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mjmcleod · 07-24-2009, 10:42 AM

First off, I'm in Australia. So my options when it comes to readers that are sold locally are limited -- as best I can tell I can get an iLiad, a Bebook, or a Cybook. Assuming there are supplies, of course.

Of these the iLiad is far too expensive. I'm cautious about the Cybook because although I can accept that it's either Mobi or ePub DRM, not both, I can't really accept that taking one means completely giving up on the other in DRM-less form. Plus there's no telling what the ePub support will be like anyway.

The Bebook is out for the very prosaic reason that the fonts are too small. I've got very poor vision and having only three levels of zoom is just not adequate. I'm a bit uncertain about whether OI is entirely up to being a main reading platform -- no device to test it on and AU$500 is a bit over my "impulse buy" threshold.

So I may have to go for the "import and hope it doesn't break" approach. That opens up the Sony devices and the Kindle. In principle I really like both the PRS-505 and the PRS-700, but again the font-size issue comes up the the 505 and by all accounts the 700's display isn't as crisp thanks to the touchscreen membrane. In any case it sounds like both models may be on the way out.

The Kindle's a "maybe" but I'm not thrilled about the sort of mucking about that'll be required to get anything recent on it. No buying books from Amazon so it'll be kindlefix or "liberating" purchased books and converting to MOBI. The "use our format or sod off" approach on both Kindle and the Sonys does not appeal.

My *ideal* reader would be something like the Kindle DX but without the keyboard and with much wider format support. Oh, and available locally. Not going to get that, I know.

Are there any worthwhile options I'm missing?

07-24-2009, 10:42 AM	#1
mjmcleod Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 11501 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Device: Galaxy Tab	Not an easy choice First off, I'm in Australia. So my options when it comes to readers that are sold locally are limited -- as best I can tell I can get an iLiad, a Bebook, or a Cybook. Assuming there are supplies, of course. Of these the iLiad is far too expensive. I'm cautious about the Cybook because although I can accept that it's either Mobi or ePub DRM, not both, I can't really accept that taking one means completely giving up on the other in DRM-less form. Plus there's no telling what the ePub support will be like anyway. The Bebook is out for the very prosaic reason that the fonts are too small. I've got very poor vision and having only three levels of zoom is just not adequate. I'm a bit uncertain about whether OI is entirely up to being a main reading platform -- no device to test it on and AU$500 is a bit over my "impulse buy" threshold. So I may have to go for the "import and hope it doesn't break" approach. That opens up the Sony devices and the Kindle. In principle I really like both the PRS-505 and the PRS-700, but again the font-size issue comes up the the 505 and by all accounts the 700's display isn't as crisp thanks to the touchscreen membrane. In any case it sounds like both models may be on the way out. The Kindle's a "maybe" but I'm not thrilled about the sort of mucking about that'll be required to get anything recent on it. No buying books from Amazon so it'll be kindlefix or "liberating" purchased books and converting to MOBI. The "use our format or sod off" approach on both Kindle and the Sonys does not appeal. My ideal reader would be something like the Kindle DX but without the keyboard and with much wider format support. Oh, and available locally. Not going to get that, I know. Are there any worthwhile options I'm missing?