I am in urgent need of a new ebook reader as my Palm has died (dropped accidently). The Sony readers and other like Kindle are not available in Australia. the iPhone is available but to limited phone providers and costs $799 here plus expensive online costs. I only just learned about the iTouch and as I only want a ebook reader could this do the job for me. I have Stanza installed on my laptop -- can I load my ebooks to the iTouch through a usb cable or can I access the app store through my internet connection on my computer. I do not want to leave my phone provider as I rarely use a mobile phone and cannot afford the very expensive monthly charges for the iPhone and data download.
If someone could push me in the way of information I would really appreciate this. Thanks Bernie

Hey Berni--I have an iPod Touch with Stanza installed on it. (I also have e-reader installed). You can transfer books to the Touch from your desktop over a wireless internet connection. It took me a few times before I finally got the hang of it, but once you do, it's pretty easy.

Hope this helps!

dordale :)

I am in urgent need of a new ebook reader as my Palm has died (dropped accidently). The Sony readers and other like Kindle are not available in Australia.

I think we have some Aussies here that have bought the Sony reader.

If you really want a dedicated reader to do long sessions on then I would highly recommend an eInk device... or something larger than the iPod. In Aus you should be able to get a Sony, CyBook or BeBook.

But, if you want something to read on the go, when you are out and also can take advantage of the other iPod touch features such as MP3 player, Address Book and other apps then the touch is OK... but I wouldn't buy it as a primary eBook reader. Of course, that's my opinion.

BOb

pilotBob--I'm in full agreement with you! I love my iPod Touch--and it does suffice for a reading device in a pinch. But, if I had to give up either my Touch or my Sony PRS505--I'd lose the Touch in a heart beat!

dordale :)

You may not want to rush out and buy one this weekend. Apple has an event scheduled for Tuesday, and the rumor sites expect a refresh of much of the iPod line. Assuming a new iTouch is on the agenda, even if you don't like it, it may bring down the prices of the left over stock of the old models.

The Bandit

As the owner of an iPod Touch myself, I honestly could not recommend it as an eBook reader. If you want a hand-held device (rather than a 6" eInk device) a Palm or Pocket PC is far, far better, both in terms of price and in terms of flexibility and range of reading software available.

However, a dedicated device such as a Sony Reader, CyBook, etc, is MUCH better. They are easily available world-wide.

Thanks for the info - looks like it could do the trick - i am used to reading on a small device, used a Mio before I got the Palm and was so sorry to break the Palm. Berni

Berni - you can get a Sony 505 sent to Australia if you buy from: http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Mine arrived at my place in Canberra 3 days after ordering.

Guys, read his lips: Berni's cool reading on smaller devices! If the iPod works for you, go for it! (I'm personally keeping an eye out for e-book reading apps for my new phone, an LG Dare... not that I need to use it for e-book reading, but what the hey!)

Since the App Store launch, there have been a ton of need apps sent out directed toward reading digital content. While I have a Sony Reader, it's more or less for home or long road trips, the iPod Touch is for out and about day trips and train trips around Tokyo. I've been using handheld portable device since the original Palm Pilot Pro and I can tell you that the screen on the Touch beats the heck out of anything else out there. While Windows Mobile might have a larger range of supported formats, if you're looking for PDF support or RTF/DOC support, then stick with the Touch. In my opinion, it's the best for reading on, especially if it's a PDF that's not reflowable; i.e., you can just flip to landscape and pinch-adjust the screen until you're at a comfortable level of viewing.

While there isn't any way to view LIT files on an iPod Touch yet, I think that once M$ sees the amount it can make in microtransactions from it's competitor, you might see one in the future... or some crafty fellow/lady will make a port and you can get it there. While I love both my Sony Reader and my iPod Touch, I have to go against the earliest comment and say I'd get rid of the Reader before the Touch simply because of the massive range of things I can do with my Touch where as my Reader serves one simple purpose, reading books (and does that quite beautifully, so why would I have to choose?).

Whatever your decision, good luck and do your research. Cheers!

Edit: Ok, I guess you can view LIT files through Stanza. Here's a link to the list of file types supported by Stanza from the source. Check out the video presentation of it running on the iPod Touch/iPhone, looks like I might have to check it out too!

http://www.lexcycle.com/supported-formats

I've been using handheld portable device since the original Palm Pilot Pro and I can tell you that the screen on the Touch beats the heck out of anything else out there.

I must, with the greatest respect, disagree with you. The iPod Touch has a perfectly standard 480x320 "half VGA" LCD screen, exactly the same as is used on many PDAs. It is a very nice screen, I agree, but it's neither better nor worse than such a screen on any other machine.

I honestly don't think that the Touch makes a particularly good bookreader because:

1. The battery life is poor compared with many PDAs - you'll get around 4-5h usage reading. My iPaq PDA will give me at least double that, plus it has a replaceable battery so I can carry a spare battery if I'm going on a long trip.

2. The range of reading software is currently poor. This will undoubtedly change in the future, but at present there's a hugely wider range of software available for both Palm and Pocket PC devices.

3. You have to jump through hoops to get content onto the device, rather than simply copying files via USB as you can with any other machine.

The iPod Touch is a very nice device indeed - I use mine for all sorts of things - but, IMHO at least, there are much better portable devices around if you want something to use primarily as an eBook reader.

4. (my major gripe) You have to scroll by swiping or tapping - no convenient side buttons or scroll wheels on the device.

4. (my major gripe) You have to scroll by swiping or tapping - no convenient side buttons or scroll wheels on the device.

Good point, igorsk - as I've stated elsewhere, I too prefer hardware buttons to a touch screen for reading books; I don't like reading on screens with fingerprints.

4. (my major gripe) You have to scroll by swiping or tapping - no convenient side buttons or scroll wheels on the device.

Yeah, but he's USED to tapping the screen, since he had a Palm. eReader on the Touch supports swiping OR tapping (setup option), and Stanza uses tapping.

Compared to a Palm, the only major drawback I see to an iTouch is the battery life. [ I have an iPhone, which is what I'm basing my comment on. ]

Yeah, but he's USED to tapping the screen, since he had a Palm. eReader on the Touch supports swiping OR tapping (setup option), and Stanza uses tapping.

Compared to a Palm, the only major drawback I see to an iTouch is the battery life. [ I have an iPhone, which is what I'm basing my comment on. ]

One difference between tapping/swiping on the iPod Touch as compared to a palm device is that you use your fingers on the Touch--on the palm you use a stylus. So, the palm screen definitely doesn't have the same propensity for getting smudged as the Touch.

dordale :)

One difference between tapping/swiping on the iPod Touch as compared to a palm device is that you use your fingers on the Touch--on the palm you use a stylus. So, the palm screen definitely doesn't have the same propensity for getting smudged as the Touch.

dordale :)

Have you seen these?

http://tinyurl.com/5lsknt
http://tinyurl.com/6xyx2l
http://tinyurl.com/6yvcby

--ryan

Have you seen these?

http://tinyurl.com/5lsknt
http://tinyurl.com/6xyx2l
http://tinyurl.com/6yvcby

--ryan

I've tried a stylus for my iPhone. Since the tip is a hemisphere, you have to press far harder than expected to get it to touch at more than exactly one point. The phone apparently expects more than just one point of contact, since it expects a finger.

The last one listed above might be different. A softer tip might help. I don't use my stylus cuz I don't like pressing that hard on the screen.

I guess everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'll stand by my observation that the Touch is superior to any of the PDA's I've used to date. Here's a rundown of the one's I've owned to date: Palm Pilot 1000, Visor, Palm V, Cassiopeia E-100, iPaq 3835, Sony Clie (very short time), iPaq 4150 (still own & use), iPaq rz1710, iPaq hx4700 (while more powerful than my 4150 & a much better screen, it was a little larger than I wanted to carry... and my wife got first dibs), Audiovox SMT5600 SmartPhone, iPod Touch. I shied away from the Dell Axims since they first came out, as I simply didn't like their form-factor.

Anyway, while the hx4700 does have a VGA screen, perhaps it's the PDF renderer or the method in which you navigate PDF docs (the only real reading I actually use it for, as I convert all other paperback size books to LRF for my Reader). I'm not sure why the Touch looks better to me, even at half-VGA, but I guess it's really the way in which it's presented, you can pinch-zoom to any custom level, and panning has no noticeable refresh issues... and I like the form-factor of the Touch, slim and solid without much wasted space Regarding the swipe to change pages, I don't mind this so much but some of the newer apps are incorporating the accelerometer into the mix so you simply need to tilt to change pages. If there's a great app for WM, let me know and I'll check it out.

Points well taken in regards to the battery life, I only get around 6 hours or so of use on mine before I have to charge up again... and there's no user-changeable battery. True too, unless you jail-break it, it's a little difficult to find just the right app to get things onto the Touch (Apple's way of "trying" to keeping people out of its innards). With the PDA it's so much easier just to copy things to a SD-card and pop it in... miss that little bit.

The only other truly major gripe I have is with Apple themselves; they seem to come out with an updated version every 4-6 months or so... much too rapid to keep up with form a financial perspective of the buyer and it leads to a world of buyer's remorse, especially if you just bought that 'ol 16GB Touch and a month later the 32GB came out. Didn't happen to me, I've had mine since October of last year, but I was the Apple Rep here for a short run and saw too many updated products following on the heals of "last months latest and greatest." Apple is milking people for all they can, eventually something has to give, though I know I'll simply hold out and see what's next.

Have you seen these?

http://tinyurl.com/5lsknt
http://tinyurl.com/6xyx2l
http://tinyurl.com/6yvcby

--ryan

I want one. I was actually thinking about this this morning. I was going to experiment with my Palm stylus (some kind of modification) but now I don't have to. Thanks.

I want one. I was actually thinking about this this morning. I was going to experiment with my Palm stylus (some kind of modification) but now I don't have to. Thanks.

My guess is a standard number two pencil flipped around (the eraser) would work just as well. That's what it looks like.

BOb

My guess is a standard number two pencil flipped around (the eraser) would work just as well. That's what it looks like.

BOb

I can officially report that a #2 pencil eraser flipped around does not work. :)

I found this tidbit about the Pogo iPhone Stylus (http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/a31f/).

In case you haven't noticed the iPhone's glassy touch sensitive screen is only sensitive to your stubby little fingers. This is because it uses a technology called capacitive touch which measures the flow of electrons through your skin. Problem is, last time we checked our fingers were pretty rounded and not too precise at picking out tiny URLs in Safari. Luckily the geniuses behind the Pogo iPhone Stylus have magically solved this problem by making a stylus that somehow tricks the iPhone into thinking it's really a finger.

I've been using handheld portable device since the original Palm Pilot Pro and I can tell you that the screen on the Touch beats the heck out of anything else out there.
I have used iphone and various other pdas and while iphone and ipod touch screen is nice, it's nowhere near as good (especialy for reading) as the screen used in Nokia's tablets, 4inches+ 800x600 is just leagues beyond ipod touch for reading

As I said earlier, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We're all simply stating ours. BTW an A4 doc at 800x480 on a 4" screen is murder on the eyes without magnification. I forgot to mention, I also have an OQO Model 01, OQO Model 01+, Compaq TC1000 Tablet PC, Panasonic WordsGear, and a fairly recently purchased HTC Shift (had to wait for the best price fit to jump on that wagon!).

As you can see, I've been pursuing the ultimate portable e-Doc device for quite a while... still haven't found the perfect one, though the current crop of eInk devices fit the bill quite well for all but comic & A4-size texts/magazines (not to mention no color... yet).

- The TC1000 is absolutely the best for viewing PDF's/A4 docs, though not practical for ebooks due to size, weight and heat. It's great because they didn't waste too much space on the bezel surrounding the screen and it goes straight to slate by simply removing the keyboard. The TC1000 also has conveniently placed navigation buttons right next to your index finger for when you're in portrait-mode, so that a simple flick down takes you to the next page or up to the previous page. The keyboard's a bit awkward, but you sort of get used to it over time... well, maybe not. Battery life started in the 6 hour range but after-markets are down around 2.5.

- The OQO's 4" display does 800x480 too and stuff I was viewing on it was way too tiny to be of practical use. When you zoomed scrolling it's a pain and not very smooth due to refresh & rendering. Next is the heat generated by this little guy & it's pretty darn heavy too. I don't even care for it too much as an Internet device either, the keyboard is just too small on a 4" device for practical use & most pages are set up for 1024 fixed-width now so there's always some scrolling to see the whole page.

- The WordsGear... well, it's a nice device too, but Panasonic hampered the heck out of it with all the DRM & conversion utilities to make it useful, not to mention it would have been perfect had it had smooth scrolling instead of jumpy/jerky 1/4 page shift's when viewing something in landscape mode. It's a nice device, but they should have put more time in it than to simply get it out for their proprietary format; i.e., not very open. If anyone wants to make me an offer on it, let me know. If you speak/read Japanese, it comes with a bunch of free Japanese-language books & the PDF-plugin.

- The HTC Shift is now my system of choice for portable surfing, dev'ing, office stuff, & the works. It's also pretty darn good with all those pesky A4 docs, since everything isn't scrunched up on a 4" screen. While it's a little on the heavy size, most portable Tablets even micro models are in relation to their size. It's actually a pretty slick system & I'm glad I got it, it's helped settle my search for a portable PC w/o compromising on a clam-shell design (I had to have a Tablet, slate or convertable), something that's too bulky/large, having a ultra-small keyboard, or worse yet, not having a "tactile" keyboard at all.

If the newer crop of Asus Eees had been out, I might have went for one of those or the new HP, but the Eee wasted a ton of space with a useless bezel and none were Tablets aside from the Khojinsha & Fujitsu's and their screens were/are a little on the small size. The Shuttle Tablet looked nice to me when I got a hands-on, but the keyboard was a bit awkward & cramped. I could pick up a fairly recent Fujitsu Loox today for ~$750 (a pretty darn good bargain!), but while it has a pretty high res for it's size, the screen looks small to me.

For me, eInk will reign supreme for novels, the Touch will keep my happy with comics, tech docs, & magazines on-the-go, and the Shift will keep me satisfied with A4 stuff at home & on long trips. Can't wait for the consolidated device, maybe we'll see it when the newer crop of larger eInk screens actually turn out, or better yet with the color eInk! I think I'm done now... :P

Guys, read his lips: Berni's cool reading on smaller devices! If the iPod works for you, go for it! (I'm personally keeping an eye out for e-book reading apps for my new phone, an LG Dare... not that I need to use it for e-book reading, but what the hey!)
I haven't found any info on what OS it uses, or whether it's even possible to install third-party apps, so don't hold your breath...
______
Dennis

A little follow-up report. I purchased the Pogo Stylus (http://www.amazon.com/Ten-One-Design-TI-AF25-100-Stylus/dp/B00174N3OI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=wireless&qid=1221523448&sr=8-1) and I'm happy to report it works really well. You do have to press a bit harder than you would with your finger but by much. Holding the stylus perpendicular to the screen requires less pressure than holding it at an angle.

It has a fuzzy tip which works well for typing and swiping (fewer fingerprints). I'm now able to type faster with more accuracy than I could with my finger. While listening to audiobooks I was having problems with the slide bar if I needed to back up the audio a bit. This stylus is much more accurate (there's that word again) than my finger, which would overshoot the mark more often than not.

It comes with a couple of clips that allow the stylus to attach to the side of the Touch or iPhone. I have leather cover on my Touch but the cover is open on the sides just enough for me to be able to use the clip (I'm just using one clip).

I'll play with it a while before I leave my review on Amazon which I think will be 5 stars, depending on how well the tip holds up after prolonged use.

My wife has an iPod Touch and I've tried it for reading and I don't like it. I don't like the small screen and I don't like the fingerprints. My 505 is so much easier on the eyes.

Thanks for the review Daffy! I think I'll have to get me a Pogo. I've been running into the same problem trying to rewind in audio books. It's been quite frustrating.

dordale :)

I guess everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'll stand by my observation that the Touch is superior to any of the PDA's I've used to date.

I agree fully. I read 2-3 hours on my iPod Touch every single day. It is a brilliant reading device. Battery life is excellent for me.

As for the original topic, Stanza lets you download directly from their site to the Touch via WiFi, and you can also transfer books via Stanza desktop IIRC.

The Stanza desktop will let you transfer books to the ipod touch via wifi, but you need to configure the firewall on your wireless router to allow it. I would be far happier if you could share of USB as well. At the moment I am using Stanza to covert books to eReader format and then putting them on a web page to download them to the iPod Touch. Its not exactly an elegant solution but it works ok.

My biggest complaint about the iPod Touch as an book reader is the size of the screen. I think I can live quite happily with an LCD screen (except for battery life issues... the Jetbook would be if it supported something besides straight text) since I often spend 12-14 hours a day looking at computer screens with no issues. My biggest complaint about the Touch and other PDA sized devices is that they are... well PDA sized. A 3.5" diagonal screen is a bit on the small size. I have to use smaller text than I like to get what I think is a reasonable amount of reading between page turns. Even then we are talking about maybe half as much text per page as you would get from a mass market paper back.

For me this is the biggest justification against using the ipod Touch and pda size devices as an ereader. I think a 5" screen would the smallest reasonable size for (me) a device that would be used for the bulk of one's reading.

If Apple was ever to release an UMPC with a 6" or 7" screen, I could easily see myself use it as my primary ereader. Until then I will keep looking at the devices coming out.

--
Bill

For me this is the biggest justification against using the ipod Touch and pda size devices as an ereader. I think a 5" screen would the smallest reasonable size for (me) a device that would be used for the bulk of one's reading.
It's the old problem of form factor. It's why I'm not interested in a "converged" device that is cell phone and PDA. Some of the things I do require a larger screen than a cell phone is likely to have.

My reader of choice is a Palm OS PDA with a 3.5 screen in 320x480 resolution. Depending upon reader and font, I can get about 25 lines of text per screen, or about 400 words, and I'm comfortable reading on it. By turning the back light all the way off, I can read it outdoors.

I shy away from the current dedicated readers because I need color, and I need a device that does other things besides display ebooks.

I'm not interested in an iPhone, but if I got one the iPhone port of eReader would be the first thing I'd put on it.
______
Dennis

Just a thought, but I think you might be pleasantly suprised in that the iphone has apparently inspired some of the smart phones to have larger screens. The HTC TouchHD that was announced recently is going to have, IIRC, a 3.5" 640X480 screen. Of course you are kind of stuck with windows mobile.. but hey, no phone is perfect.

--
Bill

Just a thought, but I think you might be pleasantly suprised in that the iphone has apparently inspired some of the smart phones to have larger screens. The HTC TouchHD that was announced recently is going to have, IIRC, a 3.5" 640X480 screen. Of course you are kind of stuck with windows mobile.. but hey, no phone is perfect.
HTC makes interesting products, and 640x480 is nice. But I'm not interested in a smartphone, and I'm especially uninterested in a Windows Mobile device.

I'm waiting to see if anyone puts Google's Android OS into something that isn't a smartphone.
______
Dennis

Ah, I thought you biggest problem with smart phones was that most have smaller screens (my touch has a 2.8" screen). I wouldn't be surprised if android is put on a device that is the size of an iphone or the Touch HD. I would be surprised however if said device was not also a cell phone. As far as I know, Google is not really interested in pursuing the PDA market as most analysts believe it is dying. Maybe a PMP... anything else starts requiring a more full featured OS.

As for me, if it has a 3.5"-4" screen (i.e., still small enough to fit in my shirt pocket), I very much would prefer it to have phone capabilities. I would buy an IPhone if ATT didn't charge so darn much for service...

--
Bill

Ah, I thought you biggest problem with smart phones was that most have smaller screens (my touch has a 2.8" screen).
My cell phone is a low end Nokia with an even smaller screen. But I don't care, as all I want it to do is place and receive calls. Other functions are handled by my PDA.

I wouldn't be surprised if android is put on a device that is the size of an iphone or the Touch HD. I would be surprised however if said device was not also a cell phone. As far as I know, Google is not really interested in pursuing the PDA market as most analysts believe it is dying. Maybe a PMP... anything else starts requiring a more full featured OS.
It doesn't matter if Google is interested. The OS is modular and open source, and and you can use the parts that fit what you want your device to do. A hardware manufacturer could put it on a device that wasn't a cell phone. The question is whether any will.

There might be life in the PDA market if a manufacturer actually tried to address it, instead of all rushing off to build smartphones.

Whether the PDA market is dying is a different question. What is the Apple Touch? And there are still Windows Mobile based models that aren't also cellphones, like the HP 210.

As for me, if it has a 3.5"-4" screen (i.e., still small enough to fit in my shirt pocket), I very much would prefer it to have phone capabilities. I would buy an IPhone if ATT didn't charge so darn much for service...
As I said, I already have a cell phone that does what I require. I wouldn't mind a PDA type device with a larger screen. It wouldn't fit in a shirt pocket (or a pants pocket in most cases), but I don't carry mine there now.
______
Dennis

My cell phone is a low end Nokia with an even smaller screen. But I don't care, as all I want it to do is place and receive calls. Other functions are handled by my PDA.


I am not saying your are wrong, that is your personal preference. Personally, I need a device that lets me connect to the computers I administer remotely even if no WiFi available. A smart phone is therefore a big bonus for me. Likewise, the ability to browse the Web without Wifi has been very useful from time to time. Since PDAs generally can't do that without also being cellphones, put me firmly in the smart phone camp. Besides, I perfer having one device rather than two.


It doesn't matter if Google is interested. The OS is modular and open source, and and you can use the parts that fit what you want your device to do. A hardware manufacturer could put it on a device that wasn't a cell phone. The question is whether any will.


That is true, but ultimately, I doubt we will see any new players in the PDA market. Palm is getting out of it, and the number of Windows based PDAs is a lot fewer than it was even a year ago. Without Google pushing for it, I doubt anyone will bother producing such a unit.


There might be life in the PDA market if a manufacturer actually tried to address it, instead of all rushing off to build smartphones.


I doubt it. You, I am afriad, are the exception to the rule. If they can get their phone to do everything that their PDA use to do and make phone calls as well, and also connect to the internet without wifi, well, I think they see little need to have two devices when one will do the job of both.

Also, I wouldn't say they rushed off; Smart still produces both types of devices, but their smart phones sell much better.


Whether the PDA market is dying is a different question. What is the Apple Touch? And there are still Windows Mobile based models that aren't also cellphones, like the HP 210.


I would say the Ipod Touch is a PMP with some PDA functionality. And I didn't say the PDA market was dead; just that it is dying. Smart Phones are eating up most of the market, and PMPs are eating up the rest. I imagine in a few years that phones like the Iphones will grab most of the market for everything with a screen 4" and smaller.


As I said, I already have a cell phone that does what I require. I wouldn't mind a PDA type device with a larger screen. It wouldn't fit in a shirt pocket (or a pants pocket in most cases), but I don't carry mine there now.
______
Dennis

Well there are the UMPCs, which are the next step up.

--
Bill

I am not saying your are wrong, that is your personal preference. Personally, I need a device that lets me connect to the computers I administer remotely even if no WiFi available. A smart phone is therefore a big bonus for me. Likewise, the ability to browse the Web without Wifi has been very useful from time to time. Since PDAs generally can't do that without also being cellphones, put me firmly in the smart phone camp. Besides, I perfer having one device rather than two.
<shrug> I'm a sysadmin. I did a few experiments, using wifi from my PDA to connect via SSH to servers I administered. I could do it, but I wouldn't want to have to if I could avoid it.

But yes, being able to connect over a cellular network if wifi isn't available is a major plus.

That is true, but ultimately, I doubt we will see any new players in the PDA market. Palm is getting out of it, and the number of Windows based PDAs is a lot fewer than it was even a year ago. Without Google pushing for it, I doubt anyone will bother producing such a unit.
I suspect you're right. I don't really expect to see an Android powered PDA. I just think Android could be used for that, should anyone wish to.

I doubt it. You, I am afriad, are the exception to the rule. If they can get their phone to do everything that their PDA use to do and make phone calls as well, and also connect to the internet without wifi, well, I think they see little need to have two devices when one will do the job of both.
Yes, I'm an exception. But it's form factor again. We tend to want our cell phones tiny, which means small screen. The screen I'd like to have would make the device too big to be a decent cell phone.

And the problem with converged devices is that devices that try to do everything usually don't do any one thing all that well.

Also, I wouldn't say they rushed off; Smart still produces both types of devices, but their smart phones sell much better.
No surprise. For that matter, Palm still makes the Z22, E2, and TX. But their focus is firmly on smartphones. (I know an assortment of Palm fans unhappy about this, who suspect that Palm could profitably sell a revamped PDA model if they would actually make one. I think they need to broaden thier product line with something. Thinking they can compete against the likes of Nokia, Samsung, and RIM as a pure smartphone manufacturer strikes me as wishful thinking.)

I would say the Ipod Touch is a PMP with some PDA functionality. And I didn't say the PDA market was dead; just that it is dying. Smart Phones are eating up most of the market, and PMPs are eating up the rest. I imagine in a few years that phones like the Iphones will grab most of the market for everything with a screen 4" and smaller.
I think you're right.

Well there are the UMPCs, which are the next step up.
A bigger step up than I had in mind. I'm looking at the Nokia Internet Tablets and the ASUS eee. Neither is exactly what I'd like. A Nokia 800 with a bigger screen and a bluetooth keyboard would be about right.
______
Dennis

I am in urgent need of a new ebook reader as my Palm has died (dropped accidently). The Sony readers and other like Kindle are not available in Australia. the iPhone is available but to limited phone providers and costs $799 here plus expensive online costs. I only just learned about the iTouch and as I only want a ebook reader could this do the job for me. I have Stanza installed on my laptop -- can I load my ebooks to the iTouch through a usb cable or can I access the app store through my internet connection on my computer. I do not want to leave my phone provider as I rarely use a mobile phone and cannot afford the very expensive monthly charges for the iPhone and data download.
If someone could push me in the way of information I would really appreciate this. Thanks Bernie

Bernie,

Dunno if you actually bought one of these yet - but - my 2c worth- the iPod touch makes a pretty good replacement for a Palm. I bought one of the G2 iPod Touch's a couple of weeks ago. It is as least as legible as my old Sony Clie. The reading via ereader works fine (and yes folks, I swipe, not tap).

Downsides - you have to feed the thing off the web - and the G2 devices seem to have a problem with WPA2 keys on many routers - my Netgear amongst them. I temporarily have to turn off WPA to access the web to load books on the device.
For preference, I read on a Sony 505 (bought in Australia off eBay), or a tablet PC. But when I am sitting in a queue, or somewhere else where I haven't anticipated reading, then the iPod touch is always in a zipped jacket pocket, and it is 5 seconds to get it out and start reading. Given that I listen to music and podcasts on an iPod and have for years - it is just one more thing that I use it for.

If you want to load a reader off of a PC, then go get another Palm (the Tx is similar resolution, and reasonably priced). If you are happy to load books from the web, and have a compatible router (and I'm sure Apple will fix the firmware sooner or later) - the iPod touch is fine - and the battery life of mine is excellent. I can go a week listening to music and podcasts, playing a game or 2 and reading. I'm usually recharging more than that syncing up music and podcasts anyway. :)

Ross