Where are the simple e-readers?

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Dava

Maybe a Bluetooth Keyboard are the solution. I don't know if there are any E-book-readers that support these but I recall that the KOBO have Bluetooth support.

The Ipad works with BT Keyboard.. I would guess that more of the so called tablets do too.

Why everything is better with Bluetooth:

[stanislaw lem]

Hi again,

I think its interesting with the current developments of ereaders, tablets and netbook devices as the market for portable technology is always going to be niche because everybody wants something vastly different from their device as we all do such different things.

The current reality is that the center of gravity in ebook readers these days lies in recreational fiction.

That is very true which is a disappointment to me as a book lover to see the devices aimed at the trashy novel reader market but as far as earning lots of money from someone like me you are completely right they won't, as I'm interested in a functional acedemic piece of hardware and not another portable device aimed at draining your wallet through micro payments.

Actually, the device the OP described exists. (Or as close as we'll see this decade.)
However, since pricing is a function of volume/demand, the pricing (as Mr Dulin pointed out) is anything but cheap:

As far as the brother sv-100b goes I can't see how it suites anyone expect businesses with a price tag like that.

The ASUS eeeNote does look promising but the perfect device obviously doesn't exist, though the more i read about the android tablets the more I am attracted by them. I have to admit I am a fan of the android opperating system as my phone runs it and can say pdf viewing (even on a tiny little screen) would be no problem with the free document viewing apps. What makes the android tablets Ideal is models such as the elonex etouch 7" or 10" tablets have a USB 2.0 socket allowing the tablet to be mounted in a sleeve that has a small qwerty keyboard built into it to use like small laptop.



This is exactly what I was looking for, the option to take it out as a tablet and read documents on it portrait or landscape and also the possibility to put it in its sleeve and write short documents on the train! With the small 7" tablet rocking in at 90 pounds this seems to make a mockery of the most ereaders. The only downsides of this option being battery life and screen glare the latter I'd like to assess in person so I think i'll make a real-life trip and check some of these ereaders and tablets out.

Thanks again for the input its been delightful

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

That is very true which is a disappointment to me as a book lover to see the devices aimed at the trashy novel reader market

You're right of course. I guess I'll just have to keep reading those trashy novelists: Dickens, Austen, Eliot, Trollope. Garbage, the whole lot of them. Still, it keeps me off the streets.

[Dulin's Books]

sometimes its just better to let Harry say things... Thanks, Harry.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

sometimes its just better to let Harry say things... Thanks, Harry.

[Yar-PocketBooker]

How about Pocketbook 360 or 301?

[Noah98]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The closest I think in the 950 or 650. You get a virtual on-screen keyboard and can take notes.

I think the Sony 950 would work really well for you.

[Gwen Morse]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

Hi, I am looking for an ereader primarily because I do alot of reading off the computer and pixels are hurting my eyes.

Are there any ereaders out there for simple document reading?


P.S. The only other feature I had dreamed might be immensely useful was a slot for a portable usb keyboard in order to write txt. documents whilst on a train. This would be infinitely more useful than carrying around a small netbook laptop for many reasons.

I am looking for a simple cheap document reader but would pay a thousand Gold doubloons for the all the features I mentioned above, plain B&W ereader paper screen, simple document transfer and possibility of creating a simple txt file.

Any suggestions or discussions would be gladly welcome?

thanks x

The Kindle (paired with Calibre) can do half of what you'd like (read simple text files easily). Presumably other readers could do the same if you wanted to sideload content instead of having it delivered wirelessly.

I don't know of any ereaders that let you _write documents_. You could look at the Adam tablet with the Pixel Qi screen (it has a non-backlit transreflective mode, google for details). It's not cheap. You could type on it, however, iPad style (screen-based keyboard). It also has multiple USB slots and Bluetooth so it might accept a hardware keyboard. It has glare issues though (super-glossy screen).

However, it's at least a constructive start?

Also, it is (or at least *was*) possible to buy Pixel Qi replacement screens for some small netbooks. Those would not have the same glare issues, would be super-light, and have a keyboard. It might be worth hunting them down if you're already considering an Asus netbook.

[readit]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

thanks for the responses, its been very informative.

I think some people were missing the point of my fact finding mission, I know all about the features of devices such as net books, the ipad and kindle, for me technology is always about a means to an end, i own a powerful desktop that handles music, video and computer graphic creation and i own a laptop that I can get similar smaller work done out and about but to me the ideal third device seems to be completely missing from the market. Like snipenekkid says, the pocket word processor! I've no idea why it doesn't exist, something smaller than a laptop, that you can take out to read and write like an electronic notepad....

I assume StanislawLem is not around reading here anymore, but ALL he describes he wants is around since over 10 (twelve) years...it was called "Pocket PC" with Windows CE, then WindowsMobile and nowadays "Windows Phone 7", and good, fast, big Devices with, for example WinMobile5 or 6 are available from £15 upwards!

All from the beginning had all functions, incl OfficeMobile and tons of free software, and since the beginning the mistake in marketing is obvious - the lack of creating an own series of Devices with all the Hype & BooHaa around it, so that the "masses" get excited (like Apple's "iBuyit's" or Amazons Kindle's) and not just targeting "business users".

After all it's an Operating System, thrown on the market in joint venture with the different device manufacturers...

Anyway, it does it all - and almost no-one uses it for e-reading...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

Like stanislaw I too am waiting for the ideal (simplest, cheapest) ereader solution, but if what delphin says is true, it will not come. Hence I will stick with my Pocketbook 360 until the Chrome netbooks come out, which I hope to use (if the price is right) as a portable reader as well as for general use.

As I have posted here many times, though, what all the companies are missing is that many of us (probably stanislaw included) want a BIG CHEAP NO-FRILLS e-ink reader. That and a paper and pencil will suit all our needs. Nobody seems to be working on that. Everybody is fixated on combining e-ink and TFT (or whatever) technology for the all-purpose perfect machine, with of course a corresponding high price tag. How stupid. If I had a garage in Taiwan or someplace with basic production capabilities, I would produce a an e-inker that could read anything on the net, with NO touchscreen, no color, no bluetooth, no wireless, no nothing but reading capability (and which of them even do that flawlessly yet!) for $100 and I would become a millionaire.

I'm thinkin' you should take that idea and run with it, surely there are investors willing to pony up!

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're right of course. I guess I'll just have to keep reading those trashy novelists: Dickens, Austen, Eliot, Trollope. Garbage, the whole lot of them. Still, it keeps me off the streets.

And you certainly wouldn't want Harry loose on the streets!!!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

That is very true which is a disappointment to me as a book lover to see the devices aimed at the trashy novel reader market but as far as earning lots of money from someone like me you are completely right they won't, as I'm interested in a functional acedemic piece of hardware and not another portable device aimed at draining your wallet through micro payments.

There aren't enough of you to make it profitable; otherwise, they would've done so.