MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Do you know what you REALLY need in an e-reader?

Ankh · 04-25-2010, 02:23 PM

Must have, the essential stuff
- ePub support at par with the latest Adobe DE for Windows or a "browser based" rendering software like Calibre viewer.
- A capability to dislplay PDF documents at par with Sony PRS 505 (what I already have defines my expectations for the future), i.e. landscape view for half page.
- Uptime, in reading mode (everything else I should be able to turn off with a single physical button) at least 10 hours.
- weight bellow 1 lb.
- USB connectivity
- external storage (SD card or equivalent).
- user replaceable battery.
- a capability to replace default fonts with those uploaded by user.
- device should not be closed, OpenInkPot should boot up from the day one.

Nice to have - hardware
- screen size big enough to comfortably render letter/A4 PDF documents
- (multi)touch screen (for dictionary lookups and gestures)
- folded design (like a laptop with two screens on two halves)
- uptime measured in days, rather than hours
- refresh rate way better than eInk (comfortable scroll, quick display of pop-up menu for dictionary lookups or such)

Nice to have - software
- Decent dictionary engine, lookups resolved within a couple of seconds.
- A capability to purchase really good reference dictionary (OED on top of list) or dictionaries for other languages.
- Effective Zoom-in zoom-out for PDF documents
- Capability to read DRM protected books loaned from public library

Items in "nice to have" lists are given in descending order of importance.

04-25-2010, 02:23 PM	#32
Ankh Guru Posts: 714 Karma: 2003751 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo Glo HD	Must have, the essential stuff - ePub support at par with the latest Adobe DE for Windows or a "browser based" rendering software like Calibre viewer. - A capability to dislplay PDF documents at par with Sony PRS 505 (what I already have defines my expectations for the future), i.e. landscape view for half page. - Uptime, in reading mode (everything else I should be able to turn off with a single physical button) at least 10 hours. - weight bellow 1 lb. - USB connectivity - external storage (SD card or equivalent). - user replaceable battery. - a capability to replace default fonts with those uploaded by user. - device should not be closed, OpenInkPot should boot up from the day one. Nice to have - hardware - screen size big enough to comfortably render letter/A4 PDF documents - (multi)touch screen (for dictionary lookups and gestures) - folded design (like a laptop with two screens on two halves) - uptime measured in days, rather than hours - refresh rate way better than eInk (comfortable scroll, quick display of pop-up menu for dictionary lookups or such) Nice to have - software - Decent dictionary engine, lookups resolved within a couple of seconds. - A capability to purchase really good reference dictionary (OED on top of list) or dictionaries for other languages. - Effective Zoom-in zoom-out for PDF documents - Capability to read DRM protected books loaned from public library Items in "nice to have" lists are given in descending order of importance. Last edited by Ankh; 04-25-2010 at 02:26 PM.