| With everything that has happened over the last few | | | | If you are looking at second user models, bear in |
| months, I feel there is a need for electronic book | | | | mind the newer Bebook has support the Mobipocket |
| reader reviews to be brought right up to date, to | | | | DRM file format. This format is right up there with |
| take in to account the recent price cuts and many | | | | the most popular electronic book publisher file |
| new models that have entered the market. What | | | | formats, see this as another plus because you can |
| was is no longer so here's my Bebook review. Let's | | | | get many up to date free titles published in the |
| see how it stacks up against the new breed of | | | | Mobipocket format. Just a word of warning here |
| electronic book reader, not only in specification but | | | | though, with all the file formats this reader supports |
| also in price and where it fits into the new ebook | | | | it is possible to use it to down load pirated files, as |
| reading device landscape. | | | | you will have the formats to read very much any |
| I have spoken, over the last few months, of my | | | | ebook, but be warned. BeBook insist every device |
| concerns for the future of the smaller device | | | | has onboard software that can identify copyright |
| manufacturers. They are being squeezed really hard | | | | infringements through users downloading pirated |
| from every which way, price, service and | | | | ebooks from sites like Torrent or Usenet. I have no |
| specification. Bebook are one such company, they're | | | | idea if this is correct and have never heard of |
| looking to survive on the sales of one electronic book | | | | anyone being prosecuted through this method of |
| reader model. So lets have a look at the Bebook | | | | identification but I certainly can not condone using the |
| electronic book reader and see what it can offer | | | | device in this way. |
| potential purchasers. | | | | That last point I would like to make is the Bebook's |
| Not much as changed with the Bebook, as other | | | | ability to read RSS with the built in reader. Up load all |
| bigger, better known manufacturers up date their | | | | you chosen news feeds direct from your PC and |
| range with new models or reduce their ageing ones, | | | | there is no reason for you to purchase a daily paper, |
| the Dutch company Endless Ideas who market the | | | | just read the news straight from your Bebook |
| Bebook have remained very quiet. | | | | The big question now then is "How does it compare |
| The technology packed into this device has stood | | | | with other, newer, electronic book reader models |
| the test of time very well. The e-Ink screen gives | | | | price wise?" |
| low power consumption resulting in longer, between | | | | Lets start by saying that the more you look the |
| charge usage of up to 7000 page turns from one | | | | cheaper you will get a Bebook and if you search hard |
| short battery charge, that remains up there amongst | | | | enough I'm sure you can pick a second user one up |
| the best results. The weight and size are still more | | | | on ebay - if your quick. When I was looking around |
| than acceptable for a portable reading device and it's | | | | for the best deal I found it available on a couple of |
| still much better to look at than the Kindle2. | | | | sites for sub £150 ($225) prices ( they were |
| And there are some definite advantages of owning a | | | | probably clearing out their stock post Sony Pocket |
| Bebook than other devices. Take the free 150 classic | | | | Kindle International launch) but expect the norm to |
| titles pre-loaded at the factory, and the choice of | | | | be £170 ($255). At the moment, you can pick |
| around twenty thousand classic titles, on the | | | | up the Sony Pocket for below $200 in the US and |
| MyBebook website, that you can download for free, | | | | the Kindle $259 though I have seen that price below |
| Also, with Bebook originally opting to go down the | | | | the $250 mark. With no word of reductions from the |
| open source road when it launched, it is well placed | | | | likes of Cool-er or Ectaco expect these to be around |
| to handle many of the free content available on the | | | | the Sony Pocket price in the US and marginally more |
| web, perfect if you are like me and read most | | | | in Europe and beyond. |
| anything not particularly the latest best seller. | | | | It does seem to me the Bebook is now some what |
| With the push from within the industry for Epub to | | | | over priced, probably to the tune of |
| become the standard and Google's commitment to | | | | £30-£40 ($45-$60). Christmas is fast |
| that format - they recently stated their intention to | | | | approaching and I'm pretty sure Bebook will announce |
| publish (in the format) their entire library of 1 million | | | | that level of discount to catch some impulse buying |
| plus books, thousands of which can be down loaded | | | | based on price alone. If you can pick a Bebook up |
| for free - the Bebook review model scores heavily | | | | for below £150 then jump at it. With Epub |
| over many other readers as it handles Epub. It also | | | | support you will have a book reader that is more |
| supports in excess of twenty other file formats | | | | future proof than many other higher priced models, |
| which is more than any other reader. | | | | namely the Kindle. |