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Buying an eBook Reader

Buying an eBook is an environmentally-friendly way to read books. There are a few options on the market that offer different features. This is a guide about buying an eBook reader.
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By 2 found this helpful
January 21, 2012

I have a Kindle third generation and I just LOVE it. It fits in my purse and I take it everywhere I go. There is a site you can get free books or you can purchase them, whichever.

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By 1 found this helpful
January 20, 2012

Due to not being able to hold a book especially in bed due to my arthritis I bought my first Kindle. Because it was the first one, I had to have a light on to read so I purchased an iPad. The iPad came in handy while I was on vacation as I had the internet as well as my books. I synced the Kindle and the iPad and am able to read on both of them.

When in bed, I use the iPad. When in my lounge, I use the Kindle. I get all my books downloaded from the library. All books are free and I have 14 days in which to read them. When I have an appointment anywhere, I take the Kindle as it is easier to carry in my purse. Love having both, would not think of selling either one.

By Macie4 from Walnut Creek, CA

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By 0 found this helpful
January 21, 2012

When looking for an eBook reader, the first question to ask is whether you need WiFi to set up the reader? If so, ask that they help you set it up in the store, especially if you have no WiFi at home.

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Do you want a color eReader or just eInk? With a color eReader, you can download your pictures. Do you want to do more than reading books with your eReader? Once you know what you want to do with the reader and have reviewed the different readers online, check the prices and get the best deal possible.

Source: I like to visit mobilereader.com for advice

By Sandra Bernier from St Hubert, Quebec

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By 0 found this helpful
February 24, 2013

I have never had a Kindle or reader of any kind. If any of you have purchased one, has it been a good product and how do you use it? It is my understanding that it does more than just download books. Is it like an iPad? Any feedback will influence whether I buy one or not. Thank you as usual! Blessings.

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By Robyn from TN

Answers

February 25, 20130 found this helpful

We have several readers in our house. We have a Nook, Kindles and an iPad. They really are all fantastic in their own way. What you buy depends on what you want to do with it.

If you mostly want to read eBooks, get one of the basic Kindles or Nooks. Here's an example of the Kindle:

http://www.amaz  z?tag=thrif06-20

It's only $69. It doesn't have a touch screen but it's great for reading books and easy to use. Buying and downloading books is very easy from Amazon.com using your internet connection at home. It has wifi, so you can purchase books from the Kindle directly or from you Amazon.com account using your computer. Once you buy it on your computer, it will auto-deliver it to your Kindle.

Reading on one of these is easier on the eyes than using one of the color backlit models and one great thing is that even though the screen is not huge, it's easy to read any book in a larger font. For me, it's just like reading a book, you can use lamp light or a book light to read at night. The device is small and easy to carry in a purse or pocket, but still easy to read.

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Our kids have the basic Kindle models and love them, I have an older version of the Nook and love it. Here's the current basic Nook model:

http://www.barn  noble/1102344735

One thing that scared me away from touch screen models for the simple e-readers is they got worse reviews than none-touch screen e-readers. The biggest complaints were always about the responsiveness of the touch screen. That why I opted for the cheapest non-touch Kindle e-reader when I bought our kids e-readers. It got the best reviews of any device at the time.

As far as Kindle Fires, Nook Colors or iPads. iPads have the most power and best user experience. The device itself is very durable and substantial. It's made of glass and aluminum. It's very responsible and generally user friendly. Having said all that, you can do a lot of the same things with a Kindle Fire or Nook Color. Both have generally good reviews. I would recommend going to an office store like Office Depot, or Best Buy, or another store that has all the devices you can try and try out the touch screens and get a hands on feel for the size that would work best for you.

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I personally don't like reading books on the backlit color screens of the iPad, Nook Color or Kindle Fire. For me, I look at them as different devices than the e-Readers. They are tablet computers for web browsing, emailing, movies, calendar's, etc... But I know that other people do use them for e-readers as well.

One annoying thing about Kindles, and maybe Nooks, is they have a high failure rate in the first months of using it. Once you get past that, they seem to be durable. But don't be surprised if you have to send it back. Having said that, it's very easy to execute a return.

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I first had the Kindle; now I have Kindle Fire. I really like the back-lit Fire, as one doesn't need an outside source of light and the colors are true. It is sensitive to the touch, but that is minor. I have many apps on it, and one can get and send e-mail. I carry mine with me nearly everywhere--especially when I know I have to wait. It is a bit heavy, the glass being "gorilla glass," but when you purchase a good protective cover, you'll realize it's compact and efficient.

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One of Amazon's sources for free books, called eReaderIQ.com, is wonderful. The site is free and every day they send you hundreds of book titles from which to choose. Granted, most are "indies," but they are fun and of many genres. I've had it over a year and am delighted! Now, if I can just find time to read them! Oh, yes, many are cookbooks. Cay from FL

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I have a Kindle Fire. Had it over a year now and I love it! Can read anything, play games with myself as well as others, get e-mail, get on Face Book and much more. I love using it for recipes. I send myself recipes in G-mail, file them in Recipe folders and then I can call them up anywhere! Love it !

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I have had a Kindle Fire for the last year and I absolutely love it. You can download books, answer e-mails, research info and I even have a free copy of the bible on mine and can read that at home or even take it to church. I go to Youtube all the time. I don't have an Ipad, but my nephew who is an IT guy suggested I get it instead of an Ipad just because of cost.

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I love my kindle fire 8.9! It works just like an iPad and I take it everywhere with me! I am an avid reader so I have the kindle prime and it's fantastic. I can borrow any books, read them, then turn them back in. Buy one! You won't regret it.

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I bought my husband one for his birthday in Feb 2012. He used it for the first month and it has been collecting dust since. There isn't a problem with it but his complaints are:
Too expensive to download books. It's cheaper to buy the book on Amazon. You can't add it to your library or pass it on to a friend. Can't see it when sitting outside. I understand there is a new one that allows you to sit in the sun and read. They keep coming up with an upgraded model every 6 months.

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February 26, 20130 found this helpful

I have a Kindle Fire. I absolutely loved it until my husband bought me an Ipad. The Kindle Fire is more difficult for surfing the web, otherwise it is similar. The IOS for the Ipad is so fast and trouble free that it becomes the whole package. I have downloaded the Kindle App on my laptop, cell phone, and Ipad. So I can at anytime easily read anything from my library. I gave my step-father my Kindle. He just loves to read, and does crossword puzzles and Suduko. The Kindle Fire is wonderful for reading, shopping on Amazon, and games and puzzles. It's just a little more aggravating to navigate the web. Overall I would choose the Ipad, it does everything and it's very fast.

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February 27, 20130 found this helpful

I love my Kindle Fire. My son gave it to me for Christmas 2011. My public library provides Kindle ebooks for free. I also get free music with the App that comes with it.

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February 27, 20130 found this helpful

I have a Kindle Fire HD since Christmas and I love it! I am an avid reader - I like being able to adjust the print size and the compactness of the unit. I can access the web, my e-mail, use as a talking book, listen to music, and much much more. I got the Fire HD to have more memory storage. I like it much better than the iPAD.

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February 27, 20130 found this helpful

Thank you, everyone, for your awesome review and feedback! You guys on here are so awesome!

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