E-book reader tablet?

[smurff]

I recently decided to buy myself an ebook reader. I am a writer who reads a lot, and even checking out books from the library is getting to be a pain.  All the juggling of due dates, lugging large tomes around, books taking up space in my home, etc. I want to save physical books for those works that I intend to keep for decades, like the upcoming PP book by craigr and MediumTex.

But I want to do more than read books on it. I want to search the web, do email, read newspapers snd magazines, play games, download apps, listen to or watch podcasts, etc. and I don't want to spend more that $200.

Aside from the IPad--which I've already ruled out due to cost--what ebook reader tablets are available that do a lot more than ebooks?  Would the Amazon Kindle Fire do all these things?  I have considered it but am concerned about whether the backlit screen would allow me to read books in sunlight.

There is lots of wisdom on this board, so thanks in advance.

[MediumTex]

How about a used 1st gen Ipad?

That will be under $200.

I still love mine.

[TripleB]

I strongly recommend going with the e-Ink regular non-tablet Kindle for reading books. It's $79 with special offers for the WiFi version.

Then for surfing the internet and playing games, buy a used iPod Touch and you might be able to stay within your price range of $200. Or save up and buy a Kindle Fire or used Ipad later.

Definitely consider these to be 2 separate devices.

[hoost]

I recently decided to buy myself an ebook reader. I am a writer who reads a lot, and even checking out books from the library is getting to be a pain.  All the juggling of due dates, lugging large tomes around, books taking up space in my home, etc. I want to save physical books for those works that I intend to keep for decades, like the upcoming PP book by craigr and MediumTex.

But I want to do more than read books on it. I want to search the web, do email, read newspapers snd magazines, play games, download apps, listen to or watch podcasts, etc. and I don't want to spend more that $200.

Aside from the IPad--which I've already ruled out due to cost--what ebook reader tablets are available that do a lot more than ebooks?  Would the Amazon Kindle Fire do all these things?  I have considered it but am concerned about whether the backlit screen would allow me to read books in sunlight.

There is lots of wisdom on this board, so thanks in advance.

smurff,

I have had a Nook Simple Touch for almost a year now and I love it.  It's very simple to root the reader, and once that's done you can install whichever Android programs you want.  In addition to the native B&N program, I have installed the Kindle app, the Google Books App, an independent app called Aldiko, and several others.  This allows me to buy an ebook from whichever store has the best price and read it on my Nook.  I use Aldiko for unlocked epubs like you would get from Project Gutenberg, and it works very well.  I've found that the native app that comes on the Nook is best for pdf's.

I bought one for my mom for Christmas and rooted it and she is enjoying it, too.  I find the e-ink display is good for reading and has excellent battery life.

I hope that helps.

hoost

[Gosso]

As a proud RIM shareholder ...I would highly recommend the Playbook 2.0.  I picked one up during Christmas when they went on sale for $200.  For the price it is probably one of the better tablets out there.

There are a few downsides: Podcasts are very limited, same goes for apps (how many fart apps do you really want anyway?)

It is great for surfing the 'net (supports flash), e-mail, calender, multitasking, bridge with Blackberry cell phone, has a few decent games, the music player syncs nicely with iTunes or WMP, good battery life.

The main reason to buy a Playbook is because of the price.

Here is a thread discussing the playbook as an e-reader.

[smurff]

Thanks for all the recommendations.  I had not thought about buying used, MediumTex, but who knows--I might go that route.  The idea of buying an ipad appeals to me simply because it's from Apple and Apple products do so much and are so cool.  But I still might not buy an Ipad; I have so many Apple devices (laptop, desktop, ipod touch) that I'm thinking about trying somebody else's stuff for a while.

And TripleB, the e-ink technology is good for reading outside (which I do a lot),  but I don't think they use e-ink on devices that surf the net.  I like the idea of reducing the number of electronic gizmos I carry around.  Cell phone, Ipod Touch, laptop, ebook.  That's too much.  I figure that if I keep the phone separate, and get one device that can handle the jobs of all the rest, I should be set.  BTW, I use the laptop mainly for surfing the net and writing text away from my desk; if I can attach a keyboard to the ebook to touch type notes to self, eliminating the need for a laptop, that would be heaven, but that's probably asking too much (except of the Ipad, which I've heard can be set up that way). It's annoying to use one finger to write portions of book chapters when I've had to leave the laptop behind. 

I'll look into the Playbook, Gosso.  I didn't know that RIM made such a device.  I guess I'll have to start paying attention to them again.

Thanks Hoost for the info about the Nook.  I'm glad to know that it has so many apps that let you read ebooks published under different systems.  That's been one of my concerns--that purchasing an ebook under Amazon's system will not allow me to read books published under Barnes and Noble's, or available from epub at the library.

I guess there's an app for everything. (Including farts, I guess.)

[MediumTex]

smurff,

The Apple bluetooth keyboard can be used with the Ipad.  It's handy.  There are many other keyboard arrangements with the Ipad as well.

I'll bet that 1st and 2nd gen used Ipad prices are going to be depressed in the next few weeks as people scramble to buy a new 3rd gen.  It might be a good time to pick one up.  If you don't like it you can probably sell it for about what you paid for it.

[WildAboutHarry]

I use a Samsung Galaxy tablet as my primary e-reader via the Kindle app.  I do like it better than the Kindle hardware.

It does all the things you would expect (e-mail, web, etc.) and is reasonably intuitive.

Not $200, though but as MediumTex says prices will likely drop across the spectrum with the new IPad release.

[Lone Wolf]

I really enjoy my Kindle Fire.  TripleB's right that the E Ink readers are amazing if you really want a "top notch" book reading experience.  The Fire does a nice job too but for a "pure" reading experience, the E Ink is the best I've seen.

But it sounds like you're going more for the "all-in-one" package.  The advantage of going with something like the Kindle Fire or an iPad is that then you've got a nice web browser, the ability to watch Netflix, Amazon video on demand, use apps, play games, etc.  Those are great devices.

The advantage of the Kindle Fire over the iPad would be cost but if you buy used like MT suggests, you're sure to be able to defray much of that.  The iPad's got that larger screen, which I could see coming in very handy and being a real plus over the Fire.  The Kindle Fire, on the other hand, is a great way to get exposed to Amazon's video \ book \ music cloud "ecosystem".  It also comes with a free month of Amazon Prime.  That gets you Amazon's video library, a free book rental each month, and free 2-day shipping on everything you buy.  The downside: Amazon Prime can be a bit addictive. 

[dualstow]

And TripleB, the e-ink technology is good for reading outside (which I do a lot),  but I don't think they use e-ink on devices that surf the net. 

Which is a shame. I love my 1st gen kindle and plan to buy the $80 one, but not the kindle fire. Nothing's better than e-ink. (Except paper).

[smurff]

After consulting the eminent experts on this forum I tried to buy a Kindle Fire online.  Unfortunately, despite so many online outlets claiming the item is on their websites for sale, there always seems to be this qualifier:  Available in-store only.

Buying this device is going to be harder than I thought.  I might as well resort to buying directly from Amazon.

Or buying an iPad.

[smurff]

I got a Kindle Fire for my birthday in December.  I've been using it since then, not as much for reading as for web surfing and doing email (and posting here).  It makes checking out newer library books in ebook format a breeze.  I haven't yet hooked a Bluetooth keyboard to it yet, but I'm sure I'll get an excuse to try it.

It's not the same as an iPad, but then nothing is.  There are lots of things the raw kindle fire cannot do (like play embedded Adobe flash videos), but where there's a will, there's an app.

[murphy_p_t]

i picked up a samsung galaxy player 5.0 (refurbished) for $135 + shipping on amazon


the only way to look at it, for me, to know its refurb...the sticker on the back.

very cool device.

i haven't looked into books yet...but i installed a Adobe acrobat to view PDFs...works great