http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/ Switched Comments for http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
In fairness, though, Amazon finally (a few months ago) created the "Collections sorting" system that Kindle users have been asking for since day one. This system lets you sort the contents of your Kindle hard-drive by assigning eBooks to "Collections folders" and also allows you to assign a single book to multiple folders.

The catch? What you're doing is creating short-cuts in "Collection folders" that point to fixed hard-drive addresses for eBook files. The "Collections sorting" system won't work if Kindle has external storage because it's going to louse up the whole short-cut system whenever you swap SD cards. Although there may be a way that Amazon could program around this problem, it would probably create usability issues, and Jeff Bezos has always been big on keeping Kindle as simple as possible for the user (which I agree with).

On balance, though I miss the SD-card slot that was part of the K1, I'm happy to give it up in exchange for the "Collections sorting" system, and that's the technical reality we have to face, that the "Collections sorting" system is incompatible with external storage, at least without creating significant usability issues.]]>Aug 31st 2010 3:30PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/The collections update isn't available for the Kindle 1; therefore no issue with SD cards.]]>Aug 31st 2010 8:17PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
The Kindle 3 does not support DOC, RTF or HTML files. It does support AZW2 and TPZ files in addition to what you stated. DOC and HTML files can be converted by sending them to Amazon for conversion. Any of the non-DRM files can be converted using conversion program like Calibre.]]>Aug 31st 2010 4:02PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/To clarify, we state in the review: "to load even the most common document types requires e-mailing them to the device and then converting them, rather than just dragging and dropping them. (You can drag and drop files, but the Kindle can't read most file types that haven't been converted.)" The link goes to a full discussion of the admittedly Byzantine formulas for which files are natively supported, which are supported after conversion, and which aren't supported at all.

Our point remains though that while certain file types may not be natively supported, you can still transfer the file types we listed to a Kindle after converting them--unlike for instance the Kobo, which simply cannot display them at all.
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]]>Aug 31st 2010 4:31PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
Indeed that is the main complaint for us, as well as the high price. The 900 is more than an inch taller and about a quarter pound heavier than the 600 you mention (and also $80 more expensive). That size difference seems to be the difference between being comfortably held with one hand for extended periods of time and not. ]]>Aug 31st 2010 4:50PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/Aug 31st 2010 5:16PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
I give the edge to the Sony readers since they can use both.]]>Aug 31st 2010 9:28PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
I know the Collections feature isn't available for K1. That's my point. The Collections feature won't work properly if the Kindle has external storage, and that's why it makes sense that the SD-card slot isn't part of the K3, and that's why I disagree with your criticism of K3's lack of external storage.

The elimination of the SD-card slot (starting with K2 and with K-DX, and now carried over into K3) is what makes the Collections feature feasible. That's why, though I miss having on my K2 the SD-card slot that I have on my K1, its loss is justified because the post-K1 hardware configuration of a unitary hard-drive makes the Collections feature feasible.

Maybe I didn't word things right. What I'm trying to get across is that your criticism of K3's lack of external storage doesn't take account of the fact that external storage would create major usability problems for the Collections feature. That's the trade-off. If we want the Collections feature, we have to give up the SD-card slot, and I personally think most Kindlers would gladly do that.]]>Sep 1st 2010 4:42AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
are books the same price across platforms? ]]>Aug 31st 2010 9:17PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
I also own a Kobo. I love the Kobo store. As a Canadian, I actually run into problems with the Sony eBook store and with the Kindle store; they have books that aren't available to me. For some reason, the Kobo store is both cheaper and more available.

My big gripe with the Kobo so far is that it formats things poorly, which is to say incorrectly. You can take the same ePub on a Sony eReader and on a Kobo, and the Kobo version will lose some of the indenting, and can actually make some books harder to read. This is a flaw that's present in their desktop reader software as well (I haven't tested any of their other options, like the iPhone app).]]>Aug 31st 2010 9:26PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
thanks for the review. now I want that Kindle even more!! :-)

the only thing I still haven't decided on it whether the 'free' 3G is worth the $50 extra... any thoughts on this anyone?

thanks! jackie]]>Sep 1st 2010 5:41AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
3G definitely more than worth the cost; where I live, K1 can't connect---no problems for K2---you'll regret not having it at some point.]]>Sep 1st 2010 9:31AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
starskeptic is absolutely right! Pay the extra $50 for the 3G, because eventually you'll regret not having it if you're somewhere without a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Only thing is, where do you live? You might want to check with Amazon and make sure you'll be able to get 3G access. I have no problem anywhere in the Philadelphia PA area, but I have had problems when driving through some areas of northern New England and also in some mountainous areas (like the Berkshires in western Massachusetts), though Amazon may have improved its 3G network in the past year or so.

They used to have a map somewhere on line showing 3G availability, but I don't know a URL for it. You might want to call Amazon Customer Service and check it out.

In most parts of the country, though, you shouldn't have any problem and I think you'll really find that 3G access useful.]]>Sep 2nd 2010 8:41AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
- Do you have reliable wifi connectivity at home?
- Are you an impulsive book buyer?
- How much research (read reviews, book excerpts) do you do prior to buying a book?

I actually own a Kindle 2 international with 3G already. I find that most of the time I turn 3G off and rarely, if ever, turn it on.

I have good reliable WiFi at home so connectivity is not a problem. I'm not an impulsive book buyer -- it's rare that I need to buy a book right this second. I tend to do quite a bit of research prior to dropping $10 on a book. I tend to have at least 5 or 6 books that I haven't read already purchased and loaded on my Kindle at all times. That's just my habit so I'm never at a loss for something to read and would have to buy something right NOW.

A WiFi only Kindle may not have as much resale value, but I really wouldn't plan on selling it (When I get one, I'm giving my Kindle 2 to my daughter). A 3G Kindle would give me a rudimentary web browser to use when I'm travelling, but honestly browsing on any smartphone (if you own one) is vastly superior to the Kindle browser.

So for me, I'll probably save the $50 and just buy the Kindle Wifi. But if you answer those questions differently than I did, a Kindle 3G may be more suitable to you.
]]>Sep 9th 2010 2:25AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
You're right, I didn't follow what you were saying; if one were using SD cards for organizing your books-the new update would mess that up.
Also agree with you on storage size; since Amazon backs up purchases-in reality, your storage space is unlimited. I mean, how big a library does one need to carry at one time? ]]>Sep 1st 2010 9:28AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/Sep 1st 2010 3:58PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
Thanks for your response. I think you and @starskeptic are right...

I live in the Netherlands and 3G coverage is good here. I travel a lot for work - mainly within (Western) Europe, but occasionally to the US as well (New York, Miami). No problems with 3G coverage there either.

But then I was thinking... what will I be using WiFi/3G for? To buy new books. Well, if I plan a little, I can easily do that from home, where I have WiFi. Why need 3G then?

But after giving it some more thought, I'd probably be using WiFi/3G for a lot more than just buying new books/browsing the Kindle Store...

There are more and more hotels these days that offer free WiFi, but at airports etc. WiFi hotspots are never for free (except for some rare exceptions)... so having 'free' 3G will definitely solve that problem :-)

Ok. A graphite Kindle3 with WiFi and 3G it will be...

Thanks again!
Jackie


]]>Sep 3rd 2010 7:43AMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/]]>Sep 9th 2010 6:19PMhttp://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/30/the-best-e-readers-compared-kindle-kobo-nook-and-reader-throw/
By the way, for those unfamiliar with the ecommerce company, Oberon Design in California makes amazing leather bound ebook covers. They are pricey (handmade in America) but they really make your high tech reader look like a hundred year old tome. ]]>Oct 19th 2010 5:16AM