The perfect eReader?

[Logseman]

I'd imagine he wants a touch screen device. Time for recommending a Pocketbook 302?

[dpayment]

Originally Posted by stargazertony

People have different wants, needs, and requirements and therefore the perfect reader for all will never exist. Actually the perfect reader for the individual will never exist either. It's always a compromise on something.

The concept of the "perfect eReader" is a moving target. As technology changes and improves, everything "Usually gets better.

It doesn't matter what you buy for an eReader, as long as you get one that satisfies your reading and physical requirements. I'm on my 6th eReader now, I started years ago with an eBookwise EB-1150, then went to the Sony PRS-505, then the Jetbook, followed by the Hanlin V5 and then the PRS-700, which just died on me, and now I pick up my new Kobo eReader from the Post Office today. This is intended to be an interim device until the new ones come out, unfortunately we all have to wait for the fall, apparently because investors in the various companies see the American Thanksgiving as a holiday time and want to have their product releases coincide with that.

Personally, I think that's a big mistake. What I believe is that the first one to market with a decent product is going to "win the prize". I've gone through the specs on everything I can find in 8-10" eReaders, and narrowed my choices down to a list of five:

the Innoversal Papyrus:
the ASUS DR-900 (as long as that "eee tablet" isn't what they've downgraded it to,);
the Copia Ocean 9;
The Jinke A9t; or
the Netronix E90810.

The thing is, I want an eReader. I don't care if it has 3G, or even WiFi, since it's just too damned easy to connect the units to a PC and download books to them, colour would be nice, but isn't essential until it improves dramatically, I want a long battery life, decent storage capacity, and support for as many non-DRM formats as possible (I won't buy anything that is DRMed, the publishing industry has had years to learn from the mistakes of the music and video industry, but did they? No, let's just stick our heads in the sand, it'll all go away.

I want something that's going to be easy to read in any lighting condition, no glare and something that's relatively light-weight and portable. A PIM would be another nice to have, but I don't care about MP3s or Internet browsing. I want to be able to bookmark and make notes, but I wouldn't be using it for email, and auto-rotate again would be a nice-to-have but not essential.

All of this in a reasonably priced package ($200-$300 U.S.) would be my "perfect eReader", for now.

[eLiNK]

After the round of announcements about announcements, it is getting harder to believe that a start-up company can lead.
But I sure like the Papyrus' specifications.

Still, it is not only hardware that matters, but software as well.
And it is a big unknown at the moment.

BTW, has someone contacted the guys from the Innoversal and inquired about the Papyrus' availability?

[jee]

Originally Posted by eLiNK

BTW, has someone contacted the guys from the Innoversal and inquired about the Papyrus' availability?

According to what they said: the reader will be available soon to order from the website (I'm guessing not before September). They told me keep checking the website regularly.

[dmaul1114]

Perfect e-reader is different for everyone.

For me I'd go more for a Tablet with an 11-12" screen that can handle all my document reading needs, has a slew of different e-book apps so I can easily read books from multiple stores/drm types with no hassling with stripping DRM, format shifting etc. Also would be great for comics, magazines and newspapers etc.

And being a tablet, I'd get more use out of it with all the other features since I'm a pretty light read--just a book or two a month.

[dpayment]

The thing is, I want something portable. To me, that means something I can stick in a pocket or my lunch kit and not have to worry about. And I average a book a day.

[tvpupsik]

Originally Posted by dpayment

The thing is, I want something portable. To me, that means something I can stick in a pocket or my lunch kit and not have to worry about. And I average a book a day.

PocketBook 360 is a perfect portable reader to be carried everywhere. And with its hard cover you don't need to worry about accidentally breaking a display.

[gastan]

I also contacted them. According to what they told me, the Papyrus will launch in mid-September (very close to the Lattice launch). Price will "depend on local issue." The Papyrus will support DRM. It does not have a dictionary.

I asked specifically about the web browser because I wanted to know if you could download a book from any bookstore or website and they said, "We embed Internet browser, it can browse any website include bookstore without limited then you can download any content from that site. The same behavior in computer."

[dpayment]

Originally Posted by tvpupsik

PocketBook 360 is a perfect portable reader to be carried everywhere. And with its hard cover you don't need to worry about accidentally breaking a display.

You missed my original comment, I'm looking for something in the 8-10 inch range, whereas the Pocketbook 360 is only 5".

[Trini]

Originally Posted by dpayment

You missed my original comment, I'm looking for something in the 8-10 inch range, whereas the Pocketbook 360 is only 5".

I think tvpupsik was just trying to be helpful as you did subsequently say that you wanted something portable that will fit in your pocket and lunchkit. I would like to think that an 8 inch reader wouldn't fit in most pockets/ luchkits

[tvpupsik]

Originally Posted by dpayment

You missed my original comment, I'm looking for something in the 8-10 inch range, whereas the Pocketbook 360 is only 5".

Originally Posted by Trini

I think tvpupsik was just trying to be helpful as you did subsequently say that you wanted something portable that will fit in your pocket and lunchkit. I would like to think that an 8 inch reader wouldn't fit in most pockets/ luchkits

Thank you Trini, this is exactly what I meant. dpayment - I wouldn't call 8-10inch reader a portable one.
I personally think that it is impossible to find a "perfect" reader since in different situation different characteristics are needed from a reader and in my opinion it is good to have couple of readers - one portable to carry everywhere (in a pocket or lunchkit ) and one with 9-10 inch screen to read with a comfort at home.

[dpayment]

Originally Posted by tvpupsik

Thank you Trini, this is exactly what I meant. dpayment - I wouldn't call 8-10inch reader a portable one.
I personally think that it is impossible to find a "perfect" reader since in different situation different characteristics are needed from a reader and in my opinion it is good to have couple of readers - one portable to carry everywhere (in a pocket or lunchkit ) and one with 9-10 inch screen to read with a comfort at home.

Sorry if I sounded out of line, I was just trying to clarify the point. I guess we're just going to have to agree to disagree. I have no problem carrying around a magazine to read on the bus on my way to and from work, so I don't believe that an 8-10 inch eReader would be any more of a problem. My "lunch kit" is a small backpack, so space certainly isn't an issue and leaves my hands free whenever I need them to be. And I already stated, the "perfect ereader" is a moving target. Different things to different people, and each day new technology changes add to the capabilities. Next year, or the year after, colour e-ink will be available, hopefully not at exorbitant prices, someone will have thought of a new "super feature" to add to ebooks or the ereaders and a new set of ereaders will hit the market. I currently have a Hanlin V3 with 5" screen, and it's "acceptable" for reading, but I really do want more screen real estate.

What I will say though is that I'm really glad to see all the comments in these forums, and I sincerely hope that the ereader manufacturers are scanning them and taking some of our suggestions/complaints to heart. If they do, we could have some really terrific choices in the future.

[tvpupsik]

Originally Posted by dpayment

Sorry if I sounded out of line, I was just trying to clarify the point. I guess we're just going to have to agree to disagree. I have no problem carrying around a magazine to read on the bus on my way to and from work, so I don't believe that an 8-10 inch eReader would be any more of a problem. My "lunch kit" is a small backpack, so space certainly isn't an issue and leaves my hands free whenever I need them to be. And I already stated, the "perfect ereader" is a moving target. Different things to different people, and each day new technology changes add to the capabilities. Next year, or the year after, colour e-ink will be available, hopefully not at exorbitant prices, someone will have thought of a new "super feature" to add to ebooks or the ereaders and a new set of ereaders will hit the market. I currently have a Hanlin V3 with 5" screen, and it's "acceptable" for reading, but I really do want more screen real estate.

Seems like we had a mutual misunderstanding and everything is clear now
I totally agree that the "perfect ereader" is a moving target.

Originally Posted by dpayment

What I will say though is that I'm really glad to see all the comments in these forums, and I sincerely hope that the ereader manufacturers are scanning them and taking some of our suggestions/complaints to heart. If they do, we could have some really terrific choices in the future.

Not sure about all manufactures but PocketBook definitely has eyes and ears on this forum.

[dpayment]

On that note, I've seen reference in the MobileRead eReader matrix to a Pocketbook 901, 9" eReader. Anything new on that front?

Thanks,
Dan

[tvpupsik]

In Europe PocketBook 901 will be available for sale very soon (around July/August). Unfortunately in North America we expect to get it only around Christmas time. The predicted price tag is $350.