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

[Ditchleyportrait]

access to kindle store
big form factor
pearl screen
free 3g
mp3

[GA Russell]

1. multiple formats
2. pdf reflow
3. black, black, really, really black text
4. SD card
5. user replaceable battery
6. ability to read DRM'd books
7. drop-proof
8. low price point

[VicLavigne]

1. Must support epubs
2. Really like good battery life: would prefer to charge no more frequently than once/week
3. e-ink screen
4. Price < $200
5. Wifi access
6. MicroSD card capability
7. Side-loading via USB

Easy requirements to meet.

[ucfgrad93]

For me it would be:

1. Clear, easy to read screen.
2. Portable. I love the size of my Kindle 2 as I can take it with me and not feel like I'm lugging around a laptop.
3. Good battery life.
4. Reasonable amount of storage. At least 2GB should be available to load content.

[jocampo]

For a dedicated ereader ...

-eink technology
-An Amazon device (can't find my computer books in other place, it's difficult)
-Landscape support
-Good battery life
-Less than 9oz

[boswd]

epub
solid bookstore platform
touchscreen
stylish (can't be an ugly device)
nice accessories (covers, lights etc)

[anabolina]

1. Easy side-loading with no restrictions and treated the same as non-sideloaded books
2. Compatible with Adobe Digital Editions for Overdrive
3. Book sorting options including tags, last read, date uploaded, author, and title
4. Expandable memory(pref. sd card)
5. Fairly lightweight and a Matte e-ink screen touchscreen

Less essential, but nice are a built in music player, costs less than $200, and decent PDF support. All of which I got in my PRS 950 last week so I guess it is really the perfect reader for me :-)

[CyGuy]

1. Multiple format support
2. Folder view, folder organization
3. SDHC card reader
4. Ability to "side load" with no restrictions of any kind.
5. NO ability to remotely delete/remove ebooks by the vendor.

[Ditchleyportrait]

never sideloaded in my life year plus user

scratch that have sideloaded mp3s

[susan_cassidy]

1. Adjustable fonts
2. e-ink, clear, easily readable screen
3. ability to side-load

[SocialCarpet]

1. Good ergonomics, comfortable to hold with one hand, good buttons, quality materials
2. E-ink screen with good contrast
3. Responsive and well-sorted interface, Sony has the best I've seen so far
4. Sufficient battery life, at least 2 wks of steady use (a month would be nicer)
5. Easy to manage, works with lots of formats, handles PDF well, ability to side-load and see whats in my reader when it's connected to a PC. As little nannying restrictions as possible.

Other things that are nice, but not required would be:

1. 3G and/or WiFi. I'm realizing now since having my Sony Pocket Reader that the 3G/WiFi I had on the Kindle really didn't get used that much and isn't critical.

2. User replaceable battery. Again, would be nice but not a deal-breaker

[Sweetpea]

1. Weight: easy to carry around in one hand
2. Button placement: again, it should be easy to handle with one hand
3. Generic charging port: I don't want to have to carry around a dozen chargers, either mini or micro USB should be used for charging.

Nice to have:
touch screen interface which allows me to at least highlight parts of the book
dictionary availability in case I want to look up a word

Would make it perfect for me, but doubt it'll ever really come:
a screen that is both backlit and easily read outside (I know, PixelQi is working on it, but they've been doing that for years and there still aren't dedicated readers on the shelves with this screen technology)

[John F]

1. Formatting option (font, size, lin spacing, margins, ...)
2. Customizable GUI (which buttons do what, tapping anywhere on screen page forwards, ...)

[theducks]

adding to Sweatpea's list
4. Battery life and (non technical ) user replace-ability

[Namekuseijin]

nice topic!

Originally Posted by hermes

1. (Essential): Portable - fits in a breast or at least a trouser pocket

yes, absolutely!

Originally Posted by hermes

2. (Essential): Versatile - can read books sold by multiple sellers

multiple formats, yes. And html and txt at a minimum. PDF not required.

Originally Posted by hermes

3. (Essential): Books - excellent selection of books at a reasonable price

I see this as outside the scope of a ebook device. That is, to tie it to some store in particular and e-commerce. You buy/download a book and then upload the file to your device, that's what any ereader worth its salt should do.

Originally Posted by hermes

4. (Important): Simple - don't need to have a computer to use device

This would mean connectivity, wifi at a minimum. Good feature, but you'd like it to be off most of the time so as not to spend battery.

Of course, if you don't want to use a computer to purchase your books from any store, that would mean the ereader would need a web browser, a general purpose CPU etc. Which would mean you're in want of a portable computer, not an e-reader device.

Originally Posted by hermes

5. (Important): Anonymous - Payment in cash, no registration

outside the scope of a ereader device. And obviously, it begs the question: how would you do it in cash and at a distance?


I'd also like note-taking (preferrably with a stylus), bookmarks, and a good toc -- can't understand those silly reviewers giving iTablet high notes because you can flip pages at the bottom: the purpose of a index is precisely to make it agile to go to specific sections!

while we're at it: having a wall of sound to isolate you from external world is a need for some. MP3 playback should be easy to get if you also have a web browser and general purpose CPU.