Borders UK launches £189 e-book reader
30.06.09 | Graeme Neill
Borders UK has unveiled its new 'cheaper' ebook reader. The Elonex ebook has been launched in all of the bookshop chain's stores today (30th June), and is being marketed at £189 as a cheaper option to the Sony Reader.
The new device comes with 100 titles already pre-loaded and can hold up to 1,000 books (on a separate memory card). The titles can be read in landscape or portrait and text can be magnified. Users can read up to 8,000 pages between charges. It can also be read in direct sunlight. The device supports ePub and Adobe formats and is compatible with the e-books being sold on Borders website.
The Bookseller revealed in March that Borders UK was to launch a cheaper ebook after admitting that its £400 iLiad wasn't "sustainable". Borders said the new e-reader had been "specially developed" for Borders UK and at £189 would be "taking on the Sony Reader (which typically costs at least £199) head-to-head". Waterstone's launched the Sony Reader in its stores last September. Play.com is currently also selling the device, at £179.99.
Peter Newbould, commercial director at Borders, said: "Digital bookselling is still in its infancy, but we believe it is here to stay. We were first to market with an e-book reader when we introduced the iRex Iliad last year and by launching the Elonex e-book at a retail price of £189, making it available in all of our UK stores and ensuring it is easy to shop the 45,000 titles at www.borders.co.uk, we hope to bring new customers into the market."
The device was launched into the 41 Borders stores and 10 Books Etc and Borders Express branches this morning (30th June). Also available is an accessory pack priced £29.99, which includes a 4GB memory card, and a leather case.
The retailer said it would continue to sell the iRex iLiad, priced at £399, alongside the Elonex.
Comments on this article
By philip.jones@bookseller.co.uk
I'm sure the picture isn't doing it justice: has anyone used this device?30 Jun 09 12:01
By philip.jones@bookseller.co.uk
I have one now, borrowed from Borders HQ: it's very thin, and almost pocket-sized (back pocket anyway), and I've just turned it on, so fuller review to follow.30 Jun 09 13:03
By The Man
They should give them away to people who sign up for their dating service30 Jun 09 14:30
By Overstocks
Not the cheapest Play sell the SONY eReader for £179.99 http://bit.ly/13KDj430 Jun 09 14:46
By philip.jones@bookseller.co.uk
I've updated the story, and linked to the review.30 Jun 09 15:52
By rich
the thing I'm not sure about is converting. With CDs we can all convert our music collections to MP3 and play them on our new devices. With books you'll be starting from scratch. I wonder if we'll move to a situation where people buy physical copies of their treasured books but use e-reader for paperback fiction that they wouldn't necessarily keep around anyway.30 Jun 09 16:21
By JB
It's pretty good, even comes with Sudoko, pages seem to turn a lot quicker than the Illiad too. Haven't used a Sony one to compare though really. Also uses SD cards, I imagine the Sony one is proprietary memory like their products usually do so you probably save a fortune there.30 Jun 09 20:26
By Blah blah blah
JB, quick Goggle would give you Sony specs and you'd see it uses both proprietary and standard memory cards,01 Jul 09 05:50
By Kit Berry
I haven't used an e-reader yet, but have heard they're particularly good for commuters. In Reading there's been a huge spate recently of snatch-and-run thefts of mobile phones - whilst people are texting or whatever. I wondered if e-readers will come with wrist straps or something to protect them from similar thefts? Just a thought as they'd be extremely snatchable and anyone using one in public is vulnerable.01 Jul 09 09:13
By Wondergnome
After having looked at both readers, the Elonex stands up well against the Sony. It may not have all the functions of the Sony reader, and the "SUDOKO" buton is a bit bizzar, but it's very touchy-feely and nice to hold. Both bits of kit, in my opinion are easy to navigate around, and the screens are both good to read from, which I wasn't expecting. As for having them pinched, there may only be two options. 1) Be a bit streetwise, as you would with a mobile or a good pair of trainers, or 2) Stop hanging around Reading. Back to the readers. I like the idea of the Elonex more, based on it's shape and size, and it's just a better bargin. As I remember, and this may not be correct, the Sony does not come with a mains charger (I think that was an extra £25!) so you had to keep it plugged into a USB port, not good for getting while on holiday. The Elonex does come with a charger and a USB cable, and my phone plays MP3 files, so I'm not worried about the Elonex's lack of music. I can't wait to see the next gen models. Nice to note that the Elonex is made in Birmingham.01 Jul 09 11:21
By Blah blah blah
So how are things at Borders, Wondergnome? You've either bought one on day of launch or work there!01 Jul 09 12:01
By eReader
It does look remarkably like the Cooler. However, that's not surprising because they're both just rebadged and firmware updated version of the Netronix EB-600. If you ever need help identifying the origin of a "new" reader, the matrix at mobileread is invaluable http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix04 Jul 09 20:38
By Patrick Murphy
Borders do not seem to sell them any more but I got one from www.buyingcheap.co.uk. It is a good eBook reader and the price has came down to £165.99. There is a good selection of digital books and it is a good size in comparison to some of the more bulky ebook readers. I have not had any problems so far with it.15 Nov 09 15:34
By Gareth
Since Borders went into administration there only seems to be one place in the UK that sell it and that is www.buyingcheap.co.uk. I can't find it anywhere else. It is a nice sturdy eBook reader27 Nov 09 20:21
By Helene
Not an axiom, that the cheaper is better, but prices of e-readers, as I think, must fall.16 Mar 10 15:56
