Graal quest : Comic book reader, a reality?

[Student1]

Hi guys,


its been a while I haven't stayed in touch with the e readers hardware side of things, and I was wondering if there is finally an ebook reader for comic books?

I was looking something with e-ink technology, long lasting rechargeable batterie, open format support, including cbr and cbz, large screen of 11x8 in, compact flash support, fast database creation (unlike sony), an interchangeable battery, a device you can power off completely without the need to rebuild the database each time (looking at you sony) and color.

A long time ago I heard of plastic logic building a color e-ink reader that looked a lot like that... is there something available for my needs or do I have to wait a few more years?

nb: I don't really care for video playback, touchscreen or any of the fizzle, I just want a good piece of equipment that does what its supposed to do ie: read books.

thanks

[boswd]

right now color eink isn't out yet best bet right now is the nook color. I'm really enjoying mine, even on the reading of novels much to my surprise.

But yeah comics should shine on this device.

[darknessangel]

I don't know if it supports cbr and cbz but it may be worth to check out the new Pocketbook 902. And forget about PlasticLogic's vaporware, it's made out of love, friendship and flying unicorn pigs!

[Student1]

Originally Posted by darknessangel

I don't know if it supports cbr and cbz but it may be worth to check out the new Pocketbook 902. And forget about PlasticLogic's vaporware, it's made out of love, friendship and flying unicorn pigs!

Thanks for the input guys! Too bad about plastic logic, on paper it did sound amazing .

[Care]

If I were to get a reader for my comics/GNs I would get the Nook Colour. That is only based on what I have read regarding the screen and ease of use from others with one that use NC for GNs.

I have also heard a lot of good things about the Pocketbook IQ.

[darknessangel]

Originally Posted by Care

If I were to get a reader for my comics/GNs I would get the Nook Colour. That is only based on what I have read regarding the screen and ease of use from others with one that use NC for GNs.

I have also heard a lot of good things about the Pocketbook IQ.

Isn't the nook colour a little bit too small for comics? I mean... for reading the text bubbles. Perhaps manga works because it's mostly b/w but comics are mostly in color.

[Care]

Originally Posted by darknessangel

Isn't the nook colour a little bit too small for comics? I mean... for reading the text bubbles. Perhaps manga works because it's mostly b/w but comics are mostly in color.

From what I have been told (and maybe somebody that has read comics on a NC can chime in), I would assume landscape, zooming, and scrolling comes into play. I have read here they look great on the NC and easy to read as well.

I have to zoom and scroll on my laptop and I think it would be easier to do with a touchscreen. That is just my opinion though.

[Student1]

Originally Posted by Care

From what I have been told (and maybe somebody that has read comics on a NC can chime in), I would assume landscape, zooming, and scrolling comes into play. I have read here they look great on the NC and easy to read as well.

I have to zoom and scroll on my laptop and I think it would be easier to do with a touchscreen. That is just my opinion though.

Zooming in, scrolling takes a lot away from the experience, from what i'm hearing i might have to wait for something larger with real color e-ink for long battery times... guessing 2012 or so. Real cbr, cbz support will hopefulyl be standard by then!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by darknessangel

Isn't the nook colour a little bit too small for comics? I mean... for reading the text bubbles. Perhaps manga works because it's mostly b/w but comics are mostly in color.

I think that would depend a bit on how good your eyes are and what kind of comics you read.

And about what reader would fit you, it would be helpful if you mentioned where you're from. Buying the Nook Colour for instance, can be a pain if you're not from the US

[Student1]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I think that would depend a bit on how good your eyes are and what kind of comics you read.

And about what reader would fit you, it would be helpful if you mentioned where you're from. Buying the Nook Colour for instance, can be a pain if you're not from the US

I'm from Canada, so anything us wise wont be that difficult. Thanks!

[Care]

Originally Posted by Student1

Zooming in, scrolling takes a lot away from the experience, from what i'm hearing i might have to wait for something larger with real color e-ink for long battery times... guessing 2012 or so. Real cbr, cbz support will hopefulyl be standard by then!

I agree, it is a pain. But I always have to do it anyway and I don't read enough GNs to purchase a good tablet like the iPad or Galaxy. For now that is what I would get if I were you. Or wait. I use my laptop and it is a pain sometimes. Maybe I don't have the proper reader for them. What do you read them on now, or do you just read the physical copies?

[Latinandgreek]

Have you looked at the iPad? It's a bit pricey, but the size is great for reading comics. The Pocketbook IQ is 7 inches, but it's pretty cheap (around $150, I think). I haven't read anything about how good it is with comics, yet.

No colour e-ink yet, unfortunately. I would also love a colour reader for my comics.
You can use calibre to convert your cbr and cbz files to epub (I do that with my manga, which I read on my PRS-505.) It's a free program:

http://calibre-ebook.com/

[Student1]

Originally Posted by Care

I agree, it is a pain. But I always have to do it anyway and I don't read enough GNs to purchase a good tablet like the iPad or Galaxy. For now that is what I would get if I were you. Or wait. I use my laptop and it is a pain sometimes. Maybe I don't have the proper reader for them. What do you read them on now, or do you just read the physical copies?

Only physical copies, its mainly to use as a table book for my old Tintin, Asterix, Luke et Luke, Spirou collections. Mainly going to use ir for regular novels, but it would be nice to have something to hold all these collections in one place.

Ipad and galaxy seem nice, but the screen from what I read is not e-ink and battery wise it wont last as long as a device that only use the batteries when turning the pages.

[Student1]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Have you looked at the iPad? It's a bit pricey, but the size is great for reading comics. The Pocketbook IQ is 7 inches, but it's pretty cheap (around $150, I think). I haven't read anything about how good it is with comics, yet.

No colour e-ink yet, unfortunately. I would also love a colour reader for my comics.
You can use calibre to convert your cbr and cbz files to epub (I do that with my manga, which I read on my PRS-505.) It's a free program:

http://calibre-ebook.com/

Thanks, yes I use Calibre exclusively to manage my book collection! I converted some of my old gamebooks with it! Great software!

[darknessangel]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Have you looked at the iPad? It's a bit pricey, but the size is great for reading comics. The Pocketbook IQ is 7 inches, but it's pretty cheap (around $150, I think). I haven't read anything about how good it is with comics, yet.

No colour e-ink yet, unfortunately. I would also love a colour reader for my comics.
You can use calibre to convert your cbr and cbz files to epub (I do that with my manga, which I read on my PRS-505.) It's a free program:

http://calibre-ebook.com/

Well... I use the ipad and it's awesome for manga. But OP wanted something with eink...