While the US is drowning in a sea of eBook readers, down here in Australia, we’re not so much drowning as dying of dehydration. Fortunately, there is now the BeBook eBook reader, which is hopefully the first second step in bringing e-ink readers to our shores.The BeBook comes with 512MB of internal memory, plus an SD card slot for extra storage. It measures in at 184 x 120 x 10 mm and weighs just 220 grams with the battery. The battery will supposedly last for 7000 page turns, which is a lot of books, no matter how you look at it.
The problem, naturally comes down to content. When you go the the local Bebook website, you get redirected to BookHampers.com.au, which doesn’t exactly offer a great deal of information on how to get book son your device. Sure, there are links to all the free, post copyright titles that you can get for free online, but what about the latest Stephen King novel?
The other issue is price. Not that the $550 asking price from Bookhampers isn’t unreasonable, but with a simple google search you can pick one up from BeBook’s own website for $400 Aussie (for a limited time) plus $45 postage. That $100 could go a long way to filling up your ereader…
Still, considering how much we read from the US about the Kindle, it’s good that we’ve got something available over here now. If only there was a content provider who didn’t completely charge through the nose for an electronic version of the book here in Australia.
After the successful launch in Europe last year BEBOOK is now available in Australia. This Ebook reader from Endless idea, a Dutch company, is capable of reading most file formats unlike some other models that only allows you to buy ebooks from related websites. You can read your documents anywhere thanks to the unique e-ink technology, even in bright sunlight.
The BBEBOOK is available for $549.00, one of the lower priced models currently on the market. New BEBOOK models with touch screen and 3G are expected soon.
[BeBook]
Jade
May 29, 2009 at 2:41 PM
I bought this about a year ago before it was rebranded by a different company. Its actually a hanlin ebook reader from china. Looks the same and has the same exact specs.
Report PermalinkIts popping up worldwide under a group of other names too.
Don’t let that its from China originally put you off though, its a great device. I’ve had no problems. It supports a larger amount of formats then most other ebooks and it takes nokia phone batteries which makes the batteries easier to replace than specially designed ones.
Trevor Sheffield
May 29, 2009 at 10:13 PM
The Foxit eSlick is available in Australia, has more features than Kindle, is cheaper, allows you to download free books or buy the latest editions.
It is my best buy.
Report PermalinkJerry McGuire
May 29, 2009 at 10:52 PM
For really affordable downloadable ebooks, try http://www.kirtasbooks.com. They have over 179,000 to chose from.
Report PermalinkDouglas Beazley
May 30, 2009 at 11:29 AM
The bebook is a rebranded Hanlin V3, which is sold at readers feast in Melbourne as well as the cybook and Illiad. I have one in my bag at the moment and its good. So they have been here for a while. Dymmocks also sells the illiad (which is $1099 or so) which is a high end book reader. We have had them for a while just not advertised very well.
Report PermalinkCC Communications
May 30, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Is it just me or do your eyes begin to hurt when staring at an LCD for too long! But then again i hate the feeling of brand new paper! haha you win some and you loose some. I guess this way i wont have to carry around 3 novels when i go away with work!
Report PermalinkJames McGill
May 30, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Still not big enough! I have a Sony Ebook reader and love it, but I *need* an e-book reader with an A4 screen size so that I can read white papers, journal articles and reference books.
Report PermalinkKat
May 30, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Okay, but we’ve had ebook readers here for a while. The Hanlin (BeBook by a different name) is available from DADirect, Dymocks sells the iLiad and the Cybook, and so does Reader’s Feast in Melbourne. I’m waiting to see how much the new BeBook models will be. As for ebooks, ebooks.com is based in Australia and has Stephen King titles available–some prices are comparable to Kindle, and some seem outrageously overpriced.
Report PermalinkAsh
May 31, 2009 at 1:25 AM
These guys will need to drop the price to at least on par with Portable DVD players…
Report PermalinkKat
June 1, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Is anyone else having trouble getting on the http://www.mybebook.com site?
Since yesterday, everytime I’ve tried to go on and by a bebook, the pages just come up with:
Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: User cre_mybebook has already more than ‘max_user_connections’ active connections in /home/content/b/e/b/bebook/html/includes/functions/database.php on line 19
Unable to connect to database server!
Really disappointing considering I’ve finally decided to by a bebook and now can’t get on the site to do so
Report PermalinkThymo
June 3, 2009 at 7:54 AM
Yes I use the BEbook and it looks like a rebranded Hanlin. What pulled me over to by a Bebook instead of a Hanlin though is that you can get software updates from the Bebook site. Don’t want to try to get that sort of service in China.
He Kate, give the guys from bookhampers a call if you can not access the dutch site. They gave me a special price and I got it the next day.
Report PermalinkTjeerd
July 18, 2009 at 1:31 PM
I guess there are more ereaders coming to Australia finally.
Report PermalinkI hae a BeBook and a friend of mine has the Hanlin. We both agreed that the BeBook is a bit bether. It’s a lot faster in the page turns and more stable and easier to browse. And they have got software updates on a regular basis.
I guess better models will be on the market soon like sony and kindle.
Warren Broom
July 13, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Interesting comment about lack of readers available in Australia.
Report PermalinkWe have been selling ebook readers in Aus for nearly 2 years Including the Hanlin, Irex and cybook models.
They are expensive, the margins are terrible for resellers but, that has not stopped our largest retail outlet from selling 30 units a month.
We have signed an exclusive agreement with Hanlin to supply our own branded unit (The Eco Reader which will be available in around 4 weeks) along with the rest of their range. The Eco reader will retail for $399.00 – if the dollar doesn’t tank again… preloaded with 20 (interesting) titles
Wayne Moss
July 22, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Warren, you mentioned you will be selling the Hanlin reader under your own label, I assume this is the same BeBook has. When and where are they available and will you offer the software updates and access to book titles.
thank
Report PermalinkWayne
Harvey
July 23, 2009 at 12:50 PM
got the bebook from bookhampers and was all good. had a look at hanlin also, but couldn’t see it supported mobipocket, which in my case halfs the possibilities. (tricky.. hanlin looks the same.. but the real difference is apparently with the software, totally different)
Report Permalinksyncing it with mobipocket.com software is great, got to proofread parts of books, and instantly buy the books. (which are all in mobipocket format) and linked it to some rss feeds of newspapers.. and they are on the bebook when I take the bus in the morning!
Tjeerd
August 12, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Now they have there own website in Australia. http://www.bebook.net.au
Report PermalinkDaniel Hayden
November 24, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Try out Australia’s latest ebook and ereader store eBookBop. We are selling BeBooks for $449 (with free shipping) along with a range of other E-Readers including the Sony Pocket, Sony Touch & Cool-ER. There is also a range of 60,000+ e-books.
Report PermalinkBruce
December 18, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Hi Daniel,
looks great your website, but Sony does not sell and pay any license for the software used for Australia (see http://www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/devices/). So how are you able to sell them legally ?
Report PermalinkDaniel Hayden
January 7, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for your feedback and glad to hear you like eBookBop. With regards to your question about our Sony range. We originally approached Sony Australia who informed us that they are not currently importing the readers themselves, however, they assured us that we were able to import their readers through our own wholesale channels. The Sony Shop does not sell content to Australia so you cannot buy ebooks from their store but we sell over 60,000 on our site anyway so no real issues there :=)
Report PermalinkPaula
April 2, 2010 at 12:28 AM
I have had my bebook mini for approximately 4 months now and love it.
Report PermalinkI had the opportunity to purchase a new IRiver ebook for half the retail price but decided in favour of my Bebook. The size of it in my trendy cover means I can, and do, carry it wherever I go, it’s user friendly although I had to alter the filing system, and easy to use, infact, i’m going to purchase my mum who’s almost 70 and an avid reader, one for Christmas!
I’ve looked at others available, but so far for simplicity of use and portability the mini wins hands down, also the formats that it supports are more than adequate.
Granted it doesn’t offer the touch screen, notepad, spreadsheets etc of others, but for someone who wants to download and read books only then its perfect.
Melanie
May 25, 2010 at 9:10 AM
I am SO confused! I desperately want an e-reader but can’t decide which to buy. Want it to fit in my handbag, but not TOO small page. The Kindle gets so many different reviews (including a terrible clicking noise when page turning! the Sony gets good ones overseas but nothing on it in Oz much). Also, am concerned with the range of books available. I have discovered here your website, Daniel, but doesn’t seem like I can get many books on my reading list, like Donna Tart, Andrea Levy, The Millenium Trilogy…all input appreciated.
Report PermalinkTrevor Sheffield
August 31, 2010 at 3:56 PM
The Foxit eSlick can be bought direct from Foxit and is now selling for $US199 including a jacket. It comes with a 2GB card and 20 English Classic books – whatever they are. I have been using mine for 18 months and I read it every night. As my eyesight fails i just bump up the point size – can’t do that in a paper book.
I would not be without it. It takes straight PDF files and there are huge numbers available free and many more you can buy.
It also plays music but I have not tried that. War and Peace was an easy read ;)
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