Comments on: Dear Authors 2007 Christmas Buying Guide for Ebook Readers: The MultiFunction Device

By: Ryan Collins

Ryan Collins — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:32:19 +0000

Another device to check out is the Nokia N800, which you can currently find online for under $250. I use FBreader on it. It has an SD slot in which I have a 2gb card. With a card reader (or the built-in wifi) I can load all sorts of good stuff on it.

By: De

De — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:10:45 +0000

This is a great set of articles. Thank you.

I’m still doing my ebook reading on an eBookwise reader, but I convert everything from html so that I can change the font and the size. Losing the ablity to change font settings was a huge backstep from the 1100 to the 1150. Plus, I’m flexible with my interpretation of copyright. (I buy it in one format, I can read it in whatever format I want.)

I spend enough time at desktop computers that I don’t want to do my pleasure reading there. I love my laptop, but it’s just too big and awkward to read comfortably in bed. I’m thinking about getting an eee PC. $400 for a UMPC is an incredible price. At this point the only thing holding me back is that I can’t find one in a b&m store and I’d really like to see one in person first. (I think the solution to that is going to be order from Costco.com where there’s a wonderfully generous 90 return policy on any electronic. If I don’t like it I can just return it and at most, I might be out $10 for the shipping charges.)

By: cin

cin — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:56:33 +0000

Thank you for your ebook series. I stumbled on this story today via links from the WSJ and O'Reilly Radar. iPhones, Teenagers, and The Future of Reading at Booksquare.com. Due to the small amount of calls I make, I still use a pay as you go cell phone so I'm crossing my fingers that the iPod touch will have an ebook feature.

By: AlanW

AlanW — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:41:32 +0000

It is now possible to run Palm applications on the Nokia 770 and N8X0. The Garnet VM software is free and easy to use. I tried the Palm MobiPocket Reader software, and it seems to work well. The Palm applications run in a 320×480 subset of the 800×480 screen, but this is no worse than a dedicated Palm PDA except the “screen” is smaller. For screenshots, see http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=115545&postcount=14. Note that the screenshots will be probably appear bigger on your computer monitor than on the 770.

Others have reported that eReader and eReader PRO software also work under Garnet VM on the Nokia’s.

If Garnet is ever upgraded to 640×480 or 800×480 it will make the Nokia’s killer e-book readers. They are already very good if most of your e-books are DRM-free.

By: Bev(QB)

Bev(QB) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:15:57 +0000

Oh, I agree about the Vista problems, Teddy. Although from my POV, most of the problems I’ve encountered have been compatibility issues, or should I say the LACK of compatible apps, with Vista x64 (x32 has less problems). But, regardless of whether Vista turns out to be another Windows ME SNAFU, the fact is that XP has been replaced and will eventually no longer be supported. It is just difficult for me to justify an expensive purchase that is already a generation old.

I also agree that, unless you absolutely MUST buy a new system, I would recommend hanging on to your old XP systems for right now until we see how (if?) Vista issues shake themselves out.

By: TeddyPig

TeddyPig — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:10:14 +0000

Bev,

Xp is not obsolete in fact people are demanding it be put on their new equipment constantly. Vista is turning out to be, not an outright bomb, but an annoyance most technical people are not willing to put up with yet.

Maybe around service pack 2 they might start seeing more switch. Until then my very large company is not supporting it and not many others are either.

By: Bev(QB)

Bev(QB) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:45:38 +0000

One HUGE caveat if you are thinking of buying an HP ipaq PDA– a couple of months ago, I bought the ipaq rx5900. It comes with an XP compatible start-up CD, but I assumed it was just a matter of downloading some software to get it to work with my laptop’s Vista x64. Nuh-uh, no Vista drivers. So, after about an hour of live tech chat with HP during which they informed me that they had yet to succesfully make the ipaqs fully compatible with Vista and offering some solutions that MIGHT do SOME of what I needed it to do, I gave up and synched with my old XP Pro desktop.

Now I’m having synch problems with that lately (I won’t even go into ALL the synch frustrations with PDAs). And when you consider that I had to ditch my old beloved Dell Axim X3 (I LOVED my X3) because it just couldn’t synch after IE7 was released, let me assure you that I am eagerly anticipating the day when UMPC’s are affordable enough that I can ditch the PDAs and never have to deal with synching again.

Even if UMPC prices fell dramatically now, I’m not sure I’d buy one with XP, though. It just doesn’t seem to make sense to buy an operating system that is already obsolete. So it’s not just price, but OS that is holding me back from UMPCs.

By: Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:33:44 +0000

So the Palm TX and the iPaq 111 are pretty well matched, then? I have an iPaq now—the rz1715 which is so obsolete I could probably sync with a TRS-80—and I like it. But for some reason the only handheld I’ve seen locally in brick & mortar stores is the Palm, and my husband’s an old-fashioned cash & carry kinda guy. I’m SOL if I ask for something he has to get online.

So I guess I’ll leave the TX on my Christmas list. :)

By: TeddyPig

TeddyPig — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:23:28 +0000

Devon – Go here. It’s really simple. Just enter the website address in Safari on the iPhone and it hacks it open.

Wow that was really simple. They are getting better at that jail break stuff.

By: Devon

Devon — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:46:45 +0000

Thanks so much Jane. Right now I’ve gotten the “Installer” installed, the Open SSH, the BSD subsystem, and the Books app installed.

I’m having trouble with the WinSCP. I keep getting a “Network Connection failed” message. I’ll keep plugging away, but I may bother you via email.

Thanks again. I hope I can get this to work :)