e-readers in torchlight?

[cjs]

for me, the storage issue is academic

Certainly is for books... however if music and map (pdf) functionality is envisaged then storage could be a consideration?. Personally, I had a look at maps embedded in pdf but didn't find any real advantage for me, however music may be a plus for some at the expense of battery life.

[rualexander]

I went for a Kobo Mini in the end, mainly on price and size considerations, nice and lightweight and compact, ideal for touring and reading in bed.
Turns out to be fine in torchlight, especially with the headtorch on red.
No issue with Kindle books being cheaper and more choice, it's easy to buy them and convert them to epub format.
So far I've read two books and used about 40% of a full battery charge.

[mrjemm]

Interesting that you convert. I guess that would remove DRM issues too.

Going back in the thread, I am interested about the long battery life of the Paperwhite- as I've mentioned in numerous other threads on here, I had a PW at 1st release (Nov? Can't recall) and am sure they advertised them as having similar, if not slightly less battery life than the basic keyboard model I had at the time. Now I see they do indeed say 8 weeks. Maybe my memory is playing up on me. I am also apparently alone in the world of giving up on this model (PW) and going back to non back-lit. I always have some light to read by- used a bike light dangling in the tent last year, and Madame uses one of the little clip-ons available everywhere quite happily.

Enjoy your Kobo Mini, they look quite handy. I speak as someone who invariably has his big kindle keyboard in his cargo pocket...

[andymiller]

No issue with Kindle books being cheaper and more choice, it's easy to buy them and convert them to epub format.

Purchased Kindle books have DRM protection and you can't easily convert them (there are ways, but I'd probably get banned if I advertised them).

[Aushiker]

Probably not a helpful reply, but I considered an e-reader such as a Kindle last year for my bigger tour but in the end took my iPad as my "computer" and with the iPad having the iBook app I had my e-reader built in. No issues with back lighting then and well it is a multi-use item It worked out well as a computer and e-reader on the road.

If you haven't already got an iPad (or other tablet) I guess it would be an expensive way to go just to be used as a e-reader but.

Andrew

[andymiller]

Probably not a helpful reply, but I considered an e-reader such as a Kindle last year for my bigger tour but in the end took my iPad as my "computer" and with the iPad having the iBook app I had my e-reader built in. No issues with back lighting then and well it is a multi-use item It worked out well as a computer and e-reader on the road.

If you haven't already got an iPad (or other tablet) I guess it would be an expensive way to go just to be used as a e-reader but.

Andrew

A tablet does have lots of advantages over an 'epaper' ereader, but on the other hand epaper ereaders are cheaper, lighter, you can easily read them in daylight and the battery lasts a lot longer. So I guess it comes down to weighing up the pros and cons and your personal priorities.

[andrew_s]

Purchased Kindle books have DRM protection and you can't easily convert them (there are ways, but I'd probably get banned if I advertised them).

It's all on Apprentice Alf's blog.
In general,if you can read a drm-protected book on your kindle or other device, the tools will allow you to strip the drm so you can read it on other devices. If you buy a kindle ebook and don't have a kindle or a kindle app that allows you to read the book, you won't be able to strip the drm.
Easiest is to use Calibre and the de-drm plugins.

[mrjemm]

Going back to small e-readers, I've found this review- http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2013/ ... more-46071 and it looks like an interesting little one that could be good. I am tempted to get one for more pocket-friendliness. Yes, I am one of those that dislikes reading a backlit/led screen. You can get them in UK about £60, so not really cheap here though.

BTW, the little clip on light that Madame uses has died- she thinks the bulb's gone (an led), so maybe their value is questionable. We'll see when a 2nd's been in use a while.

[DaleFTW]

I just bought one of these - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-si ... 1102344735

There's a few places doing them for £30, I got mine from Sainsburys. Great bit of kit for the price and a quick headtorch and cupboard test says that it's perfectly readable.

I believe the backlit version is going for £60/70

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-si ... 1108046469

[andymiller]

It's all on Apprentice Alf's blog.
In general,if you can read a drm-protected book on your kindle or other device, the tools will allow you to strip the drm so you can read it on other devices. If you buy a kindle ebook and don't have a kindle or a kindle app that allows you to read the book, you won't be able to strip the drm.
Easiest is to use Calibre and the de-drm plugins.

Thanks for that - looks like I was being unnecessarily cautious.

[mrjemm]

Here's the little monkey I got the other day-

http://www.trekstor.co.uk/detail-ebook- ... -mini.html

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2013/ ... t-ereader/

I'd read the review a while back, and fancied getting one. Just stumbled upon it in a Media Market shop in Germany for 40 Euros, so went for it. So far liking as a back-up to the Kindle. Fits very well in the pocket- shirt pocket, rather than cargo trouser pocket as required by Kindle. Usefull for those 'other' moments, like at meals and walking to town.

Pros; Size. Screen is good- just like Kindle (fake e-ink). Good battery life so far. Good capacity and micro SD slot too. Takes many ebook formats. Cheap (in Europe anyway). Ergonomic for 1-hand use. Smaller margins (has margin control) than Kindle.

Cons; Unresponsive buttons (occasionally takes a 2nd push to work). Can't use Kindle books due to DRM (unless you can get Calibre de-drm to work). The included PC software doesn't work on W8. No dictionary. No Wifi or 3G. Slow- sometimes can't tell if button not worked or still thinking.

I've used to read under a low power light and happy. Screen same contrast as Kindle, and quite a good standard font, so if you can read a Kindle, you can read this.

Cheers, Jem.

[andrew_s]

I went for a Kobo Mini in the end, mainly on price and size considerations

I got one of these in WHSmith today for £24.
They were reduced to £30, and the till voucher this week has been 20% off all Kobo readers.

[Barrenfluffit]

Have been using the paperwhite 3g with wifi. 3g sort of useful but its tied to wikipedia only and there's a download limit. you need wifi for web browsing and even then it can usually handle mobile versions of web pages but anything fancy or with much text input and its unstable. I could check email and get weather forecasts from google.

Being able to put your own PDF's on it was invaluable; there is a pdf of all the official hostels in europe on mine. Also had travel insurance details and lonely planet guides; bought as needed.

[eezypeazy]

I went for a Kobo Mini in the end, mainly on price and size considerations

I got one of these in WHSmith today for £24.
They were reduced to £30, and the till voucher this week has been 20% off all Kobo readers.

Just to say thank you for this tip off.... I went to WHS and got a Kobo Touch for my wife for £47 instead of the usual price of £79.

I've had an identical Kobo Touch since Christmas. It's only got a black & white screen, but it's acceptable for OS maps (I've captured pdfs from a digital map CD I was given a while back, so I don't need to take paper maps on rides). Battery has a very long life if you're only reading books - shorter if you use it for internet browsing. It's not backlit, but I have a Really Tiny Book Light (search Amazon) which works well.