Where to buy an Ebook Reader in Chiang mai?

[TheSiemReaper]

You can't turn backlighting off on an iPad Mini. The screen is lit from behind (as are all such screens) thus the light shines directly into your eyes. No light = no image. It's the same as turning the screen off.

Kindle uses an E-ink screen and there is no lighting used to produce the image at all (it's a black image) and then (with the Paperwhite) a light is projected forward onto the screen (hence front-lit) to enable the text to be easier to read.

There is no comparison in terms of ease on the eye between backlit and frontlit (just like a book) devices. You can do much more with an iPad Mini but there is a trade off for that functionality and that includes - it's a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot.

I stand corrected... You can't turn off the backlighting 'completely.' What you can do is adjust it to a comfortable level for 'most anyone's comfort.' I find that I keep mine at about 3/4ths intensity, just as I do my phone. I read a couple of hours on my Mini every day, and find it just as comfortable as I did when reading on my Kindle.Or my Kobo. Or my Sony reader, all of which were e-ink designs. So really no trade-off at all, except that you can do so much more with it. I'm not really sure why you think its "a poorer e-reader for those who read a lot" though.... Have you spent much time reading on a Mini to make that comparison? I've spent a few years with Kindle, Kobo, and Sony readers, and now a few years using the Mini iPad. If anything, the ONLY significant drawback to the Mini would be that it's a bit heavier than the dedicated e-readers, so if you prefer to read in bed, plus have strength problems with your hand, I'd certainly recommend an e-reader over a Mini. Other than that, for reading comfort, they are about the same (despite the advertising to the contrary,) there is no need for external library software for file conversions if you want to read other formats, and the prices reflect the limitations of the e-readers.

It is a poorer e-reader because it's a back-lit, heavier device, with lousy battery life. There is no comparison between any kind of tablet, mini-tablet, or smartphone and a dedicated e-reader in terms of quality of reading experience. That's the trade off. There would be no dedicated e-reading devices if the tablets/smartphones did a better job of it.

It's the same reason that a DSLR and a good lens beats your iPad Mini's camera. That a top of the range MP3 player eats your iPad Mini for lunch when it comes to music playback. And so on...

Generalist devices are always going to be worse at a job than specialist ones. I have no issue with what you read on at all (they're your eyes) but there is zero doubt (read all the tech press for confirmation) that the Kindle is the best possible device on the market today for reading books on. It doesn't matter how much you love your iPad Mini - it doesn't do the job as well as a Kindle but in exchange it does lots more jobs than the Kindle.

Also, reading in direct sunlight on a shiny reflective screen with no front lighting? No fun at all.

Provided you don't read ANY books that contain ANY images / diagrams or whatever, and especially any that are reliant on colour, in which case, it doesn't matter how much you love your Kindle, in those cases it doesn't do the job as well as a well specced tablet. Boils down to what you need it for. As to the weight, Ipad Mini is heavier sure. 298 gm vs 205 gm for the Kindle. We're not talking massive difference or earthshaking changes in comfort. There is no 'one size fits all' best. The Kindle is best ONLY for text only books. It simply boils down to what the INDIVIDUAL needs it for and, in some cases, the Kindle is crap.

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

[amexpat]

This is so cool! One only needs to read the last couple of posts because these guys copy the whole #%@&* thread every time.

Mods, how about a primer-level tutorial.

[SooKee]

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

Simple. Adults with different priorities to yours. Your 'solution' is not the only one and misses the whole point as to why people may wish to use an e-reader. Just because YOU only wish to read b/w text books doesn't mean that others do and it doesn't make your preference for hard copy books where colour is involved the best option for many.

[TheSiemReaper]

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

Simple. Adults with different priorities to yours. Your 'solution' is not the only one and misses the whole point as to why people may wish to use an e-reader. Just because YOU only wish to read b/w text books doesn't mean that others do and it doesn't make your preference for hard copy books where colour is involved the best option for many.

Yeah, answering a different question doesn't actually progress a conversation. How many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? The answer is very few.

More to the point those that care about rendering images buy paper books at that point. And if they wanted them on a screen - they'd probably choose something bigger than an iPad Mini with its limited screen real estate to view it on.

This is borne out by sales of devices, sales of books and indeed the way publishers approach these things in general. You can yowl for the iPad Mini all you like; it's a great general device. It is, however, not a very good e-reader and that won't change no matter how much you would like it to.

[FolkGuitar]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

[SooKee]

My Kindle works fine with diagrams and images. Sure, it doesn't do colour - how many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? When it comes to that kind of work - the book is usually very expensive and best rendered as an actual book with lovely, shiny, glossy photo quality that no screen will render as well (because calibration issues).

Simple. Adults with different priorities to yours. Your 'solution' is not the only one and misses the whole point as to why people may wish to use an e-reader. Just because YOU only wish to read b/w text books doesn't mean that others do and it doesn't make your preference for hard copy books where colour is involved the best option for many.

Yeah, answering a different question doesn't actually progress a conversation. How many books with colour pictures do most adults purchase or read? The answer is very few.

More to the point those that care about rendering images buy paper books at that point. And if they wanted them on a screen - they'd probably choose something bigger than an iPad Mini with its limited screen real estate to view it on.

This is borne out by sales of devices, sales of books and indeed the way publishers approach these things in general. You can yowl for the iPad Mini all you like; it's a great general device. It is, however, not a very good e-reader and that won't change no matter how much you would like it to.

But you're simply coming up with solutions and opinions around books with images to suit your arguments. Splattering the arguments with words like most, very few and probably don't make it so.

Fact is people require e-readers for different things. The images don't always have to be colour calibrated to be useful. They merely have to be able to read and displayed the same way as they would be in a printed book, or at least close to. People who wish to use e-readers to avoid having to carry around a bookcase full of full color books have needs just as valid as yours and shouldn't have to compromise with your solution merely because it supports your arguments. You can quote sales figures and the way publishers approach things (evidenced, or as in this case, not) as much as you like.

There's a reason technical books cost the earth. And the e versions. They simply don't sell as well as novels so sales figures in the book industry are a meaningless statistic in that regard. A doctor that needs a medical book costing $100 still needs it, regardless of how many million Mills and Boon novels outsell it. And you can 'yowl' for the Kindle just as much as you like. Fact is for some people the Kindle is crap. Niche audience it may be but I know of not one medical student that uses a Kindle. Guess they must have missed the point that the Kindle is in much better reader and that they should be sporting that while wheeling round their 56 kg barrow load of books. Or........ they could just opt to use a tablet I guess.

Don't assume everybody's needs are the same as yours and don't assume that your solution or theories surrounding the use of books with images, especially those of a technical nature, suit others, whose needs for an e-mail reader are just as valid as yours. In their case though the Kindle doesn't cut it.

As to answering another question. Amazon made a great play of how many newspapers and periodicals would be available on Kindle. Personally I prefer to choose a device on the basis of all its functionality. Not some. And for those who wish to use it as a primary device for reading such things, having tried it and having tried to like it, the Kindle experience just sucks IMO.

One other thing I forgot that swayed me from the Kindle. The iPad supports through apps books available from all the major publishers in whatever format without the need for intermediary software. "Want to read this book on Kindle?". Tough. Not a major point. But a point nonetheless.

It's horses for courses. For black and white plain text books Kindle is great. Less so if your needs go beyond that. Much less, depending on how much your needs vary.

Edited March 25, 2016 by SooKee

[TheSiemReaper]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

I'll stick to a laptop for those things. Bigger screen, much better for diagrams, images, etc. works incredibly well and has done for years. Does much more than an iPad Mini ever could too...

[silverhawk_usa]

67 posts, with intelligent comments in each, different points of view with no bashing, well presented and informative. Is this really Thai Visa? Good job guys.

[FolkGuitar]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

I'll stick to a laptop for those things. Bigger screen, much better for diagrams, images, etc. works incredibly well and has done for years. Does much more than an iPad Mini ever could too...

There is no doubt that a full-sized computer does very well for diagrams and images. Especially large ones. And when at home, I, too, chose to use a large monitor for them. But when I'm laying on the beach, or sitting in a cafe with a cup of coffee, and feel like reading a magazine rather than a novel, I have that option. I didn't have it when I used a dedicated e-reader. They were black and white and I needed color. And when I'm traveling for a few days by motorcycle, and don't feel like carrying along even a laptop with me, I can still take care of e-mail, photo correction and management, play a game of chess, use the GPS and maps without needing to use a magnifier to see my phone, watch a movie, OR read a magazine or a novel. It's all about options. You may never need to be a step or two from your computer, so your needs are different than mine. I'm often well away from mine. I need a good e-reader PLUS all the other things that a tablet can provide, without sacrificing my reading comfort. Otherwise, I would have stuck with my Kindle or Kobo. (The Sony was too limited.) I had that option.

[northernjohn]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

To be honest with you I think very few people buy books on any device that have colored pictures. For that matter go into a book store and look for books that have colored pictures in them. Many on the cover but not in the book.

For science and advertising copy I agree get an Ipad or what ever else you want because chances are you will be looking into other sources of information any how.

If you are like me and just want to read books without having to go through various process and are not interested in any thing else get a kindle. It is the best choice I can see based on what has been said here.

Just out of curiosity how long did your Kobo and Sony e-book reader last? Could you read them with out a light in the middle of the night? Could you read them in bright sun light?

[mcfish]

Everyone not using an reader is ignoring the elephant in the room. Battery consumption, you can't use a tablet for everything and expect the battery not to be tethered to a damn power chord all the time, its like a ball n chain, and nothings is worse than the tablet dying mid Paragraph when trying to kill a few hours some where, I know I'm doing it right now in a hotel in Vietnam... Chained to a wall while typing this

[FolkGuitar]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

To be honest with you I think very few people buy books on any device that have colored pictures. For that matter go into a book store and look for books that have colored pictures in them. Many on the cover but not in the book.

For science and advertising copy I agree get an Ipad or what ever else you want because chances are you will be looking into other sources of information any how.

If you are like me and just want to read books without having to go through various process and are not interested in any thing else get a kindle. It is the best choice I can see based on what has been said here.

Just out of curiosity how long did your Kobo and Sony e-book reader last? Could you read them with out a light in the middle of the night? Could you read them in bright sun light?

I read several magazines every month; 'Scientific American,' 'National Geographic,' 'Popular Photography,' 'Gourmet,' 'Bon Appetit,' 'Guitar Player,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Newsweek,' and a few more that I can't think of at the moment. I read these on my computer when at home, and on my iPad Mini when I'm out of the house.

Both the Kobo and the Sony are still going strong. I guess the Sony is at least 10 years old, and the Kobo is about 6 years old. Family members use them every day. The Kobo could be read without a light at night, and both could be used in bright sun. Same can be said for my iPad Mini.

Everyone not using an reader is ignoring the elephant in the room. Battery consumption, you can't use a tablet for everything and expect the battery not to be tethered to a damn power chord all the time, its like a ball n chain, and nothings is worse than the tablet dying mid Paragraph when trying to kill a few hours some where, I know I'm doing it right now in a hotel in Vietnam... Chained to a wall while typing this

While an e-reader does have a much greater battery life than a tablet, I only recharge my iPad Mini about twice a week although I read on it every day. I don't recall ever getting caught short with a dead battery in the middle of something. Perhaps the battery life is different in different models or brands of tablets? I really don't know. I just know battery life hasn't been a problem.

[mcfish]

As I've said several times now, I've HAD a Kindle. I've used a Kindle. I've also had and used Kobo and Sony e-book readers. Lots of experience with them. AND, experience with the iPad Mini. I find it to be every bit as good an e-reader (or better!) than all of the dedicated e-readers. This statement is based on several years of experience with both styles, not on advertising copy. Please stick with your Kindle if you wish to. But when you want to read Time magazine, or a science book with color diagrams, let us know and we'll lend you our iPads.

To be honest with you I think very few people buy books on any device that have colored pictures. For that matter go into a book store and look for books that have colored pictures in them. Many on the cover but not in the book.

For science and advertising copy I agree get an Ipad or what ever else you want because chances are you will be looking into other sources of information any how.

If you are like me and just want to read books without having to go through various process and are not interested in any thing else get a kindle. It is the best choice I can see based on what has been said here.

Just out of curiosity how long did your Kobo and Sony e-book reader last? Could you read them with out a light in the middle of the night? Could you read them in bright sun light?

I read several magazines every month; 'Scientific American,' 'National Geographic,' 'Popular Photography,' 'Gourmet,' 'Bon Appetit,' 'Guitar Player,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Newsweek,' and a few more that I can't think of at the moment. I read these on my computer when at home, and on my iPad Mini when I'm out of the house.

Both the Kobo and the Sony are still going strong. I guess the Sony is at least 10 years old, and the Kobo is about 6 years old. Family members use them every day. The Kobo could be read without a light at night, and both could be used in bright sun. Same can be said for my iPad Mini.

Everyone not using an reader is ignoring the elephant in the room. Battery consumption, you can't use a tablet for everything and expect the battery not to be tethered to a damn power chord all the time, its like a ball n chain, and nothings is worse than the tablet dying mid Paragraph when trying to kill a few hours some where, I know I'm doing it right now in a hotel in Vietnam... Chained to a wall while typing this

While an e-reader does have a much greater battery life than a tablet, I only recharge my iPad Mini about twice a week although I read on it every day. I don't recall ever getting caught short with a dead battery in the middle of something. Perhaps the battery life is different in different models or brands of tablets? I really don't know. I just know battery life hasn't been a problem.

You haven't read every post the debate is buying the iPad because it's multifunctional eg movies, music, forums. Why would you buy an iPad mini just to read... That's silly and of course your battery will last a few days. But then your better with an eReader just for reading

[FolkGuitar]

I read several magazines every month; 'Scientific American,' 'National Geographic,' 'Popular Photography,' 'Gourmet,' 'Bon Appetit,' 'Guitar Player,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Newsweek,' and a few more that I can't think of at the moment. I read these on my computer when at home, and on my iPad Mini when I'm out of the house.

Both the Kobo and the Sony are still going strong. I guess the Sony is at least 10 years old, and the Kobo is about 6 years old. Family members use them every day. The Kobo could be read without a light at night, and both could be used in bright sun. Same can be said for my iPad Mini.

Everyone not using an reader is ignoring the elephant in the room. Battery consumption, you can't use a tablet for everything and expect the battery not to be tethered to a damn power chord all the time, its like a ball n chain, and nothings is worse than the tablet dying mid Paragraph when trying to kill a few hours some where, I know I'm doing it right now in a hotel in Vietnam... Chained to a wall while typing this

While an e-reader does have a much greater battery life than a tablet, I only recharge my iPad Mini about twice a week although I read on it every day. I don't recall ever getting caught short with a dead battery in the middle of something. Perhaps the battery life is different in different models or brands of tablets? I really don't know. I just know battery life hasn't been a problem.

You haven't read every post the debate is buying the iPad because it's multifunctional eg movies, music, forums. Why would you buy an iPad mini just to read... That's silly and of course your battery will last a few days. But then your better with an eReader just for reading

You're right. You could buy an e-book reader just to read. I can't see any reason not to spend $120 just to read plain black and white text.

But for my money, I'd want to spend a bit more so I could read anything I want to read... books, magazines, documents, text books, art books, science books, novels, comics... anything. We won't even mention all the other 'things' that can be done, just the reading of anything in any format without needing third-party software to convert it. (It's rough to convert epub or lit to mobi unless you have your computer with you.) But yes... you're correct. For just plain ordinary black and white books an e-reader is fine. I used one for years until I expanded my reading needs.

Edited March 25, 2016 by FolkGuitar