Aussies rejoice - e-book hardware on sale in this country

Dajala · 11-21-2007, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Hot on the heels of online retail giant Amazon, book chain Dymocks is preparing to launch an electronic book reader in Australia before Christmas.

Dymocks chief executive Don Grover said he was in "final" negotiations with a European e-book reader manufacturer and planned to make an announcement within the next 10 days.

I'm really hoping 'European e-book reader' = the new Cybook Gen 3. However, the Dymocks CEO also says,

Quote:

"The one that we're in discussions with is not only a very good piece of hardware but also one that's capable of supporting the Adobe and Microsoft formats that we're selling on our website at the moment."

A dedicated ebook reader supporting MS Reader files would be a first as far as I know.

SMH Artlicle is here

CommanderROR · 11-21-2007, 07:08 AM

Well, that's great news! Finally someone is coming up with solutions that are NOT made for the US only. While it is of no use to me (Australia is a bit far away..^^) it's ceratinly a good sign. I would love to know who that European manufacturer is though...it won't be iRex will it?

Dajala · 11-21-2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

I would love to know who that European manufacturer is though...it won't be iRex will it?

The iRex is a more expensive unit than the Cybook. Given our current exchange rate against the euro, it would be a deal breaker for a lot of people.

Having MS Reader lit files supported by the reader has me intrigued -- does anyone know of a device that supports lit as a native format?

sianon · 11-21-2007, 07:27 AM

This is indeed good news for us Ausies, however would like a wider array of formats supported than Microsoft reader.

HarryT · 11-21-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dajala

Having MS Reader lit files supported by the reader has me intrigued -- does anyone know of a device that supports lit as a native format?

Only the Pocket PC, as far as I'm aware.

montsnmags · 11-21-2007, 08:09 AM

Hmm, Dymocks have never given me confidence of having a clue, though they certainly have volume. Since Mr. Grover does not yet know its "full functionality", that coupled with my admitted cynicism makes me suspect Dymocks might be selling refurbished, early-model Ipaqs (but that's the pessimist and cynic in me talking).

Oddly, I only just posted here a question (and my first post) relating to buying a dedicated reader from here in Oz (Thank-you, Harry - I am mulling at the moment

), so this announcement is most timely.

I await their announcement most eagerly!

Cheers,
Marc

Jorgen · 11-21-2007, 08:15 AM

Support for LIT files would be very welcome, indeed.
The reader would probably then need to have some sort of Microsoft operating system.

GregS · 11-21-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorgen

Support for LIT files would be very welcome, indeed.
The reader would probably then need to have some sort of Microsoft operating system.

That had me worried (I don't like MS at all), but from what little I know of the format it would not require it.

The good news, is simply that Australia will have some device available. even my wife who is a determined Luddite and an opposer to my electronic purchases is interested in getting this device, almost regardless of what it is - she likes the idea of eink that much (which surprised me, but she hates screen reading which she has to do at work).

If it turns out to be Cybook it would be great, I think Iliad might be too much price-wise for this sort of thing (fingers crossed, it would be a good move, especially if the price came down with a bulk deal).

Whatever it is it will have to come out well under $aus400, under $300 would be very good.

It is very good news.

igorsk · 11-21-2007, 06:22 PM

We don't know if it will be e-ink (I definitely didn't see that word in the article).

GregS · 11-21-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

We don't know if it will be e-ink (I definitely didn't see that word in the article).

That is true. But if not eink, I think it would be an enormous blunder, so I never considered otherwise.

JSWolf · 11-21-2007, 06:49 PM

It's not the Cybook Gen3 as that does not support MS Reader format ebooks. What this could be is that Vista one we read about with little to no info on it.

montsnmags · 11-21-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not the Cybook Gen3 as that does not support MS Reader format ebooks. What this could be is that Vista one we read about with little to no info on it.

This one?

http://www.ricavision.com/ricavision...e/ereader.html

If so, wash your mouth out!

Cheers,
Marc

DaleDe · 11-21-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dajala

The iRex is a more expensive unit than the Cybook. Given our current exchange rate against the euro, it would be a deal breaker for a lot of people.

Having MS Reader lit files supported by the reader has me intrigued -- does anyone know of a device that supports lit as a native format?

It doesn't exactly say lit does it. Microsoft formats could include doc and/or rtf based on the source of the data. Reporters are not too technical.

Dale

montsnmags · 11-21-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

It doesn't exactly say lit does it. Microsoft formats could include doc and/or rtf based on the source of the data. Reporters are not too technical.

Dale

The article actually has Mr. Grover saying:

"The one that we're in discussions with is not only a very good piece of hardware but also one that's capable of supporting the Adobe and Microsoft formats that we're selling on our website at the moment".

The Dymocks website (http://www.dymocks.com.au) shows Dymocks selling Adobe Reader PDFs, Mobipocket books, and Microsoft Reader (lit) books. So, to me, it looks like it looks like lit rather than doc or rtf.

It will be interesting to see what comes out though.

Cheers,
Marc

DaleDe · 11-21-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

The article actually has Mr. Grover saying:

"The one that we're in discussions with is not only a very good piece of hardware but also one that's capable of supporting the Adobe and Microsoft formats that we're selling on our website at the moment".

The Dymocks website (http://www.dymocks.com.au) shows Dymocks selling Adobe Reader PDFs, Mobipocket books, and Microsoft Reader (lit) books. So, to me, it looks like it looks like lit rather than doc or rtf.

It will be interesting to see what comes out though.

Cheers,
Marc

Thanks for the link. I wonder why they didn't mention MobiPocket in the article. Currently the only products that run Microsoft Reader are hardware using Microsoft OSs.

Dale

11-21-2007, 06:49 PM	#11
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 17,387 Karma: 21146 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	It's not the Cybook Gen3 as that does not support MS Reader format ebooks. What this could be is that Vista one we read about with little to no info on it. __________________ Jon If you want to listen to really good music while you surf Mobileread, here.

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11-21-2007, 07:08 AM	#2
CommanderROR eink fanatic Posts: 2,005 Karma: 4900 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Device: STAReBOOK, iRex Iliad, Sony 505, Kindle 2	Well, that's great news! Finally someone is coming up with solutions that are NOT made for the US only. While it is of no use to me (Australia is a bit far away..^^) it's ceratinly a good sign. I would love to know who that European manufacturer is though...it won't be iRex will it?

11-21-2007, 07:27 AM	#4
sianon Addict Posts: 296 Karma: 572 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9	This is indeed good news for us Ausies, however would like a wider array of formats supported than Microsoft reader.

11-21-2007, 08:09 AM	#6
montsnmags Interfenestral Monkey Posts: 6,340 Karma: 81172 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Noosa Heads, Oz Device: Iliad, iPod Touch, iPhone	Hmm, Dymocks have never given me confidence of having a clue, though they certainly have volume. Since Mr. Grover does not yet know its "full functionality", that coupled with my admitted cynicism makes me suspect Dymocks might be selling refurbished, early-model Ipaqs (but that's the pessimist and cynic in me talking). Oddly, I only just posted here a question (and my first post) relating to buying a dedicated reader from here in Oz (Thank-you, Harry - I am mulling at the moment ), so this announcement is most timely. I await their announcement most eagerly! Cheers, Marc

11-21-2007, 08:15 AM	#7
Jorgen Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Spain Device: PPCs, BEBOOK Mini, Nokia n810	Support for LIT files would be very welcome, indeed. The reader would probably then need to have some sort of Microsoft operating system.

11-21-2007, 06:22 PM	#9
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,111 Karma: 17432 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	We don't know if it will be e-ink (I definitely didn't see that word in the article).