Two more contestants have joined the
e-reader showdown, ViewSonic's VEB620 and VEB625, and while the Plain Jane styling on these two won't score very well in either the evening dress or swimsuit competitions, they could do just in the talent show portion thanks to native compatibility with PDF, along with ePub, RTF, and plain text. They also sport orientation sensors, so that content will automatically rotate on the 6-inch, 800 x 600 E-Ink screens, and offer 2GB of internal storage with SD expansion. At .24kg they weigh a little less than the latest
Kindle (which weighs in at about .29kg), though they're 2mm thicker (11 here vs. 9) and only the VEB625 sports WiFi connectivity. In Europe, where these are apparently now available, the higher-end model will set you back £205 ($315), while the non-wireless 620 is £175 ($269) -- meaning they won't win the affordability competition either.
posted April 10th 2010 7:46PM
How many people actually own an ereader? I'd like to see a poll, because I can't imagine that many people would actually need one. At least not enough to warrant this many competitors in the marketplace.
@hated one
I think people are just buying the iPad because it's from Apple and it looks like an overgrown iPhone. I don't think nearly that many people are buying the iPad because it has reader capability.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
You would be very surprised. I own one, and have used it daily for the best part of a year and a half. And when it wears out, I fully intend to get another one. From all accounts, they are doing pretty well. e-book purchasing has been multiplying over the last few years. 200% or more in some cases. So there is more than just a few of us. Amazon claimed that the Kindle was one of their most successful product lines, Sony have been selling their readers for years. Both specialist shops and generic book store chains.
I don't need one. In the same way as I don't "need" a tv set, or a laptop, or a watch or a PDA. I do however want one, so I got it. If yo don't.. No problem.
Same applies to pretty much every device shown on this site. How many are actually essential for daily life?
They are really nice devices to read on, and there is a huge number of books available free of charge on the net.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
I was wondering the same thing,
http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/01/29/device.faces.competition.from.ipad.nook.others/
looks millions of people actually buy e-reader. I think that's why Apple decide to market the ipad as a e-reader too. They realize that people still read.
The thing that impress me about e-readers is the e-ink technology -> amazing battery life. But screen transition is a bit … well, not that smooth from what I saw. I still think a color screen e-reader with integrated browser, media player, photo viewer, … will be awesome.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget I was wondering that same thing. I know only 3 people who own an ereader but 4 people with ipads. Presumably the few extra dollars over the cost of a one trick pony is worth it.
@NextGen "I still think a color screen e-reader with integrated browser, media player, photo viewer, … will be awesome."
you know thats basically an iPad, or an iPhone running OS 4, right?
@NextGen The weight also is impressive, u can hold it all day long. Imagine a color screen kindle with multitouch interface, g-sensorwith apps support, and browser… Next gen e-readers!?
@oldmanhorton I meant with the e-ink technology-> lightweight, amazing battery life, ability to read ur ebooks outside, thinner hardware …
@oldmanhorton
no its not because that piece of hypeware is too heavy, has a bad screen for prolonged reading, and has a way too short running time. Not to mention that you support a shitty company by buying one...
btw, didn't asus announce a reader with color e-ink display and over 120 hours for this year ?
@grub
until your eyes bleed and you get a sore arm from holding it...
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
I'm in the market for one. I have two requirements. I want at least a 9 in. screen. It needs to be able to read PDF files and reflow them if needed. All of my ebooks are in PDF format, and I also use Jeppesen charts which I could put in PDF format for flying. It'd be great to not have to not have various charts out while flying. I'd have the printed ones for a backup, and all of the others that I need for that flight would be on an ereader.
My dilemma comes down to this. I want it primarily as an ereader. When you look at the price of the ones that have a large screen, you are within or over the price of the ipad. So it comes down to, do I just get the ipad to have some more versatility, but risk possible eye strain, or just go with a big screen ereader. I wish someone would do a good review of the ipad and the ereader based solely on reading books.
@captaind172
I have the perfect recommendation for you..
None of them!
Seriously.. I have an e-book reader, and I really enjoy using it. And would reccomend it to any keen book reader.
But for charts. Rubbish.
For PDF, slow and prone to crashing, and barely functional.
All it has going for it with your use scenario is a daylight readable screen.
Avoid a lot of headaches. Get a laptop or a netbook, or if you need the sunlight visibility, wait a year or two, and get a netbook with a pixel Qi type screen if they ever appear.
These are basically single purpose devices that are designed to do the best job possible. But only one job. Display fairly simple text files.
It seems every man and his dog is making an e-reader, I wonder if they'll just end up the e-photo frames of 2015.
@hated one
or for $100 more, you can get a real computer inside the HP Slate!
@hated one
Based on past experience.. Get something cheaper.
Is this the cheapest e-ink reader?
Ugh....e-readers. Enough with this failed concept already.
@rhackin Agreed. The fact that Amazon won't release actual kindle numbers and are all too willing to put the product on Apple devices should give all these companies a clue.
@rhackin E-readers are great! Why blow money on a lousy Netbook for reading ebooks? E-ink displays are far better then low quality LCD displays for reading books.
@Lordstrom They're just trying to build the biggest lead they can before this becomes a saturated market. Which, judging from this lacklustre me-too product, is not too far away. I love my reader, and I see more and more of them every day, especially at airports etcetera.
@rhackin
Here's the thing. A real book is likely more convenient than an e-reader anyway. Who needs 100 books with them at any given time? You know you're not going to surf your book collection. Most people read 1 book at a time. Why not just carry that book with you? At the airport, coffee shop, etc. It's a book...you start it, you finish it, then you move on. It's easier to view, doesn't have a limited time before it's unusable (battery), and doesn't cost much. The e-ink book reader is a fadget that will go away...mark my words. You will laugh at the concept of this device in less than 18 months from now. If anything, more robust devices such as the iPad that do much more will render e-ink readers obsolete.
@rhackin I don't need 100 - but it's handy to have four or five, plus the Economist, New Yorker, and Time, esp when I'm travelling. That makes the difference between hand luggage and no hand luggage, which saves huge amounts of time.
Just me, or does the button second from the right look suspiciously like a Windows icon? If so, it would be deliciously hideous to use (even moreso than it already looks to be)
Ipad > any ebook reader that will EVER come out
@Shalabi
Until you get eye cancer from the display...
e-ink > all
I'll pass on this one. I'd rather have my Kindle, with a lower price, and nearly the same features (except for the orientation sensors and the SD expansion...) But really, I don't need that many books with me at once... I've got ADD, but not bad enough to need to carry 5000 books with me to the bathroom.
"meaning they won't win the affordability competition either. "
This coming from the Apple cheerleaders....
E-readers are so dead. Paying hundreds of dollars for a device just to read books? Yeah, those days are numbered.
In the future, it'll all be about reading on tablet like devices, or larger phones like the Evo 4G or Dell Mini 5.
@Johnny Rockets
I'm assuming that's why amazon and others are pushing their Kindle respective apps on these other devices. They are preparing for the future with and without an e-reader.
I want an 8 or 9 inch one. Forget 6 inch screens.