I will be returning to school in the fall and want to reduce the amount of paper I carry around. As such I am looking at a ebook.

The ebook with be primary used to display textbooks with lots of diagrams and charts, Networking Equipment Manuals with wiring schematics, Teachers notes, and Class labs.

So far My primary candidates are the "bebook neo" or the "iRex 800"

My requirements are as follows:

- Easy to read under omni present florescent lighting
- Good battery life
- Good PDF support
- Highlighting & note taking.
- Be rugged and be able to handle the cold (Canadian eh?)
- Would love to have support for magazines.

So can anyone make some suggestions? One of my biggest worry is that a 6" screen is too small, can anyone comment on that?

Edit:
Going through some old CCNA books I am now doubting a 6" screen is good enough. I think I would pefer 10" or 12".

A 6" is too small for technical PDFs (science, engineering, IT, etc). You definitely need a larger screen e-reader. I can recommend the Entourage eDGe if weight is not an issue for you (a little over 3 lbs). If weight is an issue then my advice is to wait until additional large screen e-readers are released (Dittobook, iPad, etc). The Kindle DX displays PDFs but with very limited features and capabilities. Not a good choice for the price (around $500US). The iRex 800 would be a better option if the upcoming update adds better PDF capabilities.

If you don't necessarily need to get an e-reader right now. I mean, if you can wait a little longer there will be a wider selection and potentially better overall choices in the next few months.

To be honest, for your needs, you might be better off with a Tablet PC rather than an eBook reader.

To be honest, for your needs, you might be better off with a Tablet PC rather than an eBook reader.

Very possible. If I were you, I would go to Apple store after the iPad is released and try one. Ask if they will let you load some test documents. Put some of your books and see how they display. You've got nothing to lose. If it suits your need, you can purchase it. If not, continue with your search.

I thought about the iPad but all the advanced book, magazine and newspaper features are amarican only. Being Canadian we only get a striped down version of the iPad. Also the battery is horrible, I doubt I could get through a single double lab without it crapping out on me.

Edit:
The enTourage eDGe looks cool I will be looking more into it.

You might also want to look at the Irex DR1000. It's one of the only readers around that meets your requirements. It's pricey, though. I have one that I got to read all the large PDFs I have and it works well for it. I don't really use the markup capability and would love to be able to turn it off to save battery life.

I don't really use the markup capability and would love to be able to turn it off to save battery life.

The Wacom touch screen uses a totally negligible amount of power when not being used.

I looked at the Irex DR1000 but dismissed it becuse it supports so few formats, lack of epub is a killer.

The Irex DR1000 enTourage eDGe looks like one of the best choices for me if the battery life claim (16 hours) holds up. I just need to find a good store that sells cisco and linux books in epub.

I looked at the Irex DR1000 but dismissed it becuse it supports so few formats, lack of epub is a killer.


It's due to get new firmware which supports ePub next month.

It's due to get new firmware which supports ePub next month.

Thanks I must have missed that.

Looking around the net allot of pepole seem to hate Entourage Edge for some reason. I have yet to see any constructive complaints though, just pepole saying its too big or too expensive compleatly ignoring what it is ment to replace...

So anyways I think the best thing to do is wait a few months as I wont be going to school untill september.

If you don't need it until the fall I would wait because they're a bunch of 9.7" devices due Q1/Q2 this year with the flexible screens. I'm personally waiting to see the PocketBook/Netronix 900 series.

Unless you have something against Apple I wouldn't discount the iPad until you've tried it and read reviews from people that have used it for a couple weeks. My Touch actually works really well with PDF (tap on column to zoom and panning) but the screen is just to small. I'm expecting it to be a very good PDF reader.

Personally I still use a laptop for technical PDF because they're pigs on processing power.