Thread: Yup, another one of these. Help an open-source vigilante?
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Old 08-27-2011, 10:37 PM   #33
Elfwreck
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Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA
Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)
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Originally Posted by SmokeAndMirrors View Post
1. Still want open-source. Not budging on this one. Yes, I know I'll have to occasionally deal with DRM anyway. But I want to see the producer make the effort.
I'm not sure what you mean by "open-source." None of the ereaders on the market come with open source firmware; only the Jinkes (hanvon, bebook, ezreader) can have their firmware replaced with open-source firmware. (I believe. Could be mistaken; I don't keep up with this.)

None of them require you to only deal with books from their store-of-choice. The Kindle's the most limited, being the only one that doesn't deal with DRM'd ebooks from other stores; the rest all work with Adobe Digital Editions. (I believe.) B&N's DRM is different from other ADE DRM, but Nooks will read both types.

You don't, potentially, have to deal with DRM; I don't. And you can get DRM-stripping software if you decide you need to read something that's only available with DRM. (I'm not a student; I don't *have* to read anything. I have a firm policy of not bothering with DRM at all; it's not worth installing the software to get DRM'd freebies. You may not be in a position to have a policy like that.)

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2. Price range is still the same. I can't justify a $200 e-reader. I can only barely justify $150.
If that's solid, it's solid. You may be looking at ebay, then; the under-$150 selection for new devices is very limited.

Does screen size matter to you? The 5" screens are considerably cheaper than 6" screens. (I prefer a 5" screen, but I'm sharply in the minority for that.)

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3. I'd still greatly prefer touch, and/or just a couple simply buttons.
Not hard to get. Touch is more common now than it was a couple of years ago; Amazon is the biggest holdout.

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4. I'd still like some format diversity.
You're in luck there; Amazon & Nook are the most limited devices for formats, and you don't want those for other reasons.

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Right now I'm looking at the Kobo and the BeBook, although the BeBook is probably out of my price range. I'm also looking into Bookeen and the PocketBooks (which one??).
The new BeBook looks good, but the current model is $179, and the new one isn't likely to be cheaper.
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