Ebook reader - Cheapest

D

Devill

Damned
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
26,822
Reaction score
123
Location
Pretoria
Hallo all

I would like to buy an ebook reader but seeing as I am a student I would like to purchase the cheapest one. It does not have to have tons of memory, 512Mb will do (Even 256Mb).

Can anyone post a link to any shops in Gauteng (pref in PTA) that stock ebooks for cheap?
 
Does it need to be e-ink technology? There are three major e-ink players atm: Bebook, Sony and of course Amazon. The Kindle2/DX is the best of the lot by all accounts and also the most expensive. Sony Reader can be had for R4k: http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/Sony-PRS-505-LC-Blue-Digital-Book-Reader__B000WP2RC2, so can the bebook. Kindle2 is R5k at WIA. There is no 'cheap' ebook reader, and most of them have expandable memory slots, so built-in memory isn't really a problem.

But for the price you might consider getting a netbook and using it as a reader - gives you more functionality, but not that glorious e-ink feel. It's really important to know which types of book you will be using it for. Medical research? What's your field?
 
cerebus said:
Does it need to be e-ink technology? There are three major e-ink players atm: Bebook, Sony and of course Amazon. The Kindle2/DX is the best of the lot by all accounts and also the most expensive. Sony Reader can be had for R4k: http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/Sony-PRS-505-LC-Blue-Digital-Book-Reader__B000WP2RC2, so can the bebook. Kindle2 is R5k at WIA. There is no 'cheap' ebook reader, and most of them have expandable memory slots, so built-in memory isn't really a problem.

But for the price you might consider getting a netbook and using it as a reader - gives you more functionality, but not that glorious e-ink feel. It's really important to know which types of book you will be using it for. Medical research? What's your field?
Click to expand...

Woooooow. Stop the bus :p

Im looking for the cheapest one IOW for under 1 grand.

I will be using it to read books for relaxation and not work :)

And for R5k I would rahter buy a laptop :D

Ps I will even buy an old second hand ereader. I am really just looking for the cheapest one that still works. Nothing fancy needed.
 
Devill said:
Woooooow. Stop the bus :p

Im looking for the cheapest one IOW for under 1 grand.

I will be using it to read books for relaxation and not work :)

And for R5k I would rahter buy a laptop :D

Ps I will even buy an old second hand ereader. I am really just looking for the cheapest one that still works. Nothing fancy needed.
Click to expand...

all overpriced, rather buy a cheapass netbook from rectron for like 2k, will still be able to read most of you content
 
There is no such thing as an ebook reader under R1k. Doesn't exist, forget about it. This is the closest you'll come and I'd rather slit my throat frankly.

I used to use my PDA as a book reader a lot - I had an Axim X51v (screen broke recently :erm:) and it worked a treat. Perhaps a 2ndhand pda would do the trick for you? That or a netbook is going to be your best bet. Heck a largescreen mobile phone with a respectable OS (symbian, Winmo) will work just fine.
 
cerebus said:
There is no such thing as an ebook reader under R1k. Doesn't exist, forget about it. This is the closest you'll come and I'd rather slit my throat frankly.

I used to use my PDA as a book reader a lot - I had an Axim X51v (screen broke recently :erm:) and it worked a treat. Perhaps a 2ndhand pda would do the trick for you? That or a netbook is going to be your best bet. Heck a largescreen mobile phone with a respectable OS (symbian, Winmo) will work just fine.
Click to expand...

Aye thats what I meant... not an ebook reader per se, but rahter anything I can take with me on a train or in a car for long journeys. Does not need to have a gaint screen(but a bit bigger than a cell-phone's would not be a bad thing:p).

So maybe a old second hand palmtop (pda), or any other device capable of allowing me to read pdf, word and some other file formats.

http://mybroadband.co.za/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/10877/cat/4 Something like that.
 
Last edited:
Ok, well the thing is there aren't many companies making purebred PDAs anymore - and they're still quite expensive new, especially for one with a good enough screen to read books on (VGA makes a BIG difference here). It's a tough segment to find an optimal solution actually, I also would love to be able to find something that I could read on for a cheap price. My Axim was so ideal but now Dell are out of the game. My best bet is an older model EEE PC - you could get away with 1-2k for one of those.

My favorite reader app is Isilo, but ubook, foxit mobile, mobipocket and MS Reader are also good. The Amazon reader is meant to be very useful as well.

http://mybroadband.co.za/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/11069/cat/3 How about this?
 
cerebus said:
Ok, well the thing is there aren't many companies making purebred PDAs anymore - and they're still quite expensive new, especially for one with a good enough screen to read books on (VGA makes a BIG difference here). It's a tough segment to find an optimal solution actually, I also would love to be able to find something that I could read on for a cheap price. My Axim was so ideal but now Dell are out of the game. My best bet is an older model EEE PC - you could get away with 1-2k for one of those.

My favorite reader app is Isilo, but ubook, foxit mobile, mobipocket and MS Reader are also good. The Amazon reader is meant to be very useful as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate. I will have a look around :)
 
Last edited:
Just gave you another link ..... But that tapwave looks like it might do the trick. Uses Palm OS, 3.8" screen... How much does he want?
 
cerebus said:
Just gave you another link ..... But that tapwave looks like it might do the trick. Uses Palm OS, 3.8" screen... How much does he want?
Click to expand...

This does look like the right type of thing, think he will settle for R1.2k :)

The only problemis I will have to pay it off :/

Or save for the next 2 months to be able to afford R1.2k.
 
Well I didn't know about its existence previously but from looking it seems like a really great little device. 480x320 landscape orientated 3.8" bright screen with palm os - that's perfect as an e-reader.
 
cerebus said:
Well I didn't know about its existence previously but from looking it seems like a really great little device. 480x320 landscape orientated 3.8" bright screen with palm os - that's perfect as an e-reader.
Click to expand...

Yeah it is nice, but seeing some netbooks go for R1500 +- I doubt if I will pay more than R400 for this... Then I would rather save up for a month or two and buy a second hand netbook :)
 
To me a netbook isn't really ideal as an e-reader. It isn't at all built for the purpose. A PDA is a lot better suited. Primarily I think that's because you don't need a keyboard, and you do need great battery life. Also a PDA is more pocketable.
 
Just keep in mind, those cheapy netbooks are missing one vital thing : Their screens don't fold flat ontop of the keyboard to make a panel .

Comparing to "real" e-book readers which are all flat "panels" you might want to keep in mind you'll be sitting with the thing on your lap and -NOT- holding it (where with real e-book readers you'll be holding it like a book).

PDAs/MP3 players you'll also HOLD in your hand while reading as opposed to needing a flat surface to put it on.....

So you need to determine your preferred "ergonomic" position you are willing to be in while reading from your chosen device. If you read a book, you hold it in your hands, you can STAND and read ...a laptop that flips open with a keyboard [even if it's small] can be somewhat impractical in that regard.
 
Last edited:
diabolus said:
Just keep in mind, those cheapy netbooks are missing one vital thing : Their screens don't fold flat ontop of the keyboard to make a panel .

Comparing to "real" e-book readers which are all flat "panels" you might want to keep in mind you'll be sitting with the thing on your lap and -NOT- holding it (where with real e-book readers you'll be holding it like a book).

PDAs/MP3 players you'll also HOLD in your hand while reading as opposed to needing a flat surface to put it on.....

So you need to determine your preferred "ergonomic" position you are willing to be in while reading from your chosen device. If you read a book, you hold it in your hands, you can STAND and read ...a laptop that flips open with a keyboard [even if it's small] can be somewhat impractical in that regard.
Click to expand...

I will make anything work that can project a document like pdfs/word docs/ ebook docs on a screen larger than a cellphone, I am simply looking for the cheapest. It really does not bother me that the nerbooks can not fold flat, and if a Mp3/4 player is the cheapest it wouldalso not bother me as long as the screen is large enough and it has proper supporrt for the document formats.
 
Maybe look into something like this:

http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardware/Franklin-EBM-900-eBookman-Translucent-Blue__B00004WHFK

That's R1400 , but i'm sure you can get the same type of thing cheaper somewhere....doesn't have to be that exact item..it's the idea ;).

Hell even this R900 PHOTO FRAME is something worth investigating [it can actually play txt format ebooks]:

http://www.wantitall.co.za/PC-Hardw...-DIVX-E-Book-Reader-w-2GB-SD-Card__B0023GGG2U

You can get away with alot of cheap devices if you're willing to convert all your ebooks into images [you get software for that]. Then anything that can display a slideshow is good to go ;).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X