ASUS EEE PC as e-book reader? - Page 2

DaleDe · 03-11-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyCooper

Hi - just to let you guys know that I purchased the EEEPC2GS to be used specifically as an e-book reader [ I know you're all gonna groan, but I do like backlit displays

] and find it very satisfactory indeed. I also use a CyBook second generation reader and, believe it or not, my trusty Rocket reader - which is still going strong

.

I would be interested in knowing about your 2nd generation Cybook. If you look at our wiki you will see that I have documented the 1st generation and the 3rd generation but I don't have anything on the 2nd. Please, either add it to the wiki or let me know and I will add it.

Actually a page on your new EEEPC2GS as a reader would be welcomed also.

Dale

TommyCooper · 03-11-2008, 04:31 PM

Dale - I want to apologise

. I obviously don't know my second from my first or my you-know-what from my elbow. The CyBook I'm talking about is obviously first-generation - I hope I didn't get anyone too excited about this non-existent mysterious reader [or maybe I've got the only one that was ever made

- if I did it is invisible and very economic on power usage

]

I will gladly post my further impressions of the EEE PC as an e-book reader.

Tommy

DaleDe · 03-11-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyCooper

I will gladly post my further impressions of the EEE PC as an e-book reader.

Tommy

It would be great to have a review on the wiki and a good description like we have for other readers. So far this is what we have that talks about ASUS devices:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ultr...otebook_matrix
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/UMPC

Dale

slayda · 03-11-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

It would be great to have a review on the wiki and a good description like we have for other readers. So far this is what we have that talks about ASUS devices:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ultr...otebook_matrix
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/UMPC

Dale

That's a pretty good description. I have the 4G with Linux. The 4G, 4GS & 8G are capable of running Windows XP. Instructions come with the manual. So far I've stuck with Linux.

Unfortunately there is no Mobipocket SW for Linux. I hear that the Windows version will run using WINE but I've not been successful getting WINE to work on the EEE PC yet.

So far, as a "small" laptop Linux computer, I am very happy with it. Sometime later, if I become frustrated with it enough, I'll comvert to XP. Modern day Linux isn't like the old SUN Unix I "partially" remember.

Any WINE/Linux Gurus out there with advice would be appreciated.

TommyCooper · 03-11-2008, 09:57 PM

slayda - I actually did get WINE to load on my EEE PC [ I downloaded and installed via the Synaptic manager ] as I wanted to try uBook and yBook - which I think is an excellent Windows reader, although ultimately quite unsuitable anyway because it's double paged. Ybook installed under WINE okay, but unfortunately did not run very well - background colour would not display correctly and the pages calculation was very slow. Ubook I could not get to install. For what it's worth, FBReader does support non-DRM'ed Mobipocket format and is a very nice reader indeed - I am genuinely very impressed with it. If you want to install any software on the EEE I think it's worth installing the extended desktop first, especially if you are not au fait with Linux - it gives more of a Windows desktop feel. That's not meant to be offensive to Linux users, but I'm just not familiar with the Linux system and commands.

Tommy

tlwisner · 03-19-2008, 11:01 AM

I am very happy with the Eee PC 4G 701 I have been using for several weeks now. I am running Windows XP so I do not have the WiFi flakiness the Linux users experience. It is what it is, and it meets my needs very nicely. WinXP runs very quickly (thanks to the nLite program to slim down the install) and there is a wealth of info at www.eeeuser.com.

As an ebook reader, I'm not going to give it a thumbs up - but I didn't buy it for that purpose. A tablet PC would be the only real way to go for me.

TommyCooper · 03-20-2008, 06:50 PM

tlwisner, I must agree about the wifi flakiness in Linux, it really is a strange hit-and-miss affair at times. However, now that I've downloaded whatever software I need I'm not bothered. I really like the screen for ebook reading - which for me is it's main purpose. The only complaint I have is that because it's a PC rather than a dedicated reader the heat and 'buzzy' noise of the fan can be problematic. That site you mentioned is very good.

DaleDe · 04-17-2008, 08:54 PM

Hey I just found http://eeepcbooks.com/index.php which is a store selling PDF files that are formatted to fit the Eee PC 701 or other device with a PDF reader and 800x480 pixel resolution.

Dale

Elsi · 04-17-2008, 11:22 PM

An Eee PC is on the horizon for me. I want the 4G or 8G, and I'm disappointed that neither of these comes in green. I'm planning on sticking with Linux rather than installing Windows. I have plenty of Linux-geek friends who can help me through the Wi-Fi wierdness. Guess I'll be downloading books in a format other than Mobi, though.

yvanleterrible · 04-18-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

An Eee PC is on the horizon for me. I want the 4G or 8G, and I'm disappointed that neither of these comes in green. I'm planning on sticking with Linux rather than installing Windows. I have plenty of Linux-geek friends who can help me through the Wi-Fi wierdness. Guess I'll be downloading books in a format other than Mobi, though.

Well, if you like the green of the 2G and don't need the webcam, you can bump up the storage with SD cards. It will even accept SDHC in the SD slot, I have a 4 GB one that I use for that purpose. Having so little memory, by today's standards, reminds me of the time we did not have hard drives. My first Mac had a 9" B/W screen with two 128k floppies. You loaded your software with the first one and kept documents on the second disquette.

As for reading on this device... well it gets too warm to be comfy and if you turn to your side to read, it does get heavy fast.

HarryT · 04-24-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

As for reading on this device... well it gets too warm to be comfy and if you turn to your side to read, it does get heavy fast.

That sounds a bit like reading on the old CyBook. It got so hot that you risked a serious injury if you read with it on your lap without any clothes on (which I have been known to do

).

pilotbob · 04-24-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

(which I have been known to do

).

I did NOT need to know that.

BOb

yvanleterrible · 04-24-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That sounds a bit like reading on the old CyBook. It got so hot that you risked a serious injury if you read with it on your lap without any clothes on (which I have been known to do

).

I love it when you smile Harry.

weatherman · 05-01-2008, 04:48 PM

I own an Eee 4G and a Sony Reader, and I'd say that the Eee is a great ultraportable computer that can be used as an ebook reader, but I wouldn't recommend it. I am fine with reading on an LCD, but the problems of the Eee far outweigh the comparative cost of buying a dedicated ebook reader. The battery life is very short, the weight and bulk are much greater, and when reading outdoors the ebook is unmatched. So if you can only have one device on your desert island, I'd say the Eee is perfect because it does everything including surfing and IM and skype, but if you're going to be doing a lot of reading of ebooks and you have an extra $150 or so, a Sony Reader is going to be a much more comfortable device in the long run.

Duodora · 05-01-2008, 06:41 PM

I think it depends what you're looking for, but I'd basically say no. I have a 2 GB surf, and I absolutely love it for taking notes and just generally having internet...but I don't think it would work very well as an ebook reader.

Admittedly, some of the better eeepcs have longer battery lives, but I get about 2 and a half hours out of my battery, even with wireless turned off.

Not to mention I think the screen shape/size would just be awkward. I hate reading anything on my eee--and usually end up shlepping files over to my other computer if I want to read anything. You can only get a few lines on the screen at once, either that or the font is tiny tiny tiny.

That being said, I love the eee for everything else, I just don't think it would be a very good reader!

03-11-2008, 04:31 PM	#17
TommyCooper Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 563 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Device: Rocket Reader, CyBook, Asus EEE PC	CyBook Dale - I want to apologise . I obviously don't know my second from my first or my you-know-what from my elbow. The CyBook I'm talking about is obviously first-generation - I hope I didn't get anyone too excited about this non-existent mysterious reader [or maybe I've got the only one that was ever made - if I did it is invisible and very economic on power usage ] I will gladly post my further impressions of the EEE PC as an e-book reader. Tommy Last edited by TommyCooper; 03-11-2008 at 04:33 PM. Reason: addition

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03-11-2008, 09:57 PM	#20
TommyCooper Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 563 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Device: Rocket Reader, CyBook, Asus EEE PC	slayda - I actually did get WINE to load on my EEE PC [ I downloaded and installed via the Synaptic manager ] as I wanted to try uBook and yBook - which I think is an excellent Windows reader, although ultimately quite unsuitable anyway because it's double paged. Ybook installed under WINE okay, but unfortunately did not run very well - background colour would not display correctly and the pages calculation was very slow. Ubook I could not get to install. For what it's worth, FBReader does support non-DRM'ed Mobipocket format and is a very nice reader indeed - I am genuinely very impressed with it. If you want to install any software on the EEE I think it's worth installing the extended desktop first, especially if you are not au fait with Linux - it gives more of a Windows desktop feel. That's not meant to be offensive to Linux users, but I'm just not familiar with the Linux system and commands. Tommy

03-19-2008, 11:01 AM	#21
tlwisner Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Treo 650 / PC with MS Reader	I am very happy with the Eee PC 4G 701 I have been using for several weeks now. I am running Windows XP so I do not have the WiFi flakiness the Linux users experience. It is what it is, and it meets my needs very nicely. WinXP runs very quickly (thanks to the nLite program to slim down the install) and there is a wealth of info at www.eeeuser.com. As an ebook reader, I'm not going to give it a thumbs up - but I didn't buy it for that purpose. A tablet PC would be the only real way to go for me.

03-20-2008, 06:50 PM	#22
TommyCooper Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 563 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UK Device: Rocket Reader, CyBook, Asus EEE PC	tlwisner, I must agree about the wifi flakiness in Linux, it really is a strange hit-and-miss affair at times. However, now that I've downloaded whatever software I need I'm not bothered. I really like the screen for ebook reading - which for me is it's main purpose. The only complaint I have is that because it's a PC rather than a dedicated reader the heat and 'buzzy' noise of the fan can be problematic. That site you mentioned is very good.

04-17-2008, 08:54 PM	#23
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	Hey I just found http://eeepcbooks.com/index.php which is a store selling PDF files that are formatted to fit the Eee PC 701 or other device with a PDF reader and 800x480 pixel resolution. Dale

04-17-2008, 11:22 PM	#24
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	An Eee PC is on the horizon for me. I want the 4G or 8G, and I'm disappointed that neither of these comes in green. I'm planning on sticking with Linux rather than installing Windows. I have plenty of Linux-geek friends who can help me through the Wi-Fi wierdness. Guess I'll be downloading books in a format other than Mobi, though.

05-01-2008, 04:48 PM	#29
weatherman Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 1010052 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: (previous: Kindle 2, Kindle Fire) Kindle 4 WiFi, K3K, KPW	I own an Eee 4G and a Sony Reader, and I'd say that the Eee is a great ultraportable computer that can be used as an ebook reader, but I wouldn't recommend it. I am fine with reading on an LCD, but the problems of the Eee far outweigh the comparative cost of buying a dedicated ebook reader. The battery life is very short, the weight and bulk are much greater, and when reading outdoors the ebook is unmatched. So if you can only have one device on your desert island, I'd say the Eee is perfect because it does everything including surfing and IM and skype, but if you're going to be doing a lot of reading of ebooks and you have an extra $150 or so, a Sony Reader is going to be a much more comfortable device in the long run.

05-01-2008, 06:41 PM	#30
Duodora Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Location: MD and SD, US Device: Cybook!	I think it depends what you're looking for, but I'd basically say no. I have a 2 GB surf, and I absolutely love it for taking notes and just generally having internet...but I don't think it would work very well as an ebook reader. Admittedly, some of the better eeepcs have longer battery lives, but I get about 2 and a half hours out of my battery, even with wireless turned off. Not to mention I think the screen shape/size would just be awkward. I hate reading anything on my eee--and usually end up shlepping files over to my other computer if I want to read anything. You can only get a few lines on the screen at once, either that or the font is tiny tiny tiny. That being said, I love the eee for everything else, I just don't think it would be a very good reader!

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