Do you own an e-book reader?

Btw anyone who has problems with your specific ebook reader and a book in the wrong format for it, try Calibre it's for linux, max and windows and converts tons of formats to others. Kindle supports .mobi as far as I know so you can convert almost anything to it with Calibre.

http://calibre-ebook.com/

I don't have one and it seems my concerns have been mentioned above.

My concern is compatibility between manufacturers formats.

DRM, which basically means, "You've rented permission to view it until we deem it's time to renew."

Cost of ebooks vs, Paperbacks, ebooks should be no more than a 1/3 of cost of paperbacks. I feel this is one of the main reason CDs have been dropping in sales. They are typically 4-5 times of the cost of LPs of the 80's while Itunes singles are either 1-2 times the costs of 45's in the 80s.

I use MobiPocket on my BlackBerry. I have Kindle installed, but I don't use that.

I use MobiPocket on an old Palm 505.

I have a SmartQ 7 MID I also use. Runs Linux on an ARM. 800x480 in 7"

I've found graphics are not done well on all with the mobi format. For that I'll use a PC or laptop. I also read comics on the laptop w/ 1600x1050 and resolution matters.

I plan on getting an Android tablet someday for eBooks. I want more then 1024x768 and probably 10". The SmartQ7 doesn't have quite enough screen for comics.

I own a Sony PRS-600BC. I have written about the pros and cons here: http://buzypi.in/2010/03/06/a-review-of-the-sony-digital-reader-prs-600bc/

As for software, I use Calibre and its command line tools.

Sony PRS + calibre -- it's great

I am not a big fan of ebook readers. From the stories a reader seems like an expensive gadget ridden with unnecessary restrictions including DRM and remote file deletion (remember the story when Amazon remotely deleted files from Kindles?). They are designed to screw me over.

I did not want to shell out $500 for an iPad so I thought I would start with a Nook Color. It is a nice device but it does have its short-comings. As an e-reader it does a great job. As a tablet it is only fair. The Wifi works pretty well but I don't like the browser and it has almost no extras. It does have Pandora to listen to music streams but the mp3 player is only rudimentary. I like the 7 inch form factor and the text is clear and crisp. Color is vibrant and pictures display very nicely. I am awaiting an upgrade to its Android interface and an app store sometime in the future. What would really be nice would be to run a full featured Linux like Ubuntu on it, but who knows if it can be hacked like that any time soon. It is worth the $250 price tag and while not in the same league as the iPad it gets the basics of e-book reading done well.

My suspicion is that by this time next year the world will be awash in tablets. As a result prices are going to have to be more competitive than at present. One thing is clear to me from having used one now for a couple of weeks, it will not replace my laptop. Typing on it is not easy and I certainly wouldn't do any serious work on it. It is great for my night time reading and for surfing the net and checking email. I like its instant on feature which takes the drudgery out of having to boot a computer.

For now the Nook Color is my first choice for learning about tablets and integrating this form factor into my digital media tools. That said, it has many short comings as a real tablet. This little machine has lots of potential and I suspect that Barnes and Noble will eventually add more apps to its present meager offerings. The hardware feels very solid and it generally quite responsive. The software is not the best but as it improves the user experience should get better.

Finally, the Nook Color has no camera and no microphone. It does have a mini-usb which I would assume might be employed to provide those extras some where down the road. For now this is a good basic machine that will provide an enjoyable reading experience at a very affordable price. It is only fair as a tablet.

My only complaint is battery life. I'd be willing to try something larger, but not much. It's got to fit in my pocket.

I got the kindle 3 WiFi for my wife a couple of months ago. I like the amazon store and the kindle is a great device for the way that she reads. She reads for entertainment; she reads indoors and outdoors in the car, in bed, camping, at the beach everywhere and doesn't really care about the ability to do mobile web-surfing or play games.

I look forward to getting myself an android tablet soon (have an android phone already) which will be a better fit for me because I am a geek and want the other features of a tablet more than just to read books on it.

When I people that I got my wife a kindle quite a few (especially my geek friends) ask why I did not just get her an I pad or some other tablet and then I have to try (and usually fail) to explain to them that her wants and expectations from a mobile reading device are different than theirs and that a tablet would not be as good of a fit for her as a kindle. It kind of illustrates how hard it is even for smart people to put themselves in other's shoes.

As Linux people I think that you all understand that one platform does not need to be the end all be all otherwise we would all be running Windows 7 ;-)

I have an iPad and use it all the time. I have stopped buying paper books for the most part in favor of ebooks.

I own a Sony Reader PRS-600 for ADE epubs, I have an iPod Touch and iPad (running Kindle for iPad for Kindle ebooks, Bluefire for iPad for ADE epubs, Kobo reader, iBooks for iBook/Fairplay epubs, and eReader app for Barnes & Noble ebooks) plus I have Kindle for Mac, and Barnes and Noble desktop computer programs for reading as well.

FYI: asking about devices is not the same thing as asking about preferred ebook format.

Touch-screen, superb e-ink (E Ink Vizplex) display, quality metal body, Memory Stick PRO Duo and SD card slots, two English dictionaries and ten bilingual dictionaries accessible by tapping a word, supports ePub, PDF, BBeB, text, RTF and Word format files, plus works well with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and Calibre.

I own a Sony PRS-600. I also subscribe to the electronic edition of LJ. Reading LJ's pdfs are a great experience for the most part, but the magazine style formatting and rich graphics can push the PRS' rendering and reflow capabilities to it's limits, sometimes making the articles difficult to read. I'd love to see a 6" reader formatted edition at some point, but I'm not holding my breath on this one as we're about to see an influx of large, colour tablets about to hit the market that should render the current LJ's PDF just fine :)

I've read close to a hundred books and short stories on it over the last two years. I have the text really large to minimize eye-strain. Not ideal, something like the Kindle would be nice, but until it supports ePub that won't happen. I do like how I can read at night in the dark and fall asleep without having to worry about turning the light off and waking up later to turn it off.

I have a Kindle and using Calibre to synch from PC

I got a kindle2 and think it is a great device. Would love linux journal in mobi format

A great little reader with a relatively rare set of features:

It's powered be 4ea AA batteries so no waiting for the internal battery
to recharge, just slap in a set of rechargeable AAs.

It supports three DRM scams ADE(epub&pdf), Secure eReader (PDB)
and B&N (epub).

It has a 3x4" reflective TFT screen so no page flash and it fits in
your pocket.

Luck;
Ken

I was convinced I needed a Kindle because I'm all about Amazon, so I went to best buy to buy one, and they were all sold out, so I bought the Nook instead (which I secretly wanted but refused to admit it) because I didn't want to drive 10 miles to the next Best Buy. I started downloading books and I have to say I don't regret the purchase. I think it was Providence that they were out of the Kindle. I liked Amazon so much because they were so open when it came to their mp3 and video store but they went total propitiatory with their Kindle, not even supporting the standard eBook format. I could understand having their own format, but what's the use of being locked into a store. With my nook I can buy from multiple sources, and even borrow eBooks from the public Library for free. The color navigation screen is great, unlike the cluttered Kindle keyboard. They even released a new software update the day after I bought it, making the page turn 50% faster. It feels like your reading a real book, it's lite, sexier, and has so many great features I could go on forever, but everyone has their own opinion and mine is just that, an opinion. I suggest buy the Nook first, if you don't like it take it back for the Kindle.
Oh yeah if you have problem with your nook, there is always a B&N you can drive to, with Amazon, it's all in the Cloud...

I have an OYO Ebook reader.
Still have to get used to reading on the small page - but it's fun.
It's running on linux, console access and running own software on it is possible.
A bit too slow - but not bad for 139 Euro with 6" E-Ink, touchscreen, wifi ....

I got myself the Cruz Reader from Velocity Micro. I also installed the reader apps from Kindle, Nook, and FBReader so I got variety of apps to choose from depending where I get my book.

bolshy yarbles