The sony reader has many flaws that should be fixed and some things that just should be fixed but so far its the "closest" to perfect reader out there.
3 things would make the reader "just about perfect" to me
1 - Change the screen "just" enough to permit full 8.5x11 PDF viawability. I do not think the screens needs to be bigger I think adding colors would be enough. I have a 7inch screen 800x600 tablet computer and I can read PDF's just fine on it. So its not the size of the screen the only other thing different is color depth.
2 - Allow straight up folder access to the content. IE I make a books folder on my memory card and it "looks" for and loads this book folder. No database just "show me" whats in that folder whether it be more folders or files. That simple. This would allow me to put HUNDREDS of books on a memory card if I want and still be easily accessible WITHOUT any alteration otherwise to the hardware/software interface.
3 - Replace the Lithoum Ion battery with a pair of AAA cells. DO NOT make the battery cover an END CAP (easily damaged hard to fix) make it part of the spine that pops off this way even I break of lose the battery cover the unit continues to function.
While it would be nice I could even live without #1 just give me #2 and #3 and I will be about as happy as can be.
Other suggestions? MORE file format support but they have the basis covered with pdf rtf and txt. Pretty much everything if its not already one of those can easily be MADE into one of those.
It really is pretty close to perfect. $200 would be a nice price point with $150 specials every now and then.
If they wanted to make a bigger model a 10inch screen would be nice. (then even large pdf's might be viewable at 4shades of grey) BUT this could not REPLACE the smaller unit so much as compliment it.
I would not mind having 2 units. One for my larger format stuff and one like the current reader for my smaller format stuff.
THOUGH a 7" color screen would do BOTH jobs quite well but then you lose the whole point of Eink (anywhere readable and low power consumption)
Guess we will have to wait for color eink :-)
Either way. Folder access and AAA usage would make the reader just about perfect as it is. OH and change that "snap" ring on the back to a twist lock ring.
Chris Taylor
http://ww.nerys.com/