N800 is an e-book reader and more...

[splashd]

My unabashed favorite platform for now is my Nokia N800, still available for about $300.
I use FBreader Sw in it which allows me to read about all formats at a comfortable page size and physical reader size.

The big benefit is that it also is my answer to an ipod touch--playing audio and video, and having two SDHC card slots. Admittedly I'm a geek, and I mitigated my only problem--shorter battery life with multimedia, by buying a $10 battery pack add-on for when I fly.

WHen I read books I can get about 4-5 days on a charge. If I watch video, that goes down to about 3-4 hours, unless I use that battery pack to extend it a few more.

Anyhow that is my plug, and since it runs Linux, it does much more, including reading other book formats I'm sure I haven't discovered.

--Splashd

[Andybaby]

thats in interesting little device you have there. internet tablets like that really never caught on. this is the first time ive noticed one being sub 700 bucks. thats pretty cool

[bbusybookworm]

Indeed, its a Nice device and I've gone into my experiences in detail Here.

Having said that, for most non technical people, its a bit of a hard sell, as you can get a Touch for about the same price, which will probably be easier to use, although limited.

[HarryT]

Is there any software available for it which will allow one to read DRM-protected eBooks? Unfortunately FBReader doesn't support any DRM formats, and for most of us, DRM removal is illegal.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is there any software available for it which will allow one to read DRM-protected eBooks? Unfortunately FBReader doesn't support any DRM formats, and for most of us, DRM removal is illegal.

As far as I'm aware no, which does make it a bit of a pain.

That's one of the drawback of it running linux.

[HarryT]

If the device becomes popular, we can hope that MobiPocket will release a version of their reader for it. They already support a number of Linux platforms, after all.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is there any software available for it which will allow one to read DRM-protected eBooks? Unfortunately FBReader doesn't support any DRM formats, and for most of us, DRM removal is illegal.

People claim that it is not illegal in US so were do you get most of us from?

The problem is the added inconvenience. The legality is irrelevant as seen here on the forum (everybody removes the DRM if they know how to do it...).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

People claim that it is not illegal in US so were do you get most of us from?

Most of us are not in the US. 95% of the world's population live somewhere other than the US .

... and I must respectfully disagree with your assertion that "everybody" removes DRM if they know how to do so. I personally know several people who would never dream of doing so.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Most of us are not in the US. 95% of the world's population live somewhere other than the US .

OK, but I do not know any other country were it holds except maybe in the UK but you seem to have odd laws compared to other countries.

And I assumed that you meant people at this forum or maybe people reading ebooks when you said most of us.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is there any software available for it which will allow one to read DRM-protected eBooks?

Not in native mode. The Garnet VM implements Palm OS, and eReader and Mobipocket Reader run in Garnet. However, Mobipocket DRMed ebooks don't work (which is the only reason to do this, since FBReader reads DRM-free MOBI). See Updated Garnet VM for Nokia ITs Released and, for the most recent version, New Garnet (PalmOS 5) VM out for Nokia's Internet Tablets.

Also, eReader has announced a Linux Reader for 1H09 and this will probably run on the Nokias. This is a long time to wait, but might be a reason to use eReader under Garnet now and switch later. Or crack the DRM and read via FBReader if you are comfortable doing so.