I've been dissatisfied with the various e-reading devices I've owned.
The Franklin Ebookman was a good reader, but sucked the batteries and wasn't manufactured very well (page flipper broke early on)...but the convenience let me look past the problems for the $25 that was padi for it (bargain bin at Office Max I think).
I've tried a Toshiba PDA (windows based), but find that whole platform frustrating, and the battery-life/loss of memory ruined things.
I'd bought a few of the RCA 1200's (the colour ones, bigger screen), but found the weight a bit much for one-handed use, and the increased screen size wasn't that much use. They had colour, but the process of getting images on them etc, was still painful and I just didn't use them (nor did my family).
The ebookwise device (RCA 1150?) is the best I've used. I like the screen, the backlight, and the battery life. I'd like it if it was useful for more than just text-based stuff and could scroll pdfs, etc...but I'm quite fine without those features for all the benefits.
I've looked at the e-ink stuff, and like the weight and appreciate the clarity in daylight...but miss the backlight, and the extra cost hasn't made them worthwhile for me yet. The 'flicker' while changing pics drives me nuts.
I'm waiting to see what comes out in the next months, hoping to add greater functionality (beyond that of a PDA), better screen (colour, smooth scrolling/page change), larger screen perhaps, and equivalent battery life.
So yeah, I've been dissatisfied (nothing is perfect), but each step for me has seen more satisfaction, which far outweighs the downsides.
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