[SEMI-OFFTOPIC] eBook reader recommendations, anyone?

[Omer Zak]

Tom,
Do you have anything to say about the other requirements listed by me?

The display size which I specified corresponds to an open book, in which
one can see two pages facing each other.

I envisioned the use case of having to read a book while referring to
something else (such as a dictionary or the Wikipedia) at the same time.

However, I can see your point - the above can be accomplished by
flipping windows.  The eBook reader would be required to be able to open
more than one book simultaneously and have a GUI to switch from an open
book to another open book.

--- Omer


On Thu, 2009-12-17 at 09:30 +0200, Tom Goren wrote:
> what is this fantastic device you have invented?
> 
> 14-15 by 9-10 inches display? 
> 
> most ebook readers are much much smaller.
> 
> perhaps you should take a look at
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_e-book_readers - there is a big
> matrix there comparing all features of most devices on the market.
> 
> also, i think there is some mistake in your basic notion about ebook
> readers given your feature wishlist - since all devices today are
> designed as book replacements, not laptop replacements (two windows
> displaying different content side by side does not sound like
> something an ebook must do in my opinion) - and thus their size and
> features are appropriately set.

[... snipped ...]

> 
> 2009/12/16 geoffrey mendelson <geoffreymendelson at gmail.com>
>         
>         On Dec 16, 2009, at 9:40 PM, Omer Zak wrote:
>         
>                 What does the collective wisdom of the Israeli Linux
>                 users know about the current crop of eBook readers?
>                 Any recommendations?
>                 
>                 Do the following requirements make sense?
>                 1. Ability to display PDF files.
>                 2. Full-fledged browser for displaying locally-cached
>                 HTML files.
>                 3. Ability to display text files from the Gutenberg
>                 project.
>                 4. Full Unicode (including BiDi handling) support.
>                 5. Optional lighting, battery powered, for at least 12
>                 hours (for reading at night when there is power
>                 outage).
>                 6. Display dimensions: about 36 by 23 cm (14-15 by
>                 9-10 inches), for convenient display of two book pages
>                 side by side.
>                 7. Ability to display two windows, side by side, each
>                 one displaying different content.
>                 8. Capacity: at least 10GB (enough to store the entire
>                 Hebrew Wikipedia).
>                 9. WiFi connection (to download reading materials from
>                 a host PC).
>                 10. Note: no requirement to read DRM-protected eBooks.
>                 Does there exist an eBook reader, which meets the
>                 above requirements?