Before I posted, ran a search to see if this has been asked before.

I'm in the central alabama area and I'd like to walk into a store and play with some of these portables that you folks are using for reading ebooks. I don't really know if I want something UMPC, something along the lines of the nokia 770 or an E-ink device. It would help if I could play with them first. Anyone got any suggestions as to what major retail chains might carry something like this?

FYI: I work at Best Buy and the only thing even remotely close is the palm tungsten but it's too small for me. I'd love it if we had a bigger selection since that employee discount is extremely satisfactory in most cases.

I called Circuit City and they don't have that sort of thing. Office Depot doesn't have anything on their website about this kind of stuff. Where else could I check?

Thanks in advance for the info,
Dave

Actually, best Buy does sell the Sony Reader. But it is an online item only. Borders sells the Sony Reader and you should be able to find a store that has one to look at. Also, if you have a Sony Style store nearby you can play witrh a Sony Reader there too.

the two closest borders locations are Dothan and Huntsville which are both hours and hours away from me, being just north of Montgomery.

The closest Sony Style is in Florida.

And my discount doesn't work online :(

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Dave

Not sure if there are any in your region; but Fry's carries it. I know that they are a California based chain and have stores at least as far east as Dallas-Ft. Worth. Not sure if they get as far east as you. Some CompUSA stores had them but about one half of the chain has closed.

RWood,

the closest Fry's Electronics is in Georgia.

I remember there used to be a CompUSA in Birmingham....yep. It's still there. That's only about an hour and a half and I'm actually going up there to the IMAX to see Harry Potter. Maybe I can make a sidetrip. Right now that's pretty much my only option. It's a bummer to live in the sticks :smack:

Thanks and keep em coming if you think of anything else,
Dave

EDIT: Ah crap. Birminham doesn't have it in stock. Only Huntsville...

RWood,

the closest Fry's Electronics is in Georgia.

I remember there used to be a CompUSA in Birmingham....yep. It's still there. That's only about an hour and a half and I'm actually going up there to the IMAX to see Harry Potter. Maybe I can make a sidetrip. Right now that's pretty much my only option. It's a bummer to live in the sticks :smack:

Thanks and keep em coming if you think of anything else,
Dave

EDIT: Ah crap. Birminham doesn't have it in stock. Only Huntsville...
Just take advantage of the $50 credit card offer and just buy one.

see that's what I was trying to avoid. I haven't experienced the technology first-hand and I wanted to make an educated decision as to whether I should buy something E-Ink based or LCD based. I don't like to "blind buy" stuff like this. I play guitar as well and I NEVER buy before I've played the guitar in the store and found one I've clicked with. As it stands right now however, there's nothing in my area that carries the technology. It may end up being put on a christmas wishlist. That gives me more time to research and the 2nd generation E-Ink stuff should be out by then...

LCD will drain the battery a lot more. The Sony reader can last like 2-3 weeks depending on your usage. No LCD reading device can go that long.

Yeah, I knew LCD was a battery killer much moreso than E-Ink but I've got a bunch of american comics and I'd like to read those on whatever device I get which pushes me in the direction of something full color LCD based.

I can see that I've got to figure out EXACTLY what I want this thing to do and what I can live without. There's no perfect device yet from the look of it but there may be something close if I look in the right place.

Thanks,
Dave

Sorry to double-post but since there seems to be no one in my area that sells this stuff, here's my want list in a reader:


Lightweight
Thin
supports txt, html, rtf and possibly pdf natively (may have to convert pdfs for readability)
good battery life
supports non-drm files, don't care about drm files
sub-350 dollar price
must be able to read from heirarchal folder structure
neat, organized menu for navigating the library
bookmark support
fast software (read: quick page turns, boot-up, shut-down, file loads)
support for a readily available flash-based expansion card larger than 2GB


Note: I would like a color screen if possible but if I have to compromise anything, this would be it. I'll continue to read my comics on the PC if need be.

However, I do NOT want these features included on my perfect device:


internet browser
video playback
audio playback


My mp3 player does all that stuff. It's a waste of money and space.

I'm going to cross reference this list with the matrix and TRY to come closer to making up my mind. But I still wanna see one before dropping a wad ;)

Later,
Dave

Considering your budget and the fact you wanna read american comics
you should be happy with the Asus EEE, a 7" laptop which costs only 199$.
With the 150$ left you could buy additional batteries.

This laptop is to be released in a few days.

I'll keep it in mind but aside from it's initial "ooh" factor I think it could be optimized in a few areas.

Make the screen swivel around so i don't have to sit with it like a laptop.

I'll definitely need a larger drive than the default 4 gb for my comic books plus my ebooks, which drives up the price more.

nix the speakers and fill the space up with screen.

It's a laptop so it's got extra stuff on it I don't need: speakers, wifi, RJ-45 and RJ-11 jacks, optical drive and a keyboard.

Even at 200 for the basic model I don't really think it's what I'm in the market for.

Thanks for looking out though.

Later,
Dave

Here you go, hoodaman: plug your location into this bad boy (http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?template=search&client=sonyreader). :nice:

well now...the sony dealer search comes up with a compusa that's in Hoover but the CompUSA site shows no such store in that location.

Anyway. I did some comparing of what I want to the matrix and the two that I'm sold on for features are the new 3rd gen cybook and the extremely overpriced iRex.

I'm definitely going to be calling that hoover number tomorrow to see if their doors are still open and if so can I play with an E-Ink device just to see. Hoover's about an hour away from me so it wouldn't be too too far to drive...

Thanks NatCh,
Dave

Don't you think you're being a little "over particular" in your specifications? You have to live with what's available if you actually want a "real world" device. Eg, declining to buy a device simply because it plays MP3s seems to be to be a bit daft - if you don't want to play MP3s on it, then don't.

At $49 for a Sony Reader who gives a damn if it's the perfect device or not? You can always re-sell the thing if it doesn't suit you.

Surely it's better to have something to use rather than wait forever for the elusive "perfect device" that you'll never find, is it not?

yeah, I've already found out that there's no getting around a few useless features. But I don't want a credit card...I don't know. I'll have to think on it.

Accepting a new credit card that has no annual fee and that you can cancel at any time should be a no-brainer.

I'm not sure what your hangup is, but if that offer doesn't fit your needs, then you probably need to wait until your ideal device is built. No device currently on the market fits your requirements.

I use a Sony reader but anytime I go near a Tablet I still get an itch. Maybe that could tickle your fancy?!?

Even in the Washington, DC area, I can ID with hoodaman. With the closing of the local CompUSAs, it's hard to find computers, laptops, PDAs, etc, that one can see, touch, and play with, to figure out BY HAND if it really works for you. Many other stores will carry just a few items or labels, boxed items only, or their devices can be seen but not tried (dead battery or locked into some useless ad loop), and stores other than computer stores generally don't have personnel that can tell you anything about computer equipment.

I've been thinking about checking out the ASUS UMPC, for instance, but in every Circuit City or Best Buy I've been in, I've asked, and they've all replied with "What's a UMPC?" Even after I've told them: "Nope. Never seen one. Got no idea, bud."

As I have no intention of making such a major purchase without physically getting my hands on one, going that extra mile is getting harder and harder as the brick and mortar stores close.

Hoodaman,

The latest Cybook *will* be available in the next few months. I should know as I am a corporate officer of NAEB, which is working with Bookeen to market the device here. ( http://www.naebllc.com/ ) It won't meet *all* the criteria of your 'perfect' device, but at least it will meet many of them and be down in the range of what you'd like to pay.

On the one hand, I understand your desire to not get Yet Another Stupid Credit Card. On the other hand, getting the Sony VISA card was, for my mother, a relatively painless process and she's eagerly awaiting her new Sony reader. Yes, she still wants one of the Bookeen devices but she's in a bit of a pickle having broken her latest PDA and needed a replacement soonest. (She's told me that she's going to give her Sony to a friend's child when her Bookeen Cybook arrives. Love that 'give it forward' philosophy.)

Derek

well now...the sony dealer search comes up with a compusa that's in Hoover but the CompUSA site shows no such store in that location.

Anyway. I did some comparing of what I want to the matrix and the two that I'm sold on for features are the new 3rd gen cybook and the extremely overpriced iRex.

I'm definitely going to be calling that hoover number tomorrow to see if their doors are still open and if so can I play with an E-Ink device just to see. Hoover's about an hour away from me so it wouldn't be too too far to drive...

Thanks NatCh,
Dave

I've had confirmation the Cybook will be available in September.
And I have an appointment with Bookeen during august to see
the Cybook because I'm writting an article for my university (for once
it is an advantage to live in France :p ).

well I've applied for the sony card so I can get SOMETHING on the cheap until the cybook comes out. I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to not get one of those...I applied for the card online. How long does it usually take to get word from them?

Thanks,
Dave

It seems to depend somewhat on whether you bug them or not. :grin:

Check out these threads for some more info:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11941
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11946

Hunh? Mom applied on Sunday, got her card on Wednesday. Purchased her Sony reader that same day. Should be here on Monday. (Yeah. I *know*. I work for NAEB so my mother *should* wait for her Bookeen Cybook, but she's already decided that when her Cybook arrives, she's giving the Sony away to a 'special' family friend. It's a wash.)

Derek

It seems to depend somewhat on whether you bug them or not. :grin:

Check out these threads for some more info:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11941
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11946

Here's the deal. There is NO perfect reading device just yet. Might never be. That said, from what I've been reading, the Sony will do you fine. And the Cybook should as well. From what I am reading about the Cybook, if you want it to be better then the Sony for your comics, then you should wait until the version with the 16-gray shade screen/controller is released. What they are releasing to start with is the say 4-gray shade the Sony already has. That's why if I wanted a Cybook, I would wait. Other then the vizplex screen, the Cybook really isn't much better hardwarewize then the Sony until they come out with the better screen.

well I can wait for the superultracoolnewandimprovedwithextraaddedbonusfea tures cybook if you think it'll be better for american comics. I just hope that the whole sony card thing works out because if not I'm back where I started. I called chase up and they pretty much said don't call us, we'll call you.

I think this thread has gotten off topic. I'll continue posting on this sony card situation in a more suitable thread.

Thanks for all your help guys,
Dave

well I can wait for the superultracoolnewandimprovedwithextraaddedbonusfea tures cybook if you think it'll be better for american comics. I just hope that the whole sony card thing works out because if not I'm back where I started. I called chase up and they pretty much said don't call us, we'll call you.

I think this thread has gotten off topic. I'll continue posting on this sony card situation in a more suitable thread.

Thanks for all your help guys,
Dave
I don't think the Cybook will be that much better for comics YET. Wait until they have the version with the controller able to support 16 shades and then yes it will be better for photos/comics.

and I'm guessing that the one that's coming out in the fall is not going to be said device with 16 shade support. If it is then that's awesome. If not I can still read them on the computer, it's just not the ideal way to read. I may end up not using a portable device at all for comics.

I've been thinking about loading up CDisplay on my HTPC in the living room and reading them 2-page style on my widescreen 46" HDTV/monitor from the couch. It'd still probably hard to read. I'll just have to try it and see.

Books may be nice on that screen too. It's LCD but it's ten feet away...wow. that solution is drifting away from the purpose of the site, almost.

Later,
Dave

The Cybook coming out in September will be the one with 4 shades. It'll be sometime after that when the controller it readey that you'll see the one with 16 shades.