Help Deciding - Australia

Eldubb · 02-10-2010, 11:56 PM

Hi all, i've read through almost all threads on here to gather as much info as i could but still feel helpless and want to just give up, i'll tell you why in a sec. Firstly though, im after a no nonsense, quick thinking, novel reader only which has to be 6" or bigger. Budget AU$300-400 (hah!) I dont care if i have to convert files, and i will be deDRM'ing books if i need to.

Now, as everyone says, in Australia there is great support but only for 4-5 models of ereader. Cybook, Hanlin V5, Iliads, ECO Reader etc - all are too expensive except for the Hanlin V5 or the ECO Reader. The 5" screen on the V5 is too small for me so thats out. Now there's the ECO Reader which seems to be everyones pick, and i was about to agree except for 2 things: Price and Speed

I see people saying they are ok with the slowness of this device because they click next page when they are halfway through the last sentence?! How can you do that? You're paying $450 for a device that is the SLOWEST on the 6" market by taking 2-3 seconds to turn a page!? I was upset when i read about this...as i was ready to hand my cash over to DA who i see give great support.

Now im thinking i should pay $380 incl shipping from bhphotovideo.com for the PRS-600 which many users on here love. What do you guys think? Feel free to rebuttle my comments or more importantly, show me other devices i may have missed. I saw a thread by troy sprouting how much he liked the ECO Reader, and then another thread of him selling it 3 months later...? I would also be very interested in what other australians would recommend me to buy, other than the ECO and their reviews on the device.

DrDk · 02-11-2010, 12:44 AM

Hi,

You can get the Kindle and Kindle DX for Australia including connection at no extra cost. US $259 and $489 from Amazon.com

Solicitous · 02-11-2010, 04:38 AM

Well 2-3 seconds does seem a bit long. Have you actually had a look at one? If you happen to live near a Harvey Norman they now stock the iRiver Story. I recall the issue that troy had, and it was more to with IIRC the purchasing of books. All ereaders have a slight delay between turning pages, but what I notice is the delay is actually less time than it takes me to turn a physical page in a paperback.

I myself have an Astak Pocket Pro (it is 5") but they do sell the Astak 6" EZReader (identical hardware to the Eco Reader). The price is good, their service excellent.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV2tMEZO9p8) is actually an Eco Reader video released by DA Direct.

Eldubb · 02-11-2010, 09:38 PM

Sol, you're a legend. iRiver Story sounds great, i've bought their products before for Mp3 players. And the price, $400 - not bad mate. I dont like the keyboard on it but thats nothing to cry over.

I'm surprised none of you ECO Reader fanatics never even bothered to defend your device. You all must be subconsciously agreeing with me then, wishing you had a better eReader. I know it

Anyhow, Harvey Norman stocked the iRiver 2 weeks ago. nice work Sol.

IndecisiveMe · 02-13-2010, 07:10 PM

Hi Eldubb,

I'm in the same boat as you, I want a basic novel reader (my first eReader) and I'm having a hell of a time trying to decide which one best suits my needs. At the moment I think I'm going with the Astak Pocket PRO 5"(ordering from the US is much cheaper). However, I haven't actually seen it in person, hoping to do that this week to make sure I can live with a 5" screen.

If you're interested in the iRiver Story, you might wanted to check out MiniDisc.com.au because they have it for $330 plus shipping of about $12. I just noticed, however, it's a preorder, so not sure when they are releasing them.

I've heard good and bad things about the Story, though, so I'm holding out a bit longer to hear more hands on customer reviews about it.

Good luck!

Katti's Cat · 02-13-2010, 07:16 PM

I was in the same boat last year. Couldn't decide which one to buy and couldn't get my hands on a reader in real life. I finally decided to buy a Sony 600 (not because of the touch but because of the card slots it has).

I went for Sony in the end because it's a company with which I had only good experiences so far. I didn't want the Kindle as I hate being locked onto a store. And the price was in a range that I felt I could handle if this purchase would turn out a dud.

I order the Sony from the US using a mailforwarder - at the time it cost me about $330 including fee for forwarder & postage.

I have not regretted the purchase once. I love the reader and the freedom it gives me. Sure, there are readers out there that are better, but the Sony does for me what I want from it. That won't prevent me from buying another one , but atm it's enough.

Eldubb · 02-14-2010, 07:06 AM

Thanks for that link IMe - now i can tell Harvey Norman to match it or i wont buy from them. If i do end up getting it from HN for $350 - anyone who wants a copy of the receipt can PM me so you too can get the same price!

Katti - thanks for sharing. I'd really like a PRS-600 too, if they sold them here. I'd buy it for sure.

02-10-2010, 11:56 PM	#1
Eldubb Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	Help Deciding - Australia Hi all, i've read through almost all threads on here to gather as much info as i could but still feel helpless and want to just give up, i'll tell you why in a sec. Firstly though, im after a no nonsense, quick thinking, novel reader only which has to be 6" or bigger. Budget AU$300-400 (hah!) I dont care if i have to convert files, and i will be deDRM'ing books if i need to. Now, as everyone says, in Australia there is great support but only for 4-5 models of ereader. Cybook, Hanlin V5, Iliads, ECO Reader etc - all are too expensive except for the Hanlin V5 or the ECO Reader. The 5" screen on the V5 is too small for me so thats out. Now there's the ECO Reader which seems to be everyones pick, and i was about to agree except for 2 things: Price and Speed I see people saying they are ok with the slowness of this device because they click next page when they are halfway through the last sentence?! How can you do that? You're paying $450 for a device that is the SLOWEST on the 6" market by taking 2-3 seconds to turn a page!? I was upset when i read about this...as i was ready to hand my cash over to DA who i see give great support. Now im thinking i should pay $380 incl shipping from bhphotovideo.com for the PRS-600 which many users on here love. What do you guys think? Feel free to rebuttle my comments or more importantly, show me other devices i may have missed. I saw a thread by troy sprouting how much he liked the ECO Reader, and then another thread of him selling it 3 months later...? I would also be very interested in what other australians would recommend me to buy, other than the ECO and their reviews on the device.

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02-11-2010, 12:44 AM	#2
DrDk Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Australia Device: A81	Hi, You can get the Kindle and Kindle DX for Australia including connection at no extra cost. US $259 and $489 from Amazon.com

02-11-2010, 04:38 AM	#3
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	Well 2-3 seconds does seem a bit long. Have you actually had a look at one? If you happen to live near a Harvey Norman they now stock the iRiver Story. I recall the issue that troy had, and it was more to with IIRC the purchasing of books. All ereaders have a slight delay between turning pages, but what I notice is the delay is actually less time than it takes me to turn a physical page in a paperback. I myself have an Astak Pocket Pro (it is 5") but they do sell the Astak 6" EZReader (identical hardware to the Eco Reader). The price is good, their service excellent. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV2tMEZO9p8) is actually an Eco Reader video released by DA Direct.

02-11-2010, 09:38 PM	#4
Eldubb Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	Sol, you're a legend. iRiver Story sounds great, i've bought their products before for Mp3 players. And the price, $400 - not bad mate. I dont like the keyboard on it but thats nothing to cry over. I'm surprised none of you ECO Reader fanatics never even bothered to defend your device. You all must be subconsciously agreeing with me then, wishing you had a better eReader. I know it Anyhow, Harvey Norman stocked the iRiver 2 weeks ago. nice work Sol.

02-13-2010, 07:10 PM	#5
IndecisiveMe Addict Posts: 276 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Pocketbook 360, Sony PRS-T1	Hi Eldubb, I'm in the same boat as you, I want a basic novel reader (my first eReader) and I'm having a hell of a time trying to decide which one best suits my needs. At the moment I think I'm going with the Astak Pocket PRO 5"(ordering from the US is much cheaper). However, I haven't actually seen it in person, hoping to do that this week to make sure I can live with a 5" screen. If you're interested in the iRiver Story, you might wanted to check out MiniDisc.com.au because they have it for $330 plus shipping of about $12. I just noticed, however, it's a preorder, so not sure when they are releasing them. I've heard good and bad things about the Story, though, so I'm holding out a bit longer to hear more hands on customer reviews about it. Good luck!

02-13-2010, 07:16 PM	#6
Katti's Cat Wizard Posts: 2,259 Karma: 175640 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Sony PRS-600	I was in the same boat last year. Couldn't decide which one to buy and couldn't get my hands on a reader in real life. I finally decided to buy a Sony 600 (not because of the touch but because of the card slots it has). I went for Sony in the end because it's a company with which I had only good experiences so far. I didn't want the Kindle as I hate being locked onto a store. And the price was in a range that I felt I could handle if this purchase would turn out a dud. I order the Sony from the US using a mailforwarder - at the time it cost me about $330 including fee for forwarder & postage. I have not regretted the purchase once. I love the reader and the freedom it gives me. Sure, there are readers out there that are better, but the Sony does for me what I want from it. That won't prevent me from buying another one , but atm it's enough.

02-14-2010, 07:06 AM	#7
Eldubb Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	Thanks for that link IMe - now i can tell Harvey Norman to match it or i wont buy from them. If i do end up getting it from HN for $350 - anyone who wants a copy of the receipt can PM me so you too can get the same price! Katti - thanks for sharing. I'd really like a PRS-600 too, if they sold them here. I'd buy it for sure.

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