ebook reader - spec me?

AHarvey · 27 Nov 2008 at 19:32

Hi all,

Thinking of getting the other half an ebook reader as part of her xmas presents, however looking around it seems that you are talking about £150+ for one which, tbh is a joke, especially when you can get basic Eee PCs/laptops for not much more than that!

Anyone any suggestions of a decent ebook reader around the £50 mark?

I could turn our DS into one but tbh its a nightmare to use as the screen is soo tiny!!!

thanks

Kol · 27 Nov 2008 at 20:15

The one in waterstones is actually pretty awesome. I wouldn't mind reading for a few hours off it. Off an eee pc however it would be a nightmare. Keeping an eye on this.

whitecrook · 27 Nov 2008 at 21:33

I have heard good things about the Kimble and the Sony.

dangerstat · 27 Nov 2008 at 21:38

I've read lots of review on these, but almost all say they can never replicate a book properly. If I where you I'd get an original or signed copy of some of the books she loves so when she opens it she thinks of you, and isn't carrying around a gadget she wont want in 2 months time

ANDARIAL · 27 Nov 2008 at 21:50

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/se...lay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&productId=1005164
I have been looking at this sony one in waterstones too it looks good you can enlarge the text page forward or back,i would imagine if you commute via train a lot it would be ideal as you can listen to mp3 while you read
Another ,bigger e-book is called the iliad but costs about £400 if i remember right....ouch

Greenlizard0 · 27 Nov 2008 at 21:54

Somebody sell these to me, I just don't get why I'd really want one? What's wrong with a paper form of the book being read? They're always on heavy discounts at supermarkets or online stores, such that I just can't justify paying ~£170? for a little thing. :confused:

whitecrook · 27 Nov 2008 at 22:00

The idea is that you can have 100s of books with you. Personally, I don't really dig them from a novel/fiction point of view. I mean a cheap novel can be safely taken anywhere (bath, beach, bus, plane etc), doesn't need batteries, doesn't need to be 'loaded up', can be left on a cafe table without fear of someone stealing a few hundred pounds worth of gear. BUT where I do see them being useful is the larger sized ones, as replacements for text books and reference matarial articulary for students etc, they can have metric-****-tons of literature in their backpack, search it, bookmark it, flip from one to the next etc. But still in that case, I really think a decent laptop works even better. The technology is still immature. Wait until you get a flexible, paper thin, waterproof device, with wifi and touch.

However in saying that, I have a few hundred (thousand?) ebooks on my computer, mostly reference that I would love to be able to carry about and just browse when ever I get a minute. Smart phones can do this, but not as well as a proper ebook reader.

2bit · 27 Nov 2008 at 22:01

dangerstat said:
.... If I where you I'd get an original or signed copy of some of the books she loves so when she opens it she thinks of you, and isn't carrying around a gadget she wont want in 2 months time

Completely agree - a 1st edition or signed copy of a book you love is the best gift.

ANDARIAL · 27 Nov 2008 at 22:02

Well its boys toys ain`t it?What other reason do we need?
maybe you need a few mobo manuals for your pc repair,you could download these to the reader or possibly translator books etc etc for travel
Also as said it can be used as a mp3 player as well

Greenlizard0 · 27 Nov 2008 at 22:55

whitecrook said:
Snip

Fair, good reason that. Are text versions of books easy to find? Got any links to help us out?

The only ones I can think of are the Guttenberg library, I remember downloading all of Sherlock Holmes from there once.

Werewolf · 27 Nov 2008 at 23:03

Guttenberg, tor do some, baen free library has a number of sci-fi ones, and baen do a number of their titles cheap ($4-5) individually, or in bundles either by author/series* or by the month they've been in their "webscriptions".

I'm still trying to make my mind up on one as i've got a load of sci-fi ebooks from baen that i thoroughly enjoy but it's a pain (litterally) reading them on the PC.

I love reading books, but the space they take up is quite large, especially when you're looking at years between reading some of them (however i'm never likely to throw out some of my classic asimov ones - some are older than I am and have classic covers).

For new books most ebook vendors are taking the mickey in pricing - either the same as the RRP of the hardback or just a little less, but for older books I'm hoping it'll lead to some of the "non viable" (due to low demand for print runs) to become available again, there are loads that I keep my eyes open for when in charity shops.

*For example I think they've got a bunch of Larry Niven ones in a bundle for about $20 for something like 8 related ones.

whitecrook · 27 Nov 2008 at 23:06

Sorry I can't be more specific, but try this for starters : http://www.google.com/search?client...+free+ebooks&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8