Korean Job Discussion Forums

rrrbka · Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Location: Korea

I have to admit, the new Kindle looks pretty good, it's relatively cheap ($139), and they FINALLY will ship it to Korea! I'm looking at the 6" model. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZ1Y8Q?country=KR It's $20.98 for shipping to Korea (I had to go almost all the way through checkout to find that out), which isn't too bad.

Recently, I've been using DSLibris on my Nintendo DS, but it's killing my eyes. I definitely need to switch to something with e-ink. I download all my books for free (to different degrees of legality depending on the copyright status) and convert them when necessary with Calibre (sometimes there are formatting issues, but I put up with it since the books are free). So, I don't really care about wireless or wifi connectivity. Also, the keyboard on the Kindle seems unnecessary for my purposes. I really just want something small and comfortable to read.

As far as Korean e-book readers go, I really like the looks of the iRiver Cover Story. http://shop.iriver.co.kr/product/main.aspx However, it's a lot more expensive, but it also seems to do more. It would be cool to use it to play MP3s, too, so I could leave the iPod at home.

There are two other Korean e-book readers I've only barely looked into, the PAGEone and NUUT Book. http://www.pageonestore.com/Pages/Site/MainPage.aspx and http://www.nuutbook.com/shop/nuut_list.asp?cagid=141

I can't read Korean, so I actually don't know very much about the specs on any of these three Korean e-book readers, but they all seem great for my purposes. The only problem is the prices are all above 200,000 won, even on G-Market.

Basically, if price wasn't an issue, I'd probably get the iRiver today. Does anyone know where I could go to look at e-book readers in person? Yongsan is the only electronics market I'm familiar with, but it's probably not the best place to buy something like this.

Also, does anyone know of any older model Korean e-book readers with e-ink and how to find them for sale? I didn't find much on G-market, and auction.co.kr doesn't have English search.

I'm not that worried about the available storage space either, since I only read one book at a time!

Any advice/opinions you have would be great! Sorry this post got so long...I guess I have a lot of ideas already.

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

I'd say go for the Kindle. I converted it to 190K Won shipped! That's a great deal. I just wonder if you can get away with duty charges. The Korean ebook readers go for 230-250K, which is quite a bit more expensive...and they don't seem to support doc/docx. However, they do have MP3 players and expanded storage.

Still, I'd go for the Kindle! More research and development, and I've had difficulty in the past with Korean company electronics. i.e. poor a/s, crappy menu systems. Kindle is well reviewed and has lots of R&D. Please tell us if you go for it, and how the shipping procedure went down.

nick70100 · Joined: 09 Sep 2005

I think you've pretty much covered all the options in your post. You're not going to find an ebook reader under 200,000 in Korea. Besides the iRiver, NUUT, and PAGEone which are all in the 250,000 range there's also a Samsung model that goes for around 350,000 and a few Sony models that are also pretty expensive.

The only other thing I would mention is that if you order the Kindle from abroad you may have to pay customs taxes on it. It's something to consider when comparing prices.

The ebook phenomenon doesn't seem to be catching on very much in Korea. I don't think I've ever seen a Korean using one.

tukmax · Joined: 06 Jul 2010

I have the Sony prs 505, which I quite enjoy. I got it shipped to my dads place in Ontario and then he sent it over. (this was early 2009 at the start of the ebook trend before all the other options came out).

One of my students ordered the foxit eslick, which is really nice. $199 with $29 shipping to Korea.

neilsputnik · Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Location: Seoul

It appears that only the two other versions of the Kindle can be shipped to Korea, and not the DX. This to me, defies logic. I would be interested in a good explanation by someone out there.

Rothbard · Joined: 23 Aug 2010

neilsputnik · Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Location: Seoul

That makes a little bit of sense. But surely I as the consumer have responsibility for customs charges. What does Amazon care? It seems overly cautious to me.

Rothbard · Joined: 23 Aug 2010

uhfotis · Joined: 01 Jan 2009

I just had the new kindle shipped over from Canada. Had it originally shipped to my family then they send it over, had to pay something like 15 dollars duty.. The other option with that is to have whoever is sending it over just write it up as used and then the set the price below the threshold... either way I freakin love my kindle and the fact that you can download almost anything from torrent websites and never ever have to use its wireless if you dont want is awesome.

suzhou2010 · Joined: 09 Feb 2005

travelnguy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007

My wife has been reading tons of books on her iPhone. I thought about getting her an ereader for her birthday. The Korean PageOne looks really nice. I like how it doesn't have a keyboard. Just a screen. Has anyone tried it? I have not seen one anywhere except online. How's the actual look and feel of it?

dshenker · Joined: 13 May 2010

I have a Kindle 2nd generation (International model) and I love it. Since you are in Korea and if you plan on traveling more, you might want to invest in the 189$ 3G/wireless model. It allows you to connect to cell phone networks as well as wifi so you can download books pretty much everywhere. This blurb from Amazon sums it up well.

Is Kindle (Wi-Fi) or Kindle 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) right for me?

Kindle (Wi-Fi) is a great choice if you already have a high-speed internet connection and wireless router set up in your home and do not need the added convenience of a 3G connection. 3G enables you to download ebooks anytime, anywhere, while on the go. If you do not have Wi-Fi set up in your home, Kindle 3G may be a better option.

Kindle 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) is the easiest option because there is no wireless setup�you are ready to shop, purchase, and read right out of the box. Built-in Free 3G connectivity uses the same wireless signals that cell phones use, but there are no monthly fees or commitments�Amazon pays for Kindle�s 3G wireless connectivity. The added convenience of 3G enables you to download ebooks anytime, anywhere, while on the go�without having to find a Wi-Fi hotspot connection. With wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories, Kindle 3G is a great option for travelers. Check 3G coverage area.

Gaber · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

The Iriver story can display .doc files just fine. Don't recall if it does .docx, but if it doesn't converting them would be 5 second job. Another benifit is Iriver has AS centers here. I've twice cracked the screen (like a champ), and being able to get it fixed for 90K with relativity little hassle is great. And they are a much more open piece of hardware. Just plug in like any flash drive and drop you files in the folder. From what I've heard the kindle takes a bit of stuffing around to get files on it if you want to go your own way rather than the store.
Still, the price for the new kindle is pretty sweet

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

The New KT Identity android pad looks pretty slick

http://www.wibrokt.net/ollehpad.htm

you can get it free with a 2 year wibro egg contract.

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

We own an iRiver Story and a Nook. I prefer the Nook quite a bit. The screen quality especially is much higher. IRiver's e-ink screens aren't as nice as in American products in my experience. I certainly don't think they're worth the extra money.