Wow guys, that was a very warm welcome! My kindle 2's been shipped already. Too late to change that now! Anyway, I believe a mainstream reader would be a good start for me. I'm a fresh graduate (unemployed
) and the academic-papers-readable preference was more of a... how do I say this, a looking forward into the future thing. I always wanted a bigger one; but they cost a lot and it's hard to come up with money without a job. Eventually when I move to the US to take up masters (probably in two years), the bigger, better e-book readers would be more affordable. I absolutely fell in love with the Que (well basing it on looks and coolness factors).
I actually have a bad case of technolust/lootlust. I'm also a member of Head-fi.org, a forum for high (or low, whatever) quality headphones that also involves a lot of spending. E-ink readers in the Philippines are still largely uncommon, and my friend's kindle 2 is still a headturner (contrary to design reviews I've read), and would easily label me as intellectually/academically/whatever badass. Haha.
@Harry001: Yes sir, I'm from Metro Manila but I generally try not to buy expensive stuff locally if I can source them from the US. I've been comparing a lot of prices and they're usually almost double locally, be it bags, watches, computers, or for this case, an e-book reader. And yes, the Philippines is a great place to violate IPR laws, but I promise to do good with it, as illegally-free media should help me eventually be a hot-shot economist. [I promise to try and find a way to end world hunger, poverty, etc.] :P
@Squirsier: That's great to hear, congratulations!
Raise your future kids in the Philippines, they'll grow up to be nice (but I'm sure, badass) children. Schooling should be cheaper here too. :P