Borders UK launches £189 e-book reader

anurag · 06-30-2009, 12:28 PM

From http://www.thebookseller.com/news/89...ok-reader.html :

Quote:

Borders UK has launched the Elonex, which at £189 is the cheapest e-book reader available in the UK, into its stores this morning (30th June). The device comes with 100 titles already pre-loaded and can hold up to 1,000 books. The titles can be read in landscape or portrait and text can be magnified. Users can read up to 8,000 pages between charges. It can also be read in direct sunlight. The device supports ePub and Adobe formats and is compatible with the e-books being sold on Borders website.

Borders said the the e-reader had been "specially developed" for Borders UK and at £189 would be "taking on the Sony Reader (which typically costs at least £199) head-to-head". Waterstone's launched the Sony Reader in its stores last September.

HarryT · 06-30-2009, 12:31 PM

Interesting. From the picture, it's a Netronix device. Wonder if it's the same as the Cool-ER?

anurag · 06-30-2009, 12:37 PM

Here's a review of the reader from the same site:

http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/8...nex-ebook.html

DaleDe · 06-30-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Interesting. From the picture, it's a Netronix device. Wonder if it's the same as the Cool-ER?

seems to be missing MP3 support. There is nothing on their web site about it which is strange if this is a new launch. Nothing about formats supported either in the announcement or the Elonex Review.

Nate the great · 06-30-2009, 01:55 PM

Do you know what's rather funny? There is already an electronics company in the UK called Elonex. Not too far back they imported a device called the Elonex One.

JSWolf · 06-30-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

The reader weighs 180 grams and supports ePub and Adobe formats. It has a 180 degree viewing angle, and anti-glare facility. It costs £190 and is available now.

http://m.pocket-lint.com/news/news.p...k-reader.phtml

olis · 06-30-2009, 02:25 PM

It isn't the "cheapest e-book reader available in the UK".
WHSmith is currently selling the Sony PRS-505 at £179.99.

Nate the great · 06-30-2009, 02:40 PM

Thanks for pointing that out, Jon. It seems like they were calling the device that name, not the company who imported it.

DaleDe · 06-30-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Thanks for pointing that out, Jon. It seems like they were calling the device that name, not the company who imported it.

Actually, from the site that Jon posted, they called the company that name. and the company is still there so perhaps they supplied it. http://www.elonex.co.uk/index.shtm

Dale

301verbs · 06-30-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Interesting. From the picture, it's a Netronix device. Wonder if it's the same as the Cool-ER?

Yeah, according to the review it even has a dedicated sudoku button

Nate the great · 06-30-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Actually, from the site that Jon posted, they called the company that name. and the company is still there so perhaps they supplied it. http://www.elonex.co.uk/index.shtm

Dale

Yes, I know about the company. I even provided a link to its site. What I meant to say was that Booksellers Blog seemed to be referring to the device as the Elonex.

Robertb · 06-30-2009, 05:34 PM

Dear All:

It is a Netronix EB-600 (known as Astak Mentor Lite). We showed it to Borders at CES last year. Borders simply went straight to Netronix and ordered direct. You would expect Borders would have a wee bit more integrity than that but I guess not.

You might also expect that Netronix would have a bit of honesty also... but, alas, not.

Patricia · 06-30-2009, 05:43 PM

Borders in the UK sells a lot of Elonex products. I've been thinking of buying a 7" digital TV/picture frame for £55. I don't really need it but it looks cute and might distract me when I'm tidying the kitchen.

Nate the great · 06-30-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

It is a Netronix EB-600 (known as Astak Mentor Lite). We showed it to Borders at CES last year. Borders simply went straight to Netronix and ordered direct. You would expect Borders would have a wee bit more integrity than that but I guess not.

You might also expect that Netronix would have a bit of honesty also... but, alas, not.

Did you show it to Borders UK as well as the US company? They're separate business units.

I think there is a certain amount of sense in the supplier being in the same country as the retailer.

fugazied · 07-01-2009, 01:20 AM

100 books pre-loaded is kind of cool, all public domain stuff I guess, but regardless it's nice getting a device with good content already on it!

06-30-2009, 05:34 PM	#12
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Borders makes an "end around"! Dear All: It is a Netronix EB-600 (known as Astak Mentor Lite). We showed it to Borders at CES last year. Borders simply went straight to Netronix and ordered direct. You would expect Borders would have a wee bit more integrity than that but I guess not. You might also expect that Netronix would have a bit of honesty also... but, alas, not.

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06-30-2009, 12:31 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Interesting. From the picture, it's a Netronix device. Wonder if it's the same as the Cool-ER?

06-30-2009, 12:37 PM	#3
anurag Addict Posts: 236 Karma: 4066 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Device: Kindle 1 and DX, iPhone	Here's a review of the reader from the same site: http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/8...nex-ebook.html

06-30-2009, 01:55 PM	#5
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Do you know what's rather funny? There is already an electronics company in the UK called Elonex. Not too far back they imported a device called the Elonex One.

06-30-2009, 02:25 PM	#7
olis Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 369 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Italy Device: prs-500, Nokia N810, Irex dr1000s, Kindle3	It isn't the "cheapest e-book reader available in the UK". WHSmith is currently selling the Sony PRS-505 at £179.99.

06-30-2009, 02:40 PM	#8
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Thanks for pointing that out, Jon. It seems like they were calling the device that name, not the company who imported it.

06-30-2009, 05:43 PM	#13
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Borders in the UK sells a lot of Elonex products. I've been thinking of buying a 7" digital TV/picture frame for £55. I don't really need it but it looks cute and might distract me when I'm tidying the kitchen.

07-01-2009, 01:20 AM	#15
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	100 books pre-loaded is kind of cool, all public domain stuff I guess, but regardless it's nice getting a device with good content already on it!