[Lago]

i take issues wit a few miner things..

1) MEMORY, as im sure i share this complaint with many here, spending $40 on a 128 MB memory card does NOT go over well with me. i have discussed other options, abd while there are XD card adaptors out there, theyre,, less then helpful honestly. and the 128MB cap quite frankly sucks. with SD, XD, MMC cards plentiful, id LOVE to be able to use them.

2) the screen, i rather like it actually, but its hard to read in sunlight, the backlight keeps me reading any time, day or night, as long as im not outside. if i had to guess, backing the LCD with a white board would solve this somewhat at least, but then id loose the backlight. E_Ink would be great, were it not for the flashing, and the virtual impossibility of a backlight. color would be swell too. i really like that about my 1200.

3) the battery, works well, phenomenoly in fact. my first 1150 worked flawlessly, but this newer one seems tempermental, it will mysteriously drain over the course of four hours sometimes, then recharge in 20 minutes, but no matter how long i charge the unit it never fully charges. this annoys me. especially when i unplug it for work, then half way through the day get the "battery exhausted" message. not sure what the issue is here. but the ability to easily swap it out, with easily obtainable AA's would be nice.

really these, and the limited availability of IMP format sellers are my only issues..


all that said, i LOVE the ergonomics, it just feels comfortable in my hand, the 'handle' gives it a sturdy, secure feeling, its not easily dropped, though its robust enough to take some abuse. its just the right size for casual reading. not too big, but not small either. the touch screen with only three buttons to push are fully adequete for my needs, its simple, uncomplicated, and easy to learn/operate. IMO, THIS is what an ebook should be..

so WHY oh WHY is there NO modern equivalent? everything on the market today has all kinds of bells and whistles, is fragile, ergonomically uncomfortable, and usually VERY expensive..

why cant i have a unit built like the 1150 (ergonomically, ease of use), with an e-ink (or paper backed color LCD) touchscreen, WITH front-light (prismic plastic and LEDs?) that takes modern affordable, readily available memory, and has a decent capacity, in color (for those book covers, and MAYBE to act as a photo album as well), able to take multiple formats, preferably handling DRM on multiple formats as well, all in a package that costs less than $150?

none of this is new tech, none of its really expensive, what gives?

heak, if i had money, id develop it myself..