eBook Readers

There are/were 3 options that I was/am looking at to replace or suppliment my current PDA an iPAQ 2400.

1. the new iPAQ 210 which has a 4" VGA screen, I am drooling just thinking about how good my wallpaper and applications would look on this baby. The iPAQ would allow me to use all my calendar functions, link to Outlook, read my eBooks in any format, and play games in full living colour. This is all proven technology and I know it would work for what I need, but I am getting a little bit of eye strain from my current iPAQ. Perhaps the bigger screen and better resolution would help.
2. the Kindle from Amazon.com should they ever decide to sell it to Canadians. This one I have completely removed from my list. It was high up there before it was released because it had EVDO instant access to the bookstore, Mobipocket support, and more. But now I see that it will only support "Unprotected" Mobi files, this means that the vast library of DRM Mainstream books I have bought over the past 3 years of reading would not be able to be loaded and read on this one. That is a LOT of books!! and I actually re-read my books, over and over again. So this is a HUGE disadvantage for the Kindle, in my view.
3. the Cybook from Bookeen. This one is pretty good, it is *only* an eBook reader, no bells and whistles. It has a 6" grey scale screen which has the same reading experience as reading print on paper. This would definitely allow me to rest my eyes after a long day at the computer at work. It supports DRM and unprotected Mobi files as well as HTML, Txt, PRC, PalmDoc, PDF. This covers all the file types I read. At $350 US I am seriously considering this one. Hubby thinks I'm crazy for looking at an eBook Reader which isn't backlit, but I don't mind the idea of using a book light to have the convience of 100s of books in one slim package and larger screen with easy to read words.

So now it is between the iPAQ and the Cybook. I will wait a bit and see how the reviews look, and what price the iPAQ comes out at before I decide.

If you like Harry Potter...

You will want to check out Psychic Serpent by Barb! This is a great series of novel length Harry Potter FanFic which covers years 5-7 at Hogwarts and a prequel. Four books set in the wonderfully rich Harry Potter world. Barb has done a great job blending her view of how Harry and his friends should develope with the world that was created by JK Rowling. These are must reads if you are in any way interested in HP FanFic. Find these stories and more at Barb's yahoo group Psychic_Serpent.

I have read the first 2 books and am working my way through the third. I can't put them down and have stayed up late more nights than I care to mention reading them. I even created Mobipocket versions of them all so that I could read them on my iPAQ! Of course I put those files up on Barb's Psychic_Serpent2 site so that everyone can access them too. It just blows me away that someone could/would take the time to create these stories knowing they get nothing back but the appreciation of thier fans. Barb certainly has my appreciation, she has brough hours and hours of enjoyable reading into my life.

They certainly came in handy the last few days when all I have felt like doing is reading. Being sick isn't fun, but stories like this that can take you out of your own world for a little while make it easier to bare.