Sigh lol you would have to show the Edge :P that looks awesome, minus the touch screen keyboard; I understand why it's there, obviously, but still they're a pain. Luckily I have a USB.
I'm in the process of trying to find a buying for a Fujitsu tablet laptop, too - pity I didn't wait to buy something like that lol
I also took Andy's advice and prioritized as best I could
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What I’m looking for in an eReader is:
1. Easy for a lefty to use.
- Primarily wish to use one-handed, left-hand dominant due to cerebral palsy. I may make an exception in the case of the Entourage, naturally.
2. Decent page-refresh rate.
3. 7" or bigger screen with portrait and landscape modes, mainly for reading PDFs.
- Can PowerPoints be converted to PDFs and appear the same on-screen? Also, again, I'd be interested in how the Edge handles PDFs. If I can read them, I don't care about screen size.
4. Text annotation for highlighting passages.
- What is the benefit of this/why do eReaders include it? Can it be saved to a PC?
5. Lightweight and comfortable to carry in a bag or pocket of any kind.
- For example, a hardcover copy of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s “Let the Right One In” [U.K]/”Let Me In” [U.S] weighs probably a pound, but feels heavier to me because it is 480 pages.). 1 lb/one-fourteenth British stone seems like the best weight. Yet again, the Edge is hefty at three pounds, but if I could consolidate a handful of five pound textbooks into three pounds, I wouldn't complain, naturally.
6. User-replaceable battery.
7. Numerous text formats including but not limited to DOC, PPT, PDF, EPub, and any others you think may benefit a reader and college student majoring in English.
8. Good contrast and text visibility for lengths of time.
- E-ink greatly preferred, but not a must. LCD may work, too. I would like to read outdoors, however.
9. SD/SDHC card reader
- So I can transfer files to/from the device for taking them along to read or to clear up space on the device, or expand the memory.
10. Dictionary
- Wi-fi or 3G required I assume (I only have Verizon).
Readers I’m considering are:
Available (In preferential order)
1. Entourage Edge – Actual reviews from objective users, please? Not the media or professional bloggers.
2. Sony Daily Edition - Released to market.
Upcoming (awaiting more details and reviews)
1. Copia Ocean 9 – Released this fall 2010? (Information on technical specs appreciated)
2. Velocity Micro Cruze – When is this to be released? (Information on technical specs appreciated – does this allow for text input?)
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As a reader and a writer/English major, I originally only wanted an e-book reader that would allow me to annotate the text and pull it onto my PC for reports and personal usage. I don't need yet another computer, or a color screen to survive - although color would be nice to have for cover art.
However, actually looking at the Entourage instead of mistakenly thinking it was another smart phone (Is Verizon involved in this device in any way?), it looks like it has everything I need and could want based on what's currently in the market. Being that I use a mobility scooter, having to physically carry it is no longer a point, yet it's smaller than a laptop, and appears to even be slightly smaller than a netbook, if I recall the Samsung NC120 I used to own. I was greatly interested in the Courier from Microsoft, and I don't care what anyone says, this looks like what the Courier should have been.
The Sony Daily Reader looks nice as well, and I'm tempted to go here because I figure if I don't have a 'full' working browser, I won't be lured away from the focal point of reading to check Facebook. At the same time, the ability to utilize the Internet as a complement to the text I'm reading is a huge plus an very enticing to me.
As for the Copia Ocean and the Micro Velocity Cruze, I would be interested in seeing some hands-on videos or reviews before I journeyed to either of these models, but they are still on my list pending any information I can be supplied with.
So this is where I stand, and your help is appreciated in helping me refine my selection.
Thank you again -
Kegan