What the best device (PDA) for lots of reading on the go?

[Antoneo]

Hey guys I'd like a reasonably priced device that I could use to read eBooks, Word documents, PDF files, and the like. I'd like something small to stuff into a pocket so some sorta PDA would probably be best but I know nothing of them.

Uh is a sharp screen, long battery life, thin profile, with a $150-$200 (at most, less is always better ) price tag still impossible? Are monochrome screens better than color screens for text reading?

Sorry, I've never had a PDA before so this would be a first. PDA (Pocket PC and Palm) users chime in please!

 

[Antoneo]

Any recommendations?

 

[MaxFusion16]

get a color screen, perhaps a sony sj20, or a hp 1980

 

[ed21x]

personally i would recommend against a color screen, and just get a nice backlit monochrome one if you're only planning on reading eBooks. That'll save you a ton both in price as well as battery life (which is crucial if you're gonna be reading long novels). Try looking in the various lower lines of palm, sony clies, or Ipaqs.

here's a bunch of good deals

edit: the t665C seems to be the best deal there

 

[Antoneo]

I don't plan to game or watch movies, my laptop is sufficient for that use so I won't absolutely need a color screen. But if a color screen makes reading text easier on the eyes, then I will invest. I just want something to take everywhere and begin reading.

Anyone else want to comment on color/monochrome screens and their effect on reading lots of text?

Loading/reading a several hundred kilobyte or several megabyte file (*.txt, *.pdf, *.htm, or *.lit for MS) shouldn't be a problem on any of these devices correct?

ed21x, thanks for the link. Is Sony the leader in the Palm world? even over Palm's own children? Also is there a PDA that accepts compact flash cards as removable media? I have one lying around and I don't even use it.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

The clie looks nice but that screen is too small IMO. Never used one for extended reading though. But it is higher res than PPC screens which are 240x320. Color screens are better than black on green LCDs, but the monochrome Clies have a white backlight.

 

[Antoneo]

Any PPC users find reading easy on their devices?

 

[Michael]

I read novels on my PPC all the time. Since you can get the MS Reader and the Palm Reader for the PPC, it has a bigger selection of books available.

Michael

 

[DaWhim]

my nx70v can't be bad. resolution is 480*320, which KICK ASS