Hubby has always been a reader. He even used a magnifying glass to keep reading before his cataract surgery. After surger he could read easily again and did so for years. He still reads the newspaper, but doesn't get very far in any of the books he starts. Part of the problem is comprehension and I know the book format won't change that. But I'm wondering if being able to hold the device without losing his place with pages fluttering and being able to control the font size would be enough to let him enjoy books again.
If you have any experience with elderly loved ones who've tried these devices, I'd love to hear about it. Personally, I love books. I want them filling my bookcases and spilling off my night stand. I love holding them and turning pages. I love loaning them and giving them away and trading them in at a used book store. So I'm not too keen on electronic readers for myself, but I'm open to anything that might be pleasant for Hubby.
I tried to get my mom interested in a Kindle but she doesn't have internet and was just hostile to me. She said, "Don't you have to pay for those books?" And I laughed and told her, "gee mom do you steal yours?" And she won't go to the library either. Just stubborn.
My 2 sisters got me ereaders: a Sony and a Nook Color. I prefer the Sony (older version) because it's smaller and lighter to carry. The only thing is it only had one lighting (no dimming or brightening). It had only 3 fonts - and the largest font is ridiculous to use because the ereader is small in the first place. After a while, you get tired of turning the page. Good with Sony - I can download more books on it because of "epub" format.
The Nook Color is much better. It's bigger, brightness adjustment, font enlargement. To turn the page, you swipe your fingers across the screen. I hate this because the page would halfway turn and then flip back to the page you just read. (Maybe I'm not swiping it right.) The Nook is heavier than the Sony. So, after a while, when I'm lying down or standing in a long line at the post office, my hands get tired of holding it. So, if your dad is planning to read on the table, then this is fine for him. Now if your dad is NOT planning to surf the web, and just use the ereader for reading only, then this is great for him. If he's planning to surf the web, you will need to get the latest version of Nook. Good with Nook- you can download "epub" formats.
My sis having been trying to get me to say which Amazon Kindle I like. I'm resisting since I'm quite happy with the old Sony (size and weight makes sooo big a plus for me.) My oldest sis was given a Kindle Fire. This is bigger than the Nook Color, surf on the web, and I think is lighter than the Nook Color. Unfortunately, with Kindles - you can only download from Amazon...not from any other websites who sells "epubs" format ebooks.
I think if you're going to enlarge the font, then Kindle Fire is best. (or maybe the latest version?) I think the bigger the screen, the less need to keep "turning" the page which can be so irritating and tiring when reading.
Also, you can get the newspaper thru your ereader. I'm more into books so I never checked out the newspaper-capability.
Like you, I find reading Real Books more pleasurable than an ereader. Books are lighter and when you need to backtrack to something you read, it's much easier to find than an ereader. Yes, I use the ebook reader bookmark but ..when you bookmark so many pages, it's so tedious. A real book, you know that you read it on the top left side of the book somewhere 2/5 th of the book.
But, yes, for elderly readers having trouble reading, I definitely recommend an ereader.
FYI, best to concentrate on the Kindle or Nook - you don't need a computer to download the books. You can access Amazon.com or BN.com thru your ereader. Perhaps you can check out their website and read the pros/cons of their latest ereader versions.