Survey: Top 3-5 features you *require* in an ereader?

[hermes]

I don't mean what would be nice, I mean what you have to have or you won't buy one.

I humble myself at the feet of the galaxy of ereader experts regarding my own..

1. (Essential): Portable - fits in a breast or at least a trouser pocket
2. (Essential): Versatile - can read books sold by multiple sellers
3. (Essential): Books - excellent selection of books at a reasonable price
4. (Important): Simple - don't need to have a computer to use device
5. (Important): Anonymous - Payment in cash, no registration

Everything else is fluff

[booklover6]

The Jetbook and Jetbook Lite would fit all of those qualifications.

1. Its small and light
2. Its one of the most versatile readers currently being sold-reads just about any format
3. books can be bought from anywhere except Amazon and read on this reader
4. Just put your books on an SD card, and insert the SD card into the reader. Never have to hook the reader up.
5. Yep.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by booklover6

The Jetbook and Jetbook Lite would fit all of those qualifications.

1. Its small and light
2. Its one of the most versatile readers currently being sold-reads just about any format
3. books can be bought from anywhere except Amazon and read on this reader
4. Just put your books on an SD card, and insert the SD card into the reader. Never have to hook the reader up.
5. Yep.

I think hermes asked for our requirements, not our recommendations, booklover6.

[HarryT]

This is the "Which one should I buy" forum. Its purpose is to ask for recommendations.

[maianhvk]

Yes but the title of hermes' thread is

Survey: Top 3-5 features you *require* in an ereader?

[booklover6]

Ok, if that's the way you want it <g>

My requirements are

1. Versatility in formats - as many as possible
2. Ability to side load (with no prohibiting partition)
3. Simple - I don't want to spend hours learning to use it
4. Preferred but not required - SD card for expansion
5. Preferred but not required - ability to email documents wirelessly to the reader

[Billi]

- possibility to use my own fonts
- external memory (sd cards)
- book organisation in folders
- user-removable battery

[rahulm]

1. Native font and formatting options. I'm looking at you with a disappointing frown, Sony.
2. File structure (I much prefer a real directory system).
3. Epub support. Pretty much rules the Kindle out for me, just out of principle. The industry should wholeheartedly support this format.

[pidgeon92]

A really crisp, clear screen.

Everything else icing on the cake.

[fjtorres]

In order of importance.

These are non-negotiable:
1- One-handed reading ergonomics, preferably ambidextrous, preferably by rotation
2- Broad typographic overrides, for both DRMed and unconstrained ebooks, preferably as user defined defaults
3- extended real-world batery life

Those are highly desirable:
4- Broad legacy ebook format support. Document file support not critical, image and epaper formats deprecated
5- Nested, unconstrained ebook storage with side-loading, preferably using a user-defined structure. Flat file database a big no-no. Hidden object store a deal breaker.

Three guiding principles:
1- it's *my* reader for *my* content and *my* eyeballs
2- must not break immersion during extended reading sessions
3- it's an *ebook* reader not a document viewer or media player

[shanghaichica]

1. Portable
2. Internet capability ( wifi/3G) to allow direct download of books to device
3. Dedicated online store
4. Good battery life
5. Ample storage capacity/ ability to read books on other devices

[PaulineDesigns]

I read an average of 150 books per year. I started reading ebooks on my computer in 2000 and switched to using uBook software on a Dell Axim PDA in 2003. Now I use a Hip Street ereader from Walmart.

My top required features are:
1. Must be a generic device--no locking in or DRM
2. LCD screen. I read mostly in poorly lit locations and one of the biggest pluses for me when I switched to the PDA was no more messing with booklights that never lit the page evenly. I've tried a Kindle and hated it.
3. Non-capacitive touchscreen with the ability to tap for page turns
4. Instant page turns. I read fairly fast (avg 800 words/min) and find slow page turns very irritating.
5. Maximum 7" screen--that's what my current ereader has I find the device to be a little too big. When I shop for a new reader I'll be looking for something with a 5" screen or maybe 6".

[pastanley]

Not too expensive
if its a touch screen- the touch should be very responsive
Able to access any bookstore for reading
Being able to pay anonomously

[Latinandgreek]

1. Crisp, clear screen. The more contrast, the better.
2. Can read .epub and .pdf, and other formats as well if possible.
3. PDF reflow. Controversial, I know, and I know that I can convert PDFs in Calibre, and that I most often read PDFs on my iPad, but I do often read files of an academic nature on my Sony reader, and the PDF reflow has been very useful to me.
4. A toss up between good battery life and dictionary lookup. I didn't realize how often the dictionary lookup would get used until I actually bought a device with that feature.
5. Portable. It doesn't have to be 5 inches as I carry my reader in a purse and not in my pocket, but I don't want to be carrying something that is too large and heavy, either.

[CWatkinsNash]

1. Clear, non-backlit screen
2. Good battery life
3. Good support available in case of malfunction
4. Can sideload easily
5. Adequate storage to hold at least 1500 books