Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 7

I'm pretty new to the PDA world. With the memory I'll be getting with the VDlx I was hoping to carry some e-literature with me to read during down times (traffic, waiting rooms, etc.), and perhaps for general reading.

I know some folks use their Palm Pilots to read e-lit, and I've read publishers will be selling e-lit on Springboard mods so I'd like to hear your experiences, good and bad, on using Pilots/Visors on the side as e-books.

Does the screen size hinder reading more than the usual amount of text that normal use requires? How about ease of reading with the screen backlight (battery drain being a given)? Any of you who do read a lot with a PDA, how often do you change/recharge your batteries?


Thanks in advance. . .

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Plantersville, TX, USA
Posts: 109

I too would like to know this exact thing. Being able to carry around a wide assortment of literature only pushed me to order the Visor sooner, but if I get a headache reading it after a while, it is a moot point.

Zen

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: brooklyn, ny, usa
Posts: 190

here's my .02....

i use my Visor Deluxe (and my Palm IIIx before) for e-texts and general reading (i also have about a meg of avantgo content). it works just fine for me.

most readers give you the ability to adjust the font size of the text for easier reading should the default font size be too small.

check out www.memoware.com for free e-texts and www.peanutpress.com for e-texts for sale.

sluggo

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Pittsford,NY,USA
Posts: 223

I read ebooks on my orginal Palm all the time and that display isn't nearly as sharp as the Visors. I was skeptical of the concept at first, but it works great.

-Eric

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

I too use my Palm IIIx for e-texts. Not as easy to read as books, with the distraction of having to push the scroll button every few seconds, but I can carry about 10 lbs. of books in that little 7 oz. gadget! It works great for air travel, heavy traffic, doctor's waiting room, etc.

In fact, one of my main justifications for upgrading to a Visor was more room for books.

tyler

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Plantersville, TX, USA
Posts: 109

I really love the www.memoware.com site!

I had originally thought "Great, another way for people to make money on the web...selling etexts" and figured I would be spending away to get stuff to read... But it appears all of their stuff is free, and talk about content! I now have almost the complete works of Shakespeare ready for my Visor!

Zen

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 74

I didn't think much of the idea of reading books on a small electronic device, but it does work, and I enjoy it.

In fact, I went into our local Frankin-Covey store and they gave me 3 of Covey's books on CD for free. Pretty cool.

There is alot out there in the public domain, I currently use RichReader Freeware, works pretty well. With the extra space on my VDlx I may invest in a little better reader.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 20

rsperko,
was that a promotion for Franklin Covey or can anyone get the 3 books free on CD? In Canada as well? I'm interested in getting these books as well. Thanks in advance.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 295

rsperko

What three free books did you get from Franklin Covey, and what did you have to do to get them?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Burlington, VT, USA
Posts: 127

And don't forget AvantGo, which is great for commutes on the train, plane flights, etc. You can download various web sites -- news pages, The Onion, whatever -- and read them offline.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 4

I my Palm III as an e-book. I am currently waiting on my Visor Deluxe. One reason I upgraded was the extra memory for e-books. One place I like to troll for books: http://www.baen.com/catalog/chapters.htm (actually they don't have downloadable books there, but I just copy and paste into a text file and convert to a document)

The Palm/Visor is smaller than a paperback, and goes everywhere with me. It reminds me of reading under the covers with a flashlight, only you don't need the flashlight

[This message has been edited by Mark Peters (edited 10-18-1999).]