Aaaaa, quite the conundrum! My advice (for what it's worth) is to hit eBay and grab a second-hand PDA. Here's my rationale:
Quote:
Originally Posted by seeker
1. I need something that is not expensive ($250 - $300) - I live in a developing country (India currently) so can't afford to spend that much on an ebook reader.
Easy. The Price Is Right, as they say.
2. It must support PDF and HTML - others are "bonus". I will be using the reader to read a lot of technical stuff - they won't necessarily have a lot of diagrams but their availability is mainly PDF so it would be great if PDF is supported by the reader. As for reflowing PDF ... I don't think that is a big requirement for now
Yep. HTML and PDF support is available. Although the screen is small, as you say most of your PDF's are not diagram based, but just available in PDF and theres plenty of free and easy PDF to HTML converting solutions out there.
3. Must be able to read in low light conditions: I will spending a large part of my time reading on the bus on my way home from work ... its usually dark by that time. So that probably excludes all the e-ink readers  .
PDA-yay for backlit!
4. It cannot be a UMPC, cannot have a camera: My workplace is paranoid about security and so does not allow personal cameras and laptops.
no problemos there. Plenty of PDA's without cameras
5. It should not require any special operating system (in particular, m$ 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.
no problemos there either-plenty of Linux sync solutions out there (yay for open source!)
6. Shouldn't be a windoze based solution: I don't want to worry about viruses getting into my reader!!!
aha-now, EVEN IF you go for a Pocket PC, powered by Windows Mobile, you will be using a Linux box to sync and move content around-which makes your home box the ultimate firewall. As long as you dont use the PDA for wi-fi internet, your chances of viruses are COMPLETELY ZERO. Besides, Ive never heard of a virus for Windows Mobile. Doesnt mean they dont exist of course, but Ive never heard of them..Anyway! Virus Safe!
7. WiFi/Bluetooth/foo/bar - not required. If I want to access the net I'd rather use my PC.
aha. See above then. Safe as houses, and most of the older, cheaper PDA's dont offer it as standard anyway.
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  !
No problems here.
9. It need not be fashionable - I'm not trying to make any fashion statement ... I'm too old to make fashion statements  .
And no problems here either! |