OK, since this is a long term investment for the future usage, so I have been thinking for a long time now.
First, there's the Amazon Kindle priced at ~$166 -> Rs. 8550+ shipping, duties...
There's also an Indian knock-off: Infibeam Pi2 priced at Rs. 10,000 -> ~$200. (grayscale screen. Other Specs can be found on the link provided. Formats supported: PDF, EPUB, HTML, TXT, RTF, MOBI, PRC, DOC JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF MP3)
Nowadays, India is seeing an invasion of tablet PCs.
Here's one such thing: Binatone home surf supposed to be Rs. 9000+ (same range as that Pi2 above) another link
High-end tablets and the iPad are priced in the Rs. 30,000 range ($600)
I would appreciate some thoughts from your end on the following questions:
My questions are:
1. Since the Kindle is just a grayscale display like the Pi2 how good is it as a purchase (Let us avoid the pricing angle for now)? If a colour kindle is introduced in the near future, obviously the price of the colour kindle would be very high to begin with, and such a purchase is ruled out until new users have subsidised the costs for scrimpers like me. Your thoughts please.
2. What about supported formats on kindle? Can I simply buy an ebook, download on my PC and use the Kindle PC reader to read it? Can I convert the amazon mobi book into an ePub and load it on a tablet pc/other readers?
3. Would a tablet PC be a better investment under the circumstances? I can do much more with a tablet PCand also read books, so does it reall make sense to invest in just a pure e-reader today, than say 2 years ago when there was no choice really.
Please add your thoughts, in case I missed something else.
All thoughts, ideas and suggestions are welcome, and appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Surio.
opinions solicited: Kindle or a multi-purpose tablet PC
So .. having both Kindle and tablets at the fortress of frugalitude ...
1. I'm personally happy with what is now my third Kindle. Bought first gen, then DX, then downsized to 3rd gen Kindle wifi/3g.
I only sold the DX since it crossed, for me, a threshold of weight in my hands ( not comfortable to read in bed more than a few minutes at a time )
Wife uses Kindle app on the iPad, I have it on my android tablet. You can read anything you have on your Kindle account. The desktop/pc/mac version can also read these excepting books you borrow from Amazon via the Prime program. Library books via overdrive however can be read on anything.
2. Supported formats. Well, in short, if you obtain an ebook that isnt supported on the Kindle, a quick trip to use Calibre will handle conversion ( there are other programs, for Windows Linux etc ). This has never been an issue for us.
3. Yes, awkwardly. PDF's usually have some kind of page layout defined, that the Kindle or any reader app has to handle. Short answer is .. its awkward, and if its a PDF I intend to keep around - I convert it out of PDF to epub, etc.
Tablets <> eReaders. I'd propose you examine your use cases. If you want a general purpose tablet that can have multiple ereaders - then thats the way to approach to your purchase. if you want a dedicated ereader, that may or may not do some other minor functions .. there you go.
In our case, we absolutely use everything of every device we have. The kindle sits near my favorite reading chair, and I toss it in my bag occasionally for long trips etc. When near my chair it sits on the 1-3 library books I have out at any given time. I dont really prefer to read on the tablet, whereas the wife does ( via ipad ).
Definitely seek out friends, neighbors, in store demos and handle the device your interested in ( save the India device ).
Regarding android tablets - steer clear, IMHO, of ones that arent running honeycomb ( v3.0 and up ). One of the two you mentioned is running ( eww ) v1.6 of android.
Let me add to you potential list : the now aborted HP touchpad. If it can still be found ( effectively on fire sale ) - that can take a port of CM7, and those devs are working CM9 as well. Saw a cube neighbor with it yesterday and I was impressed.
1. I'm personally happy with what is now my third Kindle. Bought first gen, then DX, then downsized to 3rd gen Kindle wifi/3g.
I only sold the DX since it crossed, for me, a threshold of weight in my hands ( not comfortable to read in bed more than a few minutes at a time )
Wife uses Kindle app on the iPad, I have it on my android tablet. You can read anything you have on your Kindle account. The desktop/pc/mac version can also read these excepting books you borrow from Amazon via the Prime program. Library books via overdrive however can be read on anything.
2. Supported formats. Well, in short, if you obtain an ebook that isnt supported on the Kindle, a quick trip to use Calibre will handle conversion ( there are other programs, for Windows Linux etc ). This has never been an issue for us.
3. Yes, awkwardly. PDF's usually have some kind of page layout defined, that the Kindle or any reader app has to handle. Short answer is .. its awkward, and if its a PDF I intend to keep around - I convert it out of PDF to epub, etc.
Tablets <> eReaders. I'd propose you examine your use cases. If you want a general purpose tablet that can have multiple ereaders - then thats the way to approach to your purchase. if you want a dedicated ereader, that may or may not do some other minor functions .. there you go.
In our case, we absolutely use everything of every device we have. The kindle sits near my favorite reading chair, and I toss it in my bag occasionally for long trips etc. When near my chair it sits on the 1-3 library books I have out at any given time. I dont really prefer to read on the tablet, whereas the wife does ( via ipad ).
Definitely seek out friends, neighbors, in store demos and handle the device your interested in ( save the India device ).
Regarding android tablets - steer clear, IMHO, of ones that arent running honeycomb ( v3.0 and up ). One of the two you mentioned is running ( eww ) v1.6 of android.
Let me add to you potential list : the now aborted HP touchpad. If it can still be found ( effectively on fire sale ) - that can take a port of CM7, and those devs are working CM9 as well. Saw a cube neighbor with it yesterday and I was impressed.
I recently picked up a Kindle (the $79 model in the US). I'm extremely happy with it. It's perfect for reading. I wouldn't try web browsing with it, though. It's certainly not a tablet/laptop/computer replacement.
With the free software Calibre you can load basically any ebook format into it. PDF is different (it's difficult to convert PDF to a standard ebook format). The two formats that are currently popular are .mobi, which is the Kindle format, and .epub, which is the open B&N format.
With the free software Calibre you can load basically any ebook format into it. PDF is different (it's difficult to convert PDF to a standard ebook format). The two formats that are currently popular are .mobi, which is the Kindle format, and .epub, which is the open B&N format.
rcamp provides some very good advice. I would go farther and say to stay away from Android tablets all together. Maybe some newer tablets and updated Honeycomb have fixed the lag problem (when you touch the screen for an action), but that annoys the heck out me.
I own an iPad, but no Kindle. I don't like having multiple devices for the same thing.
The Kindle e-ink screen is nice to read on. However, I don't really have any trouble reading on my backlit iPad screen for a few hours and I only read in direct sunlight 2-3 days a year, so it's not a deal breaker in my mind.
Plus, I do research for work and I research the hell out of everything I plan to buy or do, so that only leaves me the option of a tablet if I want to do it in bed or on the couch with a good browser/internet experience.
Keep in mind that the iPad 3 will be out next year and will probably be a significant jump in tech. While, the iPad 2 is really just a refined version of iPad 1. I'm not an Apple fanboy, but in my mind the Android and to a lessor extent Microsoft are still behind Apple's software.
They are definitely behind in apps for their devices. Android is catching up in total number, but is still a little behind in quality. This is where the tablets really shine. I use Flipbook every day (news aggregator) and Instapaper is great for when you know you are going somewhere and won't have internet access (saves internet pages to your device to read later).
It should be noted that the iPad does not support Flash, which was a semi-big deal and theoretically a selling point for Android. However, Adobe just came out and said they won't be supporting Flash anymore, so it will be dead in a year. So, don't worry about this point.
For me the extra money for top of the line is worth it, but not for everyone.
I own an iPad, but no Kindle. I don't like having multiple devices for the same thing.
The Kindle e-ink screen is nice to read on. However, I don't really have any trouble reading on my backlit iPad screen for a few hours and I only read in direct sunlight 2-3 days a year, so it's not a deal breaker in my mind.
Plus, I do research for work and I research the hell out of everything I plan to buy or do, so that only leaves me the option of a tablet if I want to do it in bed or on the couch with a good browser/internet experience.
Keep in mind that the iPad 3 will be out next year and will probably be a significant jump in tech. While, the iPad 2 is really just a refined version of iPad 1. I'm not an Apple fanboy, but in my mind the Android and to a lessor extent Microsoft are still behind Apple's software.
They are definitely behind in apps for their devices. Android is catching up in total number, but is still a little behind in quality. This is where the tablets really shine. I use Flipbook every day (news aggregator) and Instapaper is great for when you know you are going somewhere and won't have internet access (saves internet pages to your device to read later).
It should be noted that the iPad does not support Flash, which was a semi-big deal and theoretically a selling point for Android. However, Adobe just came out and said they won't be supporting Flash anymore, so it will be dead in a year. So, don't worry about this point.
For me the extra money for top of the line is worth it, but not for everyone.
@chad I think it again comes back to use case.
I have an ipad (my boss bought us all them) but I never use it. It's too heavy/awkward to use in bed for any length of time. It's great at consuming video, but I find it bulky/awkward to read on.
I got a 79 dollar kindle and love it so far. The best for me is that I take public transport to work. So I have about 1.5 hours a day total to read, and the kindle is perfect for that. it's small, light, easy to read, holds a charge forever.
The ipad is just not good for that use case. It all depends on what he wants to do!
I have an ipad (my boss bought us all them) but I never use it. It's too heavy/awkward to use in bed for any length of time. It's great at consuming video, but I find it bulky/awkward to read on.
I got a 79 dollar kindle and love it so far. The best for me is that I take public transport to work. So I have about 1.5 hours a day total to read, and the kindle is perfect for that. it's small, light, easy to read, holds a charge forever.
The ipad is just not good for that use case. It all depends on what he wants to do!
Yes, it was Flash Mobile. I should have been more specific. Thanks (not sarcastically).
@jforest
I agree it's about what he wants it for (I'm not entirely sure).
I do 80% of my reading in bed and have no problems with the weight. I don't see an issue with public transit either.
The only way I see value in a Kindle type device is if all you want to do is read.
@jforest
I agree it's about what he wants it for (I'm not entirely sure).
I do 80% of my reading in bed and have no problems with the weight. I don't see an issue with public transit either.
The only way I see value in a Kindle type device is if all you want to do is read.
@rcamp,
As Chad pointed, clearly you have a great deal of practical experience, and it reflects in the wonderful reply. Has been informative to put it in the least.
@jforest, @m741,
Thank you both for sharing your experiences with the Kindle and with the iPad too.
My Use Case — FWIW:
-------------------------------------
a] I prefer to maintain compartments in my life -- to enforce mindfulness more than anything else. Also, it is something from childhood that my mother drummed into me via a poem (*). So, when reading -- read, working -- work, internalising -- do that, relaxing -- just relax, etc. Of late, by becoming over-reliant on the PC, I have become an orangutan in deeper Borneo, i.e., swinging hither and thither, getting massively entertained and being entertaining, but not capitalising on anything.
b] Therefore, I need an ereader to move away from the damn PC and catch up with the reading in peace -- without the need to "look up this or that", or "multi-task (leading to no-task!)", or all those roads to hell paved with good intentions.
c] From the replies, I am clear now that I have been afflicted by "The Paradox of Choice"! I am interested in an ereader first and foremost. There, I got it off my chest. Looking at every Raja, Rani and Jacky here in India wave one of these things ("oooh look at my new tablet", "oooh look at my shiny mobile that launches N-bomb also"...etc.,) under my nose got me confused and paralysed.
d] IMO, I have too much clutter in my life already and do not want to add to it in any form anymore. Thanks for detailed usage pattern, Chad. Based on the pattern, I can see that the tablet/iPad is clearly going to only zone me to distraction even more..... Appreciate the write-up. So, clearly no tablet/iPad/multi-functional gizmo for me now.
Thanks to you all, for slapping me out of the headlights.
(*) The poem in question, in case anyone is interested:
Work while you work,
Play while you play;
That is the way
To be cheerful and gay.
All that you do,
Do with your might;
Things done by halves
Are never done right.
One thing each time,
And that done well,
Is a very good rule,
As many can tell.
Moments are useless
Trifled away;
So work while you work,
And play while you play.
--M.A. Stodart
As Chad pointed, clearly you have a great deal of practical experience, and it reflects in the wonderful reply. Has been informative to put it in the least.
@jforest, @m741,
Thank you both for sharing your experiences with the Kindle and with the iPad too.
My Use Case — FWIW:
-------------------------------------
a] I prefer to maintain compartments in my life -- to enforce mindfulness more than anything else. Also, it is something from childhood that my mother drummed into me via a poem (*). So, when reading -- read, working -- work, internalising -- do that, relaxing -- just relax, etc. Of late, by becoming over-reliant on the PC, I have become an orangutan in deeper Borneo, i.e., swinging hither and thither, getting massively entertained and being entertaining, but not capitalising on anything.
b] Therefore, I need an ereader to move away from the damn PC and catch up with the reading in peace -- without the need to "look up this or that", or "multi-task (leading to no-task!)", or all those roads to hell paved with good intentions.
c] From the replies, I am clear now that I have been afflicted by "The Paradox of Choice"! I am interested in an ereader first and foremost. There, I got it off my chest. Looking at every Raja, Rani and Jacky here in India wave one of these things ("oooh look at my new tablet", "oooh look at my shiny mobile that launches N-bomb also"...etc.,) under my nose got me confused and paralysed.
d] IMO, I have too much clutter in my life already and do not want to add to it in any form anymore. Thanks for detailed usage pattern, Chad. Based on the pattern, I can see that the tablet/iPad is clearly going to only zone me to distraction even more..... Appreciate the write-up. So, clearly no tablet/iPad/multi-functional gizmo for me now.
Thanks to you all, for slapping me out of the headlights.
(*) The poem in question, in case anyone is interested:
Work while you work,
Play while you play;
That is the way
To be cheerful and gay.
All that you do,
Do with your might;
Things done by halves
Are never done right.
One thing each time,
And that done well,
Is a very good rule,
As many can tell.
Moments are useless
Trifled away;
So work while you work,
And play while you play.
--M.A. Stodart
The only thing that the Indian device has going for it against the Kindle is the expandable memory slot (upto 32GB). Again, if I am being objective, it simply means more clutter and more orangutan like behaviour, so I am going to pretend it doesn't exist. 
Unfortunately, quite a few of my books are in PDF format (legacy! don't ask -- I don't want to re-live the time!) that I intend to devour. Having spent more time researching the Kindle (Thanks bigato More later.) I came upon this for the Kindle keyboard:
"Built-in PDF reader with pan and zoom"
You can read your PDFs in their native format, view them in landscape mode, or zoom in up to 300% to view small print and detailed tables and graphics. You can also convert your PDF document to the Kindle format so that it reflows like a regular Kindle book.
From what I understand from the replies, it won't be easy but worth a try to use Calibre to convert it into an ePub or an azw, right?
Oooh, text to voice!!! Now when did I miss that.... That is an even more interesting feature... Listen to the book while doing the dishes (there I go again... multitask to no-task!)
Questions:
------------
1] The website mentions text-to-voice, audio (mp3) support for the $99 kindle. Can the $79 kindle-wallahs kindly help me out by clarifying if these options
a) mp3,
b) web page-read-aloud,
c) Built-in PDF reader with pan and zoom
are also available in the $79 kindle as well?
These three features are very important in determining the pricing option for me so your responses are eagerly awaited.
Unfortunately, quite a few of my books are in PDF format (legacy! don't ask -- I don't want to re-live the time!) that I intend to devour. Having spent more time researching the Kindle (Thanks bigato
More later.) I came upon this for the Kindle keyboard: "Built-in PDF reader with pan and zoom"
You can read your PDFs in their native format, view them in landscape mode, or zoom in up to 300% to view small print and detailed tables and graphics. You can also convert your PDF document to the Kindle format so that it reflows like a regular Kindle book.
From what I understand from the replies, it won't be easy but worth a try to use Calibre to convert it into an ePub or an azw, right?
Oooh, text to voice!!! Now when did I miss that.... That is an even more interesting feature... Listen to the book while doing the dishes (there I go again... multitask to no-task!)
Questions:
------------
1] The website mentions text-to-voice, audio (mp3) support for the $99 kindle. Can the $79 kindle-wallahs
kindly help me out by clarifying if these optionsa) mp3,
b) web page-read-aloud,
c) Built-in PDF reader with pan and zoom
are also available in the $79 kindle as well?
These three features are very important in determining the pricing option for me so your responses are eagerly awaited.
@bigato,
Thanks for the friendly push towards the kindle, hombre.
I think you are right. The kindle has many things going for it. Fundamentally,
One thing each time,
And that done well,
Is a very good rule
And the Kindle does it well. If the $79 does prove to be sufficient for my needs, then it works out much cheaper than the Indian device also! (Pretending still the memory slot is not important.
)
So in keeping with the seasonal spirit,
Kindle wins, Kindle wins,
kindle wins all the way!
Oh what fun it's to read a Kindle along the way, Hey!
Sung to the refrain of "you guessed what". *ducks quickly to avoid things being thrown at him*
@everyone
Sincere thank you from me for participating and sharing your thoughts and impressions of the kindle experiences so far......
Best,
Surio.
Thanks for the friendly push towards the kindle, hombre.
I think you are right. The kindle has many things going for it. Fundamentally,
One thing each time,
And that done well,
Is a very good rule
And the Kindle does it well. If the $79 does prove to be sufficient for my needs, then it works out much cheaper than the Indian device also! (Pretending still the memory slot is not important.
)So in keeping with the seasonal spirit,
Kindle wins, Kindle wins,
kindle wins all the way!
Oh what fun it's to read a Kindle along the way, Hey!
Sung to the refrain of "you guessed what". *ducks quickly to avoid things being thrown at him*
@everyone
Sincere thank you from me for participating and sharing your thoughts and impressions of the kindle experiences so far......
Best,
Surio.
A tablet is more practical, especially if you are a casual reader... But reading on them is a far shot from the joy it is on an e-ink screen.
I got one of the $150 TouchPad's (dual boot Android) and do like it for daily RSS reading, email, music in bed/bath, displaying pictures, watching videos while traveling, reading color PDFs while working on something. I am finding it to be more useful than I thought I would. With the small size and cost, I think I will keep it. LOL, the new 64gb ipad is almost $1000 dollars; insane... Tablet market is reaching saturation, if you're on the fence, I'd wait 6 months and you will likely be able to get an excellent tablet for $100-150.
If you read a lot of PDFs you might want to try and hunt down a PRS950. The 7" screen's aspect ratio matches that of PDF publications much, much better than 6" screens... Complex PDFs with margins clipped by Briss are PERFECT, no reader can match it.
I got one of the $150 TouchPad's (dual boot Android) and do like it for daily RSS reading, email, music in bed/bath, displaying pictures, watching videos while traveling, reading color PDFs while working on something. I am finding it to be more useful than I thought I would. With the small size and cost, I think I will keep it. LOL, the new 64gb ipad is almost $1000 dollars; insane... Tablet market is reaching saturation, if you're on the fence, I'd wait 6 months and you will likely be able to get an excellent tablet for $100-150.
If you read a lot of PDFs you might want to try and hunt down a PRS950. The 7" screen's aspect ratio matches that of PDF publications much, much better than 6" screens... Complex PDFs with margins clipped by Briss are PERFECT, no reader can match it.
*Checks the price of PRS 950 on the internets — promptly faints — DW revives him; sits back to type 
*
@JohnnyH,
Appreciate the points you make. Thanks for chipping in.
a] However, as I explained earlier, I am a serious reader and I realise that I am sitting way too long in front of the PC for my own good.
b] I live in the tropics, so even indoor lighting can be quite bright. The tablet would start straining my eyes very fast.
c] And the boys' review of the ereader has reminded me that it is definitely a book reader I have in mind and the tablet was a classic case of "paradox of choice" scenario for me.
> The 7" screen's aspect ratio matches that of PDF
> publications much, much better than 6" screens...
That is the same resolution as a Kindle keyboard!
@jforest,
Thank you for clarifying that point for me. I have now moved into the $99 kindle on my inventory now
Re: the kindle, my thoughts....
The way I understand it, if I am looking for some future proofing, it is really a tossup between a $99 kindle or a Kindle keyboard. Based on the PDF comment by JohnnyH, it might be the keyboard.....
The Amazon blurb says lot of positive things about the kindle keyboard, but bigato who owns a kindle keyboard was not gushing about PDF support either. I just have to try and convert the PDFs into a clunky epub or mobi; if not, I live with what I got. :-/
> You can carry much more books on this thing than
> you can have on your shelves.
@bigato, my hero! You sold the kindle to me 4 times successively in a span of 24 hours! I love you! (I am also somewhat hating the fact that I have to spend money now :-\)
*@JohnnyH,
Appreciate the points you make. Thanks for chipping in.
a] However, as I explained earlier, I am a serious reader and I realise that I am sitting way too long in front of the PC for my own good.
b] I live in the tropics, so even indoor lighting can be quite bright. The tablet would start straining my eyes very fast.
c] And the boys' review of the ereader has reminded me that it is definitely a book reader I have in mind and the tablet was a classic case of "paradox of choice" scenario for me.
> The 7" screen's aspect ratio matches that of PDF
> publications much, much better than 6" screens...
That is the same resolution as a Kindle keyboard!
@jforest,
Thank you for clarifying that point for me. I have now moved into the $99 kindle on my inventory now
Re: the kindle, my thoughts....
The way I understand it, if I am looking for some future proofing, it is really a tossup between a $99 kindle or a Kindle keyboard. Based on the PDF comment by JohnnyH, it might be the keyboard.....
The Amazon blurb says lot of positive things about the kindle keyboard, but bigato who owns a kindle keyboard was not gushing about PDF support either. I just have to try and convert the PDFs into a clunky epub or mobi; if not, I live with what I got. :-/
> You can carry much more books on this thing than
> you can have on your shelves.
@bigato, my hero! You sold the kindle to me 4 times successively in a span of 24 hours! I love you! (I am also somewhat hating the fact that I have to spend money now :-\)
@Surio: I think you've made the right choice... Ereader is probably my single favorite piece of technology.
As far as screen resolution all the Kindles except the DX have: (90 × 120mm) 6" 600 × 800 pixels, 167 ppi.
The PRS950 screen is: (90 × 154mm) 7.1" 600 × 1024 pixels, 167 ppi.
Almost all of the published PDF books I have are 6 units wide by 9 units long... After adding a strip for the status bar the PRS950 is perfect for this size, once the excess white has been clipped. These same PDFs are hopelessly broken on 6" readers because they break the page, then render an incomplete page for the entire book.
While conversion has come a long way (Calibre's heuristics are making great strides), I do not know if there will ever be an ideal solution for converting complex PDFs to EPUB/MOBI... Many text PDFs can be made into near perfect EPUBs, but any scientific or heavily diagrammed PDF don't even try because the results will be basically unreadable.
The best looking PDF on a 6" screen involves converting it to an image and is not ideal. I discuss this more in my review on the PRS950/K3 here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1C6G1E95S ... r_rdp_perm
The bad being the PRS950 has surged in price, and I have a terrible suspicion the 7" e-ink screen might be discontinued by Sony altogether... I hope I can get a backup in case they do vanish.
As far as screen resolution all the Kindles except the DX have: (90 × 120mm) 6" 600 × 800 pixels, 167 ppi.
The PRS950 screen is: (90 × 154mm) 7.1" 600 × 1024 pixels, 167 ppi.
Almost all of the published PDF books I have are 6 units wide by 9 units long... After adding a strip for the status bar the PRS950 is perfect for this size, once the excess white has been clipped. These same PDFs are hopelessly broken on 6" readers because they break the page, then render an incomplete page for the entire book.
While conversion has come a long way (Calibre's heuristics are making great strides), I do not know if there will ever be an ideal solution for converting complex PDFs to EPUB/MOBI... Many text PDFs can be made into near perfect EPUBs, but any scientific or heavily diagrammed PDF don't even try because the results will be basically unreadable.
The best looking PDF on a 6" screen involves converting it to an image and is not ideal. I discuss this more in my review on the PRS950/K3 here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1C6G1E95S ... r_rdp_perm
The bad being the PRS950 has surged in price, and I have a terrible suspicion the 7" e-ink screen might be discontinued by Sony altogether... I hope I can get a backup in case they do vanish.
Surio
Thumbs up for your research prior to obligating on a product. I am one that also does that since being burned a few times. I can't really help you on the differences of Kindle vs pad, but I can really relate a story that made a difference of astounding proportion to me:
Screen size--yes to me it's that important.
Being a computer user with a 22" LED screen, and an XBOX user with a 26" TV attached, I could NOT STAND the tiny screen of the Play Station Portable (PSP) game console I was given as a gift. It seems as if I was playing the games on something as tiny as a wrist watch. The PSP had a 7" screen.
I was NEVER going to like it. In short I gave it to my grand daughter.
Saying this to focus on screen size. Were it me, I would get as big and brilliant as budget will allow. I think this point makes sense, at least to me. Some of these readers and pads are small. The larger ones are expensive to say the least. The bright well colored ones are "purty 'spensive"
I am going to break down and admit an interest in these pads things as well. While I have no technical report for you, I can sense what I would want would be in the $600.00 arena. However, I am not going to play the game of them and obligate myself for a long series of constant upgrades and living in fear of my $600.00 investment going obsolete in six months. What I am saying is this: Part of me wants one, but part of me is "opting out" at this point. I have referred this consideration of a tech purchase to committee and have moved it well into the 2012 budget, say midyear. $600.00 will have to prove it's value prior to obligation of funds. But, what the hey, I still want one as they are neat and purty.
However, if I have not made a purchase by "Dec 21, 2012" it will probably be too late anyway, won't it?
Your the man Surio old pal, just duck your head and go for the gold!!!! (As an aside, when your injected with your RFID chip after 12/21/12, you may be able to wifi your way without a pad?) Time will tell.
Cheers
Thumbs up for your research prior to obligating on a product. I am one that also does that since being burned a few times. I can't really help you on the differences of Kindle vs pad, but I can really relate a story that made a difference of astounding proportion to me:
Screen size--yes to me it's that important.
Being a computer user with a 22" LED screen, and an XBOX user with a 26" TV attached, I could NOT STAND the tiny screen of the Play Station Portable (PSP) game console I was given as a gift. It seems as if I was playing the games on something as tiny as a wrist watch. The PSP had a 7" screen.
I was NEVER going to like it. In short I gave it to my grand daughter.
Saying this to focus on screen size. Were it me, I would get as big and brilliant as budget will allow. I think this point makes sense, at least to me. Some of these readers and pads are small. The larger ones are expensive to say the least. The bright well colored ones are "purty 'spensive"
I am going to break down and admit an interest in these pads things as well. While I have no technical report for you, I can sense what I would want would be in the $600.00 arena. However, I am not going to play the game of them and obligate myself for a long series of constant upgrades and living in fear of my $600.00 investment going obsolete in six months. What I am saying is this: Part of me wants one, but part of me is "opting out" at this point. I have referred this consideration of a tech purchase to committee and have moved it well into the 2012 budget, say midyear. $600.00 will have to prove it's value prior to obligation of funds. But, what the hey, I still want one as they are neat and purty.
However, if I have not made a purchase by "Dec 21, 2012" it will probably be too late anyway, won't it?
Your the man Surio old pal, just duck your head and go for the gold!!!! (As an aside, when your injected with your RFID chip after 12/21/12, you may be able to wifi your way without a pad?) Time will tell.
Cheers