Readability of .txt files would be nice, for files (fic) that I download myself and want to take along.

I also want an e-book mainly for travel. On a long trip the books can weigh as much as the clothes and I have a horror of running out of books. I haven't tried the Kindle, but I have tried earlier versions, and the biggest problem was that it took too long to get from one page to the next. I'm a very fast reader, so I spent a lot of time punching the next page button and cursing. I'd like it to be able to use most common formats, including the html from free sites like Gutenberg. I think trade paperback size is fine, and it would be even better if it unfolded like a book and you could see two pages. I'd like to be able to adjust text size and have it be readable in both daylight and in the dark, so I can read on a darkened plane or in a room in which other people are sleeping. Whatever control that takes you to the next page needs to be easy to find and operate.

I don't really care if it connects to the web, but I already have a Treo. I can see the value in the Kindle model of being able to download books at any time, but for a lower price, I'd be happy to download the books and load the e-book before I left.

The real question is price, both of the device and of more current books. I can't see myself spending more that the price of a paperback for an electronic book. A huge part of the cost of a book is in design, printing and distribution. I'd be okay with something like a library model, in which the book self-destructs in a month.

ideal - ebook

Ideally, screen size the size of a large paperback

screen resolution - adjustable. I can't tell you in numbers exactly what I want - but I Know that I like my contrast lower than DH likes it. and I like my type bigger. ( books I hold close to my face, screens I like a little further away)

page turning - fast as I turn a page physically.

weight - 500 page paperback - I don't want to forget it

# of books 10 - 15 300 page paperbacks

battery life - longer is better. But 3/4 hours would work as long as there are multiple ways to recharge

the ability to listen to music , podcast and audiobooks - bonus. Add some downloaded videos -- happy happy. ( two head phone jacks if I have this - so you can listen and watch with someone)

Not really interested in having my computer combined with it , or phone. I thinking of this more as portable entertainment or distraction.

Cost - ?? sort of depends on the cost of the data. I have no problem with the idea of renting a book /movie or even music. netflix style - x # from source at a time for so much money a month. but I want the option to buy - and loan it or give it to my friends. ( honestly - if the rental price is low enough , i am guessing that the give to a friend 'problem' won't be so much of a problem with books or movies)

eta: fold out to pages - cool idea

Yeah--that's a big part of my issue, not just the cost of the device, but the availability and cost of what goes ON it--if I can read anything I'd buy at Barnes and Noble, and it's less than buying the paperback? I'm on it. But if you're charging me $7-$10 to download a book? Nuh uh. My paperbacks may take up space and get old, but they won't become obsolete technology or cease to work after a few years, etc, etc.

I think of a device 4"x6"x.75". It weighs a pound or two. It should have heft. It should be readable in the dark, but with eInklike crispness in the light.

I'll need to be able to get around the book in a few ways. Bookmarks, searching, and some implementation of flipping through pages.

I'd like to able to annotate, myself. And perhaps to also be able to share the annotations of people with the same book loaded.

Formats? Text, something Word-like (RTF? MS-Word?), PDFs (with the understanding that if they're not formatted for the page size of this specific device they'll risk looking like utter crap--but the idea that I can read it clearly and prettily on my computer and on the book is important). MP3 files would be nifty but not required.

Capacity--I'd expect this to be the least of the issues considering what they can put on solid state drives. Hundreds of uncomplicatedly-formatted books, anyway.

Purchasing? Buying wirelessly looks like a dream. But I wouldn't put it on a needs list.

Connectivity? Bluetooth, USB (cable and Flash drive). I feel weird leaving WiFi off the list, but aside for the frill of buying wirelessly (which reminds me--does iTunes (or anyone else) have a "Buy what we're streaming you right now!" option?) I'm not sure what use it'd be.

As far as DRMs go, I'm not in love with them. But even should I accept that I'm buying a license to a work (which means it damned well be significantly cheaper than hardcopy) I will not accept the situation that means they can take it back if they fold or have a hissy fit or whatever.

It's a tablet with a stylus, and perhaps a flip-out keyboard.

When I watch videos on CBS.com, the damn thing paused, like, every 5 seconds. But my connection should be fast as I am at work, and I closed everything else... What can I do?!?!

are you watching videos at a popular time? when I watch first thing in the morning, I didn't have any problems.

Hmm. I tend to watch mid-day, but today I was watching a popular (I assume episode (HIMYM from last night). usually I am watching soap operas in the background at work, though, so I am not sure if it a popular time or they are popular shows....

I get that same herky jerky thing on cbs' full episode player but never have that problem with abc, regardless of the time of day.

I've never been able to figure it out.

Don't get me started on the CBS video player. We hates it. We hates it a lot.