Foxit cut their teeth when they developed a lightweight PDF reader as an alternative to Adobe’s. Now they bring their expertise to the eBook reader market with the Foxit eSlick. Nobody is going to deny that the Kindle, Sony PRS 700, or the iRex 1000S are enviable eBook readers. But, the Foxit eSlick reader manages to beat them all in the price category while still bringing a solid feature set well suited to readers of every stripe.
Standout Features
• $259 price tag
• Weights 6.4 ounces
• 128 MB internal memory and SD card slot
• MP3 player
The Foxit eSlick is a fully functional entry level eBook reader, and we think Foxit is doing a big favor for the eBook arena by introducing the first truly affordable eBook reader. The Foxit eSlick, does however, have a couple notable deficiencies users should be aware of before they invest in one.
Namely, it doesn’t have Wi-Fi, so you’ll be relying on a USB connection or SD card rather than Wi-Fi for getting new content. For the average user, this shouldn’t be a deal breaker as it’s easy to interface with a PC and manually upload files.
Depending on your circumstances, going without Wi-Fi might not be worth the cash you’d save. But, for a full hundred dollars less than the competition, the Foxit eSlick is an undeniable bargain.
Unlike the Amazon Kindle, the Foxit eSlick doesn’t have its own marketplace for books and publications. While this isn’t a big complaint, some users prefer the simplicity of the Amazon’s Kindle store. Downloading books for the Foxit eSlick is a simple affair through any of the alternative eBookstores out there, just be sure to confirm file type compatability or convert your eBooks to PDF.
Like most eBook readers, the Foxit eSlick’s battery will run for days on end as long as you aren’t using it as an MP3 player. The Foxit eSlick has a battery life of approximately 8,000 page turns and takes 3 hours to recharge.
Foxit offers a standard warranty and limited support via telephone.
The Foxit eSlick is the size of a thin mass market paperback, has a huge battery life, and is compatible with a healthy variety of file types. Its reasonable price tag makes us comfortable with the idea of reverting back to a wired eBook reader. After all, who really needs a 600-page novel at a moments notice. With a bit of planning, the Foxit eSlick makes a great starting point for a budding eBibliophile.

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