Comments on: Reading on the eee pc

By: eldino

eldino — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:29:53 +0000

Netbooks like eeePC 701 are unbeatable as ebook reader, expecially for comics (cbz/.cbr) and complex pdfs that are both not well supported on the ebook readers actually on the market.

I use a 701 as manga and comics reader since 6 months and it feels great, any ebook reader can beat it. No conversions, no pain: just rotate the screen, start up CDisplay, load your comics and happy reading.

I wrote a succesfull and complete tutorial about this:
http://eldino.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/it-io-il-mio-asus-eeepc-701-4g-nero-netbook-episodio-5-come-trasformare-leeepc-in-un-ebook-reader-la-guida-completa/

Check the video! You can traslate the text to italian using google traslate.

Small netbooks are great ebook readers! Don’t understimate them! The only pain is battery: mine dies after 2 hours.

By: borax99 (AlainC.)

borax99 (AlainC.) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:32:22 +0000

I like your “roll your own” approach, Shiyali. I’ve recently experimented with my P1610. Normally I read in full-on tablet mode, (portait orientation, single-page) but I recently discovered that I didn’t mind reading in open notebook mode, i.e. landscape, with two pages side by side. It’s not necessarily ideal when you’re on the run, but works reasonably well at home or when stationary.

Your idea about the rubber keyboard is interesting – they are inexpensive and easy to find. I doubt if anybody would want to spend any amount of time using it for input, but it might work in the short term. As an added bonus, it would also protect your device quite nicely !

By: Deanna

Deanna — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:29:35 +0000

I’ve been using an EEE PC 701 as my main ebook reader since I got it in December ’07. It’s not the best solution, but it works for most things.

The main problem with reading on a netbook is the keyboard gets in the way when I try to curl up. I’m thinking something like the Asus t91 or the AI Touchbook would solve that problem. I’m on pre-order for a Touchbook and waiting to see how those turn out.

I’m “Test Driving” a Sony Reader for Smart Bitches Trashy Books and really like it. I can very easily see moving to a Sony Reader for my reading, if I can get over the price tag.

I need a netbook with a 9 inch screen, instead of the 7 inch. My 701′s been a good machine, but the screen is just too small for internet and computer use. Wether I go with a more expensive tablet style netbook sized computer or switch to a Sony Reader and a cheaper 9 inch regular netbook I haven’t decided yet. Part of that decision will be made by the dropping price of Sony 505s and part of it will be when I get an email saying my Touchbook is about to ship.

By: Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:23:45 +0000

The comments about adjusting the settings of the netbook are valuable. Many who are “convinced” they cannot read for extended periods on home computers, laptops, netbooks, etc, could find they can be much more comfortable reading with a few manual adjustments to their screens’ brightness, contrast, colors, font types and sizes, and even sharpness (if they have a “Cleartype” setting of some sort on their device). Perhaps reading apps should include some instruction, or even access the computer’s screen settings, in order to make this easier for customers…