It's nice having all the books available as free pdfs, but it's not so nice having to read them on a computer screen (eyestrain). That's why ebook readers will be such a boon to the Austrian readership. They use a non-lit screen (think etch-a-sketch), so it's like reading paper: no more eyestrain.
Unfortunately, the technology (E Ink) is patented and that's slowing down the competitive process, so the devices are still pretty expensive and lousy. But more and more companies are putting out devices, so in the near future there could be some decent ones for reasonable prices.
Once they get better, ebook readers will be the perfect combination for the Mises.org literature. You could download all the books you want for free, and read them on an eye-friendly display. This could be a huge new medium for spreading the Austrian literature.
Sounds good.
How much does an e-book reader cost in USD?
In general, they're between $200-400.
I know the Sony ebook readers take PDFs, Im not sure the amazon kindles do- which would make it even easier to put mises.org literature on the devices.
The new Nook from Barnes & Noble looks pretty good: $270, displays pdfs and plays mp3s. Built on the open source Android operating system (by Google).
I have the Sony eBook Reader. I have hundreds of PDFs from Mises.org spanned across a couple memory cards. It's extremely convenient to have a library in which you can take everywhere.
The PDFs aren't in the best format, though, for the reader. The text is extremely small, so you have zoom in. When you do that, the format goes out of whack.
It's still well worth it. I read in its entirety Man, Economy, and State on it, and I was able to switch over to the study guides whenever I desired.
Barnes & Noble just announced its eBook reader, the Nook, the other day. It looks like it's going to blow Sony and Amazon out of the water. If you're going to consider purchasing a reader, look into it. I'm going to ask for it for Christmas.
Hopefully the Mises Store will start selling/promoting ebook readers. It's a great way to get people to read more of the literature.
I got a Kindle DX. It is pure awesome. I can read all of these books especially if you combine the Mises literature with the Online Library of Liberty
'It is difficult to imagine any normal person wishing to meet Marx for a third time.' - Alexander Gray, The Socialist Tradition
Laughing Man: I got a Kindle DX. It is pure awesome. I can read all of these books especially if you combine the Mises literature with the Online Library of Liberty
So the Kindle doesn't have the problems le Master mentioned regarding the Sony reader?
I'm definitely not getting Sony's, but I'm torn between the Kindle and the new Barnes & Noble reader.
Human Action Comics Issues 1-6
Well Kindle DX is the only Kindle that can recognize PDF's. The other ones you would have to convert [ Kindle 1 and 2 ]. However with the Kindle DX you get the look exactly as they do on computer. You can zoom in on the PDF by turning it sideways. I had a Sony Reader before this Kindle and I actually returned it because of a lot of what Master was having problems with. The Sony had broken text and it had a small screen and didn't have a big library. I would recommend the Kindle DX to any member here because the whole Mises library is PDF and so is the Online Library of Liberty. So we obviously read a lot of PDF's. Oh and also I almost forgot. The Sony Reader books are more expensive then the Kindle. Kindle is $9.99 some over but they are rare works and Sony could be anywhere from 10-30 dollars. So books are much more expensive and the Sony library is smaller plus books on Kindle go straight to your Kindle so you can get them from anywhere. I think Sony Reader downloads onto your computer then you have to put it on. Plus Sony Reader has a strange pseudo itunes library but is very lackluster. Kindle DX is expensive but I think well worth it especially if you are in academia. Concerning the Barnes and Noble reader, I'm not totally sure since this is the first I have heard of it. I would just be sure to see how much their books cost and if it can read pdf's and how much harddrive it has. Kindle DX has 3 gigs which is basically a little less then half the Mises Library.
Laughing Man: Well Kindle DX is the only Kindle that can recognize PDF's. The other ones you would have to convert [ Kindle 1 and 2 ]. However with the Kindle DX you get the look exactly as they do on computer. You can zoom in on the PDF by turning it sideways. I had a Sony Reader before this Kindle and I actually returned it because of a lot of what Master was having problems with. The Sony had broken text and it had a small screen and didn't have a big library. I would recommend the Kindle DX to any member here because the whole Mises library is PDF and so is the Online Library of Liberty. So we obviously read a lot of PDF's. Oh and also I almost forgot. The Sony Reader books are more expensive then the Kindle. Kindle is $9.99 some over but they are rare works and Sony could be anywhere from 10-30 dollars. So books are much more expensive and the Sony library is smaller plus books on Kindle go straight to your Kindle so you can get them from anywhere. I think Sony Reader downloads onto your computer then you have to put it on. Plus Sony Reader has a strange pseudo itunes library but is very lackluster. Kindle DX is expensive but I think well worth it especially if you are in academia. Concerning the Barnes and Noble reader, I'm not totally sure since this is the first I have heard of it. I would just be sure to see how much their books cost and if it can read pdf's and how much harddrive it has. Kindle DX has 3 gigs which is basically a little less then half the Mises Library.
I thinking of getting a Kindle since my BlackBerry screen is so small and the battery gets really hot. What say you of the Kindle, hot battery or nay?
My favorite online shop: www.cafepress.com/libertyphile
Daniel: I thinking of getting a Kindle since my BlackBerry screen is so small and the battery gets really hot. What say you of the Kindle, hot battery or nay?
I don't have the Kindle, but I can probably answer this for you. The batteries don't get hot. eBook readers only use battery very briefly when you press a button. That's why they last many many days. I read my Reader for ten days straight once before it dropped from being completely full.
I'm not going to promote the Sony Reader, because it probably isn't the best way to go, especially with the Kindle DX and the upcoming Nook as options. However, one really good thing about it is that Google has formatted hundreds of thousands (maybe millions now) of books specifically for it. They're available for free through the Reader software. I've downloaded many books from there that were cited in books on Mises.org.
All of the present-generation E Ink devices have crappy little screens and input methods, though (the very expensive iRex iLiad 1000S being the (sole?) exception to the rule). I'd rather wait a few years...
Paul: All of the present-generation E Ink devices have crappy little screens and input methods, though (the very expensive iRex iLiad 1000S being the (sole?) exception to the rule). I'd rather wait a few years...
Have you seen the Kindle DX? It's got huge print.
Laughing Man: Paul: All of the present-generation E Ink devices have crappy little screens and input methods, though (the very expensive iRex iLiad 1000S being the (sole?) exception to the rule). I'd rather wait a few years... Have you seen the Kindle DX? It's got huge print.
Haven't seen one, but looking at the specs, the DX has a reasonable screen, but still no pen input -- I want to be able to draw on the screen; don't particularly need a keyboard. Also, epub support, and, if it's going to have sound, Vorbis and Speex -- recording too.
Can anyone give me some adivce?
Im going to go travelling by train throughout China for 2 months in January, so Im definitely wangting a reader for Christmas.
Would i be better off getting a Kindle or a Nook?
Paul:Haven't seen one, but looking at the specs, the DX has a reasonable screen, but still no pen input -- I want to be able to draw on the screen; don't particularly need a keyboard. Also, epub support, and, if it's going to have sound, Vorbis and Speex -- recording too.
Ah so you want all the gizmos and gadgets.
Seph: Can anyone give me some adivce? Im going to go travelling by train throughout China for 2 months in January, so Im definitely wangting a reader for Christmas. Would i be better off getting a Kindle or a Nook?
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/barnes_and_noble_nook_launch_details_specs.php
The Nook can read pdf files which is a lot of what the Mises archive is, but the Nook doesn't have international capability yet.
The Kindle has international capability but doesn't read pdf files.
It will be through China and only two months plus you have to think about after you come back. I would say the Nook because it can read pdf's and you can put a lot of the books from the Mises archives onto it and that should last you two months. I wouldn't recommend the Kindle DX for extended traveling since it is bigger then the other Kindle's and probably bigger then the Nook so it will be hard to travel with. With the Nook you won't have to worry about converting files when you get back. You won't be able to get any new books while in China but unless you devour two books a day I think you will have enough reading material. You can always put the big books on their like Human Action and Man, Economy, State. or History of Economic Thought
Laughing Man:http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/barnes_and_noble_nook_launch_details_specs.php The Nook can read pdf files which is a lot of what the Mises archive is, but the Nook doesn't have international capability yet. The Kindle has international capability but doesn't read pdf files. It will be through China and only two months plus you have to think about after you come back. I would say the Nook because it can read pdf's and you can put a lot of the books from the Mises archives onto it and that should last you two months. I wouldn't recommend the Kindle DX for extended traveling since it is bigger then the other Kindle's and probably bigger then the Nook so it will be hard to travel with. With the Nook you won't have to worry about converting files when you get back. You won't be able to get any new books while in China but unless you devour two books a day I think you will have enough reading material. You can always put the big books on their like Human Action and Man, Economy, State. or History of Economic Thought
The thing is though, I wont be going back as I actually live in China; so international capability is much more important for me.
While the Kindle Intl looks like it will work....the lack of .PDF support is really off putting, as the vast majpority of my time would be spent reading Mises PDFs!
Edit: Amazon just told me that Kindle isnt supported in China....I guess that means a nook for me.
Daniel:I thinking of getting a Kindle since my BlackBerry screen is so small and the battery gets really hot. What say you of the Kindle, hot battery or nay?
Hot as in tactile heat or hot as it sweet and long lasting?
No to the first and yes to the second. Just don't have the wireless connection constantly on and it lasts a good deal.
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