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seeker · 09-27-2008, 01:13 PM

Hi Everybody,

First of all, sorry for another "which one do I buy" post!!

I've been lurking in this forum for the last 10 odd days and have tried to read as much as I can about ebook readers (including all 50+ pages about Astak). But I still haven't been able to arrive at something that might satisfy my requirements which (I think) are simple.

1. I need something that is not expensive ($250 - $300) - I live in a developing country (India currently) so can't afford to spend that much on an ebook reader.

2. It must support PDF and HTML - others are "bonus". I will be using the reader to read a lot of technical stuff - they won't necessarily have a lot of diagrams but their availability is mainly PDF so it would be great if PDF is supported by the reader. As for reflowing PDF ... I don't think that is a big requirement for now

3. Must be able to read in low light conditions: I will spending a large part of my time reading on the bus on my way home from work ... its usually dark by that time. So that probably excludes all the e-ink readers

.

4. It cannot be a UMPC, cannot have a camera: My workplace is paranoid about security and so does not allow personal cameras and laptops.

5. It should not require any special operating system (in particular, m$ windoze) to work with it. It shouldn't force me to use Windoze just to download some material to it - I'm a Linux user and am not comfortable in the world of windoze.

6. Shouldn't be a windoze based solution: I don't want to worry about viruses getting into my reader!!!

7. WiFi/Bluetooth/foo/bar - not required. If I want to access the net I'd rather use my PC.

8. Ebook store support not required ... I don't read that much fiction, etc. ... I'm quite a geek and I've got enough of geek stuff to read

!

9. It need not be fashionable - I'm not trying to make any fashion statement ... I'm too old to make fashion statements

.

After searching around I found that the Nokia 770 seems to fit the bill (it has extras, but thats OK) - its price has dropped to $100 on E-Bay (US though) and it has a PDF reader and backlight for low light conditions. HOWEVER, I also found out that 770 carries the risk of the WSOD, so I've had to (very, very reluctantly) drop it

.

I'll be moving on to China soon and so I naturally considered Hanlin V3 - that too seemed to fit the bill except for the lighting (but at least worth considering). However, the company advertises $299 in its English web page but 2980RMB for the Chinese market in its Chinese web page. 2980RMB = $438! Thats daylight robbery

!!!!!

Astak was looking good until its price-tag came out. It seems like just a Hanlin V3 and costs the same, so thats out too.

Sony 505 requires windoze. Also, not available worldwide.

Kindle - totally closed so my pockets are totally closed to it too!!

Cybook Gen3 - too much $$$

.

So, is my case hopeless

? Any advice/suggestions/tips from experienced folks here?

Thanks for reading this far

.

09-27-2008, 01:13 PM	#1
seeker Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Where you can't find ebook readers Device: Seeking	Another "which one do I buy?" post ... Hi Everybody, First of all, sorry for another "which one do I buy" post!! I've been lurking in this forum for the last 10 odd days and have tried to read as much as I can about ebook readers (including all 50+ pages about Astak). But I still haven't been able to arrive at something that might satisfy my requirements which (I think) are simple. 1. I need something that is not expensive ($250 - $300) - I live in a developing country (India currently) so can't afford to spend that much on an ebook reader. 2. It must support PDF and HTML - others are "bonus". I will be using the reader to read a lot of technical stuff - they won't necessarily have a lot of diagrams but their availability is mainly PDF so it would be great if PDF is supported by the reader. As for reflowing PDF ... I don't think that is a big requirement for now 3. Must be able to read in low light conditions: I will spending a large part of my time reading on the bus on my way home from work ... its usually dark by that time. So that probably excludes all the e-ink readers . 4. It cannot be a UMPC, cannot have a camera: My workplace is paranoid about security and so does not allow personal cameras and laptops. 5. It should not require any special operating system (in particular, m$ windoze) to work with it. It shouldn't force me to use Windoze just to download some material to it - I'm a Linux user and am not comfortable in the world of windoze. 6. Shouldn't be a windoze based solution: I don't want to worry about viruses getting into my reader!!! 7. WiFi/Bluetooth/foo/bar - not required. If I want to access the net I'd rather use my PC. 8. Ebook store support not required ... I don't read that much fiction, etc. ... I'm quite a geek and I've got enough of geek stuff to read ! 9. It need not be fashionable - I'm not trying to make any fashion statement ... I'm too old to make fashion statements . After searching around I found that the Nokia 770 seems to fit the bill (it has extras, but thats OK) - its price has dropped to $100 on E-Bay (US though) and it has a PDF reader and backlight for low light conditions. HOWEVER, I also found out that 770 carries the risk of the WSOD, so I've had to (very, very reluctantly) drop it . I'll be moving on to China soon and so I naturally considered Hanlin V3 - that too seemed to fit the bill except for the lighting (but at least worth considering). However, the company advertises $299 in its English web page but 2980RMB for the Chinese market in its Chinese web page. 2980RMB = $438! Thats daylight robbery !!!!! Astak was looking good until its price-tag came out. It seems like just a Hanlin V3 and costs the same, so thats out too. Sony 505 requires windoze. Also, not available worldwide. Kindle - totally closed so my pockets are totally closed to it too!! Cybook Gen3 - too much $$$ . So, is my case hopeless ? Any advice/suggestions/tips from experienced folks here? Thanks for reading this far .