iRex Iliad, Astak Mentor, or Other??? - Page 2

HarryT · 07-12-2008, 09:01 AM

The Sony Reader would be the only option for that.

pilotbob · 07-12-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazos_Jack

What’s the best stand alone reader for non-PDF e-books that I might actual find in a brick and mortar store in Philadelphia?

The Sony reader is the only one you will find in a US store. Places like Borders, Sony Style, Costco, Circuit City (you might have to order on line for instore pickup - not sure they stock them.)

However, none of the formats you listed would work. You would need to convert as much as you can to a supported format... calibre will convert mobi to BBeB (LRF), it natively reads txt, rtf, html, for eReader you would need to convert... not sure what's readily available for that.

BOb

HarryT · 07-12-2008, 11:46 AM

The Reader does support RTF natively, but you don't get pictures, hyperlinks, etc, that way.

wallcraft · 07-12-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazos_Jack

What’s the best stand alone reader for non-PDF e-books that I might actual find in a brick and mortar store in Philadelphia?

I think your only option is the Sony PRS-505. The good part about this is that the PRS-505 is supposed to get a software upgrade that includes Adobe Digital Editions, and this will most likely allow it to read your existing Adobe e-books (but don't hold your breath, there is no delivery date for this software and it may be months away). The bad part is that you will have to convert almost all ebooks before reading them on the Sony. The calibre package will do this for you (it has its own Forum here). The MobiPocket format is not a bad choice, but the best option if your primary device does not support MOBI is the MS Reader format (LIT). This is easily crackable, and Calibre has a lit2lrf option.

Brazos_Jack · 07-13-2008, 01:18 AM

The Sony (home of proprietary everything) sounds like a real pain. I think I'll just have to wait until December when I can order something. Maybe the 9.7" Mentor will be out. If not, maybe I'll go for the iLiad reader. Even the Cybook 3 sounds better than the Sony.

HarryT · 07-13-2008, 03:51 AM

What do you mean "even the Cybook 3"? The Cybook is an excellent device.

Crisby · 07-13-2008, 05:19 AM

I agree with HarryT. For reading novels and newspapers the Cybook Gen3 is a brilliant device. If you're willing to deal direct with the supplier, the HanLin V3 is also very good.

You can read PDFs on a Cybook and HanLin V3, although the iLiad would probably be better for your PDF tech documents.

You can easily convert your Word DOCs to PRC using Mobipocket Creator, or you can print them to PDF or WOL. (HanLins will support PRC soon.)

I have no interest at all in Sony or Kindle.

Brazos_Jack · 07-13-2008, 05:47 AM

Didn't mean to sound negative about Cybook 3. I will definitely get "something" in December. If the 9.7" Mentor is out and is everything I hope it will be - then that will be it. If enough is known about the 9.7" Mentor by December for me to know that it is not what I want - then I'll get the iLiad. But if it is clear that the 9.7" Mentor will be what I eventually get - but it is still not availble in December - Then I will likely get a Cybook as an interim "fix" and continue to use it even after I get a Mentor when I don't need to deal with non-reflowable PDFs. I just wish it could read RTF's.

Brazos_Jack · 07-15-2008, 12:25 AM

Well, I ordered a Cybook Gen 3 from BooksOnBoard in Austin Texas last night as an intermediate fix until the 9.7" machines come out.

I'll pick it up in the states on a short trip there next week. I'm already loading an SD card with books, music, and pictures to use as soon as I pick up the Cybook.

I'll be watching this forum to see if the 9.7" Mentor turns out to be as good as it looks like it will and if it gets released in time for me to buy one while I'm in Texas for my vacation in December.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Support for Astak Mentor?	maxbookworm	Calibre	10	06-26-2010 09:11 AM
Astak Mentor for $149.99	afa	Astak EZReader	16	06-15-2010 06:54 PM
Astak Mentor questions	hard2think	Astak EZReader	4	03-06-2010 05:17 PM
astak mentor	kakolirisn	Which one should I buy?	14	06-21-2009 01:55 PM
Will Astak Mentor be available in Europe?	Wizard-mag	Which one should I buy?	7	08-26-2008 01:06 PM

07-12-2008, 09:01 AM	#16
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Sony Reader would be the only option for that.

07-12-2008, 11:46 AM	#18
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Reader does support RTF natively, but you don't get pictures, hyperlinks, etc, that way.

07-13-2008, 01:18 AM	#20
Brazos_Jack Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas & Saudi Arabia Device: Palm	The Sony (home of proprietary everything) sounds like a real pain. I think I'll just have to wait until December when I can order something. Maybe the 9.7" Mentor will be out. If not, maybe I'll go for the iLiad reader. Even the Cybook 3 sounds better than the Sony.

07-13-2008, 03:51 AM	#21
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What do you mean "even the Cybook 3"? The Cybook is an excellent device.

07-13-2008, 05:19 AM	#22
Crisby Fanatic Posts: 36 Karma: 357 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Device: none	I agree with HarryT. For reading novels and newspapers the Cybook Gen3 is a brilliant device. If you're willing to deal direct with the supplier, the HanLin V3 is also very good. You can read PDFs on a Cybook and HanLin V3, although the iLiad would probably be better for your PDF tech documents. You can easily convert your Word DOCs to PRC using Mobipocket Creator, or you can print them to PDF or WOL. (HanLins will support PRC soon.) I have no interest at all in Sony or Kindle.

07-13-2008, 05:47 AM	#23
Brazos_Jack Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas & Saudi Arabia Device: Palm	Didn't mean to sound negative about Cybook 3. I will definitely get "something" in December. If the 9.7" Mentor is out and is everything I hope it will be - then that will be it. If enough is known about the 9.7" Mentor by December for me to know that it is not what I want - then I'll get the iLiad. But if it is clear that the 9.7" Mentor will be what I eventually get - but it is still not availble in December - Then I will likely get a Cybook as an interim "fix" and continue to use it even after I get a Mentor when I don't need to deal with non-reflowable PDFs. I just wish it could read RTF's.

07-15-2008, 12:25 AM	#24
Brazos_Jack Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas & Saudi Arabia Device: Palm	Well, I ordered a Cybook Gen 3 from BooksOnBoard in Austin Texas last night as an intermediate fix until the 9.7" machines come out. I'll pick it up in the states on a short trip there next week. I'm already loading an SD card with books, music, and pictures to use as soon as I pick up the Cybook. I'll be watching this forum to see if the 9.7" Mentor turns out to be as good as it looks like it will and if it gets released in time for me to buy one while I'm in Texas for my vacation in December.