News

Asda unveils UK's cheapest e-book reader

07.02.11 | Lisa Campbell

ASDA has launched the UK’s cheapest e-reader at £52.

The View Quest Mediabox 5in Media Tablet went on sale today through its Asda Direct website. The Asda site does not sell e-books with the supermarket chain instead encouraging readers to download out of copyright e-books for free from the Project Gutenberg website. The device also offers music and video playback.

The next cheapest device on the market is sold by WH Smith, which offers the Imagin reader for £59.99. Waterstone's sells the colour e-book reader  Elonex at £79.99.

Adam May, tablet buyer at Asda, said: “We’re also hoping that we can inspire a new generation of readers. At £52, which works out at £1 per week for a year, our reader is outstanding value and will give many years of pleasure to every generation of electronic bookworms.

“There’s no doubt that the e-book is here to stay and we’re doing our bit to put affordable literature in the hands of bookworms.”

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By vibradores

Where can i buy it to ship to Spain?

Thanks

Mon, 02/01/2012 - 13:04
By Klayare

Hi Gaz,

No point going for this one - it only lets you download ebooks that are out of copyright. So if your wife likes reading books where the authors are still alive/have died within the last 70 years, I wouldn't bother!

£52 seems steep for an ereader that doesn't 'read' most books!

Claire :)

Mon, 24/10/2011 - 15:57
By Serene

Apad can also read ebook right? I am about to buy that but still doubting cause it is made in china.Is the quality good or not?

Mon, 17/10/2011 - 04:18
By Anonymous

It's cheap because it's a TFT screen rather than eInk and so not good for long periods of reading.
The battery will need charging frequently to power the backlight, it's likely to suffer from screen glare outside and it may be heavier and thicker than larger 6" eReaders from Amazon, Sony and others.
On the plus side, it will do video better, and so more general purpose.
Just don't expect it to be great at reading books.

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 23:11
By rdlecoeur

You are not 'tied' to Amazon as such. You are tied to .mobi the e format that kindles can read. Just google free kindle books and several sites will come up.
It's also worth checking out calibre which is a free bit of software that can convert formats.
The prob with this asda toy is that, as far as I can see, it cannot read any ebooks with DRM: ergo that would preclude downloading any ebooks from most major retailers who use it either to avoid piracy or create a market for it.
(no one is quite sure yet!)

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 17:36
By Philip Jones

Thanks Anonymous, I noted that this morning, and have asked Lisa to investigate. It doesn't look right as it stands though, you are right.

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 14:23
By Philip Jones

Thanks Anonymous, I noted that this morning, and have asked Lisa to investigate. It doesn't look right as it stands though, you are right.

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 14:23
By rdlecoeur

You are not 'tied' to Amazon as such. You are tied to .mobi the e format that kindles can read. Just google free kindle books and several sites will come up.
It's also worth checking out calibre which is a free bit of software that can convert formats.
The prob with this asda toy is that, as far as I can see, it cannot read any ebooks with DRM: ergo that would preclude downloading any ebooks from most major retailers who use it either to avoid piracy or create a market for it.
(no one is quite sure yet!)

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 17:36
By Anonymous

It's cheap because it's a TFT screen rather than eInk and so not good for long periods of reading.
The battery will need charging frequently to power the backlight, it's likely to suffer from screen glare outside and it may be heavier and thicker than larger 6" eReaders from Amazon, Sony and others.
On the plus side, it will do video better, and so more general purpose.
Just don't expect it to be great at reading books.

Tue, 08/02/2011 - 23:11
By Klayare

Hi Gaz,

No point going for this one - it only lets you download ebooks that are out of copyright. So if your wife likes reading books where the authors are still alive/have died within the last 70 years, I wouldn't bother!

£52 seems steep for an ereader that doesn't 'read' most books!

Claire :)

Mon, 24/10/2011 - 15:57
By Serene

Apad can also read ebook right? I am about to buy that but still doubting cause it is made in china.Is the quality good or not?

Mon, 17/10/2011 - 04:18
By vibradores

Where can i buy it to ship to Spain?

Thanks

Mon, 02/01/2012 - 13:04

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