Color Backlit eReader - Help Please

[Supine]

I am looking forward to buy an eReader which can be read in dark. I already have a Sony PRS600 with light cover but it still bothers the wife in the nighttime. The light is really bright and also I don't quite like the reflections. I use a ipod touch now for reading at night but it hangs when I put a lot many books in it. (Its a 2g running 4.something OS)

I am in the UK, so nook color isn't a option for me. Although there are some ebay sellers providing it at £200+ (including shipping), I am not sure it is really worth that amount. If I was in US, I would have bought it straightaway.

There are few options which are cheap and available in UK. For eg.

Elonex 700eb (£75 @ ASDA)
Binatone 7 inch Color screen (I am not sure about the model no) £79.99 @ Argos
Sovos eReader ( £89.99 @ Amazon)
Viewquest Bookbox ( £73 @Play.com)
Pocketbook IQ 701 ( £136.85 @ Pixmania) etc etc

There might be others as well..

I would mostly read Classics, Some PDF comics, magazines and user manuals

I would love if it can read CHM. I have lot of medical textbooks bought from skyscape. They had a nice software to read on Winmobile PDA. Now as I use iPhone I can't take them with me.

My most important criteria is that the device should be fast enough and does not get hanged very often.

Any would be appreciated.

[delphin]

I would definitely go with an Android Tablet of some sort.

There are several nice ereader Apps available already for Android, with more coming all the time.

FBReader is available for Android, and it does handle CHM format, but the results can be hit or miss because some CHM authors use hacks specific to Microsoft's implementation.

But Android devices have more sophisticated HTML browsers than typical EPUB and other readers, and since CHM is internally HTML based, an Android tablet would probably be your best bet of finding a solid CHM reader.

As far as which one goes . . .

These tablets are rapidly becoming commodity items like PCs and Netbooks, so just shop around and check out several review sites.

The relevant questions are very similar to a PC or Netbook -

- What is the screens physical size and resolution?

- How well does the touch screen work and does it effect the overall sharpness or clarity of the screen?

- How much memory and how fast is the CPU? (Look for review comments about multimedia performance, because MHz don't always translate)

- What version of Android is it running, and can that version be upgraded?

- Is it fairly easy to 'root' the device so YOU can control what Apps are loaded?

. . .and the all important -

- What is the REAL battery life in verious situations like:

- - when used in low CPU activity applications like reading?

- - when used in higher CPU activity applications like video playback?


The only reader on your list that I have seen is the PocketBook IQ 701 and I thought it was pretty nice little tablet for the money. You can find lots of comments as well as several fairly complete reviews both here and all over YouTube.

Here is a fairly well balanced review from the-ebook-reader.com that spicifically addresses using the IQ 701 tablet as an E-Reader -

http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/pocketbook-iq.html

Note that, as mentioned in the review, most of the minor glitches he mentioned have already been fixed in later updates.

[tm3]

my suggestion would be to experiment with some different lights before replacing your ereader.

i find that my wife's backlit screen iPad puts out a lot more "disturbing" light in the dark than the small LED light i use for my K3. i think the main reason is that my light is more directional.

you can also experiment with making a diffuser for your small light of choice, like a ping pong ball cut in half or scotch tape or similar.

[ProfCrash]

Is it possible that a portable light that you add yourself would work better because you could but it on in such a way that the light ls directed away from her? The lighted cover might allow for even coverage but increase the light she sees. a Portable light attached to the side and pointed oppisite of the way sleeps might work.

[Bricorn]

Keep your Sony. Buy your wife a pair of eye-shades. Simples.

[mpd123]

hi supine,

i have the 700eb and it is a good device,displays pdf/epub no problem and at night i turn the brightness right down to 10% so as not to disturb anyone.

the other great thing about the 700 is the movie playback is really good.
a well constructed device with a decent battery.

i would recommend it.

cheers mick

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bricorn

Keep your Sony. Buy your wife a pair of eye-shades. Simples.

I take it you don't have a partner? Because I find that rather short sighted.

I gave my husband a Mighty Bright with a red light because that is less intrusive for your partner and still perfect to read by.

[Bricorn]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I take it you don't have a partner? Because I find that rather short sighted.

I gave my husband a Mighty Bright with a red light because that is less intrusive for your partner and still perfect to read by.

Hey, I did put a smilie in!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bricorn

Hey, I did put a smilie in!

But not a tongue-in-cheek!

But I really wish more reading lights would have a red led, instead of a white one. You don't need that much light if you're reading in a dark bedroom. The red light will give plenty of light and won't ruin your nightvision.

[recycledelectron]

Originally Posted by delphin

I would definitely go with an Android Tablet of some sort.

I would have agreed with delphin a month ago.

I started with a Nokia 770, then wen to a Nokia 800. These are 4.3" Linux based devices. The screens were too small.

I bough a Sony eink-something, the moved to a Sony PRS-505 (eink). They worked on text, but pics were abysmal.

I bought a SmartDevices Q7, V7, and T7 over time. (all 7" Ubuntu / Android devices) They worked with small PDFs (PDF <= 50MB) but crahsed with larger PDFs. They also added office suites, so I could keep my budget n a spreadsheet. I loved the WiFi and web browser, but the lack of flash or 3g/4g in my area held me back. I love the USB host, which let me copy files to/from USB drives, including multi-TB HDDs. I loved that they fit in my pants pocket, and let me walk around with nothing in my hands, while other profs lugged dozens of pounds of papers, books, etc.

I use/support IPADs daily at work. They are impossible to move files onto and off of. If you sync it with PC A, and load books, then sync it with PC B to load one more book, all the (non-ibooks-purchased) books from PC A are wiped out. I've seen a SD card reader, but I have not ordered one yet.

I have started using a 7" Q1 Ultra in the last week ($290 + extra = $400 on ebay.) The big improvements of a Windows UMPC over an android tablet are: (1) It reads any format, in any size. I can open a 2GB PDF. (2) It surfs the web like a desktop PC; youtube is not a problem, not is Blackboard at school. I can read online text books that rely on fancy ActiveX plugins.

If you buy one, be careful to get one with great battery life. Each of my extended life batteries lasts all day (rated 8.5 hours,) so carrying 2 leaves me able to deal with the unexpected. My Q1 Ultra is very readable, even in sunlight.

Andy

[Sweetpea]

You're lucky.... The prices in the US are about half of what they are here...

Small question, have you installed Mobipocket Desktop on it? If so, does it work decently on a 7"?

[recycledelectron]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

question, have you installed Mobipocket Desktop on it? If so, does it work decently on a 7"?

Thanks for the suggestion. I never knew that MobiPocket Desktop existed. I'm installing it now....Installation Complete...

I don't have any .mobi books yet, but it looks very good so far on a 7" screen.

Andy