Re: [gutvol-d] Ebook reading devices
In a message dated 1/12/2006 12:15:48 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, robsuth@robsuth.plus.com writes: enquiries as far as I could, but found no product among the DVD portable readers that would deal with text, nor was any of the manufacturers interested in producing one. Apart from the French reader Cybook (which I think is too expensive for the task and market although otherwise for the most part ideal) there seems still to be no special ebook reading device available in UK or the EU generally: laptops are still too big and heavy, and PDAs still have far too small a screen My enquiries confirmed my strong impression that there are protectionist interests holding this back, presumably in the interests of proprietary issues of ebooks. I suggest you go to eBookWise and FictionWise. Although they do not deal with DVD portable readers, they are seeking input into what people need and want, and would be very glad to hear from you. My husband, two of my daughters, several of my friends, and I all use the eBookWise reader which you can find for sale for about $100 at eBookWise.com. By using extra memory cards, you can build immense libraries, or you can use only the memory built into the device and build an immense library on your computer, realizing that you'll have to download often. I have six memory cards and would like to have about sixty more, but they aren't free. Anne Wingate
If you want a portable reading device, you can get a PDA and then use a screen magnifier. They are very good and magnify the typical screen by 5x. It's still portable, but a lot easier to read. I use one for everything. Here is my review of one: "This product is called a Screen Magnifier. Officeonthegogo.com are the only makers and retailers of this part, but I think it's worth it. At a price of $29.95US, you can view everything twice the size. How? Designers made a cradle-type structure that slots onto the back of the Pocket PC. A magnifying plate is then to hover over the front of it from long arms. Through this plate users read or use their screen, it not actually touching the screen. It's a light-weight, easily handled product, compared to using a normal magnifier you could drop and break. For PALM users, they customise them to the right size. Because Office On The GoGo make them, they can alter them to the customers' needs. There are two types of stands the magnifying plate is put on. One being a backpack for the PDA, the other a proper stand. The backpack, as mentioned above, surrounds the PDA shell, where the stand props up the PDA for those using clip-on or infra-red keyboard. (I know you're wondering about keyboards - stay tuned for that information in an article coming soon). If you want both of these stands you can buy the "Magnifico Combo" for $39.95US. Tell Mike Sirius that Bubble Girl sent you. " PDA Patrol by Season BubbleGirl Hope this helps! Season BubbleGirl www.bubblegirl.net Where individuality truly shines! Author of A Doggy Diary and the coming autobiography, Life in a Bubble Creator of Music Mash, PDA Patrol, and other free literature at bubblegirl.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Gutenberg9443@aol.com To: gutvol-d@lists.pglaf.org Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:01 AM Subject: Re: [gutvol-d] Ebook reading devices In a message dated 1/12/2006 12:15:48 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, robsuth@robsuth.plus.com writes: enquiries as far as I could, but found no product among the DVD portable readers that would deal with text, nor was any of the manufacturers interested in producing one. Apart from the French reader Cybook (which I think is too expensive for the task and market although otherwise for the most part ideal) there seems still to be no special ebook reading device available in UK or the EU generally: laptops are still too big and heavy, and PDAs still have far too small a screen My enquiries confirmed my strong impression that there are protectionist interests holding this back, presumably in the interests of proprietary issues of ebooks. I suggest you go to eBookWise and FictionWise. Although they do not deal with DVD portable readers, they are seeking input into what people need and want, and would be very glad to hear from you. My husband, two of my daughters, several of my friends, and I all use the eBookWise reader which you can find for sale for about $100 at eBookWise.com. By using extra memory cards, you can build immense libraries, or you can use only the memory built into the device and build an immense library on your computer, realizing that you'll have to download often. I have six memory cards and would like to have about sixty more, but they aren't free. Anne Wingate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ gutvol-d mailing list gutvol-d@lists.pglaf.org http://lists.pglaf.org/listinfo.cgi/gutvol-d
Ah, But!! I live furth of the USA and Canada (in Scotland), and those readers are not available here (or anywhere in EU, as far as I can make out). No one can tell me why - the providers all talk about incompatibilities, but don't explain what they are; others say the market is too small to justify it, which is plainly nonsense. However, I pin my hopes on Iliad, which Phillips (Netherlands) are likely to bring out in April, but the price is not yet announced. In the meantime I hump my ancient Thinkpad up and down to bed!. The DVD player inquiry was just the tail end of an earlier search - in case one could be found that ran text - their screens are mostly big enough, they are much lighter than laptops and some are very cheap. But alas, none does text! The aggravation of the US/Canada restriction is that it is highly probable that whatever the incompatibility it could be overcome by a simple adapter or by quite simple software of some kind. It is incomprehensible to me that the providers of these devices have not made some kind of modification which would open up this potential market to them - What is the population of the European Union? and India and China, even more, a huge market waiting. Robert Sutherland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At 23:31 20-01-06, you wrote:
In a message dated 1/12/2006 12:15:48 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, robsuth@robsuth.plus.com writes: enquiries as far as I could, but found no product among the DVD portable readers that would deal with text, nor was any of the manufacturers interested in producing one. Apart from the French reader Cybook (which I think is too expensive for the task and market although otherwise for the most part ideal) there seems still to be no special ebook reading device available in UK or the EU generally: laptops are still too big and heavy, and PDAs still have far too small a screen My enquiries confirmed my strong impression that there are protectionist interests holding this back, presumably in the interests of proprietary issues of ebooks.
I suggest you go to eBookWise and FictionWise. Although they do not deal with DVD portable readers, they are seeking input into what people need and want, and would be very glad to hear from you.
My husband, two of my daughters, several of my friends, and I all use the eBookWise reader which you can find for sale for about $100 at eBookWise.com. By using extra memory cards, you can build immense libraries, or you can use only the memory built into the device and build an immense library on your computer, realizing that you'll have to download often. I have six memory cards and would like to have about sixty more, but they aren't free.
Anne Wingate _______________________________________________ gutvol-d mailing list gutvol-d@lists.pglaf.org http://lists.pglaf.org/listinfo.cgi/gutvol-d
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Gutenberg9443＠aol.com -
Robert Sutherland -
Season BubbleGirl - bubblegirl.net