You said,

I buy many of my ebooks in MS Lit format and in conjunction with Convert Lit GUI, I can turn all my books into Sony readable files simply by dragging and dropping. It's that easy.

How does one configure ConvertLit GUI to use lit2lrf.exe to extract lrf files?

Alex

What these ereaders need are a front light – a light integrated into the top that emits a flood of light on the top of the surface of the screen.

Can they figure out how to do that, or did they figure it was easier to get the reader out now rather than do more technology development? Or do they just figure that no one reads in the dark? One of the things I do really like about reading on my Treo is that it’s not ambient light dependent.

Forget the book light; it’s going to take me about a grand before I can even get to the Sony Reader, LOL!

And what’s with no backlight anyway? I still don’t quite get that decision on Sony’s part.

I have a C-3000. It’s basic, no frills, but all I use it for is surfing and writing. It has a 5 hour battery life!

If you like to listen to music, though, this machine IS NOT for you. The speakers absolutely suck.

Worth a look, anyhow.

Right now I'm thinking seriously about this machine if I go new, because it got a pretty good review on CNET.

That’s definitely a better machine than the ones I glanced at at Overstock. Good luck in your search!

You might take a look at Dell's Outlet Store, too, although the prices are a tad higher.

Yeah, I’ve been looking there, too. Dell has pretty good educational pricing, too. Right now I’m thinking seriously about this machine if I go new, because it got a pretty good review on CNET. It’s more expensive than I want, but I may have to bite the bullet. Thanks for the reminder about the wireless connection, though. I DO have wireless, but I’m so used to having someone else buy my Macs for me, I don’t pay good attention to some things when I’m looking.

If you don't mind me asking, what did you buy? Overstock sells these refurbed IBMs and Dells for like $299-$399, but I have no clue what any of that PC techno speak means, and thus no clue if I'd be getting a good enough machine.

I bought a Compaq desktop on sale at the local Staples, then found a small flat panel monitor on a clearance table (there’s only so much room on my desk for multiple monitors). That was about 3 years ago, I think.

I just wandered over and took a gander at the laptops at Overstock. I suppose it depends on what you’re going to use the machine for, but I definitely would *not* get the ones marked Pentium III. Personally, I would probably bump up to the $400-$500 range, but that’s just me (and I tend to like bells and whistles). If you have your Macs networked and want this one on the network, then you want to make sure it has ethernet or, if you have a wireless network, then it needs a wireless card (usually look for a reference to 802.11b/g). Some of the machines listed mention a modem but no ethernet or wireless so that’s something to keep in mind if networking your PC is important to you. If it has less than 512MB of memory, then, IMO, it would be worth purchasing more memory to bring the machine up to at least that for better performance. Those are probably the high points. You might take a look at Dell’s Outlet Store, too, although the prices are a tad higher.

A few years ago, in a fit of frustration with Virtual PC and a program I use that only runs on Windows, I bought a cheap PC.

If you don’t mind me asking, what did you buy? Overstock sells these refurbed IBMs and Dells for like $299-$399, but I have no clue what any of that PC techno speak means, and thus no clue if I’d be getting a good enough machine.

Fortunately, my Macs are work-furnished (I telecommute and travel some, too), so I’ll ultimately get another Mac notebook (and WILL install Parallels). But I need a PC (not a PC enabled Mac) to take the bar exam, thus my thought to buy one myself as a backup.

Makes sense. I would probably do the same. Actually, I did. A few years ago, in a fit of frustration with Virtual PC and a program I use that only runs on Windows, I bought a cheap PC. It doesn’t see a lot of action but lives reasonably peacefully with the two Macs. One of these days, I’m going to get all my Windows programs transferred over to the copy living on my Mac notebook and get rid of the desktop, though.

Okay, yeah, a PC refurb would be cheaper but … but … it wouldn't be a Mac!

Fortunately, my Macs are work-furnished (I telecommute and travel some, too), so I’ll ultimately get another Mac notebook (and WILL install Parallels). But I need a PC (not a PC enabled Mac) to take the bar exam, thus my thought to buy one myself as a backup.

If you have an Intel processor Mac, check out Parallels.

Thanks, Melanie, but neither my G4 notebook nor my G5 desktop has the Intel processor. Although after having a cup of hot coffee spill on my notebook, I don’t know how long it’s going to hang around. I’ve lost the sound and the optical drive so far, and now the display is whacking (plus 1/4 of the screen looks like it’s partially dissolved underneath). And suckiness of all suckiness is that I can’t take the bar exam on my Mac — which is part of why I’m thinking it might be time to buy a cheap notebook (maybe refurbished). But of course I know nothing about PCs, being the Mac snob I am. LOL, just ignore me while I sit here chanting psychotically, “Microsoft will not win, Microsoft will not win.”

A PC emulator is a piece of software you install on your mac that allows you to emulate a pc. You can the “pretend� your mac is a pc. Programs run slower on the “emulator� but for the limited purpose of using sony reader and other reading programs, it might be okay. Microsoft sells a product called virtual pc but I suspect that there are others.

I had virtual PC on my old (System 9) Mac and it never worked right. Maybe they’ve improved the software, though. I’ll do some browsing — thanks for the recommendation.