What is best PDA for ebook reading???

[mdouglas11]

I have a Treo 600 that does everything for me with one notable exception. Having previously been used to high resolution screens (I previously owned a Sony Clie NX70), I can't get used to trying to read an ebook on the standard resolution Treo 600.

Can someone steer me toward a PDA that excels as an ebook reader? I don't need any of the other functionality since I will continue to use my Treo 600 so I really just need a terrific bright and high resolution screen.

Thanks

Mike

[Bionic Antboy]

Can someone steer me toward a PDA that excels as an ebook reader? I don't need any of the other functionality since I will continue to use my Treo 600 so I really just need a terrific bright and high resolution screen.

Thanks

Mike

Seriously? The cheapest OS 5 320x480 device you can find. If all you want to do is ebooks, that's what I'd look at... Maybe an NX60?

[C.L]

Ebooks dont need color, unless you have graphics but most novels and regular literature dont.

[mdouglas11]

Thanks for your observation. Now, do you have a recommendation for a non-color pda with a high resolution screen?

[acraniotes]

The only b/w hi-res PDA worth a damn was the Handera HE330. Yes, Sony briefly sold the T415 with a 320x320 b/w display, but it was woefully muddy and dim. There were a couple of models in the SJ/SL series that were also b/w, if I recall correctly, though I never saw one in person so I can't comment on the viewing experience. They were 320x320, though.

IMO, if you're looking for the best PDA for eBook reading, my vote would be for the NX73/80. They have the brightest, largest screens, excellent battery life, and JogDials where God intended them to be -- on the right side. You might also consider a Tungsten T3, but the screen quality varies wildly from unit to unit, so it's a bit of a crapshoot. Still, the T3 is considerably smaller than the NX73/80, and it has a d-pad, which might appeal to you more. Personally, for "flipping pages", I prefer the JogDial.

If you're on a budget though, an NX60 off eBay might be the ticket...

- Adam

[zeitgheist]

I have a Treo 600 that does everything for me with one notable exception. Having previously been used to high resolution screens (I previously owned a Sony Clie NX70), I can't get used to trying to read an ebook on the standard resolution Treo 600.

Can someone steer me toward a PDA that excels as an ebook reader? I don't need any of the other functionality since I will continue to use my Treo 600 so I really just need a terrific bright and high resolution screen.

Thanks

Mike

Get one w/ the largest screen. Like teh TH55, w/c has a 320x480 screen.

:cool:

[fssia]

Or just buy the Sony Librie (is that how u spell it?)! ;)

[Elfyn]

The Tapwave Zodiac is fantastic for reading ebooks!

[bryus]

The only b/w hi-res PDA worth a damn was the Handera HE330.
- Adam

I had my HandEra 330 for two years and did a lot of eBook reading. I can honestly say that it is a fantastic low cost eBook reader. First of all, eReader (formerly Palm Reader/Peanut Reader) supports its screen fully as does WordSmith. Second of all, the battery life is fantastic because it runs on four "AAA" batteries and has a BW screen. Finally, it uses CF which is the cheapest flash memory out there. You can probably pick up a HandEra 330 around $100.

[zackepceo]

Colour makes text so much better, and there is only 1 PDA on the main market that isnt colour (and it is not hires). For ebooks I think the NX60 would be best, or the TH55 because of the great battery life, HiRes+, and the nice screen.

[Egalus]

Colour makes text so much better, and there is only 1 PDA on the main market that isnt colour (and it is not hires). For ebooks I think the NX60 would be best, or the TH55 because of the great battery life, HiRes+, and the nice screen.

If the NX60 uses the same backlight as the NX70 I would not suggest it cause it's almost unreadable outside the house (not bright enough).
The NX73 has a better backlight (in 1/4th position it's already brighter than NX70 at full brightness).

[javabird]

A color hi-res screen will give you better contrast for reading in areas without the best light (I found this to be true on the bus and plane). I'm using a Sony Clie SJ-22, 320x320 screen, which is perfect for me. In light of Sony's recent announcement, you might be able to pick up a Clie on clearance for a good price. You might also take a look at the PalmOne's Tungsten or Zire 72.

[Mark29]

If you just want a cheap e-book reader, a used Handera 330 is the way to go. It's what I used for 2 years before recently upgrading to the TH55.

Mark

[dwig]

You need 3 things for eBook reading:
1. Clear, sharp display
2. Comfortable fit in your hand
3. Memory expansion.

IMHO:
#1. - While eBooks rarely every need color, most currently or recently manufactured B&W PDA displays suffer from poor backlight when compared to color displays. HiRes B&W (320x320 or 320x480) are actually sharper than color displays with similar specs. In bright daylight, no PDA has been better than my old T415. Its backlight was weak and useful only in very dim situations. In the middle (office lighting) it was pretty murky. My new UX50 is excellent anywhere EXCEPT bright daylight where is becomes somewhat difficult to read. My vote is to look at units with color 320x480 displays.

#2. - This is way too personal for anyone else to tell you what to get. Read their opinions, but make your own evaluation. My choice is 320x480 Landscape. I've read ~200-300 eBooks over the last 7-8 years using various devices. These have primarily been:
HP 320 LX - WinCE v2, B&W display, no backlight, ~320x480 landscape.
Fujitsu sub-notebook - Win98, Color, excellent backlight, 800x600 landscape
Clie T-415 - PalmOS4, B&W, poor backlight, 320x320 square
Clie UX-50 - PalmOS5, Color, excellent backlight, 320x480 landscape
Only the T415 uses the conventional PDA body configuration (vertical slab), the others are all "notebook" configurations (clamshell with keyboards). Of the bunch, the UX50 is my preference for eBooks. Small and light enough to hold for a long time, comfortable in the hand (I flatten it out completely and hold it more or less PDA style changing pages with a thumb tap to the screen but then I'm left-handed and hold the UX with my right), and has a decent hires display. I would prefer a physically larger screen but the UX is fine as is. With the T415, the jog dial was great for page changing; far better than any other button or screen tap.

#3. - The price of memory expansion, on a device used exclusively for eBooks, is not very important. What's important is that there is expansion. eBooks are small and you can easily get a year's worth of lunchtime reading (1 hr/day, 5 days/week, 50 wks/yr) on a 32meg card. Massive books like Twain's "Innocents Abroad" take up only around 500-600k. I personally converted 40 issues of the online eZine "Planet Magazine" (www.planetmagazine.com) to PalmDOC for the 'zine's publisher (they are availble for download on the 'zine's site) and the complete set is only 4.32 meg. Don't worry too much about the price of the memory cards your choosen device uses unless you expect to listen to audio books or will have other multimedia uses (MP3's, videos, ...). For eBooks only, one 128meg card is way more than you would ever use. Even if you keep a couple of dictionaries and an encyclopedia on it as well, there would be room left for 150-300 books. Project Gutenberg distributes a CD with 1000 eBooks that is about 700meg of data. Converted to PalmDOC PDB, these 1000 eBooks would take up about 300 meg.

[archangel]

The NX80 with its great screen (color is important for reading ebooks btw) and jog dial is my favorite device ever for reading ebooks.

I love using different colors for reading not to mention the font smoothing. Color screens are the best way to go. Turning pages easy is also important. I was never comfortable using my thumb to do it with the Tungsten control pad, but the side mounted jog dial is perfect. Not to mention you can open the clamshell and turn pages by pressing the spacebar if you want the screen in a different position.

[Peppy]

The Tapwave Zodiac is fantastic for reading ebooks!

This is my choice as well! Much better than my T3. The screen is crisper and the unit is easier to hold.

Peppy

ps. Hi Elfyn, funny seeing you here ;)