Comments on: eBook readers for the gentle reader http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/ Matt Jadud, writing stuff Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:50:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sony Reader: Part 4 (of 4) « Mike Cane’s Blog http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Sony Reader: Part 4 (of 4) « Mike Cane’s Blog Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:05:29 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-285 [...] Sub Ubi The distinction here is that the Sony Reader is likely going to be a closed product; Sony has a horrible track record regarding their support for end-user modification. The iLiad, on the other hand, is based on the open-source operating system Linux. They are required by law to release much of the source code for the device, and they fully intend to. End-users will be able to write new software for the iLiad, and this is a Very Good Thing. The end result is that new and interesting software for the iLiad will be written for years to come, while the Sony Reader will only run software that Sony has written or deemed worthy to run on the device. [...] [...] Sub Ubi The distinction here is that the Sony Reader is likely going to be a closed product; Sony has a horrible track record regarding their support for end-user modification. The iLiad, on the other hand, is based on the open-source operating system Linux. They are required by law to release much of the source code for the device, and they fully intend to. End-users will be able to write new software for the iLiad, and this is a Very Good Thing. The end result is that new and interesting software for the iLiad will be written for years to come, while the Sony Reader will only run software that Sony has written or deemed worthy to run on the device. [...]

]]> By: Sony eBook Reader … bad for PDF’s? at Jeff’s Brain Dump http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Sony eBook Reader … bad for PDF’s? at Jeff’s Brain Dump Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:43:41 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-279 [...] I’ve been anticipating an e-ink ebook reader for much of this year.  I’m fascinated by the promise of a high-quality paper-like display, containing any PDF ebooks I want to load up. My use case: get myself off the grid and its many temptations, and curl up with a good ebook. Maybe even outside! After numerous delays, the Sony Reader is out (reviews). Enthusiasts are descending on Borders and SonyStyle stores to snap them up. I haven’t seen one in person yet. However, according to this thread the device is too small to display PDF books without zoom and scroll.  I’ll pass.  PDF is not designed for reflow to small screens, unlike HTML. Reading PDF’s is my primary usecase, so I’ll restrain myself from kneejerk early adoptor behavior and remain deskbound with a Dell 24″ monitor. The competing ebook reader, Iliad, is Linux based and sports WIFI and Ethernet.  This bodes well for its future software ecosystem as a hacker playground. [...] [...] I’ve been anticipating an e-ink ebook reader for much of this year.  I’m fascinated by the promise of a high-quality paper-like display, containing any PDF ebooks I want to load up. My use case: get myself off the grid and its many temptations, and curl up with a good ebook. Maybe even outside! After numerous delays, the Sony Reader is out (reviews). Enthusiasts are descending on Borders and SonyStyle stores to snap them up. I haven’t seen one in person yet. However, according to this thread the device is too small to display PDF books without zoom and scroll.  I’ll pass.  PDF is not designed for reflow to small screens, unlike HTML. Reading PDF’s is my primary usecase, so I’ll restrain myself from kneejerk early adoptor behavior and remain deskbound with a Dell 24″ monitor. The competing ebook reader, Iliad, is Linux based and sports WIFI and Ethernet.  This bodes well for its future software ecosystem as a hacker playground. [...]

]]> By: matt http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-271 matt Sun, 01 Oct 2006 22:03:31 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-271 Actually, no. I haven't been paying attention. I appreciate your corrections. Actually, no. I haven’t been paying attention.

I appreciate your corrections.

]]> By: James http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-270 James Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:46:37 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-270 Um, have you been paying attention at all? The PRS-500 supports SD, MMC and Memory stick. It will read RTF, TXT, and PDF files directly from those cards. And it supports the Librie' formatted books from ManyBooks.Net No, it doesn't do HTML, but converting it for text is trivial. (see *someone* is willing to admit both sides) It doesn't run its battery down just doing *nothing* Oh, yeah the iLiad will "probably" support DRM'd files. It also may one day include some sort of power management, but not anytime soon. Go over to http://www.MobileRead.com if you want some information from folks that actually *know* something about the devices they're talking about. Um, have you been paying attention at all?

The PRS-500 supports SD, MMC and Memory stick.

It will read RTF, TXT, and PDF files directly from those cards. And it supports the Librie’ formatted books from ManyBooks.Net No, it doesn’t do HTML, but converting it for text is trivial. (see *someone* is willing to admit both sides)

It doesn’t run its battery down just doing *nothing*

Oh, yeah the iLiad will “probably” support DRM’d files. It also may one day include some sort of power management, but not anytime soon.

Go over to http://www.MobileRead.com if you want some information from folks that actually *know* something about the devices they’re talking about.

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-269 Sylvia Fri, 29 Sep 2006 08:42:43 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-269 I also own an iLiad and find reading from it a joy. I feel that iRex released it before it and they were ready for the general reading public but I am glad that they did. I had to return my first one because it had a slight fault but even this did not daunt me because I could see the great potential of the device. I also own an iLiad and find reading from it a joy.
I feel that iRex released it before it and they were ready for the general reading public but I am glad that they did.
I had to return my first one because it had a slight fault but even this did not daunt me because I could see the great potential of the device.

]]> By: matt http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/comment-page-1/#comment-268 matt Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:28:33 +0000 http://www.sububi.org/2006/09/28/ebook-readers-for-the-gentle-reader/#comment-268 To be fair, I've been accused that this sounds a bit like propaganda. It's true. I own an iLiad, and I'm happy with the purchase. But I think the qualities I've suggested a consumer look for in an ebook reader are fair, and given the two choices on the market today, only one meets them. Your milage, of course, may vary. To be fair, I’ve been accused that this sounds a bit like propaganda. It’s true. I own an iLiad, and I’m happy with the purchase. But I think the qualities I’ve suggested a consumer look for in an ebook reader are fair, and given the two choices on the market today, only one meets them.

Your milage, of course, may vary.

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