[NTLK] Considering Newton as eBook Reader

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Hello.

As a college student, I'm finding myself increasingly reading
documents from my school's databases. I'm finding it rather annoying
to read multi-page documents on my laptop screen. Since my laptop is
my primary computer, and is often attached to devices like external
hard disks, it's not always as portable as I'd like it, or as
handheld as possible. Given that Sony's Reader costs $349, and iRex's
iLiad runs €649 (not even sure if it's in the States yet), and that
there are no other eInk-based readers that read open formats (like
PDFs or TXTs), or eBook readers period, I considered alternatives.

One of my possibilities is a Newton. I'm considering maybe using a
100 Series MessagePad with NewtCape to convert HTML to NewtonBook
formats, possibly just over ethernet (I already have a PCMCIA 3Com
Ethernet XJack Card). I'm not choosing this for PDA purposes, web
browsing, just as an eBook reader. Any possibly limitations to this,
recommendations on how to make this work with a PowerPC iBook (OS X
10.4.8) (like Serial adaptors and such), or suggestions where to buy
a cheap (reliable) MessagePad? Batteries nor keyboard are required.
I've got AA's aplenty, and plan to nab a rechargeable set as soon as
possible.
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