I'm thinking about buying an eReader. The main (intended) use would be to read .pdfs, so the quality of pdf support is a large factor.

Before anyone mentions it: no I'm not considering tablets, largely because they're bloody expensive, especially considering very few eReaders are more than £150. Do note I'm a student, so I don't have overwhelming amounts of money (if I could afford an iPad, I would have bought one already).

Opinions, please.

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Can't you just use your smartphone? Smaller but would save money.

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I think the Kindle reads pdfs. You could get the cheapo one of those which is about £80. Only in B&W, but it does the job and is a lovely little bit of kit.

I got the slightly more expensive 3G/Keyboard one for Xmas and I love it. Also has a basic web browser for emergencies and totally contract free 3G access, which is pretty cool.

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I don't have a smartphone, for much the same reason why I'm not considering a tablet.

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Kindles are a bit gooseberry fool for reading PDFs if I'm honest. I do love it though as an E-Reader

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You know, you could probably fit a cheap Android tab into that budget, which with the kindle app installed, would make a reasonable e-reader.

Though, the Kindle has that wonderful e-ink screen and battery life measured in weeks, and the sub-£100 price-point of the newer models makes it a very tempting option.

Fair enough - I have to admit I've not actually tried them. It's been all about the free Sherlock Holmes books since Chrimbo.

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I have been reading those as well. Never read any Holmes before but am enjoying immensely.

Erm, on topic, the Kindle is an amazing device but I haven’t really tried pdfs on it. Do you have any mates or family members that would let you try out a pdf on their Kindle?

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The one fairly cool thing on the Kindle is that it comes with its own email address. You can then send stuff across to it. You can also use a free pdf convertor on the Amazon website to send PDF's across to it. I've only tried it once and to be fair, the results were appalling (lots of split words, formating was all to pot) but it was a bit of a weird PDF to begin with. As said, if you know someone with a kindle then ask them if you can try sending/converting a pdf across to it.

I recently got my Kindle and have quite a lot of PDFs on there (magazines, newspapers, manuals, game guides etc.) It reads them fine but it can be quite slow and cumbersome to navigate around a large page with small text. If you can put up with that then I'd recommend the Kindle, otherwise it might be worth seeing if there are any touch-enabled e-readers that are within your price range.

edit - I had this video bookmarked from when I was mulling over which e-reader to get. It shows various types of PDF on the Kindle 4 and demonstrates navigation so you might find it helpful

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If you want to use it to borrow ebooks from the library don't get a Kindle. Amazon don't allow you to download librarybooks in this country (at least not yet). You have no idea the number of people who got a Kindle for xmas then complain to us because they can't download ebooks from our library service.

Noted, although I don't know if any libraries in Scotland allows you to "borrow" ebooks. (I wouldn't be surprised if there was at least one, but I don't know).

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Edinburgh does. If Scotish libraries are bound by the same rules we are you'll only be able to borrow from the local authority where you live or work. If your local authority does it should be on their website

Hi Delusibeta.
The problem with .pdfs is they are basically a picture of text or a book. Viewing a pdf of a paperback sized book is ok on an ereader as the size fits the screen. But if you try and read a larger magazine sized document it is not so good. What happens is the full page is squashed tofit into the screen, but the effect is that everything appears very small. So to be able to read properly you have to zoom in and out of different areas. Zooming in and out is cumbersome with the Kindle Keyboard, and I imagine with other ereaders. Reading horizontally helps a little.

I've imported a Kindle touch from the USA. This makes the zooming process a bit better by allowing you to pinch in and out to zoom. However it uses epaper so in comparison to a touch phone the screen seems slightly unresponsive. Its not ideal, but I'd say it is better than other ereaders.

You mention £150. The Kindle Fire tablet is available from ebay.co.uk for £165. (ive got one of these too.)
It doesn't use e-ink. Non US users are restricted from downloading apps, music or videos. But the ereader gives you a better pinch to zoom functionality.

any questions just ask!

No they aint

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You can easily convert library books to Kindle format

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Hi. Just one question, as useful as the info may or may not be I've not actually asked anything in this thread, just replied, so why direct the info at me?

Oh I don't doubt that there are ways round it (just like there are ways round keeping the ebook rather than it wiping automatically) but I just thought I'd throw the info out there just incase it is an issue.

My apologies. I should have said the name of the original poster Delusibeta. I've now edited the original answer and removed your name.

You're right pdfs are not pictures. But in the context of how they work with ereaders I think it is a good way of explaining how they work on them. ie you can zoom in and out of them but you cannot adjust the size of the text to fit your screen..

Whereas the main ebook formats, Epub mobi/azw are able to support customisation and reflowable text because in essence they are html pages.

EDIT: I use a great program call Calibre for file conversions. I mainly use it to convert epubs so they work on my Kindle.
http://calibre-ebook.com/