[afa]

Originally Posted by livingenzyme

First of all, I'd like to say that you made some very valid points.

The standard price for JBL is now under $100. When I say standard, I don't mean you can just find that price at any time. But I do mean if you just look perhaps once every couple days you are bound to find it at that price somewhere nowadays. Prices fluctuate for everything nowadays. A smart buyer is a buyer that wait a few days to find the best price for it.

I'm not really familiar with many of the online stores based in US since I don't live there. So if you could point me to a couple of sites to be on the look out for, I would really appreciate it. Frankly, if I can get the JBL for under a $100, then I think I'm just going to get it. That seems like too good a price to pass on.

While true that many feel e-ink display is better, I just don't see it as that big of a deal. I borrowed my neighbor's kindle and read a long long time with it. Better contrast, yes. Worth for me to deal with only 1 real format to work with? Nope.

I just went on YouTube and saw a video review of the Aluratek Libre (which is essentially the same device, right?). And I have to say, the screen looked just fine to me. So I agree, e-Ink is not that big a deal.

Again, bluetooth is nice, but in the end it's just something that you will say "that's nice to have... but what's it for again?"

Agreed.

First of all, JBL does support DRM. Works just fine.

Well, yeah, but only PDBs. Not ePub and/or Mobi.

And any dedicated ebook reader will eventually learn how to strip out the drm and really own their ebooks. Heck, I think I'll work on a windows based app to do this when I have the time.

Which I have to eventually learn, too. But first, I have to get a reader!

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who think bigger is better and those who like the mobility of their devices.

I most definitely fall into the former category, though I would modify your statement to say "know" instead of "think". The difference isn't that bigger does not mean better (when it comes to reading, I would argue it most certainly does), but which of the two is 'more' important.

In your case, it's mobility; in my case, the size is tempting because I have no intentions of carrying the reader with me anywhere. My reading is done almost exclusively at home, so I don't need it to fit in my pocket. As long as it's small and portable enough to be comfortable in my hands, it's all good. And for the record, I would always buy a laptop that had a 15" or bigger screen (for the same reason as above).

You got both of these wrong. The dictionary on the JBL will work in every format except pdf. Also, it also supports drm mobi, which is what's important.

Actually, I think I got only one wrong. I didn't know about the dictionary. I though I read somewhere that it didn't work in Mobi or ePub, but I guess you're right.

But the only DRM that it supports is the eReader i.e. PDB. That's what the jetBook website says. (Oh, and if PDB is somehow the same as Mobi, then I plead ignorance. So you'll get no points for that.)

Now, I'd like to point out the two biggest advantages of the JBL over most other readers, including the fabled kobo.

SD expandable is a must on my books. It doesn't limit you to any fixed memory size that the company decided to make.

Actually, that's not an advantage, since the Kobe has an SD card reader as well.

AA batteries as oppose to a built in battery is also a must.

I admit, that does sound good.

As for your supposed strong points, like bluetooth and mp3. These are non-issues. These are extras added onto the device that has nothing to do with the spirit of reading. It's like putting those kids' flashy twinkling star stickers on it. Sure, makes it looks nice. But in the end, do we even care?

Actually, that was exactly the point I was making... MP3s in ereaders are a useless feature for me. For one, I can't concentrate on the book if a song I really like comes on.

But folks, I'm just having a discussion here. If you really really like the kobo, please help yourselves to it.

Now, now. No need to hide behind that. Your last name is Ectaco, isn't it? James Ectaco.

By the way, I really do want to know about those websites for deals on JBL...