eBookwise launched

Colin Dunstan · 11-11-2004, 05:10 PM

eBookwise, an affiliate of fictionwise, is a new commercial e-book store that sells e-books for Gemstar GEB 1150, GEB 2150, REB 1200, and GEB 2200 devices.

If you don't have a dedicated e-book reader yet, you can also buy their new reader eBookwise-1150 (a re-branded GEB 1150 device) for $99.95, which includes a $20 content bonus. Not a bad deal for a dedicated hardware reader with a viewable screen area about as big a paperback book. I would like to know if you consider buying this device!

Alexander Turcic · 11-11-2004, 05:33 PM

The problem with this device is that, at least to my knowledge, you are stuck to reading e-books in the fictionwise format. If someone knew how to 'upload' your self-made e-books, it would be a different story.

cbarnett · 11-11-2004, 06:24 PM

I agree, the reader really needs to be able to read at least one open format to be any sort of option for me (and I really like the smaller size of my h1930

)

I feel it's a step in the right direction though, especially with the price!

Craig.

peterg22 · 11-12-2004, 12:50 PM

I'd much rather Palm or even Sony build a wireless PDA with that size screen and a fold-over cover. I really don't need another device of that size that can't do other stuff as well. It would be extremely useful to have a paperback-size screen to surf the net with. I've written to various parts of Palm to suggest this, and more, but do they listen to what the punter wants ? Nooo....

(short answer - no I wouldn't buy this)

Brad · 11-14-2004, 10:16 AM

Quote:

If someone knew how to 'upload' your self-made e-books, it would be a different story.

There is some talk about developing some sort of conversion capability at least enough so that owners can import/convert books from Gutenburg or Blackmask. Still just talk, we'll see.

Frankly, I think this device does two things:

1. Reassures the big name publishers about DRM enough so that they will release big name titles in an ebook format.

2. More importantly, knocks many steps off the learning curve about buying, downloading, syncing ebooks as compared to PDA's. There are many folks that just want that dedicated, reader - easy to use and cheap. The price is much more consumer oriented than Cybook.

I did order one of these eBookwise readers. I could not resist the price.

I'll let you know what I think once I get a chance to use it. I doubt it will replace my PDA.

Bob Russell · 11-14-2004, 10:54 AM

Brad,

I think you're right about a place for this sort of gadget... if it can carry it off in a way that an average person would be comfortable with. In setup, book acquisitions, and the actual reading has to be pleasurable, of course.

I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Francesco · 11-15-2004, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Screen: Back-lit 5.5" diagonal 4-bit grayscale LCD touch screen; half-VGA resolution

I'd like to see a picture of one of these devices working, because this sounds to me like the screen of a Vx. If it's the same technology, then it's not worth 100 dollars, as it is very hard to read from it.
Update: it looks that it's the same screen as in the Clié SJ20. Only bigger, I guess.

Alexander Turcic · 11-15-2004, 06:23 PM

VGA is what - 640 * 480? So half-VGA would be 320x240, that is the standard PocketPC resolution.

But the eBookwise comes with a 5.5" screen, that is gigantic compared to PDAs! I am curious how this turns out. Either it'll be a wonderful relief for your eyes (mine are complaining that the PDA screen is too small), or the fonts will be so pixelated that you can basically count each dot. Cannot wait to hear back from the first hands-on reviewer!

Brad · 11-15-2004, 07:07 PM

One of the members at the Fictionwise group says that the 1150's screen is very readable. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fictionwise/

Years ago I had a Rocket eBook reader and I remember that sceen as being pretty good.

WarStrider · 11-23-2004, 04:40 PM

They will make good Christmas presents for my brother and nephew, who have been envious of my Rocket eBook Pro.

As far as I know you can download txt,rtf,doc and html files from your computer into the ebook reader. All you need is the Rocket Writer utility.

cbarnett · 11-23-2004, 05:51 PM

The more I hear about this little gem, the more I like it. I think ebookwise are onto something big here, and it will hopefully take off in a big way. They're doing the right things (cheap reader, heaps of excellent titles, ease of access to those titles).

Heck, I love reading on my ipaq, but I might consider one of these as well if I could pick one up "down under" easily....

Craig.

Brad · 11-23-2004, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarStrider

They will make good Christmas presents for my brother and nephew, who have been envious of my Rocket eBook Pro.

As far as I know you can download txt,rtf,doc and html files from your computer into the ebook reader. All you need is the Rocket Writer utility.

Hi WarStrider and welcome to Mobileread.

I hope you will let us know what your brother and nephew think of their eBookwise readers. It will be good to hear other opinions.

They announced today on the mailing list that eBookwise just signed with HarperCollins to add their books to the store. They also announced they have 900 titles from Random House and more new titles are being sent for conversion. I see this as a good sign that eBookwise will be able to sell current bestsellers.

Colin Dunstan · 11-26-2004, 12:27 AM

It definitely sounds great. I just read at ePublishing Blog that Blackmask has added native support for the eBookwise-1150. Looks like everyone is going to love this thing!

Highroller · 11-28-2004, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

The problem with this device is that, at least to my knowledge, you are stuck to reading e-books in the fictionwise format. If someone knew how to 'upload' your self-made e-books, it would be a different story.

I am still unsure but it looks like you can import personal files in txt, html and rtf formats as well as older rb files. If this is true this reader looks like the ticket. Can anyone confirm this? I have wanted an ebook reader for a long time but wanted one that could display html ebooks.

Francesco · 11-28-2004, 11:23 PM

I don't want to spoil the party... but!
But I would advise everyone to play with it LIVE, before ordering this device. Brad posted a link to his review, which features very cool close ups, which I cannot find right now...
Here they are!
Ok, well, the greenish look in the background of the display reminds me of my old Vx, which was very hard to read under 50% of the light conditions one would normally encounter, no matter how big and bold the font would be.
I haven't seen one of these devices, and I doubt they'll make their way to Mexico in the near future, so my opinion is based in those pictures only.

11-11-2004, 05:10 PM	#1
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	eBookwise launched eBookwise, an affiliate of fictionwise, is a new commercial e-book store that sells e-books for Gemstar GEB 1150, GEB 2150, REB 1200, and GEB 2200 devices. If you don't have a dedicated e-book reader yet, you can also buy their new reader eBookwise-1150 (a re-branded GEB 1150 device) for $99.95, which includes a $20 content bonus. Not a bad deal for a dedicated hardware reader with a viewable screen area about as big a paperback book. I would like to know if you consider buying this device!

11-12-2004, 12:50 PM	#4
peterg22 Mobile Advocate Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Alton, Hampshire, UK Device: Sony Clie TJ37,Nokia 6600	*sigh* I'd much rather Palm or even Sony build a wireless PDA with that size screen and a fold-over cover. I really don't need another device of that size that can't do other stuff as well. It would be extremely useful to have a paperback-size screen to surf the net with. I've written to various parts of Palm to suggest this, and more, but do they listen to what the punter wants ? Nooo.... (short answer - no I wouldn't buy this)

11-23-2004, 04:40 PM	#10
WarStrider Member Posts: 15 Karma: 34 Join Date: Nov 2004 Device: Rocket Reader Pro	I bought two. They will make good Christmas presents for my brother and nephew, who have been envious of my Rocket eBook Pro. As far as I know you can download txt,rtf,doc and html files from your computer into the ebook reader. All you need is the Rocket Writer utility.

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11-11-2004, 05:33 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	The problem with this device is that, at least to my knowledge, you are stuck to reading e-books in the fictionwise format. If someone knew how to 'upload' your self-made e-books, it would be a different story.

11-11-2004, 06:24 PM	#3
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I agree, the reader really needs to be able to read at least one open format to be any sort of option for me (and I really like the smaller size of my h1930 ) I feel it's a step in the right direction though, especially with the price! Craig.

11-14-2004, 10:54 AM	#6
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Brad, I think you're right about a place for this sort of gadget... if it can carry it off in a way that an average person would be comfortable with. In setup, book acquisitions, and the actual reading has to be pleasurable, of course. I look forward to hearing what you think of it.

11-15-2004, 06:23 PM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	VGA is what - 640 * 480? So half-VGA would be 320x240, that is the standard PocketPC resolution. But the eBookwise comes with a 5.5" screen, that is gigantic compared to PDAs! I am curious how this turns out. Either it'll be a wonderful relief for your eyes (mine are complaining that the PDA screen is too small), or the fonts will be so pixelated that you can basically count each dot. Cannot wait to hear back from the first hands-on reviewer!

11-15-2004, 07:07 PM	#9
Brad Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 201 Join Date: Sep 2004 Device: Cybook Gen3 / EB1150 /iPhone	One of the members at the Fictionwise group says that the 1150's screen is very readable. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fictionwise/ Years ago I had a Rocket eBook reader and I remember that sceen as being pretty good.

11-23-2004, 05:51 PM	#11
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	The more I hear about this little gem, the more I like it. I think ebookwise are onto something big here, and it will hopefully take off in a big way. They're doing the right things (cheap reader, heaps of excellent titles, ease of access to those titles). Heck, I love reading on my ipaq, but I might consider one of these as well if I could pick one up "down under" easily.... Craig.

11-26-2004, 12:27 AM	#13
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	It definitely sounds great. I just read at ePublishing Blog that Blackmask has added native support for the eBookwise-1150. Looks like everyone is going to love this thing!

11-28-2004, 11:23 PM	#15
Francesco Aficionado Posts: 391 Karma: 710 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Denver, CO, USA Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Touch	I don't want to spoil the party... but! But I would advise everyone to play with it LIVE, before ordering this device. Brad posted a link to his review, which features very cool close ups, which I cannot find right now... Here they are! Ok, well, the greenish look in the background of the display reminds me of my old Vx, which was very hard to read under 50% of the light conditions one would normally encounter, no matter how big and bold the font would be. I haven't seen one of these devices, and I doubt they'll make their way to Mexico in the near future, so my opinion is based in those pictures only.

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