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Best PDA To Read e-Texts On?

Posted by simoniker on from the was-it-gutenberg-for-you-too? dept.

GabrielStrange writes "I've been thinking for a while now that I'd like to own some sort of portable device on which I could read e-Texts. This device should be able to read both simple text files (i.e. Project Gutenberg e-Texts) and more complex formats, like Plucker, Acrobat or Microsoft Reader. It should have a fairly high-res display with a backlight that would be easy on the eyes... but doesn't particularly need to be a color display. I'd like it to work with at least one (if not both) of the machines on my desktop, which run Linux 2.6 and MacOS X Panther... And to use a USB port. And I'd like it to have a built in, rechargeable battery, because I already have enough devices to worry about batteries for. And, of course, I don't want to pay very much for it. Anyone got any recommendations for such a device? It's proving to be almost impossible to even obtain an actual list of devices that have these features."

6 of 390 comments (clear)

  1. Toshiba e800/e805 by Kenja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I use a Toshiba e805 (same as the e800 but with some image software thrown in). It has 128MB of built in memory and both a SDIO and CF expansion slot (along with built in 802.11b) so you can load it up on storage or (as I did) add bluetooth to access the web via a cell phone. Its got a very nice 480x640 screen that is perfect for reading text on (its larger then most PDAs) with a 2MB ATI graphics accelerator. Granted you need to install some third party software to get the default mode to be anything other then 200x320, but once setup right its very slick. If you poke around you can also find 480x640 skins for many apps such as PocketPlayer, MS Media Player, PocketDV and others.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  2. Tungsten T3! by jameslore · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While I'm sure I'll be mocked (since Palm OS isn't Linux), my T3 is great for ebooks.

    + Palm Reader is all good, and plenty of other choices.
    + Large library available (http://www.palmdigitalmedia.com/)
    + Small device, great resolution (320 x 480, potrait or landscape).
    + Lots of other software :-)

    - Anti-aliasing is mediocre at best. Resoltion does make up for it somewhat...
    - T3 battery life is very mediocre. Perhaps a Clie instead, if this is a concern.
    - Not cheap.

    Cheers - James

  3. Re:iBook by JesseL · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You have a very crippled imagination. I've read nearly 100 books on PDAs, first my handspring visor and later my ipaq 3150 (monochrome). These include some fairly long books like Cryptonomicon and The Count of Monte Cristo. I've never found it particularly straining or anything. In fact, I find it preferable to paper books these days.

    --
    "Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!"
  4. Re:No such thing? by Trejkaz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Even _with_ the battery requirements, the GameBoy Advance SP can be set up to read eBooks. The only problem is the screen is a little smaller than some people may like. Nevertheless...

    --
    Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
  5. it doesn't take much... by schwaang · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Indeed, I dug my gf's old PalmV up from its grave a couple months ago. Have been happily reading e-books and NY Times using Plucker (& JPluckX) since.

    I don't prefer it to a book but do like it better than my desktop's 17" LCD for lengthly reading. Having it in hand makes the experience more book-like. (Every try taking a 17" monitor to bed? Don't answer that.)

  6. What form factor? by Myself · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Technically the IBM Workpad Z50 and Vadem Clio (Sharp Mobilon Tripad) are PDAs, but they're clamshell notebook style. The Clio/Tripad has a flip-over screen that turns it into a tablet, but otherwise the specs are quite similar: 131MHz vr141 MIPS CPU, 16 or 32 meg internal storage, CF slot, PCMCIA slot, RS232 port, internal modem.

    You'll have to put up with the lack of a USB port, but RS232 works well for small transfers, and flipping CF cards is fast when you want to move a lot of data.

    Both the z50 and the Clio/Tripad have big screens with excellent contrast. They share great battery life, about 8 hours on the stock battery if you're not running a power-hungry PCMCIA card. (wireless) Optional double-capacity battery packs are available for the z50 that really do achieve 16 hours. Both can run the hpcmips port of NetBSD quite capably, but for reading text you might as well keep the stock WinCE.

    Personally, I'd use the Clio because of the flippable screen. Holding it by the hinge side is very comfortable, and the touchscreen allows easy page-turning even while in tablet mode. The z50 is stuck in a clamshell shape and uses a pointing nipple.

    Did I mention that both can be had on eBay for under $200?