker -
James Bensley -
Jenny Hopkins -
keithjamieson＠hotmail.co.uk -
Martin Collins -
Martyn Drake -
mick -
simon ransome -
ted.harding＠wlandres.net -
Wayne Stallwood