Hello all,
I am a new member who found this wonderful forum while searching for an answer to the hardest questions of all - which one should I buy?
My needs:
1. Read internet-downloaded books with no DRM, usually in TXT, RTF, PDF, LIT, maybe if I feel like paying for books, even MOBI format. When reading newspapers or A4 magazines (especially color ones) proper illustration support with dithering and easy/fast zoom when possible is very big plus. Extremely rarely I'll have to open a full-page scan (RPG books prior DriveThruRPG rage). I might convert between formats but I prefer direct use of files. Support for illustrations and cover is a big plus, in general.
2. Read internet-downloaded text files, in HTML, DOC/RTF, TXT format such as fan fiction, etc. This is probably what every device there does pretty swell.
3. Read internet-downloaded manga in full page. Support for RAR/ZIP is a plus, though I can uncompress. JPG/PNG support. Double page support or rotating. Generally, easy interface for moving to next/previous image. Colorful Marvel comics already feel at home on my PSP.
4. Read RSS. Internal RSS reader of some sort. Easy and fast way to have RSS synchronized from PC to device is important. WiFi/online capability is not interesting for me, I prefer desktop synchronization.
5. I'm a fucker for homebrew applications, especially if it plays Doom.
The device should be utterly hackable and there must be a sizable support for it.
6. The device should be compact.
For now, no device seems to cover all grounds equally well. I'm torn between investing wise on HanLin eBook V3 or spending double on iRex iLiad. Specs such as battery life, battery availability, compact size etc. speak in favor of V3. Everything else and the huge homebrew suppoer speak in favor of the iLiad. I hope you could help me out with the decision by sharing your experience on reading PDFs, digital magazines (PDF, no full image pages, but text and images proper magazine), manga (RAR, PNG, ease of interface for image viewing etc.), RSS (internal applications, synchronization, etc.) and anything else you think I should know before I open my wallet.
Thanks in advance. I'm all ears now...