Comparing B&N nook, Foxit eSlick, ECTACO jetBook-lite, iRex iLiad, eBookwise 1150 etc

[tselling]

The jetBook and jetBook Lite do not have backlights so you need good ambient lighting to be able to read with it.

Originally Posted by =X=

I'm thinking of picking up a Jetbook, with all the features that is has and only $115 I think it's a great deal. I do have a question though, the screen is monochromatic screen does generate enough light to read at night without an additional light like the EBWise or do you still need ambient light to read with this device.

=X=

[khalleron]

I'm at work, so I can't watch the video. Did me mention the Franklin eBookman?

I ask because I first 'met' RJS on the eBookman discussion boards - we were both angry at Franklin for dropping .lit support without telling anyone they had done it.

So yes, he's been into ebooks for a loooooong time.

[TallMomof2]

The Jetbook is a good deal, the only reason it isn't my main device is that the contrast isn't good enough for my bad vision.

[GhostHawk]

Not backlit at all, good news is this means it reads as well in direct sunlight as it does in low light conditions. Bad news is you need a bedsight light, book light, etc.

I have used mine in bed several times using a book light clipped to the bill of a baseball cap. Pointed at the Jetbook, if your book light is good its more than enough to read by.
Plus it automatically goes where you point your head.

Jetbook also sells an "ear light" that clips onto your ear for doing the same thing.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fugazied

ok this guy knows his e-readers!

I had never seen that formating issue with the nook before, it's shocking! All of those devices look very old school, I don't know why the people designing e-readers don't hire some hardware people who look at aesthetics of the devices more closely. Most of those apart from the nook and Jetbook look like the hardware was designed in the 80s.

The issue they all seem to have is the lack of hyphenation. That wols solve most of the problems with full justified text. It is a shame that NOBODY'S reader does it or does it well.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by khalleron

I'm at work, so I can't watch the video. Did me mention the Franklin eBookman?

I ask because I first 'met' RJS on the eBookman discussion boards - we were both angry at Franklin for dropping .lit support without telling anyone they had done it.

So yes, he's been into ebooks for a loooooong time.

yes, I see Franklin eBookman on this video. Robert paid $229 for EBM-911 in 2001.
EBM-911 still available for $150 and EBM-900 with less memory and no backlight for $79.95

[guyanonymous]

And my mother found an EBM-911 that she got me as a joke gift (having never heard of e-books) for $25 or so in a bargain bin at an Office Max in the US (or a store like it).

I used it not expecting much, and though it's jog-dial broke and it burned through batteries, I enjoyed it enough to stick with the whole e-book scene.

Can't imagine, though, paying $150 for it!

[khalleron]

Originally Posted by Kris777

yes, I see Franklin eBookman on this video. Robert paid $229 for EBM-911 in 2001.
EBM-911 still available for $150 and EBM-900 with less memory and no backlight for $79.95

I made Franklin take back my eBookman on general principle (I don't trust a company that would plain flat out lie to me), I do have to say that ergonomically it was the best reader I've tried. One handed reading, just flick the jog wheel - it was great.

If I could find something with those ergonomics and the long battery life and readability of my PRS-505, I'd be totally happy.

[Kris777]

I'm wondering if someone on this forum read Robert J. Sawyer books? What is the most inereresting one?

[khalleron]

Originally Posted by Kris777

I'm wondering if someone on this forum read Robert J. Sawyer books? What is the most inereresting one?

I've read two. Both had great ideas, both were lacking in characterization and plot.

I doubt I'll be reading another.

Nice guy, though.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by charleski

I agree with him completely concerning justification - the software needs to be able to handle hyphenation (which needs different tables for different languages).

I am pretty sure that the ePub spec allows for hyphenation points to be delineated in the mark-up. This way the layout engine doesn't need to care about the language at all... it only needs to understand the metrics of the font it is laying out and hyphenate at the best delineated hyphenation mark.

The layout engine also needs a very simple check to see if all of the words prior to the next paragraph mark will fit on one line... so you don't see three words on the last line in a para, one on the left, one centered and one flush right.

BOb

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by khalleron

I've read two. Both had great ideas, both were lacking in characterization and plot.

I doubt I'll be reading another.

Nice guy, though.

I have plans to read Hominids - Hugo Award Winner

[HorridRedDog]

Originally Posted by Kris777

I'm wondering if someone on this forum read Robert J. Sawyer books? What is the most inereresting one?

I've read a few. HOMINIDS, HUMANS, and HYBRIDS.

Very interesting stories. Not the very best, but well worth reading. I know that doesn't make sense. You just have to read them to understand.

Alltogether I would recommend HOMINIDS and HUMANS in particular.

[Xanthe]

Thanks for posting that video. I enjoyed seeing the comparisons made in real life, rather than just reading them.

[greenapple]

I agree with what he said about the left margin being too small for jetBook. The text is just too close to the left edge, imo. I'd be delighted if we could be given an option to set the margin with a firmware update.