I went back to my hometown Tianjin from the US where I spent my New Year's holiday. I got a chance to visit Jinke and saw a sample of the Hanlin V9. My first impression: so pretty! Compared to my Sony PRS-505, it's definitely bigger. The V9 also adds new functions such as WiFi, CDMA/EVDO and handwriting that can help accessing e-books, newspapers, RSS and blogs through the Internet.

Supported file formats are the same as for the V3, including various open formats such as Epub and PPT. And language support covers almost every corner of the world.

For me, the most intriguing thing is the effect of the A4 screen, allowing without zooming to display A4-sized PDF file almost as clear as on paper; only the font size may look a little small. With zoom-in (half page will be displayed on one screen), the font in turn is bigger than the original font of the paper.

The V9 also has a stylus; it realizes the click function, and allows making notes while reading.

Otherwise, the software and hardware are about the same as for the V3.

All in all, I was positively shocked by the V9 -- I believe everyone who sees it will like to get one right away.

According to Jinke, PVI can not yet mass-produce 9.7-inch displays. The MP is delayed until at least June; also the controller designed by E Ink still has a bug. Epson is busy with designing a new controller; the ASIC can be available in next month. The price is not set yet, probably somewhere between $599 and $699.

Some live photos of the V9 are attached.

Thank you for posting this.

If you'll excuse me, I need to go wipe the drool off my keyboard.

OMG! It's really out??? For that price??? Thank you so much for posting this. I had given up hope when I read about the delays in Jinke's website. Btw, what is MP?

I think MP means mass production.

This thing is huge! It is almost comical to look at it side by side with the 505 ;)

Now that you mention it.....yeah, it does look a little big. Too bad there isn't picture of T-bag holding the V9.

Nice, but even this unit will not entice me to try direct bank transfers & uncertain S/H with Jinke. If they had a US distributor who was taking credit cards, I'd be saving for one.

Andy

Nice, exactly the sort of device I'm waiting for. Except I don't need touchscreen! All I want is a wifi/usb enabled device with a large screen and long battery. I just want to READ with it. I don't need to write, or sketch or doodle.

Jinkies... it does look big...

On the other hand, the PRS-505 looks bigger in pictures than it is in person. If it is comparable to an A4 paper size, that's not too huge.

If only it did color...

if nothing else, I'm happy to see so clearly the total lack of reflected glare in the 505, in the side-by-side photo...
e-ink for me is still THE must, more than size

Alessandro

Now iRex, show us your primacy when it comes to devices with big screens.

@alexxxm: V9 HAS e-ink!

One question to T-Bag: Is it possible to make annotations directly in pdf? Thanks.

Gogolo

It is...



my dream...

Yep, I've got gadget lust. Sigh.

It's size makes it less portable than the Sony Reader or the Kindle. :-(

It's size makes it less portable than the Sony Reader or the Kindle. :-(

True, but if you want to read bid pages with small letters, that will be the way to go.

If it were sold through college book stores, it would be the perfect device for students.

Andy

@alexxxm: V9 HAS e-ink!


damn... there was such a large reflection I could swear it was a plain LCD...


alessandro

Yeah too big for my purposes, but pretty nice.

Great display size: really opens up the functionality (I find A4 docs on my Kindle a bit on the small side). A pity that according to their website you can have either touchscreen or WiFi, and not both.

I'd be fascinated to know if the problems with the 10" displays are down to the displays, or the display factory having received a larger order for Kindle components..

I just want to READ with it. I don't need to write, or sketch or doodle.

If you're a teacher, the ability to notate a book is extremely important! I'm feeling real techno-lust for this device!

Jeff:2thumbsup

The things that really interested are :

- With all this new functionality (note taking) and big screen size, how long is the battery life?

- How good is the note taking functionality?

It is really big btw :)

Is it really a E-Ink based reader? Too much light reflection!

Is it really a E-Ink based reader? Too much light reflection!Put a camera flash to a Sony and the result will be the same.

I think this would be perfect for reading mangas.

I guess PDFs could be displayed properly on it too.

This post just made it to ENGADGET!
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/hanlins-v9-e-book-reader-with-9-7-inch-e-ink-display-previewed/

Wow and congrats!



PCH

Does anyone know why PVI is still the sole manufacturer of E Ink displays? It seems like it's going to be a lucrative business (with major players like Sony and Amazon entering the game).

So why only one component supplier?

Does anyone know why PVI is still the sole manufacturer of E Ink displays? It seems like it's going to be a lucrative business (with major players like Sony and Amazon entering the game).

So why only one component supplier?

E-ink is in the same boat right now as early LCD: Too many standards, designs, sizes, too little standardization. That makes it hard for any company to get serious manufacturing plants going. And so far, I wouldn't say E-ink has been so lucrative that venture capitalists are lining up to finance them...

E-ink is in the same boat right now as early LCD: Too many standards, designs, sizes, too little standardization. That makes it hard for any company to get serious manufacturing plants going. And so far, I wouldn't say E-ink has been so lucrative that venture capitalists are lining up to finance them...

In fact, they went almost bankrupt. But then they made the deal with Sony to supply the screen for the Librie, which brought them back.

The V9 looks incredible!! What I dont get is the size of the screen, it seems to a bit prohibitive. Why not make a device that has all these specs with a screen size that works with A4 or standard US letter format well?
Perhaps there is a device like that out there, and I dont know about it (since I am a n00b, it is quite possible :) )

Why not make a device that has all these specs with a screen size that works with A4 or standard US letter format well?

But it does?!

Nooooooo ... I'm going to be bankrupt at this rate

(I know I don't have to buy one but ... :D)

Nooooooo ... I'm going to be bankrupt at this rate

(I know I don't have to buy one but ... :D)

Yeah, the same here.
Rumours about 9.7" screen was the main reason why I decided not to buy iRex iLiad.

I like the idea of the bigger screen. In my opinion though, the device is ugly. Maybe I'm just partial to the elegent simplicity of the iLiad, but I think I'll be holding off on getting on of these.

Maybe iRex can step up with a larger screen iLiad version (with suspend/sleep support?)...

For me, the most intriguing thing is the effect of the A4 screen

PVI can not yet mass-produce 9.7-inch displays

Seems to be something of a contradiction there. A 9.7" screen is not A4!

I am personally more interested in the Plasticlogic devices for real A4 readers. I dont wnat to have a big A4 device. Though i dont know, how they are going to solve the "scribbling" on the flexible devices.

I am personally more interested in the Plasticlogic devices for real A4 readers. I dont wnat to have a big A4 device. Though i dont know, how they are going to solve the "scribbling" on the flexible devices.That's a real good point tribble! That would also apply to safely carrying the device.

The V9 looks incredible!! What I dont get is the size of the screen, it seems to a bit prohibitive. Why not make a device that has all these specs with a screen size that works with A4 or standard US letter format well?
Perhaps there is a device like that out there, and I dont know about it (since I am a n00b, it is quite possible :) )

That is exactly what they did!!! A small screen does not work with A4 or standard US letter format well if page formatting is important. To hold a big page requires a big screen and even so it is smaller than the paper.

Dale

good, thanks to T bag
I tried to contact with Jinke several time about release time of V9.
I would like to wait another half year to get one.
reading PDF is really important to me. and V3 support djvu, hopfully V9 can support djvu too.

Jinke also ships smaller one with cheaper price.


It's size makes it less portable than the Sony Reader or the Kindle. :-(

how much would you pay ?
:)

I like the idea of the bigger screen. In my opinion though, the device is ugly. Maybe I'm just partial to the elegent simplicity of the iLiad, but I think I'll be holding off on getting on of these.

Maybe iRex can step up with a larger screen iLiad version (with suspend/sleep support?)...

margin!
is there margin on your A4/letter printing?


Seems to be something of a contradiction there. A 9.7" screen is not A4!

T-bag, could you post some HIGH resolution photos of this device? I wonder how the fonts look like. On v3 when viewing pdfs fonts look pretty ugly.

margin!
is there margin on your A4/letter printing?

Sorry, what I meant was that an A4 page is a specific size - 210 x 297mm. That equates to a diagonal size of 364mm, or 14.3".

You really can't say that a 9.7" screen is "A4" when it clearly isn't. It may be possible to use such a screen to read A4 documents reasonably well, but that doesn't make it an "A4 screen".

can't[/i] say that a 9.7" screen is "A4" when it clearly isn't. It may be possible to use such a screen to read A4 documents reasonably well, but that doesn't make it an "A4 screen".

Exactly, a 9.7” screen is only slightly larger than A5, making it half the size of A4.

<Burns>Eeexxceellent...</Burns>

Seriously. I've got soooo many PDF documents that simply cannot be scaled down or re-flowed. I'm very VERY VERY psyched that this is getting closer to production. It'd be nice if they had a version with no frills. Same large screen, reads a myriad of formats, and that's it. No WiFi, no EVDO, none of that. Just a reader. But...I'm pretty sure I'll get one anyway. :D

Exactly, a 9.7” screen is only slightly larger than A5, making it half the size of A4.

Which makes it perfect to view in landscape mode and 1/2 a page although it is large enough to do relatively well in portrait mode with most documents which is an advantage over the 8.1" iLiad.

Dale

Jinkies.....

You see them in somber dark places with their eyes so red...

Those poor people... eink Jinkies...:p

9.7'' screen is fascinating, it will be good for viewing especially PDF files.
But CPU is only 200Mhz.
Won't it be too slow for handling PDFs?

The CPU will be just fine.

Now I view textbooks that I've photographed on my Fujitsu, but the battery life truly sucks!

I would easily pay $600 for a long battery life, light weight, and stylus to take notes!

Now, how long do I have to wait . . . I'm watching the clock . . .

I carry around about 40 textbooks and quite a few references that DH has turned into PDF books for me. This size would be such a help. And being able to take notes (annotate) is incredibly valuable.

:thanks::iloveyou:

First, if Hanlin can ever get a version of their reader that supports a full touch screen (for note taking & web browsing) as well as Wi-Fi, it will sell to every college in the USA. We all use some online course system, mostly Blackboard, but sometimes WebCT. We all have Wi-Fi in our class rooms. We want our students to be able to log into Blackboad via Wi-Fi and take a quiz. The students want to be able to record a lecture, post it to a web folder, and listen to it later. They want to be able to take notes, or type an essay. They want to be able to check their eMail. They need to be able to access text books the instructor selects.

The battery must by able to take a day-from-hell (16-20 hours) and then not be charged (the user is too tired to remember) before the next day (10-12 hours.)

The market is probably 1 million units per year, if Hanlin can get it right. I'll make it required for a few hundred college freshmen a year, if they ever start selling one that does what we need.

margin!
is there margin on your A4/letter printing?

Assume a 1" margin, all the way around an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. (8.5x11 is not quite A4, but it's close.) That's a 6.5" x 9" sheet. Use the pythagorean theorem. The diagonal = sqrt(6.5^2 + 9^2) = sqrt(123.25) = 11.1 inches. That's NOT 9.7 inches.

Andy

How many greyscale tones? 4,8,16?

Hanlin V9 vs. Netronix 9.7.....Decisions, decisions.....(I LOVE capitalism - even when I'm not typing...)

Hanlin V9 vs. Netronix 9.7.....Decisions, decisions.....(I LOVE capitalism - even when I'm not typing...)

... Astak Mentor 9.7"...

I'm all for an A4 device... what I can tell from the pictures, still no anti reflection screen? ouch :(

I went back to my hometown Tianjin from the US where I spent my New Year's holiday. I got a chance to visit Jinke and saw a sample of the Hanlin V9. My first impression: so pretty! Compared to my Sony PRS-505, it's definitely bigger. The V9 also adds new functions such as WiFi, CDMA/EVDO and handwriting that can help accessing e-books, newspapers, RSS and blogs through the Internet.

Supported file formats are the same as for the V3, including various open formats such as Epub and PPT. And language support covers almost every corner of the world.

For me, the most intriguing thing is the effect of the A4 screen, allowing without zooming to display A4-sized PDF file almost as clear as on paper; only the font size may look a little small. With zoom-in (half page will be displayed on one screen), the font in turn is bigger than the original font of the paper.

The V9 also has a stylus; it realizes the click function, and allows making notes while reading.

Otherwise, the software and hardware are about the same as for the V3.

All in all, I was positively shocked by the V9 -- I believe everyone who sees it will like to get one right away.

According to Jinke, PVI can not yet mass-produce 9.7-inch displays. The MP is delayed until at least June; also the controller designed by E Ink still has a bug. Epson is busy with designing a new controller; the ASIC can be available in next month. The price is not set yet, probably somewhere between $599 and $699.

Some live photos of the V9 are attached.

Okay this is starting to look like what I am looking for.

What I want is a digital planner, reader, notetaker all in one. I am a professional and spend 90% of my day in meetings taking notes or preparing for meetings reading white papers and preparing my comments. I would like to take all of this completely digital with one nice device. Yes there are PDA's ( too small to comfortably read or take notes on but nice as a digital planner ) Why can't I have it all in a nice slick device with an E Ink display for comfortable viewing that is large enough for comfortable reading and notetaking, with enough power to run a decent planner software that maybe can wifi sync with my outlook. No need for email not asking for that, although it would be nice ....

Okay this is starting to look like what I am looking for.

What I want is a digital planner, reader, notetaker all in one. I am a professional and spend 90% of my day in meetings taking notes or preparing for meetings reading white papers and preparing my comments. I would like to take all of this completely digital with one nice device. Yes there are PDA's ( too small to comfortably read or take notes on but nice as a digital planner ) Why can't I have it all in a nice slick device with an E Ink display for comfortable viewing that is large enough for comfortable reading and notetaking, with enough power to run a decent planner software that maybe can wifi sync with my outlook. No need for email not asking for that, although it would be nice ....
Then what you really want is a iRex iLiad.

Then what you really want is a iRex iLiad.

I have been seriously considering one, anyone hear if a new version is due out any time soon? I would rather have a V3 if one is on the horizon. Problem is I have read some posts that say it may not be as durable as I will be using this almost all day ... every day ... also from what I have seen the calendar, task list functionality available is poor at best with no sync capability? Thoughts ??

so big