[Fishie]

Once you go VGA its hard to go back.
The screen on the Toshiba e800/e805 is incredible and everything else looks like poo on a stick compared to it(apart from some Japan only WinCE devices who either have VGA or WVGA as well).

Im starting to wonder how I could ever live witouth it.

[Fishie]

Once you go VGA its hard to go back.
The screen on the Toshiba e800/e805 is incredible and everything else looks like poo on a stick compared to it(apart from some Japan only WinCE devices who either have VGA or WVGA as well).

Im starting to wonder how I could ever live witouth it.

[yvilla]

Originally Posted by senfeng

I've been reading on my 2215 and though I long for a jog dial, its comforable in my hand. I recently got the Toshiba e805 and its got a jog dial, but its so dang big that I can't really use it for reading for more than a few hours. Now I'm a big guy with big hands, but my Toshi's just too uncomforable for long stretches of reading.

Yeah, I feel the same way as Fishie. That's why I was so surprised to see senfeng's post. As for the e805's size, I do have small hands, and my e805 always wears an extended battery too, yet I find it extremely comfortable to hold. It may be a little bigger than an Ipaq 2215, but it's still smaller than most paper back books, and of course much smaller and lighter than any hard back out there. The other great benefit over a QVGA Pocket PC is that you only have to "turn the page" one-third or one-fourth the number of times you would have to in QVGA resolution, depending on what font size you've selected. In other words, you get close to a paper back book's page worth per page. And, you get to "turn the page" when you have to with a jog dial!

Please don't misunderstand me -- I'm not claiming everyone has to love the e805 the way I do. I know opinions differ. But I do think the above mentioned advantages that I see in the e805 might well also be appreciated by others, so that's why I wanted to present this perspective that differs from the quoted post.

[Jorgen]

>Im starting to wonder how I could ever live witouth it.

He, he - I started reading ebooks on a Psion 3 (at a later stage using a vertical reader that turned the text 90 degrees) some 12 (or more?) years ago.

Jorgen

[senfeng]

Originally Posted by yvilla

...Please don't misunderstand me -- I'm not claiming everyone has to love the e805 the way I do. I know opinions differ. But I do think the above mentioned advantages that I see in the e805 might well also be appreciated by others, so that's why I wanted to present this perspective that differs from the quoted post...

I'm not saying that the e805 isn't a good PDA, I'm just saying that I like the size of the 2215 for long hours of ebook reading.

[divajess]

I think if my trusty lil' 1910 had a jog wheel, I would have it surgically implanted into my hand!!

I love its size and screen for reading my ebooks. When I was in the dark ages with my EM-500, it taxed me to hold it for long periods of time because it was quite the brick. The 1900 series is so sleek and little that it fits perfectly in my small hands.

I still can't wait to upgrade, though.

[alizhan]

I have used uBook for a while now, both on my old e740 and on my new e805. On the e740 I would put uBook into landscape mode with the d-pad on the left, and use the d-pad to page through the book. I actually found this to be more comfortable for long reading sessions than holding a paper book.

On the e805, I use VGA portait mode with the scroll wheel. Unfortunately, extending my thumb to reach the scroll wheel makes it a bit sore after a while. I'd love to use the d-pad in landscape mode like on my old e740, but the buttons on the e805 are so darn loud I can't stand to use them for turning pages. :grumble:

In short: most PDAs are fine for reading e-books. Find one you think you can stand looking at and holding long term. 3.5" screens are perfectly usable, though 4" screens are definitely nicer. And don't forget to use good reader software.

[socrates63]

Reading on a QVGA screen just doesn't do it for me. For most of my ebook reading, I use my Sony Clie SJ33 (I got it after I broke my iPaq 3670 last year and then returned to PPC-land with 2215). Its 320x320 resolution screen and Agfa/ITC fonts for Palm Reader Pro rocks! Nice, crisp text rendered in beautiful typefaces.

PLUS, I like the fact that I can configure the background and text colors on Palm Reader Pro. I absolutely hate reading black text on white background...too much contrast, and when trying to read in bed with the room lights turned off, the screen is too bright. I read text on a black background. It's much easier on the eyes.

I look forward to reading on a VGA screen in the future (if I can get my 3-year-old to "accidentally" drop daddy's iPaq on the concrete driveway, this could be sooner than later :devilboy: ).

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by socrates63

I look forward to reading on a VGA screen in the future (if I can get my 3-year-old to "accidentally" drop daddy's iPaq on the concrete driveway, this could be sooner than later :devilboy: ).

You should. It's amazing.

senfeng, watch closely for the A730 -- it might be a perfect combination of resolution and size for your hands. In my case, I find the e805 decently comfortable with the extended battery, but I can see how a smaller device might be a bit more appealing.

--janak

[sylvangale]

I loved the SonySJ33! I read so many books when I owned it. The scroll wheel is like a wheel mouse wheel which never hits an end, which is such a small but big difference in book enjoyment.

Now I have an h1945 with no scroll wheel at all! But at least it has a really good firm/stable/stiff control pad. I'm so afraid of cushy control pads since owning a Toshiba e330 series. :evil: