Best Smartphone For Ebook Reading?

Hobbes24 · 07-24-2007, 05:17 PM

I've been using an old Palm Clie for about 4-5 years now and I'm ready to upgrade. I'm one of those all-in-one people who don't like carrying around both a cell phone and a PDA. I'd prefer my device to be a combination cell phone and PDA and that leads me to the smartphone.

I should be able to read on the phone for at least 2 hours. I'm not too worried about eye strain, although the easier it is to read the screen the better, of course. Phone comfort isn't a high priority - if I have to, I'll use a bluetooth headset.

Currently I'm leaning towards the XV6700 by Verizon, but I am more than willing to go to any carrier that has the best phone for what I need. Does anyone have a suggestion? I would appreciate any and all input. Thank you!

flumbo · 07-24-2007, 06:49 PM

The t-mobile Dash is a good pda-phone. Very small, has bluetooth, keyboard works well and the screen is a nice 320x240 resolution. T-Mobile's data plans are pretty cheap also.

volwrath · 07-25-2007, 08:45 AM

Id also look at the Sprint Mogul. It is the update to the 6700 for Sprint. Also Sprint has the best data/phone plans. Do a search for SERO.

Hobbes24 · 07-25-2007, 02:24 PM

Thank you for the suggestions.

I've looked into the T-Mobile Wing, but not the dash. It looks like another crowded phone, like a Palm Treo. Are phones that size really optimal for ebook reading?

The Spring Mogul sounds interesting and it looks like a PDA as well. I've never held it, so I don't know too much about it but it has pretty decent reviews. Does it display text crisply? It seems to be a very recent release, which is probalby why I've never heard about it until now.

The thing I like best about my clie is that it has wide display angle, so I'm a little wary about going to a thinner screen.

I appreciate all the advice.

flumbo · 07-26-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbes24

Thank you for the suggestions.

I've looked into the T-Mobile Wing, but not the dash. It looks like another crowded phone, like a Palm Treo. Are phones that size really optimal for ebook reading?

I think it works well. I also have a Sony eReader-- primarily because of the great battery life. I'd be very happy with an eink device with a smaller screen.

I went through several clies (including your model) before finally ending up with a Palm t3. I found that I liked reading on it with the slider closed for some reason, so moving over to a square phone screen didn't bother me much.

Also, having a small phone is important to me. I had the previous version of the T-mobile Wing (same basic features and size) and it was just too big to use comfortably. Very thick. You can't really keep it comfortably in your pocket.

TheMooch · 08-18-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volwrath

Id also look at the Sprint Mogul. It is the update to the 6700 for Sprint. Also Sprint has the best data/phone plans. Do a search for SERO.

I (personally) didn't care for the Mogul. I'm actually trying to sell mine off right now since I got a free Blackberry 8830. I agree though that Sprint data packages tend to be better. Of course the unlimited data plan for the Blackberry is $15 more than the unlimited data plan I was on with the Mogul. Odd since Blackberry supposedly handles data much more efficiently than Windows Mobile.

Dick Tracy · 08-18-2007, 01:44 PM

Several considerations:

Are you limited in carrier choice? Does any particular carrier have better reception for your geographics? This will limit selection of handsets.

Any concern about other third-party applications you have been using on the Clie? Switching OS means you will have to re-purchase.

Do you intend to maintain your current library of ebooks and are they transferrable to a different OS?

Hobbes24 · 08-22-2007, 10:19 AM

Interesting that you didn't care for the Mogul. I went to a sprint store and found that it was comfortable in my hand. Combine that with the fact that the sprint.com SERO offer means 500 minutes + all the data you could want for $30 per month means I'm seriously leaning towards it.

Right now I am not too concerned about porting my ebooks. I have multiple versions of my favorite books on both .pdb and .lit, so I am set there. I live 6 months in an area that gets really horrible cell phone service and 6 months in a major metropolitan area, so cell coverage is pretty constant - it either sucks all the time or 5 bars. I never really bought that many apps for my Palm, so going to a PocketPC doesn't bug me too much.

I haven't made the jump yet, but I'm feeling the itch. Thank you for the line on the sprint SERO offer. I'm going to seriously investigate it before I jump. I just got to look at my first Mogul yesterday and the screen looks pretty clear. Not really Iphone quality, but it does cost $200 less and it seemed pretty responsive.

kovidgoyal · 08-22-2007, 12:20 PM

the openmoko.

Anaksulnamun · 08-29-2007, 02:29 PM

Nokia e90

with a deluxe solution 800x384

It took me only 4 hours to read the ebook "201 questions to ask on your interview" ~250 pages on pdf format.
And mobipocket .prc format ebooks is fitted too ...
The question is ...price

johnsims · 06-20-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbes24

Interesting that you didn't care for the Mogul. I went to a sprint store and found that it was comfortable in my hand. Combine that with the fact that the sprint.com SERO offer means 500 minutes + all the data you could want for $30 per month means I'm seriously leaning towards it.

Right now I am not too concerned about porting my ebooks. I have multiple versions of my favorite books on both .pdb and .lit, so I am set there. I live 6 months in an area that gets really horrible mobile communication phone service and 6 months in a major metropolitan area, so cell coverage is pretty constant - it either sucks all the time or 5 bars. I never really bought that many apps for my Palm, so going to a PocketPC doesn't bug me too much.

I haven't made the jump yet, but I'm feeling the itch. Thank you for the line on the sprint mobile communications SERO offer. I'm going to seriously investigate it before I jump. I just got to look at my first Mogul yesterday and the screen looks pretty clear. Not really Iphone quality, but it does cost $200 less and it seemed pretty responsive.

I can't beleive either that they didnt like the mogul. I had no issues with it.
I'm also concerned about the ebooks tho...

DaleDe · 06-21-2011, 01:39 PM

You did realize you are answering a 4 year old message. There was a warning when you posted.

Dale

jordanwells · 06-28-2011, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbes24

Interesting that you didn't care for the Mogul. I went to a sprint store and found that it was comfortable mobility in my hand. Combine that with the fact that the sprint.com SERO offer means 500 minutes + all the data you could want for $30 per month means I'm seriously leaning towards it.

Right now I am not too concerned about porting my ebooks for mobile network security. I have multiple versions of my favorite books on both .pdb and .lit, so I am set there. I live 6 months in an area that gets really horrible cell phone service and 6 months in a major metropolitan area, so cell coverage is pretty constant - it either sucks all the time or 5 bars. I never really bought that many apps for my Palm, so going to a PocketPC doesn't bug me too much.

I haven't made the jump yet, but I'm feeling the itch. Thank you for the line on the sprint SERO offer. I'm going to seriously investigate it before I jump. I just got to look at my first Mogul yesterday and the screen looks pretty clear. Not really Iphone quality, but it does cost $200 less and it seemed pretty responsive.

Definitely make the jump!!! the screen is clear and the quality is great

Hobbes24 · 07-01-2011, 11:08 AM

Since there's been some interest in this thread recently, I thought I'd post to let you know that I've been using the Mogul for a while and I enjoy it, but it has some serious stability issues. I think it's about time to switch, so I'll probably go to the iPhone or Droid X. The huge screen of the Droid is a big draw, but I got to imagine the large footprint will be uncomfortable in my pocket.

07-24-2007, 05:17 PM	#1
Hobbes24 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Palm Clie SJ22	Best Smartphone For Ebook Reading? I've been using an old Palm Clie for about 4-5 years now and I'm ready to upgrade. I'm one of those all-in-one people who don't like carrying around both a cell phone and a PDA. I'd prefer my device to be a combination cell phone and PDA and that leads me to the smartphone. I should be able to read on the phone for at least 2 hours. I'm not too worried about eye strain, although the easier it is to read the screen the better, of course. Phone comfort isn't a high priority - if I have to, I'll use a bluetooth headset. Currently I'm leaning towards the XV6700 by Verizon, but I am more than willing to go to any carrier that has the best phone for what I need. Does anyone have a suggestion? I would appreciate any and all input. Thank you!

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07-24-2007, 06:49 PM	#2
flumbo I got nothin... Posts: 127 Karma: 302 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hawaii	The t-mobile Dash is a good pda-phone. Very small, has bluetooth, keyboard works well and the screen is a nice 320x240 resolution. T-Mobile's data plans are pretty cheap also.

07-25-2007, 08:45 AM	#3
volwrath Guru Posts: 713 Karma: 1001739 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Device: SGS3/PW2/Nexus72	Id also look at the Sprint Mogul. It is the update to the 6700 for Sprint. Also Sprint has the best data/phone plans. Do a search for SERO.

07-25-2007, 02:24 PM	#4
Hobbes24 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Palm Clie SJ22	Thank you for the suggestions. I've looked into the T-Mobile Wing, but not the dash. It looks like another crowded phone, like a Palm Treo. Are phones that size really optimal for ebook reading? The Spring Mogul sounds interesting and it looks like a PDA as well. I've never held it, so I don't know too much about it but it has pretty decent reviews. Does it display text crisply? It seems to be a very recent release, which is probalby why I've never heard about it until now. The thing I like best about my clie is that it has wide display angle, so I'm a little wary about going to a thinner screen. I appreciate all the advice.

08-18-2007, 01:44 PM	#7
Dick Tracy Detective Posts: 109 Karma: 4455 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Device: Palm TX	Several considerations: Are you limited in carrier choice? Does any particular carrier have better reception for your geographics? This will limit selection of handsets. Any concern about other third-party applications you have been using on the Clie? Switching OS means you will have to re-purchase. Do you intend to maintain your current library of ebooks and are they transferrable to a different OS?

08-22-2007, 10:19 AM	#8
Hobbes24 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Palm Clie SJ22	Interesting that you didn't care for the Mogul. I went to a sprint store and found that it was comfortable in my hand. Combine that with the fact that the sprint.com SERO offer means 500 minutes + all the data you could want for $30 per month means I'm seriously leaning towards it. Right now I am not too concerned about porting my ebooks. I have multiple versions of my favorite books on both .pdb and .lit, so I am set there. I live 6 months in an area that gets really horrible cell phone service and 6 months in a major metropolitan area, so cell coverage is pretty constant - it either sucks all the time or 5 bars. I never really bought that many apps for my Palm, so going to a PocketPC doesn't bug me too much. I haven't made the jump yet, but I'm feeling the itch. Thank you for the line on the sprint SERO offer. I'm going to seriously investigate it before I jump. I just got to look at my first Mogul yesterday and the screen looks pretty clear. Not really Iphone quality, but it does cost $200 less and it seemed pretty responsive.

08-22-2007, 12:20 PM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	the openmoko.

08-29-2007, 02:29 PM	#10
Anaksulnamun Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: E90	Nokia e90 with a deluxe solution 800x384 It took me only 4 hours to read the ebook "201 questions to ask on your interview" ~250 pages on pdf format. And mobipocket .prc format ebooks is fitted too ... The question is ...price

06-21-2011, 01:39 PM	#12
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	You did realize you are answering a 4 year old message. There was a warning when you posted. Dale

07-01-2011, 11:08 AM	#14
Hobbes24 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Device: Palm Clie SJ22	Since there's been some interest in this thread recently, I thought I'd post to let you know that I've been using the Mogul for a while and I enjoy it, but it has some serious stability issues. I think it's about time to switch, so I'll probably go to the iPhone or Droid X. The huge screen of the Droid is a big draw, but I got to imagine the large footprint will be uncomfortable in my pocket.