Nice, cheap alternative to kindle

kingaaa

I just got this off amazon,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/NATPC-M009S-Google-Android-Tablet/dp/B004RAN7VI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323538760&sr=8-3

gets decent reviews and gives a bit more than just an e-reader with all the apps. Worked out at £92 sterling, about the same price as a kindle. I was buying a 16gb sd card too, but the shipping was nearly a tenner - anybody know where I can pick up a cheap 16-32gb sd card?

Broads.ie

I couldn't read text on that screen for too long, twould bust your eyes. Also the battery life is nowhere near a kindle.

Is there any cheap alternative to kindle that uses the e-ink technology?

paddyp

If you know someone in the uk or going to the north there always the kobo reader.

kingaaa

Broads.ie wrote: »

I couldn't read text on that screen for too long, twould bust your eyes. Also the battery life is nowhere near a kindle.

Is there any cheap alternative to kindle that uses the e-ink technology?

I dont know mate, with app market there are plenty of readers out there - if its anything like my samsung galaxy I dont think it will be a problem, I've read 7 or 8 books now with the moon+ app.

Kinky Slinky

kingaaa wrote: »

I dont know mate, with app market there are plenty of readers out there - if its anything like my samsung galaxy I dont think it will be a problem, I've read 7 or 8 books now with the moon+ app.

There's no comparison, E-ink is completely different from a LCD screen. This isn't an alternative for a kindle there's no comparison between the two. Kindles are just for reading that tablet you bought can browse the web etc. It's not a genuine eReader it's a tablet.

kingaaa

Kinky Slinky wrote: »

kingaaa wrote: »

I dont know mate, with app market there are plenty of readers out there - if its anything like my samsung galaxy I dont think it will be a problem, I've read 7 or 8 books now with the moon+ app.

There's no comparison, E-ink is completely different from a LCD screen. This isn't an alternative for a kindle there's no comparison between the two. Kindles are just for reading that tablet you bought can browse the web etc. It's not a genuine eReader it's a tablet.

I know.what it is mate, just thinking the 16 year old daughter will get a bit more out of this,and if it performs as good as the galaxy reader wise,it will definitley be a better option for me.at the end of the day,its not rocket science is it?you just want it to reproduce a page from a book!

Kinky Slinky

kingaaa wrote: »

I know.what it is mate, just thinking the 16 year old daughter will get a bit more out of this,and if it performs as good as the galaxy reader wise,it will definitley be a better option for me.at the end of the day,its not rocket science is it?you just want it to reproduce a page from a book!

I just wrote that reply because the title is misleading 'Nice, cheap alternative to kindle tablet'. I have a Xoom tablet and would never read a book on it.

kingaaa

Kinky Slinky wrote: »

I just wrote that reply because the title is misleading 'Nice, cheap alternative to kindle tablet'. I have a Xoom tablet and would never read a book on it.

Yeah, see your point mate. The only reason I titled the thread that way was because I was initinally looking for a kindle or something like it - but this I thought was great value.

partyatmygaff

It's not really an alternative. A proper Android tablet is an alternative. This thing however doesn't have a hope of competing with the Kindle. For one, the screen isn't suited for book reading. It's unlikely to be very responsive or very clear. Two, you'll have to install the Android market yourself (Quite easy if you know what you're doing. A nightmare if you don't.). Three, the battery life is absolutely horrendous on these cheap tablets. You'll be lucky to get two hours.

I know an Android tablet does what a Kindle does and much more but not all tablets were created equal. Cheap tablets are full of compromises and while capable of doing everything that a more expensive tablet can do the user experience is so poor that it's almost not worth it. It'll browse the internet - slowly. It'll work as a book reader - for two hours of painful reading. It does many things but it doesn't necessarily do them well.

Oafley Jones

Kinky Slinky wrote: »

I just wrote that reply because the title is misleading 'Nice, cheap alternative to kindle tablet'. I have a Xoom tablet and would never read a book on it.

I've an iPad and the reading experience on it is horrible. E-ink not only is far more natural, it's also far more convient as well. I was away for three weeks this year and not once did I have to worry if there was a charge in the kindle, it just keeps going.

kingaaa

partyatmygaff wrote: »

It's not really an alternative. A proper Android tablet is an alternative. This thing however doesn't have a hope of competing with the Kindle. For one, the screen isn't suited for book reading. It's unlikely to be very responsive or very clear. Two, you'll have to install the Android market yourself (Quite easy if you know what you're doing. A nightmare if you don't.). Three, the battery life is absolutely horrendous on these cheap tablets. You'll be lucky to get two hours.

I know an Android tablet does what a Kindle does and much more but not all tablets were created equal. Cheap tablets are full of compromises and while capable of doing everything that a more expensive tablet can do the user experience is so poor that it's almost not worth it. It'll browse the internet - slowly. It'll work as a book reader - for two hours of painful reading. It does many things but it doesn't necessarily do them well.

ah well, too late now - amazon wont let me cancel, it will have to do!!!!

kingaaa

partyatmygaff wrote: »

It's not really an alternative. A proper Android tablet is an alternative. This thing however doesn't have a hope of competing with the Kindle. For one, the screen isn't suited for book reading. It's unlikely to be very responsive or very clear. Two, you'll have to install the Android market yourself (Quite easy if you know what you're doing. A nightmare if you don't.). Three, the battery life is absolutely horrendous on these cheap tablets. You'll be lucky to get two hours.

I know an Android tablet does what a Kindle does and much more but not all tablets were created equal. Cheap tablets are full of compromises and while capable of doing everything that a more expensive tablet can do the user experience is so poor that it's almost not worth it. It'll browse the internet - slowly. It'll work as a book reader - for two hours of painful reading. It does many things but it doesn't necessarily do them well.

BTW, it already has androind market installes - as well as kindle and many other apps. I genuinley cant find a bad review for it, it seems to make many top 10's?????

http://androidbuzz.co.uk/natpc-m009s-7-inch-2gb-google-android-tablet-pc-cheapest-2-2-android-tablet-works-with-flash-10-1-wifi-touchscreen-epad-apad-android-market-youtube-kindle-and-facebook-app.html

whiterebel

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I've an iPad and the reading experience on it is horrible. E-ink not only is far more natural, it's also far more convient as well. I was away for three weeks this year and not once did I have to worry if there was a charge in the kindle, it just keeps going.

I only find it a problem reading outside with the iPad due to the glossy screen. Indoors is great.

kingaaa

whiterebel wrote: »

I only find it a problem reading outside with the iPad due to the glossy screen. Indoors is great.

To be honest, she's only going to be reading indoors - dont think too many teenagers would be seen dead walking down the road with an e-reader, seriously damage the reputation and all that!!!!lol

Broads.ie

Your daughters eyes are going to be blasted to shyte if she uses that tablet to read books. I would buy her actual books instead. The ones made from dead trees. You could get 50 second hand books or more for the price of that tablet.

But if she just uses it to mess around with games and stuff, then I guess it's ok...

GreenWolfe

Broads.ie wrote: »

But if she just uses it to mess around with games and stuff, then I guess it's ok...

That might be a bit of a non-runner. The guy selling them can't even settle on a clock speed for the CPU in the thing, that cannot be good news.

CPU : VIA 8650 300-800MHz

I thought Flash could only run on Cortex A8 devices or later, and this isn't.

Going up North for an eReader might have been a better idea, Asda are now selling the Kobo eReader for £67.

Was spending €20 extra on a proper e-reader a bridge too far? I have no idea how something with 2 hours of battery life could replace a Kindle.

ronanphilip

kingaaa wrote: »

ah well, too late now - amazon wont let me cancel, it will have to do!!!!

if you cant cancel the order you should be able to return it within a certain nuber of days

kingaaa

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

That might be a bit of a non-runner. The guy selling them can't even settle on a clock speed for the CPU in the thing, that cannot be good news.

I thought Flash could only run on Cortex A8 devices or later, and this isn't.

Going up North for an eReader might have been a better idea, Asda are now selling the Kobo eReader for £67.

Was spending €20 extra on a proper e-reader a bridge too far? I have no idea how something with 2 hours of battery life could replace a Kindle.

No, wasn't a bridge too far - I actually thought I was doing a good thing, more functionality and all that - obviously I was wrong. Dont get so hung up on clock speeds or whatever other numbers you are looking at,there are loads of videos of this tablet actually playing flash videos and games without a problem and browsing fairly quickly too. In repsonse to the 2 hour battery life thing - my daughter only reads when at home, never too far from a socket I might add! If it doesn't function well as a reader then I'll get her one, no big deal.

BTW, the kindle wasnt actually dearer than this,just thought she would get more use from the tablet.

super_furry

paddyp wrote: »

If you know someone in the uk or going to the north there always the kobo reader.

They sell them in Arnotts in Dublin now. Picked up the Kobo Touch at the weekend and after having two Kindle die on me, I'm already preferring it.

BostonB

What do you find better about the Kobo?

groom

The basic Kindle does what it does well and not much else. No backlit tablet can touch e-ink for concerted reading.

The Kindle 4 (with offers) is only $79 if you know someone over there.

ThunbergsAreGo

I have an Archos 70 i picked up for 85 pound from CPW,

Does as much as a Kindle and more, excellent Bttery life as well.

I can see why people like Kindles, but given i like to watch movies etc, the Archos i sone id defintly reccomend

TechFreak

I got a similar tablet to the one in question as a kindle alternative, flashed it with an updated ROM and got the aldiko reader for it.

Whilst the tablet can be ok to read on the backlit LCD screen does screw your vision after a period of time. Also the screens on these cheaper tablets are a bit crappy. Might be ok for what movies or surfing the net, battery life isnt the best either.

I bit the bullet and got the kindle 4 without the keypad. Its a million miles better, amazing to read on, doesnt hurt the eyes. Its light and feels like reading a book in a weird way. Im a convert btw, I was dead against e-readers but ive changed my tune.

A little birdie who flew off a pirate ship told me that there's "allegedly" a torrent on another website containing a "treasure trove" of books ( see the suttle hint I gave there ) I of course assume all these books are shared with the authority of the authors in question but last I checked / was informed/ distance myself from the following statement, there was 2500 in mobi format in the file, "allegedly" of course.

As books can be anywhere from 3 - 8 dollars it could factor into someones decision.

JohnMearsheimer

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I've an iPad and the reading experience on it is horrible. E-ink not only is far more natural, it's also far more convient as well. I was away for three weeks this year and not once did I have to worry if there was a charge in the kindle, it just keeps going.

I had the same experience. I downloaded the Kindle app for the iPad and thought it was horrible. I went for an actual Kindle before Christmas, you can't beat e-ink. I've only charged it once since I've had it.

super_furry

BostonB wrote: »

What do you find better about the Kobo?

Touch screen, expandable memory (micro SD slot) and a better user interface really. There's not much difference in the build or reading experience though.

TerrorFirmer

Buyincoins have the newer version of this tablet, there's a thread on it in BA already that's 40 pages long. Mine came to 48 including postage from HK, so the Amazon price is pretty bad. It's a decent tablet, but has poor battery life, and the CPU on the Buyincoins one is listed as a Via 800mhz but they're actually Infotmic 1Ghz CPU.

Reading on these though is nowhere near as enjoyable as using a kindle.

killedsirius

hows the battery life on the kobo touch? for a user who wont be interested in the wireless, but wants a touch screen reader for going on holidays, so battery life is very important

super_furry

Kobo themselves claim it's up to a month and so far I see no reason to doubt that. I charged it to full on Saturday, loaded 500 odd books to it and have been using it heavily since then and it's still at roughly 90% charge.