I purchased a Kindle 2 about a year ago now and really enjoy it. Plugged into my
Ubuntu machine and it is detected straight away and I use Calibre (check in the
software center) to sync the bought Amazon books and the stuff I download from
the web (LOADS of features and a must have if you have an ereader). Overall I am
really happy and the B&W screen does the job. My only complaint is how it
handles PDF files, Calibre can only do so much in converting them and they never
turn out right.

I was in Borders over the holidays looking at all the latest offerings on the
e-reader front and I do not see anything available right now I want to trade up
for.

My 2 cents...if you want an e-reader then go for a B&W one, the picture is
crisp, screen not backlit so you can read no matter where the sun is at and you
can get 3 weeks out of a single charge (approx a 1 with the wi-fi on). As for
being hard on devices, I am much the same, but 2-3 years ago I discovered
"Tuff-Luv" cases and have never broken a device since, have my kindle,
smartphone and mp3 player (a sansa with Rockbox loaded!) encased with covers
from them.

If you just love reading books, go the dedicated e-reader route with B&W screen
as the colour offering are not worth the extra expense just yet IMO. If you can
stretch for something like an Kindle DX, then handling PDF's would not be as
much of an issue either.

I purchased a Kindle 2 about a year ago now and really enjoy it. Plugged into my
Ubuntu machine and it is detected straight away and I use Calibre (check in the
software center) to sync the bought Amazon books and the stuff I download from
the web (LOADS of features and a must have if you have an ereader). Overall I am
really happy and the B&W screen does the job. My only complaint is how it
handles PDF files, Calibre can only do so much in converting them and they never
turn out right.

I was in Borders over the holidays looking at all the latest offerings on the
e-reader front and I do not see anything available right now I want to trade up
for.

My 2 cents...if you want an e-reader then go for a B&W one, the picture is
crisp, screen not backlit so you can read no matter where the sun is at and you
can get 3 weeks out of a single charge (approx a 1 with the wi-fi on). As for
being hard on devices, I am much the same, but 2-3 years ago I discovered
"Tuff-Luv" cases and have never broken a device since, have my kindle,
smartphone and mp3 player (a sansa with Rockbox loaded!) encased with covers
from them.

If you just love reading books, go the dedicated e-reader route with B&W screen
as the colour offering are not worth the extra expense just yet IMO. If you can
stretch for something like an Kindle DX, then handling PDF's would not be as
much of an issue either.

I have the smaller one, I do subscribe to one journal but it is text based so
looks like any book on the kindle. If you get anything with lots of picture
content you might be disappointed. If you go to Amazon.com, then to the Kindle
store and look for any periodicals you might subscribe to (or might) and look at
the reviews. Most people are very honest and you will get an indication of the
limitations. Yes, there is a built-in dictionary which will give the definition
of any highlighted word at the bottom of the screen, clicking it will give you
more and the option to go to wikipedia for more information. The kindle does
have a basic web browser which looks good on wikipedia, but a bit weird on
graphics heavy sites. Amazon also regularly updated the dictionary, had an
update just last month.

Love the fetch function on Calibre, it is like building your own personalised
magazines. Like I said, PDF's are the problem, I think the DX (the larger
Kindle) would handle them better with the larger screen. I hold out hope that
Amazon and Adobe will come up with something or if someone will come up with
something.

I know Best Buy in the USA has virtually every decent ereader on display to play
with so you can compare your sony's, amazon's, nook's (and more) side-by-side. I
will hold onto mine until the colour e-ink looks like a worthwhile investment
(cheap and looks good).

Did you see these:

www.handlewithlinux.com/linux-dual-screen-e-reader-tablet

en.akihabaranews.com/.../kakai-kno-linux-based-tablete-reader-wi\
th-two-14-1-touchscreens

hardware.slashdot.org/.../slashdot.sourceforge.net

mobile.slashdot.org/.../Asus-Plans-Dual-Display-E-Read\
er?from=rss

www.tested.com/.../\
375/

www.linuxfordevices.com/.../

www.linuxine.com/.../pandigitals-novel-ereader-little-android-tablet-co\
uld

Yes, I'm waiting to read of successful upgrades to latest versions of Android
3.0 or later. Or migrations of different versions of Linux on them.

My HTC Desire android phone has kindle software as a free download,
I'v downloaded a few free books: one less gadget to buy.

Tell me about amz file format. How do the files sizes compare with pdf? Also
does the Kindle handle epub because most free e-books are in that format.

AMZ is just Amazons own DRM protected format, and as someone who is usually
pro-opensource it took some while to get used too. On the kindle it is perfect
and the file sizes are usually not large, on Amazon it lists the file size with
the ebooks, but I do not think there is much in the difference. Using Calibre I
can convert to epub and yes the kindle does handle them, as far as I know it can
handle most formats it is just the PDF issue. You can just send a PDF to the
kindle, but then you have to zoom in and scroll around to read the text, not the
best option. Any free ebook I have downloaded (From Amazon or elsewhere) has
displayed fine. I usually convert to epub or use that on the Kindle (other then
the bought stuff).

I don't own an e-reader, but I am following the technology closely. Android
tablets are half-baked, from what I have seen. I expect the situation to be
changed by August, just in time for "back to school."

There is no colour e-ink yet, and e-ink is a lot more readable than any other
text displays.

At the same time, spending $150 on a toy which will be replaced later this year
is probably not the most stupid thing either of us have done...

Does the Pandigital have access to the app store?

There is colour e-ink now, but it is very pale and so far it has not hit the
market, just demonstrated on prototypes. It is a toy in a way, but it is
useful. I read a lot and storage of paper books becomes problematic after
awhile. I started seriously using the library for a time, but the e-reader
is good for someone like me. I read fast. When I travel I can take a stack
of books or one e-reader and something to charge it with. There were lots
of Android tablets at CES, so they are starting to heat up. However, there
is the issue of all of the versions of Android floating around.

As for apps, I have no clue as I have never used a cell phone. I have seen
apps used, but never had the chance to use them myself. You can root most
Android devices. I even saw Ubuntu running on one recently. The Pandigital
has been rooted and apps for other Android devices will theoretically work,
but most require physical buttons instead of a touch screen so from what I
understand the apps are useless.

The reviews on the Pandigital vary from very happy to it sucks. People
compare it to the iPad which it is not and are disappointed. They say it is
sluggish and the touch screen is hard to use. People who expect it to work
as a $150 e-reader tend to be very happy. The trick with the touch screen
apparently has to do with the type of screen. It is galss with and overlay
capacitor touch sensitive layer. It is cheaper to produce this way. You need
to use a stylus or your fingernail instead of your skin. Once you figure
this out it works well from reviews I've read.

Costco is really good at taking things back so I may give it a whirl.

I don't count on anything until I can buy it, whether it's colour e-ink or the
version of Android built for tablets.

Our library also offers e-books,but I don't enjoy them (on a computer screen) as
much as an actual book. My Chinese wife also reads a lot, so we have to go to a
library branch with a large Chinese section.

I wouldn't be happy with a device which was described as "sluggish."

Over the past few years I have owned e-readers. I have had 2 versions of
Sony and have downloaded the PC version of NOOK (made it run in WINE).
I use mine to read a lot of my own stuff. I scan or photo copy articles
I wish to read and then push them to the devices. I read a lot of Jack
Waldon on Tech REpublic (.pdf files). Also have downloaded Western ebook
to read.
I like them because you can carry a LOT of reading material with you.
Hope this helps.