Hi, Hope someone can help. I love to read!! and watch movies or listen to music. I currently use my sony ericson P990i as an ebook reader and sometimes I watch movies on it too though the battery gets low pretty fast if I do that. P990i is fairly easy to use, just transfer any PDF files from my computer to my phone and I can read it on the phone anytime, anywhere and battery can last up to 4hours too! Problem is, text is too small.

I've been looking around for something better but it seems a waste to buy an iRex just for reading. The main thing is want to do is read on the road but I also want to be able to watch movies and listen to music which makes iTouch the best solution I've found so far.

But, reading on iTouch seems a bit complicated from what I've gathered in some posts... Can I just transfer my PDF files on iTouch and be able to read it or do I have to convert the PDF files? Any more info about how to use ereader/stanza on iTouch?

Also, where do you download free games/apps for iTouch? Are they easy to install?

Any suggestion of other good portable eReader device (very important!) where I can also watch movies, listen to music, and has good specs will be greatly appreciated... or am I dreaming and there's no such device? :)

Thanks all!

PS. Hope I'm posting in the right section!

Also, where do you download free games/apps for iTouch? Are they easy to install?


Yep they are very easy. You just press the appStore icon on your Touch and you will be brought to the app store. Here you can browse through the apps and press a button to buy/download them and they are installed automatically.

Stanza and eReader are two of the apps on the app store and they are both free. Once you have stanza on your reader you can open stanza on the PC, open a PDF ebook and then it will show up in stanza in the online catalog of your touch and you can d/l it. Stanza will do the necessary convertion. I don't know how will it handles PDFs though.

BTW: To do all this on the iPod Touch you will need to be connected via WiFi. Of course you don't need a connect to read already downloaded ebooks.

BOb

It's pretty easy, but I don't read PDF's :) I use eReader, I prefer it to Stanza which imho is a little laggy sometimes. Just download eReader and you can log into free sites like manybooks or paid sites like Fictionwise right from the app. There is also a personal content feature at Fictionwise where you can upload any .pdb file (free converters are on-line for this) and download it the same way.

Unless you 'jailbreak' you ipod, which has its risks, you pretty much have to get apps from the iTunes store---but there are plenty of free ones. Jailbreaking can be a little tricky, and can damage your ipod if you screw it up. I am too skittish for it, and have found everything I need in the app store anyway, but I am not a 'power use' and all I needed was a reading program, some games and a few other little programs. I am not interested in hacking it to be a computer replacement, so jailbreaking it did not interest me. I just wanted to consolidate my devices a little so I didn't have to carry around so many things. Reading plus ipod plus games in one device is a pretty sweet set-up for me.

I have an iPod Touch which I don't use it as a reader but I'll try to help you out as much as I can.


But, reading on iTouch seems a bit complicated from what I've gathered in some posts... Can I just transfer my PDF files on iTouch and be able to read it or do I have to convert the PDF files? Any more info about how to use ereader/stanza on iTouch?

Also, where do you download free games/apps for iTouch? Are they easy to install?

Any suggestion of other good portable eReader device (very important!) where I can also watch movies, listen to music, and has good specs will be greatly appreciated... or am I dreaming and there's no such device? :)

If you read through this thread (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26807)you'll see samples of several reading programs for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

I've been able to use Stanza to upload content wirelessly via their Desktop component. You should visit the Stanza (http://www.lexcycle.com/) site.

Instructions on how to use Stanza and eReader come with the apps. I think they were pre-installed (I've forgotten). If I'm wrong, I know they can be downloaded for free via the Apps Store which is part of iTunes. That's where you'll get all your apps including game apps (very easy to install).

I think for your needs an iPod Touch is the perfect fit!

I use mine pretty much as you are looking to use one, though I do play the odd game as well. I play music (and several podcasts every day), watch videos, and read quite a bit (ebooks and offline web content). I also surf occasionally, but since I commute for a total of about four hours daily, and I only have WiFi for a bit over an hour of that, it is hardly worth the battery drain -- easier to stick to saved content.

The big difference is that I do not use PDF files at all (they never worked all that well on my old Palm devices), so I cannot say how best to read those. As for eReader and Stanza, both are great apps, though I getting content loaded on the Touch is more complicated than it needs to be, as you point out. Getting eReader books loaded directly from a web site is very easy, but if you make your own ebooks in eReader format, you do need to go the extra step of loading them on the eReader bookshelf, or setting up a web server on your home machine.

I use Stanza more than eReader (I mainly use eReader for DRMed content), and it is very well done. The biggest problem with Stanza is that there is no batch loading of files, though there are several threads on the Stanza forums about that, so hopefully it is coming soon. Loading from Stanza desktop requires that you open the book on the desktop and turn on sharing in the application. Not difficult at all, but tedious if you want to transfer lots of books. Note: I use a mac, and I understand the PC experience is different. Also, I understand Calibre now works with Stanza, so that may be easier.

One other option, depending on what you read, is InstaPaper. Needs some work, but damn simple to use. Setup a bookmark on your desktop, click it when you are at a site you want to read later, and you can download optimized views of the page from your mobile. Not much as ebook readers go, but great for offline web content.

Installing apps is VERY easy. The app store is an icon on the Touch, buy or choose a free app/game, and it downloads and installs immediately. Both Stanza and eReader are available this way, and both are free. Though I should mention the Stanza desktop is currently still in beta (but very functional), and I do not know how much it will cost once version 1.0 hits.

The Bandit

The iPod Touch makes an excellent music player and portable video player, but I honestly couldn't recommend it as a book reader. It doesn't even begin to compare with eInk devices. A Palm/Pocket PC type device makes a far more versatile book reader if you want a "pocket sized" device. I say this having read on such devices for more years than I can to remember, before switching to eInk devices. I tried reading on my iPod Touch, but it just wasn't a "pleasurable experience" at all. I use mine primarily as a video player, a task at which it excels.

BTW: To do all this on the iPod Touch you will need to be connected via WiFi. Of course you don't need a connect to read already downloaded ebooks. BOb

Is it easy to connect to the Wifi? With my sony ericsson P990i, it's pretty hard to connect to a wifi. I have to add a new account every time I encounter a different wifi and fill in the account details before I can connect! Since I'm not tech savvy, I usually end up not getting connected!

Thanks for all your comments! I'm gonna do some more research before I buy the iTouch but I'm definitely leaning on toward buying one... If the ebook reader is not as good, the movies, music and games are still enough to buy an iTouch but as ficbot said, reading plus ipod plus games is pretty sweet and being able to read on it would definitely be a big plus!

Well, just a thought; connecting to Wifi is pretty easy. Generally, when you are not connected to a site, it will bring up a list of any wifi hotspots in the area and it will show you which ones are password protected. You choose one; if it is password protected, you can enter the password, and then it will remember the site when you connect again in the future.

Mind you, those details are important regardless of whether you want to use it as a reader or not; the app store works over wifi as well.

As for the reading experience; I would say, that once I got Stanza and eReader configured, that reading was pretty decent. That being said, the larger screen of my Jetbook, is definitely nicer. Also, I did notice less eyestrain with the Jetbook (though personally, I didn't think the iPod Touch was too bad).

--
Bill

I use my Touch as a backup reading device and I like it better than previously owned Palm/Palm clones. I find it very easy to use wifi, probably the easiest of any portable device I've owned.

My Touch is used primarily as a PDA and music player but I do play the odd game and read occasionally. One of the best news apps is the New York Times. You have to be connected to wifi for the news to update but it's really good and even includes pictures.

Hope your PDFs do not have DRM or you won't be able to read them on a Touch.

Is it easy to connect to the Wifi? With my sony ericsson P990i, it's pretty hard to connect to a wifi. I have to add a new account every time I encounter a different wifi and fill in the account details before I can connect! Since I'm not tech savvy, I usually end up not getting connected!

Based on my own experience with my son's device... yep. Not hard at all. But, then again I run an open WiFi router at my house so there is no need for a password.

BOb

Is it easy to connect to the Wifi? With my sony ericsson P990i, it's pretty hard to connect to a wifi. I have to add a new account every time I encounter a different wifi and fill in the account details before I can connect! Since I'm not tech savvy, I usually end up not getting connected!


It really couldn't be easier. Simply go to the WiFi settings page on the iPod Touch, slide the slider to "On" and it'll show you the names of all the WiFi networks within range. Select the one you want to connect to; if it has encryption it'll ask you for the password (it'll only do that the first time you connect). That's all there is to it.

Good luck buying an iTouch as there is no such device.

That said, the iPod Touch makes one heck of a poor eBook reader compared to a 6" eink reader. It'll be fine for music and video. But reading it through a haze of fingerprints is not my idea of fun.

All naysayers aside, the iPod Touch makes a great portable reading device that you can carry with you anywhere. The argument it's "not as good as a 6" eInk device" is moot when you consider the fact that you can't very well stick one of those devices in your back pocket or the inner-pocket of your jacket. I own both devices and each serves their purpose where applicable. If you're thinking portability & all-in-one device, get the iPod Touch or similar device, if you don't mind carrying around a larger device that only serves as a book, get an eInk device with a large screen.

Lastly, if you're serious about using a device you will learn all the in and outs of it to get it to do what you want. That's the beauty of the Internet, there is so much info available that you will find what you're looking for provided you have the right amount of motivation. Good luck & don't be balked by how difficult people say things are until you've tried them yourself. Everyone's a hacker at heart, just do it. :thumbsup:

One of the best news apps is the New York Times. You have to be connected to wifi for the news to update but it's really good and even includes pictures.

Hi,

This sounds really interesting. Not being able to download news is one thing I miss on my Cybook, and I am also thinking of getting an iPod Touch. That way I could read the Cybook at home and have a more portable and multipurpose device to carry with me.

My question: once you updated the news through your Wifi connection, can you read them offline also?

Thanks
Florence

I haven't tried the New York Times app yet, but if you open Google Reader (in the built-in Safari browser) and then go offline, you can still read any of the items that were displayed (even if you didn't expand them from the preview). I found this pretty neat.

I haven't tried the New York Times app yet, but if you open Google Reader (in the built-in Safari browser) and then go offline, you can still read any of the items that were displayed (even if you didn't expand them from the preview). I found this pretty neat.

Yes, it does sound cool :)

Hi maxyn83,

I'll think you'll find an iPhone or iPod Touch to be exactly what your looking for. My wife and I used Sony Clies for ebook readers for years. I recently bought her a Touch and she loves it. Apparently I do too as she's laid the law down that I need to get one as well because I'm using hers way too much. For reading, Stanza on the iPhone with Calibre on the desktop is a great solution.

Cheers,
Crazy

But, reading on iTouch seems a bit complicated from what I've gathered in some posts... Can I just transfer my PDF files on iTouch and be able to read it or do I have to convert the PDF files? Any more info about how to use ereader/stanza on iTouch?



You can read this review that will answer on many questions and will help you to make decision about purchase:
Apple iPhone/Touch, Stanza and Project Gutenberg
http://www.pg-news.org/20081031/apple-iphone-touch-stanza-and-project-gutenberg/

I fully agree with this conclusion:

"If you’re a hardcore reader then I’d say this is not what you want as your sole eBook reading device, rather more as a supplementary reader.

For those of you who are casual readers, perhaps just reading for 20 minutes while on the train to work or waiting in the doctor’s office, then the iPhone or iPod Touch should be very satisfactory indeed."

It's just a standard web browser; you can read "cached" content off-line, as you can with any other browser.

To give you another data point, my wife and I are hard core readers and have no issues whatsoever using PDA's and the iPhone/iPod Touch as our main reader, mp3 player, phone, gaming platform etc.

Good luck buying an iTouch as there is no such device.


Lets not quibble, its a common enough shorthand to call it an iTouch, that everyone knows what they are talking about.


That said, the iPod Touch makes one heck of a poor eBook reader compared to a 6" eink reader. It'll be fine for music and video. But reading it through a haze of fingerprints is not my idea of fun.

Having read several books on the iPod Touch, I have to say that finger prints are not a huge issue (at least for me). Certainly they will be no more of an issue for reading than they would be for video.

I agree that the screen is a bit on the small side, but it is perfectly acceptable unless you need really large type. And it is balanced out by the fact that it easily fits into a shirt pocket. Even the 5" Jetbook is too large for that (Though it fits into pockets in my coat and jeans).

My personal thought would be that something that had two screens that folded together like a Nintendo DS (but with higher resolution and better functionality) mike make a dandy portable reader.

--
Bill

I read almost a book every couple of days, and my iPhone is my primary reader even though I do have a PDA as well as an eBookwise. Calibre on the desktop with Stanza on the iPhone/iTouch make a perfect combination.
I have a screen cover on mine, so there are no fingerprints left behind (even if there are, a single swipe with a piece of cloth is enough to get rid of them). The sharpness is just amazing, and you cannot beat it for portability. That being said, drawbacks include being a wee bit unwieldy since its so small, and a battery that lasts about 2 days with heavy phone, wifi and ebook usage.

Hi everyone, thanks again for all your comments. I just bought an "ipod" touch and it's even better than I imagined! I've been having fun playing with it! First thing I did was to install Stanza and reading on it is great! I've never had a PDA or an ebook reader so I can't compare on the screen size but Stanza seems to be doing a good job for ebook reading. It's easy to turn the pages and you can even change the font size, color and background color. Also, iTunes store offers a lot of great FREE apps.

I'm a hard core reader and iTouch definitely rocks as a portable entertainment device!

get air sharing, it was free for a long time, might be raised, but might be a special now for black friday, but at 7bucks it's still a steal, why? it's a transfer program, why is this good? it transfers PDFs to your itouch, no more wierd reading as cached, no more having a wifi signal it downloads to your touch. you get airsharing(thats the program name) you follow the setup(takes 3-5minutes for a barely competant person) and you can view your itouch in mynetwork neighborhood and transfer files easily, omg, you can even make folders! yea you can organize the whole thing. and guess what it's a reader as well, it views pdf's perfectly, and by perfectly i mean that it just looks nice.

its very simple to use and just takes some practice.

Hi everyone, thanks again for all your comments. I just bought an "ipod" touch and it's even better than I imagined! I've been having fun playing with it! First thing I did was to install Stanza and reading on it is great! I've never had a PDA or an ebook reader so I can't compare on the screen size but Stanza seems to be doing a good job for ebook reading. It's easy to turn the pages and you can even change the font size, color and background color. Also, iTunes store offers a lot of great FREE apps.

I'm a hard core reader and iTouch definitely rocks as a portable entertainment device!

Glad you're enjoying your choice!

In response to several comments on here about the iPhone/iPod touch not being suitable for hardcore reading - I'm on the 5th of a series of books at the moment and I've been reading for a couple of hours a day for about 6 weeks now. The iPod touch is perfect - it has plenty of battery life, good adjustable backlight levels, adjustable colour scheme (eReader) and I can read with the light off and not disturb my husband.

In response to several comments on here about the iPhone/iPod touch not being suitable for hardcore reading - I'm on the 5th of a series of books at the moment and I've been reading for a couple of hours a day for about 6 weeks now. The iPod touch is perfect - it has plenty of battery life, good adjustable backlight levels, adjustable colour scheme (eReader) and I can read with the light off and not disturb my husband.

But have you ever tried using an eInk device?

I read on PDAs for over 20 years, and like you, I have an iPod Touch, but there's just no comparison between the experience of reading on a 3.5" backlit LCD device and a 6" eInk device.

You can open PDFs very very easily on the ipod touch, however I've had some very large PDFs with lots of images crash in it :( The Ipod touch is an awesome device though, there is so much you can do on it, music, audiobooks, internet, email, work, pdfs, movies, games. It's like you'll never get bored with one on you!

Can't say anything about reading on the touch, but I have no problems reading on my omnia which has a similar screen.

Off topic note, found out today if you install the fringe app you can connect to a vonage softphone account and have an unlimited use mobile phone - as long as you have WiFi.

I also bought an iPod since I replied to this thread, and I enjoy it, it's a lot of fun. It's surprisingly comfortable reading on it, but I agree that it cannot replace my CyBook. I gave up reading books on it, but I use it daily to read the New York Times and Le Monde.

i just bought an ipod touch, and am loving it!

just bought the airsharing app, it's a must-have,
imo.

i read pdfs ALOT, so the easy transfer of files
is really awesome. basically what airsharing does
is it transforms your ipod into a thumb drive; without
the need for a physical connection.

i also use the google calendar and mail, and
evernote with it, so it's like a personal organizer,
media player, ebook reader and game machine for
me :D

But have you ever tried using an eInk device?

I read on PDAs for over 20 years, and like you, I have an iPod Touch, but there's just no comparison between the experience of reading on a 3.5" backlit LCD device and a 6" eInk device.

Hi Harry, I haven't. I'm in the UK so the choice is very limited right now (Sony Reader from Waterstones and that's it), but the lack of backlight is a real issue for me. I like to read in bed but my husband can't sleep with the light on. A backlit device means I can carry on reading.

The other reason I haven't looked further at buying a separate reader is that my iPod is always with me in my purse. An eInk device would be too large to carry around daily (I like to keep my bag small). They'd have to come down in size for them to be really convenient for me.

Hi Harry, I haven't. I'm in the UK so the choice is very limited right now (Sony Reader from Waterstones and that's it),

I'm in the UK too :). The Sony Reader is the only one you'll find in shops, but there's actually lots of choice. I have a CyBook; there's also machines like the BeBook. All good devices.

but the lack of backlight is a real issue for me. I like to read in bed but my husband can't sleep with the light on. A backlit device means I can carry on reading.


There are numerous "clip on" LED" lights which you can use for that purpose. They work very well.

The other reason I haven't looked further at buying a separate reader is that my iPod is always with me in my purse. An eInk device would be too large to carry around daily (I like to keep my bag small). They'd have to come down in size for them to be really convenient for me.

The 6" devices are about the same size as a paperback book. I take mine everywhere I go, but I do appreciate that it comes down to a matter of personal choice.

A really cool way to get ebooks onto your iTouch, iPhone is through OReilly's bookworm site. http://bookworm.oreilly.com/about/

Really easy to access through Stanza once you set it up.

cheers

I'm in the UK too :). The Sony Reader is the only one you'll find in shops, but there's actually lots of choice. I have a CyBook; there's also machines like the BeBook. All good devices.



There are numerous "clip on" LED" lights which you can use for that purpose. They work very well.



The 6" devices are about the same size as a paperback book. I take mine everywhere I go, but I do appreciate that it comes down to a matter of personal choice.

Thanks Harry. I had looked at the Sony Reader, but there's still quite a small choice of commercial books via Waterstones right now. I do agree that a larger screen is better, but unless there's as much choice as I have with eReader right now, I'm probably best with my existing set up. I do hope it all catches on more. I've been reading eBooks for years now and it still seems like it's only just starting to catch on.

My iPT has been my primary reader since I jailbroked my 1 gen about two years ago. I have a 2 gen now with Stanza. I have never had a battery issue. I am careful to turn the wifi off if I don't think I will have access to charging. I have a waterproof box from Otterbox.com and take my iPT to the Y every day. After working out I sit in the sauna and whirlpool reading and listening to music.

I will never get another device. It does it all, and it's not a phone so I am never interrupted.

I will never get another device. It does it all, and it's not a phone so I am never interrupted.

Never is a long time dude.

BOb

The iPod touch is actually faster (http://toucharcade.com/2008/11/23/2nd-generation-ipod-touch-faster-than-iphone/) than the iPhone.

I have an iPhone classic (the very first one!) and I love it!

Hi, Hope someone can help. I love to read!! and watch movies or listen to music. I currently use my sony ericson P990i as an ebook reader and sometimes I watch movies on it too though the battery gets low pretty fast if I do that. P990i is fairly easy to use, just transfer any PDF files from my computer to my phone and I can read it on the phone anytime, anywhere and battery can last up to 4hours too! Problem is, text is too small.

I've been looking around for something better but it seems a waste to buy an iRex just for reading. The main thing is want to do is read on the road but I also want to be able to watch movies and listen to music which makes iTouch the best solution I've found so far.

But, reading on iTouch seems a bit complicated from what I've gathered in some posts... Can I just transfer my PDF files on iTouch and be able to read it or do I have to convert the PDF files? Any more info about how to use ereader/stanza on iTouch?

Also, where do you download free games/apps for iTouch? Are they easy to install?

Any suggestion of other good portable eReader device (very important!) where I can also watch movies, listen to music, and has good specs will be greatly appreciated... or am I dreaming and there's no such device? :)

Thanks all!

PS. Hope I'm posting in the right section!

There should be an app store right on your ipod that you can access when you're connected to wifi

I find the ipod touch screen a little too small at time for reading long ebooks (hence my decision to grab a kindle as well). I can handle reading for 20 minutes on an ipod touch, but longer than that it becomes annoying.

By all accounts Apple will be releasing a 9.5" touchscreen device in June, which will probably operate like a large ipod touch!! That will probably blow every other device out of the water if they can price it below $600 USD.

I find the ipod touch screen a little too small at time for reading long ebooks (hence my decision to grab a kindle as well). I can handle reading for 20 minutes on an ipod touch, but longer than that it becomes annoying.

By all accounts Apple will be releasing a 9.5" touchscreen device in June, which will probably operate like a large ipod touch!! That will probably blow every other device out of the water if they can price it below $600 USD.

I'm hoping this iPod touch (App Tablet?) will be priced from $499. OLED (and fingerprint-proof too) should be nice for reading!

Rumors at this point, of course. But it sure is nice to dream.

below $600 USD.

HAH, i bet they price the damn thing at $1300 to start with.

did you hear about their $1200.00 8 GB ram Upgrade?

By all accounts Apple will be releasing a 9.5" touchscreen device in June, which will probably operate like a large ipod touch!! That will probably blow every other device out of the water if they can price it below $600 USD.

Please define "blow every other device out of the water". It won't "blow" eInk book readers anywhere unless it weighs less than 500g and runs for a few weeks on a single battery charge, and that is, I think, somewhat improbable, to say the least.

I have a side question for you Ipod Touch afficionados. I am seriously considering one but afraid to pull the trigger on one just yet fearing that a new one will come out in 6 mos 10x better than mine, or new apps come out in a year that are got-to-have apps but they are so much bigger in size they require a complete gut of the 'older' ipods to run them. I am the type that likes to get his moneys worth out of something this expensive. To me, if I buy the 32g, I want a full 3 years or its flat not worth it.

Do you see it being completely viable for that length of time?

I am not rich, nor have tons of money lying around. I have to save a considerable time to get something like this and replacing it in a year or so is not an option.

Any thoughts?

...

Any thoughts?

The answer is, "Nobody knows". :) It's a tricky thing, like buying a digital camera and wondering if they're about to bring out something new - it's often best just to buy what you need now rather than fret over advances. They will happen, but if the device does what you need now, then, despite comments you will often hear about something being "superseded" or "made redundant", well, your device still continues to work as it did. I've the first generation iPod Touch, and I've not lost anything by not having an external speaker (which would actually annoy me), and the apps I've bought or downloaded make the device a keeper, yes, for as long as it lives. I actually use it for music and movies least, tending to use it as a bedtime browser, and apps for shopping lists, notes synchroniser (Evernote), weather apps, games, ebook-reader (not used often, but Stanza), reference apps (measurement convertors, wikipedia, photography) and random other apps that tickle me pink. I enjoy my iPod, and tend to take it everywhere (whereas I hardly take my mobile phone anywhere). So, seeing as it does what I want now, I got one, and I don't expect to change it until it dies (Incidentally, I have my old iPod Photo, coming on four years old, which is still in very happy use. It jumps from the iPod speaker dock downstairs, to the one in the bedroom, going strong, and is also useful for transferring a large volume of files from the different workstations we have around the place - PC, iMac, laptop, MacBook).

Saying this though...well, there are some reasonable rumours (though still rumours, based on claimed Apple orders for such a screen) that a 9" screen may be happening in the Apple world. Some folk are talking 9" iPod Touch, and some folk are talking an itty-bitty MacBook, and some are no doubt talking about something between or outside of either of these things, and some are no doubt saying that Apple are just buying these screens for some bit of hardware being used in development that might not even get to market. For what it's worth though, the timeframe where "new device" comes up (and this is compounded with another rumour about a new iPhone) is June this year, at the Developers' Conference, where the iPhone 3.0 software is being revealed/released(?).

As with all rumours though, this could all just be fluff. If I were looking at an iPod Touch at the moment (noting that my specific needs and desires may not even go close to yours), I'd wait until after June (or longer if rumours firm up into nearclose-certainty), but, if there's still nothing but rumour, I'd just buy the iPod Touch. That's me though - you no doubt have different needs and desires, not to mention degrees of patience.

The only other thing I'd mention is looking up "jailbreaking" of the iPod. It may be that this gives you more confidence in continued development of apps for the the device. I've not felt the need to jailbreak my own, but I consider the option to do so a plus.

Cheers,
Marc

I am seriously considering one but afraid to pull the trigger on one just yet fearing that a new one will come out in 6 mos 10x better than mine, or new apps come out in a year that are got-to-have apps but they are so much bigger in size they require a complete gut of the 'older' ipods to run them.

New iPods generally come out in September in time for the Christmas / Holiday season. Although, the new shuffle just came out this month. So, there is no telling. The question is, will you be satisfied with the one you would buy today? If so, I'm not sure it matters that a new one comes out.

A new model car comes out every year, but that doesn't stop people from buying cars each year.

BOb

I have a side question for you Ipod Touch afficionados. I am seriously considering one but afraid to pull the trigger on one just yet fearing that a new one will come out in 6 mos 10x better than mine, or new apps come out in a year that are got-to-have apps but they are so much bigger in size they require a complete gut of the 'older' ipods to run them. I am the type that likes to get his moneys worth out of something this expensive. To me, if I buy the 32g, I want a full 3 years or its flat not worth it.

Do you see it being completely viable for that length of time?

I am not rich, nor have tons of money lying around. I have to save a considerable time to get something like this and replacing it in a year or so is not an option.

Any thoughts?

If you buy an iPod Touch, it will do the same things in 3 years time that it will do now. Will there be "better" devices out in a year's time? Yes, of course there will be. That's always been true, and will probably always continue to be true. Buy a device which satisfies your requirements now, though, and if those requirements remain static, they will be satisfied for as long as you have the device.

Thanks everyone. Just what I needed to hear. Convinced me. Now to find the money.... : )

Thanks everyone. Just what I needed to hear. Convinced me. Now to find the money.... : )

Have you looked between the cushions on the sofa?

BOb

Yes. Only scone crumbs unfortunately. It is not looking good. This whole economy's got me questioning about every dime I spend and this being pure 100% luxury is hard to justify. But thanks for the feedback everyone.

I'm glad I found this section of the forum. I am planning to get an Ipod touch very soon. I just bought a Sony prs-505 and the Ipod touch never even crossed my mind until a couple days ago when I saw the video tour on the website. However, even if I had known that the Itouch can read ebooks, I probably still would've bought the prs-505. BUT....I WILL probably use the ebook feature when I'm out and about so my sony e-reader can stay safe and sound at home.

I already love my 505 for reading, and from what I hear I'm going to love that Itouch too.

I've given the fact that new gadgets come out yearly, alot of thought too. I know for the Itouch, they just recently came out with the 2nd generation, so that should be in the stores for awhile...at least I'd hope so. I love that the Itouch has all those free apps. I was thinking about getting a Nintendo DS, but I think the Itouch will be a better choice for me.

Don't buy the iPod Touch now. I think the firmware update should be coming out soon and that'll probably be an extra $10 for current iTouch owners.

Also, I would suggest looking at refurbished iPods from the Apple Store. My brother bought a refurb 5th gen iPod at $80 off MSRP from Apple and it looks brand new. There were no scratches and it carried the same warranty as a brand new model.

I second ilovejedd's suggestion regarding buying refurbished from Apple's store.

I bought my husband a refurbished first gen Touch direct from Apple for his birthday. It was $80 less than the 2nd gen and looks like new. Apple replaces the casing and battery on all refurbished touches. They come with a full one year warranty. Only difference between the first and second generation touches are that the first gen doesn't have dedicated volume buttons on the side of the unit nor does it have a built in speaker. The battery life also isn't quite as good as the first gen.

dordale :)

I personally don't have a bit of a problem with buying refurb, but I will only buy one of these if I can get an extended warranty 1)cheap, and 2) at a place I can walk in and get a replacement. None of this mailing in stuff. Thus, I will only buy mine at a Sam's. Their three year warranty, beyond the manufacturers 1 year, is only $39. That is complete coverage for 99% of problems it might encur for 4 years. And any problems and you just walk into Sam's and they hand you a new one or that year's equivalent. Done. I don't think you can't beat it and no way would I buy a device like this without an extended warranty.

My two cents worth. Still haven't found the money for one, and may never, but I look them up, read about them, and go to forums about them every day. Sad really.

I personally don't have a bit of a problem with buying refurb, but I will only buy one of these if I can get an extended warranty 1)cheap, and 2) at a place I can walk in and get a replacement. None of this mailing in stuff. Thus, I will only buy mine at a Sam's. Their three year warranty, beyond the manufacturers 1 year, is only $39. That is complete coverage for 99% of problems it might encur for 4 years. And any problems and you just walk into Sam's and they hand you a new one or that year's equivalent. Done. I don't think you can't beat it and no way would I buy a device like this without an extended warranty.


The iPod Touch is an excellent device for all sorts of things (hard to beat it as a portable video player) but, to be honest, there are far better portable devices if you want a bookreader - easier to use, far cheaper, and giving you access to a much wider range of eBook formats. Any Pocket PC or Palm machine, for example.

The iPod Touch is an excellent device for all sorts of things (hard to beat it as a portable video player) but, to be honest, there are far better portable devices if you want a bookreader - easier to use, far cheaper, and giving you access to a much wider range of eBook formats. Any Pocket PC or Palm machine, for example.
I actually find my iPhone pretty abysmal as a video player (at least, it is if you have no way to charge it). The unusual aspect ratio is kinda sucky, too. For me, the PSP is better at playing video and you can even switch batteries in case you run out.

As an extremely portable eBook reader, though, I think the iPhone/iPod Touch's pretty good. You have access to various eBook stores directly on the device (Fictionwise/eReader, Amazon Kindle, Books on Board) and there's a lot of free content available at the tip of your fingers (built-in Feedbooks and Project Gutenberg feed being huge repositories, and the occasional new promotional eBooks from Random House, etc).

The only gripe I have against the iPhone/iPod Touch is you can't copy content via USB. Only way to transfer content is via wireless networking which does make transferring books a chore. Since I have an iPhone, though, this is proving to be less of a problem. I have access to my entire library wherever I have cellphone/wireless coverage.

I just want to mention that on a P1i, a device similar to the p990i, the battery lasts a lot longer than 4 hours!

But as soon as I get my iPhone I'll ditch the p1i ;)

I actually find my iPhone pretty abysmal as a video player (at least, it is if you have no way to charge it). The unusual aspect ratio is kinda sucky, too. For me, the PSP is better at playing video and you can even switch batteries in case you run out.

OK - I've never used a PSP, so I can't compare. I use a DVD-ripper which gets the aspect ratio right for the iPod Touch, so I don't have any issues there.

The only gripe I have against the iPhone/iPod Touch is you can't copy content via USB. Only way to transfer content is via wireless networking which does make transferring books a chore.

That really is my main issue with it - the ludicrous difficulty of loading content.

OK - I've never used a PSP, so I can't compare. I use a DVD-ripper which gets the aspect ratio right for the iPod Touch, so I don't have any issues there.
Actually, it's the aspect ratio of the screen that bugs me. The screen resolution is 480x320 so that's an aspect ratio of 3:2. Most videos are either 4:3, 16:9 or 2.35:1. The PSP (480x270) has a standard 16:9 aspect ratio.

That really is my main issue with it - the ludicrous difficulty of loading content.
I can see how this might be a difficulty with the iPod Touch. You're not guaranteed wifi access wherever you are so you need to keep content on the device prior to leaving home. Since I have an iPhone, though, it becomes less of an issue. I can browse and download content from my library and from sites hosting public domain works anytime and anywhere I have wireless service. With content so easily and readily available, having to sync the "eBook reader" via USB actually becomes tedious.

HarryT, I agree completely about the difficulty of getting content onto the ipod touch. I have one - and many books - and have found no easy way of getting them on it. One by one is the best I can do... Damn it, i wish apple had created a standardized way of storing content, instead of telling apps to do whatever the hell they want with their content...

I plan on jailbreaking it once quickpwn is out - it should be simple to add them, then.

But I do suggest you buy one - it's really worth it.

The way I see it the problem is more that apple did create a standardized way of storing content, and that they don't let apps do whatever they want in regards to accessing storage.
Theirs standardized way is simply that apple can access the storage system but no one else.

Can anyone compare the iPod Touch and the nokia N810 or nokia n77 as readers. I don't mean the limits of the sources for books for the Stanza and eReader and the FBreader on the nokias, but just the reading experience on the the two kinds of devices with their standard readers. Advantages for either device--Apple or Nokia?

The main problem with OS X on the iPhone and iPod touch is that there is no "finder", which is basically a necessity to access the file system.
Definately one of the things I really do no like on this platform.
There are, however, apps that allow sending files, so they act like a sort of "file directory".
Not sure if that's helpful for ebook readers ...

Hi! This sounds really interesting. Not being able to download news is one thing I miss on my Cybook, and I am also thinking of getting an iPod Touch.My question: once you updated the news through your Wifi connection, can you read them offline also?
thanks for any suggestion

I currently use RSSRunner to read rss. This has a nice interface, but doesnt download pics etc., I have heard that Pro RSS Reader by simon oualid is good too. These all allow you to read RSS offline.

Off late with iphone 3G prices really low(even 16gb), it is kind of a waste of money buying an itouch; an iphone without a phone plays a real good itouch...So considering getting a 16g iphone and cancelling the phone and pay a minimal penalty..

I use Free RSS Reader to download RSS feeds. It works great and can work offline. AP Mobile is a great app to read news from technology, business, to world news and a lot more. It saves the news offline for about 7 days. Bloomberg is great for business news and stocks information. BBCReader works almost like AP Mobile.

There are more news apps and rss readers that works offline depending on what you like. Just search for them in iStore. You can download as many FREE apps as you like and try them out yourself.

Off late with iphone 3G prices really low(even 16gb), it is kind of a waste of money buying an itouch; an iphone without a phone plays a real good itouch...So considering getting a 16g iphone and cancelling the phone and pay a minimal penalty..

I wouldn't say the $175 early termination fee is minimal... Also, that's not the only cost associated with getting an iPhone.
Base Cost: $99 (3G 8GB, $499), $199 (3GS 16GB, $599), $299 (3GS 32GB, $699)
Tax: based on full/out of contract price of device
Activation: $30
1st Month's Bill: $70 (not including taxes)
Early Termination Fee: $175

That's an extra $275 before taxes if you get an iPhone. If all you need is an iPod Touch, I don't see any reason why you should pay significantly more for an iPhone. Another thing, buying refurbished iPods directly from Apple can save you quite a bit of money. Refurbished models look brand new and you get the same accessories and same warranty as buying new. The only difference is the packaging.

Tax: based on full/out of contract price of device

I think this might depend on where you live. The receipt for my new iPhone 3GS that I purchased on 27-June-09 in Maryland USA shows: $299 + $17.94 tax.

Another minor point is that the market for used iPhones is really strong. So in theory, if you had to break out of your contract, you could sell your phone on ebay/craigslist and get back enough to cover the $175 early termination fee with a hundred or two extra.

Hi! This sounds really interesting. Not being able to download news is one thing I miss on my Cybook, and I am also thinking of getting an iPod Touch.My question: once you updated the news through your Wifi connection, can you read them offline also?
thanks for any suggestion
I do have an 8GB iPod Touch for sale if you are interested.

Three days ago I got my iPhone which I bought for the following reason:

replace my withering old MP3 player.
incorporate two devices clanging around in my pockets into one.
HA! Three days ago I got my iPhone which I bought for the following two reasons:

replace my withering old MP3 player.
incorporate two devices clanging around in my pockets into one.
read mails, look up in Wikipedia whenever I want.
HA! Three days ago I got my iPhone which I bought for the following three ... Ah well... let's leave it at that. ;)

Now imagine my pure bliss when I detected that there is an ereader app which without any hassle connected immediately to my ereader account and started downloading my complete bookshelf!!! The books in the bookshelf I wasn't able to read for a long time because my iLiad just doesn't have ereader support... :iloveyou:



And while I agree with all eInk fans regarding the size of the display, I just couldn't help noticing all those good features I so dearly miss in my iLiad:

a decent dictionary function (mobipocket@iLiad sucks major ... here)
very readable fonts (mobipocket@iLiad sucks again)
all my good books, fully functional and readable without having to call The Dark Side for help
and the one and only, never (yeah, I know, a long time... ;)) to be bested by eInk devices, reason ever: being able to read in bed without having to deal with clumsy, heavy, ugly, unevely illuminating external light devices. :D
I really truly am happy. With both my devices I am able to read anywhere at any time. So I recommend an eInk AND an iPhone/Touch for the best reading experience possible (at the moment).

Ahhh, Shangri La!!!

:) :cool: :2thumbsup :D :thumbsup:

Cheers,
- Don [:-]

Did I mention

immediate page turning
no ghosting effects at all
small, handy size, lightweight
? :D