|
If the Mentor only comes with eReader support, then the LiteBook (with MOBI) will be the better choice for most readers. However, the advantage of an "open" device is that it can support multiple reader packages and if the LiteBook also comes with Adobe Digital Editions then the choice will be harder. The LiteBook will then be able to read three DRMed formats (eReader, Adobe Secure ebook, and Adobe Secure ePub), and ePub will be the obvious choice on the Mentor for DRM-free titles. If you don't already have a ebook library, the LiteBook may still be the best choice - because you only really need one DRMed format and any DRM-free ebook can be converted to DRM-free MOBI. DRM-free ePub is a better format than DRM-free MOBI, but the difference isn't enough to make MOBI a bad choice.
The quality of DRM-free PDF support on the Mentor/LiteBook is completely unknown at present, but past experience does not lead to optimism. Only the iLiad is able to display standard sized (US Letter or A4) PDFs well without conversion. Two routes are available for conversion, (a) reflowing and (b) making images of the pages. MobiPocket Desktop Reader goes the reflowing route (essentially: PDF to HTML+IMAGES to MOBI), with mixed success. There are several PDF to image packages which work ok, but you typically loose flexibility and navigation capabilities. Adobe DE may be able to display standard PDFs (as the Desktop version does), but so can the Open Source software on the iLiad (which could be used today on other ebook devices if the vendors chose to do so). This simply has not been a high priority for the other ebook readers. A 6" screen may be too small though, and even mediocre PDF software might shine on a 9.7" screen.
|