Review: Borders eBook - finally a rival to the Sony Reader

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 2, 2009 11:58 AM EDT

Article Source: The Times

technology, amazon, ebook, kindle, borders, e-book, e-ink, eink, sony-reader, elonex

The new gadget, made by Elonex for Borders UK, is not particularly flashy. Where the Sony Reader and Amazon's Kindle - which is not available in Britain - are sleek and beautiful, the Borders eBook is simple and functional.

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Michael Sautter's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Book Discussion Group, Books, GeekVine, Not Your Mama's Book Club, uk-news
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8.9

{"commentId":7985951,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Is the Borders eBook available in the U.S.?

{"commentId":7985951,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

2 votes

#1 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":7986193,"authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

Rainkiss

In no way can it be compared with Amazon’s Kindle, which has many technological advantages over the Borders and Sony. The Kindle is wireless, meaning you can download books directly on to the device without having to plug it into a computer first. It can provide newspaper subscriptions, which update automatically every day. The Kindle remains the best eBook reader in the world. You just can’t buy it in Britain yet.

Get a Kindle. ;D Ask me, I'll rant about mine.

{"commentId":7986193,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

5 votes

#2 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":7986264,"authorDomain":"picrad"}

picrad

Just read this article. It's a very poor effort. I don't think the author has any grasp of the product he is reviewing. He talks about the reader in a very superfical way. He's also insufficiently informed about the types of readers available in the UK market as he says there are only 2 options - Sony or Borders - when there is at least this other. http://www.coolreaders.co.uk/default.asp

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3 votes

#3 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":7986775,"authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

Rainkiss

Yikes, expensive e-books for it.

{"commentId":7986775,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

3 votes

#3.1 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":7993694,"authorDomain":"emartens"}

Independent Ed

Yikes is right. I just finished reading Medusa on my Blackberry and only paid $8.00 for it.

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1 vote

#3.2 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 5:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":7987163,"authorDomain":"sorrelen"}

sorrelen

The Sony Reader comes with a leather sleeve which many people like because it makes the gadget feel like a book. But eBook readers are not books. They do not need a sleeve. The Borders device recognises this - no packaging required. The book cover is dead. Long live the welcome screen.

I always saw the cover as protection for the live screen not a way to make it feel like a book...

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3 votes

#4 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":7987461,"authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

Rainkiss

Same, here, sorrelen, I keep my Kindle covered. (The way it's designed, it's very easy to do.) Keeps me from scratching the screen up.

I also lucked into a purse which has a pocket on the side the EXACT right size for the Kindle in its case.

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4 votes

#4.1 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 1:03 PM EDT

{"commentId":7988564,"authorDomain":"sorrelen"}

sorrelen

That is because the Kindle is perfect for you so why not have a pocket that is fit for your Kindle :-)

Although I had to sell my E-reader...

{"commentId":7988564,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"sorrelen"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 1:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":7988813,"authorDomain":"gshaverpioneer"}

3rdtime

I'll buy a book reader wen it will "read" any digital book published. I've got enough 1 trick gadgets.

{"commentId":7988813,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"gshaverpioneer"}

1 vote

#5 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 1:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":7989814,"authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

Rainkiss

3rdtime,

I've found converters for most eBook types. If you can turn it into a .txt file, the Kindle will read it. I have a TON of .lit files, found a free converter, happy as a clam. .pdb is still giving me fits, though.

{"commentId":7989814,"threadId":"617780","contentId":"2991175","authorDomain":"rainkiss"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Thu Jul 2, 2009 2:39 PM EDT

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MICHAEL SAUTTER

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Review: Borders eBook - finally a rival to the Sony Reader

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