BeBook mini and BeBook 2 priced, 3G added to the latter

Slowly but surely, those oh-so-juicy details are leaking out about Endless Ideas' upcoming duo of e-readers. We've now learned that the BeBook mini will boast the same specifications as the original BeBook, save for the much more compact 5-inch display; if all goes well, it should be available for purchase this summer for €199 ($270). Moving on to the BeBook 2, we've learned that it will include both WiFi and 3G access right out of the box, and the company is currently working with mobile operators in Germany and France in hopes of providing Kindle-like data access for on-the-go book downloads. Unfortunately, it looks like the asking price of that one will hover in the €350 ($476) to €400 ($544) range, but you can check out a Dutch interview with the new announcements just past the break.

[Via Slashgear]

[agreenbhm Posted May 14th 2009 10:29AM]

I'm officially sick of e-book readers.

[ZeroCorpse Posted May 14th 2009 12:34PM]

Then don't buy one, dumb-ass.

Me? I love mine.

[Leicaman Posted May 14th 2009 10:36AM]

Ya know what would really make such readers less expensive? Give them Bluetooth and let us use our cell phones, iPhones, Blackberrys, whatever, to download the books and move them over to the eReader via Bluetooth.

Now there's an idea. I think I'll patent it.

[PhoenixFox Posted May 14th 2009 10:39AM]

iPhone can't move files over bluetooth

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2009 11:32AM]

@Phoenix
So don't use an iphone. There seems to be so many good reasons not to these days.

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2009 12:10PM]

I was actually logging in to say the same thing. Other than gaining subsidies from carriers 3g is stupid since just about every phone out there sports bluetooth. Why should i have to get a separate data plan just for my eBook/iBook

[ZeroCorpse Posted May 14th 2009 12:36PM]

That wouldn't make them less expensive. The problem isn't the G3 adapter; It's the cost of e-ink displays. They're still pricey, but they will eventually come down as the technology gets easier to reproduce.

And if you say "read on an LCD" I'll have to point out that you're probably not the audience for an e-reader.

[atomicthumbs Posted May 14th 2009 10:50AM]

But will it run BeOS?

[EpsilonNot Posted May 14th 2009 11:47AM]

Good to hear I'm not the only one who thought of BeOS upon seeing the title.

[nothing Posted May 14th 2009 12:37PM]

Holy carp @ price

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2009 1:25PM]

Drop the 3G (how many people would really need this?) and drop the price to $199 and it'll fly off the shelves.

[Spiraling Shape Posted May 14th 2009 4:36PM]

Why would you pay the same price for a smaller screen?

[zole2112 Posted May 15th 2009 3:22PM]

I will not buy an e-book reader until it has a touch screen with minimal bezel, all that wasted space on these with bezel and buttons, and a color touchscreen. I want to be able to subscribe to mags and that requires color...until then, no thanks.

[Wwhat Posted May 20th 2009 8:29AM]

With new better ones arriving every 2 weeks you must be a real 'do' kind of person to buy now.

[(Unverified) Posted May 23rd 2009 7:56PM]

I have been eyeing the bebook for a while. But yeah, why would the smaller one be the same price as the full sized reader? Hoping this makes regular old bebook drop in price some. Still too spendy for this book lover.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 24th 2009 9:21PM]

I've featured this post in a lengthy article on e-books at The Know Something Project (http://www.knowsomethingproject.com). Thanks!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2009 5:06PM]

Why can't someone make a really cheap e-book reader which could be used just for reading for god's sake. I don't care about fancy but entirely not useful things like 3G and wifi and mp3.
When the first e-book readers were announced years ago I couldn't wait to get one. I'm still waiting for at least one worth buying to emerge. The problem is that when I read, I read, nothing more, nothing less, so why bother adding things which ultimately do no good, but get the price too high. Shame.