Looking for a basic cheap reader!

codinh · 01-31-2010, 04:19 PM

Hello to everyone!

I recently started getting interested in e-books, so I'm currently looking for a decent reader, and possibly for a decent price

The only one I know is the Kindle from Amazon, but it is way too expensive for me, a penniless student with very few money. Plus, it has a lot of accessories that make it so expensive and that I'd do easily without, IE touchscreen, internet connection, keyboard and stuff like that.
So... My question is: can someone suggest me a good e-book reader with a large screen (the size of a normal book), that doesn't strain your eyes, without kinky and useless applications, and with a good navigation system, for a reasonable price?

haino · 01-31-2010, 05:07 PM

Hi codinh
Welcome to MR
Where are you based as this may determine what is available and at what price.
I am in the UK and there doesnt seem to be anywhere nearly as much choice here as in the US

Bremen Cole · 01-31-2010, 05:17 PM

he Sony PRS-300 and the Pocketbook 360. I have a 300, love it, and you can go to a Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart and other retailers and see it, hold it...etc.

Another I would look at is the 360. Don't have one, never seen one... but worth a look.

Bremen Cole · 01-31-2010, 05:41 PM

I would also be sure and keep an eye on the flea market here at Mobileread..... a few weeks there were two eBookwise readers being sold for $50 each.... Not the best reader in the world, and limited in formats, but at that price .... plus there are always some gently used models of just about all the reader manufactures there....

codinh · 01-31-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haino

Hi codinh
Welcome to MR
Where are you based as this may determine what is available and at what price.
I am in the UK and there doesnt seem to be anywhere nearly as much choice here as in the US

I live in Italy, will sites deliver here easily?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

he Sony PRS-300 and the Pocketbook 360. I have a 300, love it, and you can go to a Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart and other retailers and see it, hold it...etc.

Another I would look at is the 360. Don't have one, never seen one... but worth a look.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions! I'm looking right now for the PRS-300 on the official site, and I have to say it's quite interesting...
I have a question: Can you import every kind of e-book into your PRS-300, or you have to buy them in the Sony store? I found a lot of e-book browsing the net, but if it turns out I can't read them, it'll suck very badly

GA Russell · 01-31-2010, 06:05 PM

codinh, You state that you are looking for a device with a big screen. I assume that you mean a 6" screen. The Kindle has a 6" screen. If the Kindle is too expensive for you, then you've got a problem. All of the 6" devices cost over $200.

All of the less expensive devices have 5" screens. I bought an Ectaco jetBook Lite on sale for $117. I was concerned that the 5" screen would be too small, but it turned out that for me that is not the case.

So you might want to investigate the jetBook Lite, the JetBook and the Aluratek Libre.

In Italy, you may also want to investigate the Bebook Mini.

Acreo Aeneas · 01-31-2010, 06:10 PM

Remember at roughly $200, there really are only about four choices: 1) Sony PRS-300, 2) Astak Pocket Pro, 3) Ectaco Jetbook Lite, and 4) Alurtek's reader. The last two are based on monochrome LCDs while the first two are based on e-ink reflective displays. Although the eBookman can be considered a choice, it is limited to one propreitary format and is outclassed by the above readers on more than one area.

As far as wanting a ebook reader with a screen about the size of a paperback, you'd be paying about $400+ (USD). The typical paperback novel is 8" in diameter. Most ebook readers have screens that are 5" or 6". Some come in 9.7", but is usually much more expensive. Initially, 5" and 6" screen sizes might seem a bit small but over time you'll grow accustomed.

Bremen Cole · 02-01-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codinh

I live in Italy, will sites deliver here easily?

Thanks a lot for the suggestions! I'm looking right now for the PRS-300 on the official site, and I have to say it's quite interesting...
I have a question: Can you import every kind of e-book into your PRS-300, or you have to buy them in the Sony store? I found a lot of e-book browsing the net, but if it turns out I can't read them, it'll suck very badly

I have never bought a book from the Sony store. As a matter of fact I never even installed the Sony software. The 300 uses the near industry standard ePub format as well as PDF. Those two alone are most books on the net (except Amazon). It reads other formats as well, but those two are the biggies.....

Kris777 · 02-02-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codinh

Hello to everyone!

I recently started getting interested in e-books, so I'm currently looking for a decent reader, and possibly for a decent price

The only one I know is the Kindle from Amazon, but it is way too expensive for me, a penniless student with very few money. Plus, it has a lot of accessories that make it so expensive and that I'd do easily without, IE touchscreen, internet connection, keyboard and stuff like that.
So... My question is: can someone suggest me a good e-book reader with a large screen (the size of a normal book), that doesn't strain your eyes, without kinky and useless applications, and with a good navigation system, for a reasonable price?

jetBook or jetBook-Lite

wallcraft · 02-02-2010, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acreo Aeneas

Astak Pocket Pro

You can The Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro from the US, or buy the BeBook Mini in Europe. These are both Hanlin V5s, which is sold under many names worldwide and is a good low-cost basic reader. Perhaps more expensive than the PRS-300 but also more capable. Note that the Mini comes without a cover and you need one for these devices (the EZ Reader includes a cover).

BooksForABuck · 02-03-2010, 01:24 PM

I'll second the eBookWise suggestion. Backlit, about 10 hours of memory to a charge. After more than a year, no noticeable loss of battery life, pretty good selection of reading materials from eBookWise.com. It's on sale for $89.95 (or so) new. Used may be cheaper.

Of course if you want dirt-cheap, you can pick up a used PDA from eBay. Maybe $10 or $15 bucks for an old Palm or HP Jornada.

Rob Preece
Publisher, BooksForABuck.com

Ben0 · 02-03-2010, 02:44 PM

Ectaco Jetbook Lite $129 at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16858723010

markman · 02-03-2010, 03:21 PM

I'd suggest the Aluratek Libre. Hardware is the same as the Jetbook (but with an internal rechargeable battery), but the firmware is different allowing you to borrow books from your library if you want.

Both are great choices, and very affordable.

Geppetto · 02-06-2010, 06:57 AM

Check this thread (and others, too) in this Italian ebook forum:

http://www.elibri.biz/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33

I hope it will be useful

01-31-2010, 04:19 PM	#1
codinh Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Italy Device: none	Looking for a basic cheap reader! Hello to everyone! I recently started getting interested in e-books, so I'm currently looking for a decent reader, and possibly for a decent price The only one I know is the Kindle from Amazon, but it is way too expensive for me, a penniless student with very few money. Plus, it has a lot of accessories that make it so expensive and that I'd do easily without, IE touchscreen, internet connection, keyboard and stuff like that. So... My question is: can someone suggest me a good e-book reader with a large screen (the size of a normal book), that doesn't strain your eyes, without kinky and useless applications, and with a good navigation system, for a reasonable price?

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01-31-2010, 05:07 PM	#2
haino Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: none	Hi codinh Welcome to MR Where are you based as this may determine what is available and at what price. I am in the UK and there doesnt seem to be anywhere nearly as much choice here as in the US

01-31-2010, 05:17 PM	#3
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	he Sony PRS-300 and the Pocketbook 360. I have a 300, love it, and you can go to a Best Buy, Target, Wal-mart and other retailers and see it, hold it...etc. Another I would look at is the 360. Don't have one, never seen one... but worth a look.

01-31-2010, 05:41 PM	#4
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	I would also be sure and keep an eye on the flea market here at Mobileread..... a few weeks there were two eBookwise readers being sold for $50 each.... Not the best reader in the world, and limited in formats, but at that price .... plus there are always some gently used models of just about all the reader manufactures there....

01-31-2010, 06:05 PM	#6
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	codinh, You state that you are looking for a device with a big screen. I assume that you mean a 6" screen. The Kindle has a 6" screen. If the Kindle is too expensive for you, then you've got a problem. All of the 6" devices cost over $200. All of the less expensive devices have 5" screens. I bought an Ectaco jetBook Lite on sale for $117. I was concerned that the 5" screen would be too small, but it turned out that for me that is not the case. So you might want to investigate the jetBook Lite, the JetBook and the Aluratek Libre. In Italy, you may also want to investigate the Bebook Mini.

01-31-2010, 06:10 PM	#7
Acreo Aeneas Kobo Aura Posts: 252 Karma: 500520 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago, Illinois Device: Kobo Aura	Remember at roughly $200, there really are only about four choices: 1) Sony PRS-300, 2) Astak Pocket Pro, 3) Ectaco Jetbook Lite, and 4) Alurtek's reader. The last two are based on monochrome LCDs while the first two are based on e-ink reflective displays. Although the eBookman can be considered a choice, it is limited to one propreitary format and is outclassed by the above readers on more than one area. As far as wanting a ebook reader with a screen about the size of a paperback, you'd be paying about $400+ (USD). The typical paperback novel is 8" in diameter. Most ebook readers have screens that are 5" or 6". Some come in 9.7", but is usually much more expensive. Initially, 5" and 6" screen sizes might seem a bit small but over time you'll grow accustomed.

02-03-2010, 01:24 PM	#11
BooksForABuck Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 150001 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach, CA Device: Color Nook, Kindle 2, Palm III, eBookWise, HP Jornada	I'll second the eBookWise suggestion. Backlit, about 10 hours of memory to a charge. After more than a year, no noticeable loss of battery life, pretty good selection of reading materials from eBookWise.com. It's on sale for $89.95 (or so) new. Used may be cheaper. Of course if you want dirt-cheap, you can pick up a used PDA from eBay. Maybe $10 or $15 bucks for an old Palm or HP Jornada. Rob Preece Publisher, BooksForABuck.com

02-03-2010, 02:44 PM	#12
Ben0 Retired Field Engineer Posts: 21 Karma: 62 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Daly City, CA Device: Astak EZ Reader Pro, Ectaco JBL	Ectaco Jetbook Lite $129 at Newegg. http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16858723010

02-03-2010, 03:21 PM	#13
markman Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 25000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aluratek Libre, Sony PRS350	I'd suggest the Aluratek Libre. Hardware is the same as the Jetbook (but with an internal rechargeable battery), but the firmware is different allowing you to borrow books from your library if you want. Both are great choices, and very affordable.

02-06-2010, 06:57 AM	#14
Geppetto Addict Posts: 232 Karma: 748 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS600, Cybook, Hanvon N520, Sony PRS300, Onyx Boox, Kindle 3	Check this thread (and others, too) in this Italian ebook forum: http://www.elibri.biz/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33 I hope it will be useful

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