Hello World! :) I'm Kai and I write from Italy.

First of all, sorry if my English isn't so good... ^^''

Since the first time I've heard about eInk ebook readers I'm dying to have one, but now that I can I have some doubts...

I would buy Sony Reader because it's the one which fits better my needs. I like iLiad too but it's too much expensive and I cannot afford its price.
I've noticed that Jinke / Hanlin v8 is cheaper than Sony, but I think it's really ugly and I don't like that you have to convert all text in its proprietary format (otherwise it will be my first choice).

Now, my doubt is... and if in two months a better device will be available? For me better means (importance order):

1. it's sold in Italy (and costs less than iLiad, which IS sold in IT for 630 euros :°D)
2. it's cheaper
3. it has better battery life / less bugs, crashes etc / no need to convert text / etc etc

I've waited so long to order one of this devices, and now they ship in Europe I cannot wait too much to buy one. I know that's a new technology and there are a lot of issues, so I planned to buy one now and in some years - when there will be eInk ebook readers sold in Italy, priced about 100-200 euros, with a graphic tablet to sketch on it, a stable OS, replaceable battery with wonderful battery life, compatibility with most common formats without conversion, warranty - I'll buy a new and better one.

I don't think that another device which will fit better my needs will be available soon, but I would like to know what do you think about it. Should I buy it now and then hope that better devices will not be available soon so the expense will not be vain, or wait another pair of months yearning and maybe discovering that it's been a useless waiting? I know for sure that Sony wouldn't sell in Italy before 2008, and that STAReBOOK will be available after september (but I don't like its ugly default font) but what about other devices?

Thank you in advance for your help :)

Benvenuti Kai, In my humble opinion you should buy one now. If one waits for a better version they will probably wait for ever because there will always be rumors of better products coming out. I remember an old saying: "Chi non risica non rosica" I say go for it and take the risk!

Some people that bought legacy eBooks with LCD screens, as well as those who started with Palm devices, say they still use them. If a device is adequate for reading, then you can use it a long time and not need to worry about whether something else is "better". I love my Sony Reader -- use it all the time -- and if something better comes out tomorrow, it is only interesting, not essential.

A friend once commented that sometimes audiophiles find themselves listening to the stereo rather than to the music :)

It still isn't clear exactly what it capabilities will be, but Telecom Italia will soon be selling the cellular book. See the mobileread post (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9647) and their IDPF presentation (http://www.idpf.org/events/presentations/digitalbook07/GMuratore%20-%20Telecom%20Italia.pdf). The 5" display may be smaller than you are looking for, but may be an viable multi-function alternative to a dedicated e-book reader.

@Madam Broshkina, mogui: I agree with you... now I'll have only to convince my boyfriend, who doesn't want I buy it beacause lack of warranty and high cost :whip:

@wallcraft: interesting... I've heard about it before, I searched some videos on youtube and I've found onlin one not so clear, but refresh rate seems amazing! (cellular book video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kk2qaF7LZw))
But TIM it's an italian company, and here we have release times worst than iRex's. I'm not sure waiting for it should be a good idea... :p
Anyway... I'll stay tuned and when (if) it will be available in shops i will go and take a look.

some troubles with replies... o_O

[edit]
ok, now it seems to work.

@Madam Broshkina, mogui: I agree with you... now I'll have only to convince my boyfriend, who doesn't want I buy it beacause lack of warranty and high cost :whip:

@wallcraft: interesting... I've heard about it before, I searched some videos on youtube and I've found onlin one not so clear, but refresh rate seems amazing! (cellular book video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kk2qaF7LZw))
But TIM it's an italian company, and here we have release times worst than iRex's. I'm not sure waiting for it should be a good idea... :p
Anyway... I'll stay tuned and when (if) it will be available in shops i will go and take a look.

Hi everyone ! very glad to write in this forum after a long time reading you :p !(sorry for my english : not a native speaker :rolleyes: )

How funny ! I was asking myself exactly the same question as Kaisentlaia: Buy now or later ?

IMHO: The future is coming soon for some great ebook readers : Think about the new serie 9 of HanLin : 10", WiFi, many formats supported. The release date will be 8/31/07 (for the sooner) though.
But I prefer to wait 3 months more than buying a reader that I may regret:thumbsup:

I have used my Sony for just over 7 months and I already feel that I have received full value from the purchase. If a new one came out tomorrow with more features and half the price, I would not feel bad. As mogui said, if it meets your needs enjoy it. We are not in a contest to see who has the newest toys, we just like to read.

To my mind the goal of a reader is to get out of the way so that I can read without worrying about the mechanics of operating the device. Fo me the Sony completely fills this requirement. For others the page advance buttons are not properly placed and it is awkward for them to use. Some like the iRex page bar for changing pages. Others require a back-lit screen so all of the e-ink screened devices are not part of their consideration.

With the large number of recent announcements about new readers it should be an interesting year ahead. Even if 50% of them never make it to market there will soon be more devices than we can easily keep track of. All of this is in addition to the traditional devices such as the Palms and tablet PCs. In many ways it will soon be like buying a state-of-the-art PC, you know that what you just bought has been superseded by the time you get back home. :D

I have 4 Sony Readers and 1 .9 iLiad (always needing repairs) in my fleet.

If you can wait I'd hold out until the Amazon device is announced, supposedly this summer. Depending one which rumors you believe it could cost less than a Sony Reader and have more features: such as WiFi.

Whatever you buy, if possible use a Credit Card that provides automatic warranty extension/loss protection.

I thought the Amazon Kindle (or whatever they actually end up calling it) was supposed to have EVDO rather than WIFI .... http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/huh.gif

I have 4 Sony Readers and 1 .9 iLiad (always needing repairs) in my fleet.

If you can wait I'd hold out until the Amazon device is announced, supposedly this summer. Depending one which rumors you believe it could cost less than a Sony Reader and have more features: such as WiFi.

Whatever you buy, if possible use a Credit Card that provides automatic warranty extension/loss protection.
Out of curiosity... why would you choose Amazon's device over others? Or are you implying to wait for some other choice or again more choices to choose from?

I thought the Amazon Kindle (or whatever they actually end up calling it) was supposed to have EVDO rather than WIFI .... Yes. Which makes it an interesting option for WiFi-less locations. However, I don't know if it will be released in Europe, and Amazon will presumably have to have a cell phone network provider for this feature to work.

Perhaps the best near term option is to get a Sony Reader but for DRMed books buy MS LIT only. That way you are not locked into the Sony long term.

Welcom Kai, glad to have another member from Italy.

Only my two cents about your (our) problem: epaper is a fresh tech not quite mature ,so improvements will be implemented on a nearly monthly basis. The choice depends not only on tech but also content availability . I've got a friend inside Telecom who told me that probably the cellularbook (librofonino) will be released in time for X'mas , the main problem actually is getting enough content for the device. Remeber the screen is the smallest of the pack,but the device is the most portable.The price should be around 500 euros so it's not cheap.
If you need color you'll have to wait a lot more than Xmas 07.

I hope you'll find my two cents useful.
Bye from Turin
Claudio :rolleyes5

I'm waiting for the Amazon Kindle. I'm hoping they have a better set up than the Connect store.

Heh, yeah, they probably will. :grin:

Heh, yeah, they probably will. :grin:
Yeah! And they'll even sell you the tools to repair it to boot. :laugh4:
Seriously Amazon being very involved with books I am sure they will have an incredible selection. At this point they might even be pressuring publishing houses to prepare e-content for a specific date???

OH well! Time will tell.... :shrug:

@ Huyggy: have you ever seen this? http://www.lesechos.fr/epaper/inscription.htm

@ scotty1024: I'll buy with credit card and I will have warranty (I suppose), but if the reader breaks or stops working I'll have to pay to send it in US for repairing. :(

@ clabot451: I don't worry about lack of contents here in Italy. I have already lot of various texts I read on my pc, and I will read them on an ebook reader as well. Ok, if I could buy a lot of well formatted italian ebooks I would surely do it, but I think we'll have to wait some times for this.
Hang on your friend for juicy news! Anyway, cellularbook will be too expensive, small and... late, for me. ^^'' And I don't care about so much portability... since I'm a girl, I have always with me a bag. A notebook bag, ok... but it's still a bag :p
Thanks for your two cents :)


BTW, I'm everyday more conviced to order a Sony Reader... there are a lot of issues, and more living outside US... but I definitely want one *__*

there's this new invention where they print books on paper rather than view them on a screen, might catch on, wait and see

you have set yourself up to be unhappy with either choice, if you buy the new choices will be great, if you wait they will not impress you

there's this new invention where they print books on paper rather than view them on a screen, might catch on, wait and see


:laugh4:

But you know, we tend to forget that there is always someone new to the planet, new to culture and new to reading too!

Kids must not be alienated to paper...

@ Kaisentlaia :
I've already seen that: a good evolution indeed. If only more newspapers could do the same ! :xmas: (<--- the smiley I needed :D ). ( "Les echos" is only about business basically, and I am not a business man :D )

But, for what I've read : When you try to see these kind of newspaper (A4 format PDF) on 6" (even 8") dysplay, you are still more convinced that you need a 10" display (at least). :wink:

Hi... For some time now I have also been at ,;to buy or not to buy.
Today I decided and orderd the iLiad,. Now I cant wait for it to arrive!!
Just hope I can get along with it..... Well I can always ask here for help , no,,,??

Well I can always ask here for help , no,,,??Yes, yes you can. :smiley:

Congratulations on your decision, I hope it works out just fantastic for you. :nice:

Well I too have been dithering about which one to buy for months now. I got to play with the Sony while I was in New York last month, I really did like it and I had a real hard struggle with myself not to buy it. But at the end of the day I really dont like the thought of having to bother someone in the US to purchase gift cards for me to purchase content from Connect. So with the news of Mobipocket support for the Iliad I finally took the plunge and ordered mine.
I'll bet now that I have finally ordered, everyone else will be releasing their eink readers in Europe.

Nice to see you again Marian. Sorry the Bookeen thing didn't go through. I guess you're better off with the Iliad.

Is there anyone in the forum who has actually handled both?

If there is any hope that Sony will incorporate touch-screen annotation in a future model, I'll probably wait. I can get on without it, but having it would be ideal. I'd go for an iLiad if it wasn't way more than I can afford, and didn't have a wifi feature I'll never use.

Good luck to everyone in their decisions!

If there is any hope that Sony will incorporate touch-screen annotation in a future model, I'll probably wait. I can get on without it, but having it would be ideal. I'd go for an iLiad if it wasn't way more than I can afford, and didn't have a wifi feature I'll never use.Never say never, but to me a touch screen seems counter to where Sony seems to be positioning itself in the market. It adds extra cost for very little additional functionality. Unless they add annotation and the ability to merge and save documents like the iRex, there is little point in having a touch screen. If they did add it the cost at retail would most likely be equivalent to the iRex. If this is important to you, save for the iRex and just not use the WiFi.

Is there anyone in the forum who has actually handled both?


One of our fellow bloggers, Larry Z. has made a comparison here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8075) between the Sony and Iliad.

One of our fellow bloggers, Larry Z. has made a comparison here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8075) between the Sony and Iliad.


That review is a bit out of date now that the iLiad supports MobiPocket.

To me it all boils down to flexibility. If you only want to read books, the Sony is the obvious choice. But if you want to annotate, take notes, read many formats without having to convert, play games, replace your PDA, etc; go with the iLiad. ;)

I'd agree with your summation completely, Adam B., except for a minor quibble with this point:read many formats without having to convertWith the addition of Mobipocket format, I count 5 reading formats on the iLiad (PDF, HTML, TXT, XEB & Mobipocket). I wouldn't really characterize that as "many." I wouldn't even consider it many more than the 4 formats the Sony supports (BBeB, PDF, TXT, RTF), they're basically the same set of types of file minus HTML (I'm counting both BBeB and Mobi as the same type in that they're both proprietary DRM supporting formats, I don't actually think that they're the same http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/wink.gif).

Of course, opinions will vary, and I do recognize that the iLiad may well get home-brew viewers faster than the Reader, since iRex has actually released an SDK, so in the future the many formats thing may well come to pass, but I just don't see it as being so now. :shrug:

Like I said, otherwise, I think I'd agree with your assessment of the two devices. :nice:

I'd agree with your summation completely, Adam B., except for a minor quibble with this point:With the addition of Mobipocket format, I count 5 reading formats on the iLiad (PDF, HTML, TXT, XEB & Mobipocket). I wouldn't really characterize that as "many." I wouldn't even consider it many more than the 4 formats the Sony supports (BBeB, PDF, TXT, RTF), they're basically the same set of types of file minus HTML (I'm counting both BBeB and Mobi as the same type in that they're both proprietary DRM supporting formats, I don't actually think that they're the same http://www.mobileread.com/forums/images/smiliesadd1/wink.gif).

Of course, opinions will vary, and I do recognize that the iLiad may well get home-brew viewers faster than the Reader, since iRex has actually released an SDK, so in the future the many formats thing may well come to pass, but I just don't see it as being so now. :shrug:

Like I said, otherwise, I think I'd agree with your assessment of the two devices. :nice:

With my comment, I was including some of the applications I have ported.

FBReader alone supports
* fb2 e-book format (style attributes are not supported yet).
* HTML format (tables are not supported).
* CHM format (tables are not supported).
* plucker format (embedded images are supported, tables are not supported).
* Palmdoc (aportis doc).
* zTxt (Weasel format).
* TCR (psion text) format.
* RTF format (stylesheets and tables are not supported).
* OEB format (css and tables are not supported).
* OpenReader format (css and tables are not supported).
* Non-DRM'ed mobipocket format (tables are not supported).
* Plain text format.

In addition, ABIWord Supports word doc, RTF, Open Document. Gnumeric supports xls. Scotty1024 has an app with DJVU and CBZ support.

I really haven't run into a format that I can't read on my iLiad. ;) :D

Can't argue with that since with the right work and sweat you do open up a whole range of new and useful formats.

Still, it might be better to say "with some extra work and a little risk, you can read many formats without converting."

Having said that, most people I know have a hard time installing something on their PC (you know, the "click me to install" type). Lord knows what would happen if they tried to install something in the Iliad right now. Especially if you applied a little extra pressure by telling them how easy it would be to brick it. (Me, I like to live dangerously and in violation of warranties. That's what makes life fun! Annnnd sometimes expensive.)

With my comment, I was including some of the applications I have ported.

FBReader alone supports....:smack:

Okay, I retract my comment completely and without reservation. I had totally forgotten the FBReader port, and hadn't caught that several of your other ports were reading softwares. :shame:

In fact, I think that deserves a few more of these: :smack: :smack: :smack: :smack:

:happy2:

Don't be so hard on yourself. I know you're stuck in Sony land, worrying about what format your books and documents are in. ;) :D

On a side note though, with the flasher not available for the Sony, it may be possible to include further format support in it down the road. Heck, I almost want to buy one to see what I can do. :cool:

Yeah, but I like to think I pay a little better attention than that! Since we're getting ready to move, I'll blame my confusion on that logistical mess. :wink:

Unless they add annotation and the ability to merge and save documents like the iRex, there is little point in having a touch screen.

The only reason I want a touchscreen is exactly for the purpose of annotating texts. It wouldn't quite be the same as pen in the margins, but as I don't have any more room for paper...::sigh::

Thanks for the advice!

One of our fellow bloggers, Larry Z. has made a comparison here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8075) between the Sony and Iliad.

Great comparison! It doesn't make my decison any easier, but at least i have the info. Kudos to Larry Z for his dedication to the cause!