jetBook on CES

[Kris777]

Interesting review and jetBook pictures from CES:
http://ebooktest.blogspot.com/2009/0...ge-course.html

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Full ePub support will signal the jetBook is embracing the future. It will indicate to people a jetBook purchase is a safe investment. It will also make the jetBook an instant alternative to the Sony Reader.
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[zelda_pinwheel]

thanks for the link ! it's great to see epub gaining ground on more devices, and that article gives some compelling reasons why it should.

[pilotbob]

The jetbook really is a nice device. It has alot of features that Sony 505 and CyBook don't have given the folder support and ability to enter text with T9.

They do need to allow you to install your own dictionaries though. At this time you are stuck with the ones installed. Then again, they install some translation dictionaries in addition to defining dicts. ALso, supporting more than one at a time like only the CyBook currently does would be a bonus.

For $200 that Fry's has been selling it for it is certainly a good option, espesially for someone that takes it on the road alot.

Of course you have to be willing to remove DRM and do some conversions to read most recent mainstream books. But, if they get a good ePUB viewer that won't be a problem. I'm sure as time goes by to ePUB convertors will get better and better (see calibre).

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

i would love to see a jetbook in person, myself. i don't think anybody has one over here though, not that i've seen anyway.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i would love to see a jetbook in person, myself. i don't think anybody has one over here though, not that i've seen anyway.

I know that jetbook reader available on http://www.lingvo.de/ website.
This company located in Berlin, Germany or it can be purchased from http://www.apoloxxi.com (Spanish company). I visited CES last week and saw jetBook booth with 4 color units available for testing. They compared jetBook with ink screen units and jetBook worked much faster when users clicked on page down button. It will be nice to see FBreader support in new models.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Kris777

I know that jetbook reader available on http://www.lingvo.de/ website.
This company located in Berlin, Germany or it can be purchased from http://www.apoloxxi.com (Spanish company). I visited CES last week and saw jetBook booth with 4 color units available for testing. They compared jetBook with ink screen units and jetBook worked much faster when users clicked on page down button. It will be nice to see FBreader support in new models.

yes jetbook is using an lcd screen i believe, like the eb1150 ; they are much speedier than e-ink, i think this is one reason that eb1150 users are much more enthusiastic about the sony 700 than earlier models (700 is much faster than previous generation). i think i would still prefer e-ink but since the jetbook screen is not backlit it could be quite a decent alternative, particularly if it supports epub.

[JSWolf]

The biggest problem with the Jetbook (IMHO) is that they've decided to go for a 5" screen. which to me is too small. 6" is the smallest it should be.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The biggest problem with the Jetbook (IMHO) is that they've decided to go for a 5" screen. which to me is too small. 6" is the smallest it should be.

that's a problem for *you* because you want a larger screen ; i like the idea of a 5" screen for portability. i'm quite interested in seeing a device that size. it's not a "problem" with jetbook. different people have different needs. 6" might be too big for some people.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes jetbook is using an lcd screen i believe, like the eb1150 ; they are much speedier than e-ink

TFT screen is different, it looks the same as e-ink display but works much faster. The problem that not everybody knows what TFT screen means and when people test it they understand that quality the same as e-ink.
Toshiba produced this screen for Japanese electronic dictionaries for Japanese market and quality of the screen is very good.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

that's a problem for *you* because you want a larger screen ; i like the idea of a 5" screen for portability. i'm quite interested in seeing a device that size. it's not a "problem" with jetbook. different people have different needs. 6" might be too big for some people.

I like 5" screen size too and it is one of the reason why I purchased jetBook instead of Sony 505

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by Kris777

TFT screen is different, it looks the same as e-ink display but works much faster. The problem that not everybody knows what TFT screen means and when people test it they understand that quality the same as e-ink.
Toshiba produced this screen for Japanese electronic dictionaries for Japanese market and quality of the screen is very good.

I am not sure I would say it looks the same as e-ink; it is very sharp, but it has a slightly different screen coloration.. a little darker, maybe browner than e-ink. That being said, it is very, very readable. I think from a readability perspective, the Jetbook's LCD doesn't really give anything up to the e-ink screens. Its batteries don't last quite as long; but they are still good for several days reading at a stretch.

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Bill

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The biggest problem with the Jetbook (IMHO) is that they've decided to go for a 5" screen. which to me is too small. 6" is the smallest it should be.

Well, devices always have to compromise. If the Jetbook had a 6" screen it probably would be too large to fit in the front pocket of my jeans.

In any case, a 5" is not that much smaller than a 6" inch. I find I get a reasonable amount of text on a page. Of course it helps if you like fairly small type .

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Bill

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I am not sure I would say it looks the same as e-ink; it is very sharp, but it has a slightly different screen coloration.. a little darker, maybe browner than e-ink. That being said, it is very, very readable. I think from a readability perspective, the Jetbook's LCD doesn't really give anything up to the e-ink screens. Its batteries don't last quite as long; but they are still good for several days reading at a stretch.

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Bill

I agree about screen coloration but it depends on the room illumination.
Did you try to set the smalest font size - 12 ? When you do it it's very good opportunity to see the quality of the screen. The problem that many people have zero knowledge about TFT screen that is not so popular in US market.

[Kris777]

One more jetBook review:
http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-...ok-704481.html
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A feature that makes the Ectaco Jetbook stand out among the rest is its great built in file manager. Compared to the Amazon Kindle and the Sony e-book reader, the Jetbook has a great file manager that allows you to manage, delete and organize your e-book files. Browsing though thousands of files on this little device is also a breeze.
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