Hardware Ebook reading device - Need advice

[AdLo]

I like reading digital books and I mean I like reading alot of digital books but my problem is that reading books from my PC screen is seriously killing my eyes.

Does anyone have any experience of those hardware digital book reader devices that you can read a book outside or in bed?
I have a lot of PDF books (and some Compiled HTM) so the device should be able to not just only be able to read MS reader format books but other ebook formats as well.
Also does someone know if you can read books without direct sunlight affecting the devices' screen?

Thanks

 

[eye_suc]

hell yes! i need one of these as well! but i heard it costs you an arm, leg, kidney, and you Telkom DSL account...

if its not that expensive i would like to get one. it must have good battery life though, duh

 

[eye_suc]

i take it these are not readily available?

 

[noswal]

Get an LCD, I got one recently much more comfortable to read smaller fonts and you aren't getting the radiation that a regular monitor emits

 

[AdLo]

i take it these are not readily available?

I spoke to someone at Incredible Connection and they looked at me like I was talking Greek.

I doesn't look like anyone sells these devices in South Africa.

 

[Tim182]

I got something for you:

HP Ipaq hx4700

That little PDA is in my opinion the perfect ebook reader. It's got a VGA screen (640*340) and 4". Battery up to 8 hours. I already read a few books with mine.

All you need is the PDA and Adope Acrobat Pro for making the PDFs tagged (in case they aren't) to enable reflow.

 

[diabolus]

Also been looking for something like that, and i know they exist, Bill Gates waved one around awhile ago. Besides, every episode of ALIAS and 24 they walk around with these tablets, i'm sure it's not that high-tec anymore .

EDIT: I just remembered, alot of the more higher tec factory/industrial people walk arouind with panel pcs all the time. Here's an example : http://www.futuristix.co.za/content/PT_datasheet051.pdf . I'd think they're ideal for PDF reading outside [as these things tend to be made to be dropped ].

Something more "on the shelves" though is probably like the Toshiba Notebooks [Tablet PCs] with the screens that swivel flat over the keyboard. Although a notebook tends to be a bit heavy + hot for that type of reading.

Can buy one here though : http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/pr...=4508&osCsid=6dc268f7b6fdc8736fd18d517c8ad39f

I personally wouldn't go for a PDA though [to read ebooks], screen is too small and it's really not suitable [imho] for reading 1000 page manuals with diagrams and screenshots. [considering that you can't really hold it with two hands like you would hold a book].

The only viable alternative [other than buying Tablet PC] i'd look into is these portable media players [see: Creative Zen Vision
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=210&subcategory=211&product=12985].
NOTE : i don't think the Zen Vision can view PDFs (usually last thing to be advertised on these players) , but it's bound to appear in a similar device [JNC i believe have one].

PS: there is also the PSP (Playstation Portable) which can read PDFs [via some trickery] read here : http://www.i4u.com/article4260.html

 

[eye_suc]

hmmm, well i am NOT gonna pay R20k for a tablet pc just to read ebooks. thats insane! toms had a nice article about this very topic a while ago, but it prolly still isnt available in this here awesome country where prisoners have more rights than the people they rape and murder...

sigh

 

[eye_suc]

oh, and i found the toms article. a bit disappointing

http://www.mobilityguru.com/2005/09/08/why_ebooks_still_suck/index.html

 

[ebendl]

I actually have an e-book reader on my phone (Nokia 6600) - both a free version which can do text-files, and a purchased PDF viewer.

Yeah, sure, the small screen isn't ideal, but then again, not many people can carry a book everywhere they go! Helps with killing a few minutes somewhere!

 

[eye_suc]

yeah, the phone thing might work for some, but the stuff in the link i posted last is exactly what i am looking for, just not affordable at $400 a pop (love you loooong time?).

if they could produce a cheap one i would surely buy one. the phone isnt an option for me, like you said, the screen is a tad small, even on a pda its on the small side.