Cheaper E-Book Readers ? - Page 4

mogui · 08-22-2007, 09:50 PM

My daughter and I drove a Smart Car in Vancouver a couple of years ago. She wanted one, but ended up with the Prius. I think the Chinese "City Smart" clone of the Smart Car is available in electric. I saw one here recently and there is a dealer in town. The rock-bottom price is less than 30,000 RMB -- three quarters the price of the QQ. The manufacturers want to sell it in Europe. I think it is great that there are 3rd world forces bringing down the cost of cars after the Japanese led the big raise in prices in the 80s. I know the cheap goods from Asia cause some of you difficulty. I hope things even out for everyone.

yvanleterrible · 08-23-2007, 08:47 AM

In 2000 in Montreal there was an EV Symposium. They had the good sense of renting the Gilles Villeneuve race track where 8 electric cars were offered anyone(with driving permit) to try. I drove 4 models. Complete and utter revelation! I saw the future right there! The silence, the performance... what a delight! And still today, there is no way to find a commercially made, legally street worthy electric car in America!

mogui · 08-23-2007, 10:35 AM

In the early 80s, HM Vehicles in Burnsville Minnesota built a 3-wheeled car called the Freeway. It came in gas and electric models. I was on the waiting list for a new one when they suddenly went out of business. Years later I picked one up -- a perfect specimen. It was a 1981 gas model and was in great condition. I had a chance to drive an electric one back in the day too. They were pretty peppy.

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I flew out to Chicago to buy the Freeway and tried to drive it home to Washington State. I got as far as Milwaukee and decided it was too much of a go-cart to take across the Rocky Mountains. I loaded into a U-Haul and trucked it home. It was the icon for our 4-H car washes for a few years and it rode in a few parades.

yvanleterrible · 08-23-2007, 10:50 AM

It looks like the Sparrow, an EV from California.

NatCh · 08-23-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

And still today, there is no way to find a commercially made, legally street worthy electric car in America!

I know of one: http://www.teslamotors.com/buy/buyPage1.php

yvanleterrible · 08-23-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I know of one: http://www.teslamotors.com/buy/buyPage1.php

The Tesla is a fine prototype, still. Its début was slated for next year and already major design problems have changed the date. According to the reporters of autoblog green, in their podcast, it is said that there will be changes at the company's helm. We all know that a small company's strength is usually provided by the creator. All said the Tesla is still uncertain at this point in time. But oh! what a racer that would be!

mogui · 09-03-2007, 08:01 PM

This Cnet article is a survey of available electric cars called, "Electric vehicles you can buy right now". Photos included. Enjoy!

BTW there was mention of electric cars earlier in this thread.

Alexander Turcic · 09-04-2007, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

This Cnet article is a survey of available electric cars called, "Electric vehicles you can buy right now". Photos included. Enjoy!

BTW there was mention of electric cars earlier in this thread.

Looks like a mouse with zebra stribes to me

yvanleterrible · 09-04-2007, 08:54 AM

Their availability is just like the Sony reader's. One country. For the cars, it's impossible to certify them here. The petrol lobby is too strong. Every attempt so far has been doomed.

anathema · 09-16-2007, 12:32 AM

Back to readers..I dont if something couldnt actually succeed on a subscription model once the tech matures in such a way that they use them kind of like cell phones.

Give the reader for free on a commitment to buy 15 books within the year or something. Then you keep the reader and keep paying. Make it NOT running linux so it isnt very hackable..only capable of playing your format etc. Just like a cell phone, but for books.

Sounds draconian, but if I was offered a free iliad quality device(with proper battery life, i would never put up with a measly 11 hours, i'd burn thru that in a weekend) and the books were as cheap or cheaper (cheaper!) than paper books, i would certainly consider it, just like I buy my cellphone for so cheap on a contract without a problem.

Jadon · 09-16-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anathema

Give the reader for free on a commitment to buy 15 books within the year or something.

Filament Book Club uses this model with the ETI-2 (the same unit eBookwise sells outright) and it works well enough that they've been in business for a while. I don't think Filament is as big as eBookwise, but some people do sign up for their purchasing model.

modsoul · 11-05-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Stuart

Hello,

Are there any indications that e-book readers will ever get below US$200 and thus actually reach the impulse purchase area for the average consumer ?

i got my sony reader for 58 bucks. not bad eh.

nairbv · 01-07-2008, 11:42 PM

It's kind of funny how many of us are in China. I'm in Dalian （大连）。。

anyways, does anyone know anything about this M218A? Is it e-ink or not? I'm looking for something here, ... but for both the hanlin's and iliads they charge a lot more if buying from inside China.

I at a bare minimum want to find something with a high-resolution 6" or greater diagonal passive black-and-white lcd, ... though if going that road I would want it to be cheap. Ideally I'm trying to find an e-ink reader, but I don't want to pay an idiot tax on it.

from the pictures this M218A thing looks like it might be e-ink... and the ad says "22 hours or a month on standby" ... anyone have more information? anyone used one? is it any good? it looks like it's cheaper than the hanlin from what I see...

NatCh · 01-07-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nairbv

... but I don't want to pay an idiot tax on it.

We prefer the term "Early Adoption Premium."

nairbv · 01-08-2008, 01:06 AM

@natch: I was referring to the fact that the iliad and the hanlin cost $100 more if purchased within China. I don't know much about the iliad but wrt the hanlin, it's *made* in China, and regardless of if I'm buying from inside or outside of China, I'd be ordering directly from the tianjin based company which would be shipping it to me. When I tell them I'm located *in* China the price goes up a hundred bucks, and they can't give me any kind of explination besides that it's their "product policy." I can understand an "early adoption premium," I know these things are expensive, but the deal with the hanlin just seems like an idiot tax.

08-23-2007, 10:35 AM	#48
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	In the early 80s, HM Vehicles in Burnsville Minnesota built a 3-wheeled car called the Freeway. It came in gas and electric models. I was on the waiting list for a new one when they suddenly went out of business. Years later I picked one up -- a perfect specimen. It was a 1981 gas model and was in great condition. I had a chance to drive an electric one back in the day too. They were pretty peppy. I flew out to Chicago to buy the Freeway and tried to drive it home to Washington State. I got as far as Milwaukee and decided it was too much of a go-cart to take across the Rocky Mountains. I loaded into a U-Haul and trucked it home. It was the icon for our 4-H car washes for a few years and it rode in a few parades. Last edited by mogui; 08-23-2007 at 11:03 AM.

09-03-2007, 08:01 PM	#52
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Off-topic news re electric cars This Cnet article is a survey of available electric cars called, "Electric vehicles you can buy right now". Photos included. Enjoy! BTW there was mention of electric cars earlier in this thread.

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08-22-2007, 09:50 PM	#46
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	My daughter and I drove a Smart Car in Vancouver a couple of years ago. She wanted one, but ended up with the Prius. I think the Chinese "City Smart" clone of the Smart Car is available in electric. I saw one here recently and there is a dealer in town. The rock-bottom price is less than 30,000 RMB -- three quarters the price of the QQ. The manufacturers want to sell it in Europe. I think it is great that there are 3rd world forces bringing down the cost of cars after the Japanese led the big raise in prices in the 80s. I know the cheap goods from Asia cause some of you difficulty. I hope things even out for everyone.

08-23-2007, 08:47 AM	#47
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	In 2000 in Montreal there was an EV Symposium. They had the good sense of renting the Gilles Villeneuve race track where 8 electric cars were offered anyone(with driving permit) to try. I drove 4 models. Complete and utter revelation! I saw the future right there! The silence, the performance... what a delight! And still today, there is no way to find a commercially made, legally street worthy electric car in America!

08-23-2007, 10:50 AM	#49
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	It looks like the Sparrow, an EV from California.

09-04-2007, 08:54 AM	#54
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Their availability is just like the Sony reader's. One country. For the cars, it's impossible to certify them here. The petrol lobby is too strong. Every attempt so far has been doomed.

09-16-2007, 12:32 AM	#55
anathema Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G	Back to readers..I dont if something couldnt actually succeed on a subscription model once the tech matures in such a way that they use them kind of like cell phones. Give the reader for free on a commitment to buy 15 books within the year or something. Then you keep the reader and keep paying. Make it NOT running linux so it isnt very hackable..only capable of playing your format etc. Just like a cell phone, but for books. Sounds draconian, but if I was offered a free iliad quality device(with proper battery life, i would never put up with a measly 11 hours, i'd burn thru that in a weekend) and the books were as cheap or cheaper (cheaper!) than paper books, i would certainly consider it, just like I buy my cellphone for so cheap on a contract without a problem.

01-07-2008, 11:42 PM	#58
nairbv Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 15 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: still looking for an ebook reader device	It's kind of funny how many of us are in China. I'm in Dalian （大连）。。 anyways, does anyone know anything about this M218A? Is it e-ink or not? I'm looking for something here, ... but for both the hanlin's and iliads they charge a lot more if buying from inside China. I at a bare minimum want to find something with a high-resolution 6" or greater diagonal passive black-and-white lcd, ... though if going that road I would want it to be cheap. Ideally I'm trying to find an e-ink reader, but I don't want to pay an idiot tax on it. from the pictures this M218A thing looks like it might be e-ink... and the ad says "22 hours or a month on standby" ... anyone have more information? anyone used one? is it any good? it looks like it's cheaper than the hanlin from what I see...

01-08-2008, 01:06 AM	#60
nairbv Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 15 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: still looking for an ebook reader device	@natch: I was referring to the fact that the iliad and the hanlin cost $100 more if purchased within China. I don't know much about the iliad but wrt the hanlin, it's made in China, and regardless of if I'm buying from inside or outside of China, I'd be ordering directly from the tianjin based company which would be shipping it to me. When I tell them I'm located in China the price goes up a hundred bucks, and they can't give me any kind of explination besides that it's their "product policy." I can understand an "early adoption premium," I know these things are expensive, but the deal with the hanlin just seems like an idiot tax.

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