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E-readers
the_saint_2005
28-01-2010
Why has nobody yet released a bog-standard e-book reader?

I don't need an mp3 player draining the battery, I don't want 3G connectivity; there's never gonna be a situation where I need to get hold of a new book while up a mountain. I don't want a keyboard, or a touch screen. Just so long as I can select a book, bookmark a page, and have it resume where I left off, I'm good.

If somebody can get one of these out that plays nice with the usual formats, and costs sub £100 they will spread like wildfire.

People are going crazy over the iPad (god, what a stupid name!), but reading off a backlit LCD isn't a comfortable experience.
PrinceGaz
28-01-2010
I know I'm going to be saying this forever and ever until the days backlit LCD screens are no more, but TURN DOWN THE BRIGHTNESS FFS!!!

The only reason LCD displays are uncomfortable to read from for extended periods normally is because they are set at much brighter than ambient light levels. The Stanza app on my iPod touch with the brightness turned way down in the app to be similar to how bright a paper page would appear is just as readable as a book or eReaders. Obviously it doesn't have the battery life of an eReader device, and certainly not of a paper book which can last for hundreds of years, but it works very well if you actually use it properly. The iPad will be very like the iPod touch when it comes to the display-- set the brightness right and it will work very well and look just as natural as paper. Leave it glaringly bright and you'll get eyestrain. Most people don't try turning the brightness of backlit LCD displays down to the level where it is equivalent to natural light reflecting from it, but may be pleasantly surprised if they did. You do need to turn it way way down compared with the level they are usually set at (for an eReader app you may need to have it at less than half, or less than quarter of the usual level within the app itself).
weateallthepies
28-01-2010
There are tons of bog standard ebook readers, just none below £100 unless you get a deal.

I picked up a Hanvon N516 from ebuyer for just over £100 which fits your criteria. It does have an mp3 player but that's about the only extra and I've never used it.

Give it another year and they'll be some cheap chinese readers.
willowfan
28-01-2010
The Sony Pocket E300 can be found for around £140 if you look around online. It is just an ebook reader with no other features. Not quite your price level but it's a brilliant little unit.
MoDingle
28-01-2010
Originally Posted by willowfan:
“The Sony Pocket E300 can be found for around £140 if you look around online. It is just an ebook reader with no other features. Not quite your price level but it's a brilliant little unit.”

I agree - I got one for xmas - no mp3 player or anything fancy on it - I love it
Gormond
28-01-2010
Waterstones do a basic reader for £129

They pretty much all can play MP3s as they don't really need to add anything for it to be able to do that, pretty much just a headphone jack, it's all down to software.
Sniffle774
28-01-2010
Originally Posted by willowfan:
“The Sony Pocket E300 can be found for around £140 if you look around online. It is just an ebook reader with no other features. Not quite your price level but it's a brilliant little unit.”

Yup, I got a Sony pocket reasder and I highly recommend it. Download Calibre software as well (its like iTunes for eReaders) and you are well away.
willowfan
28-01-2010
Originally Posted by Sniffle774:
“Yup, I got a Sony pocket reasder and I highly recommend it. Download Calibre software as well (its like iTunes for eReaders) and you are well away.”

Yep Calibre is what I use too

Sony's bundled library software is awful.
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