Where are the simple e-readers?

[sourcejedi]

Although you seem to be suggesting a phone-sized device, in which case you should have a look (if only out of curiosity) at one of the cheap Alcatel OT qwerty-phones. Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued the £10 one, but there's still a £30 one.

[sourcejedi]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

I've read about seemingly adequate solutions to the pdf problem such as pdf reflow or converting pdf's into ePUB's that seems to be able to make pdfs readable on normal ereader devices, if this is incorrect let me know.

If you're as sane as you claim, you'll test that in advance. In the general case it's impossible, so you're assuming all your PDFs are of the reflow-friendly flavour.

[Lemurion]

Probably your best option for large PDFs would be an old Irex Iliad. It's no longer in production and has no support, but it does have a large screen.

The problem is that it also has a number of power-hungry features that tend to defeat the purpose of choosing EInk because the battery life is not good.

If you're not going for reflowable PDFs, the reflective TFT devices such as the Jetbook/Aluratek products are probably your worst option. PDFs benefit from large screens and these have both small (5") screens and the lowest resolution (640x480) of any of the mainstream devices.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

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.

Something like this, perhaps?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=123098

[brbubba]

Originally Posted by FF2

I'm not sure that the resolution would help me for a portrait mode pdf - I think I would still have to scroll left-right which would drive me crazier!

You missed my point entirely. With a high enough resolution you can READ a pdf in portrait mode without scrolling back and forth. Yes, the entire page is right there, full screen.

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 remember in school when laptops first started coming out and were insanely expensive the school bought these very small purse sized laptops for kids who had hurt their arms. They had small calculator sized screens and only supported text files creating and editing, which you then plugged into the desktop and printed out your work. Where have they gone?

If any CEO's of netbook/ereader companies are reading they should think in investing in a true B&W notebook. One can only dream..

but for now I think a cheap device like the jetbook mini seems on the cards, I need not any of the features of the snazzy ipad also I've read about seemingly adequate solutions to the pdf problem such as pdf reflow or converting pdf's into ePUB's that seems to be able to make pdfs readable on normal ereader devices, if this is incorrect let me know.

Whoaaa, you didn't say, "write," in the original post.

[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.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

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.

Do you honestly believe that everyone except you is stupid, and that it's as simple as you describe? It honestly isn't. It is were, someone would have done it by now.

[jehane]

Originally Posted by brbubba

Whoaaa, you didn't say, "write," in the original post.

Actually he did.

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.

OP, as someone else has suggested, have a look at the eee note (aka EA-800). There's at least one thread here about it.

[mdmorrissey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do you honestly believe that everyone except you is stupid, and that it's as simple as you describe? It honestly isn't. It is were, someone would have done it by now.

Yes. Lots of things are not done that ought to be and could be.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

Yes. Lots of things are not done that ought to be and could be.

In that case, I strongly urge you to prove us all wrong and make your millions .

[Dulin's Books]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

Yes. .

No it's not. I pursued this myself for 2 years before opening my store and selling devices from Onyx and PocketBook.

You can not build a 9.7" display eink device , even a plain jane simple only screen, software and a 4 way button and retail it for under $250. And I would have to produce and sell several 10s of thousands to justify that price. probably more like 100k

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

hmm.. read anything on the net but have no wireless connectivity. So you want an Eink monitor. I could get that produced in 9.7" size for a retail of about $250. maybe.

[cromag]

I love my Jetbook Lite (still available at several locations for less than $100). The Jetbook Mini is smaller still and cheaper, but more restricted in formats. If you must have a "paper white" display, these aren't for you. But they are extremely sharp, and I regard mine as one of the best purchases I've ever made.

I wonder if you might want to look at some Android tablets -- more features (including document creation, wi-fi, ereader applications, etc.) and they are getting cheaper, in general.

[fjtorres]

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:

http://www.http://www.engadget.com/2...-like-an-e-bo/

http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/b...eaper-still-1/

The current reality is that the center of gravity in ebook readers these days lies in recreational fiction. Mass market paperback-equivalents. (See: "rise of the $0.99 ebook".)
That is why Kindles and Nooks sell by the millions and everything else by the thousands and tens of thousands (at best).
And why no manufacturer really bothers with academic pdf readers.
The money is in the books, not the hardware. Especially under the Oligarchs' Agency Model.

The features that some people seem to consider valuable (pdf viewing, touchscreens, annotations, content generation) don't sell ebooks. (Or readers)
Wireless connectivity, especially when tied to dedicated ebookstores, does.

It is going to be a *long* time (aka, 2015+) before the recreational reader market brings technology costs down (single-chip readers, LCD-level eink pricing, dirt-cheap digitizers) to the point that the academic market niche *might* become profitable as a pure hardware play. Before that, we will more likely see walled-garden etextbook readers (probably from B&N, maybe Amazon) and they won't be cheap. (C.F. Kindle DX, PB903, IRex)

Until then, anything with academic-level features and content creation capabilities will be a computer, not a reader.

The best hope lies in the ADAM tablet from Notion Ink or future Pixel Qi Tablets.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/01/17...ere-its-going/

[recycledelectron]

I assume that you want eink, as you want to avoid a LCD screen.

http://mybebook.com/
from $179

As far as the "just-plug-and-go" experience that you are expecting, the BeBook will read most formats you copy to it.

Andy

[brbubba]

Originally Posted by jehane

Actually he did.


OP, as someone else has suggested, have a look at the eee note (aka EA-800). There's at least one thread here about it.

Type and Write are two different things.