Velocity Micro releases Cruz Reader

fdnyubergeek · 08-19-2010, 10:01 AM

http://www.cruzreader.com/

VM putting out 7 inch Android tablet. Says available now, but still cannot order. I am very excited to be seeing an Ipad alternative at a great price from a reputable company. Figure I might pick one up as a car device for the kids. No Android Market though.

Video demo

http://www.youtube.com/user/VelocityMicroPC

GeoffC · 08-19-2010, 10:26 AM

fdnyubergeek

Welcome to mobileread ....

Interesting tablet .... an iPad with USB port

fdnyubergeek · 08-19-2010, 10:53 AM

Thanks, been a lurker for a while, since my REB 1150 days. learned a lot on here about ereaders and ebooks.

I hope this product pans out. I love the ipad form factor, and lcds don't bother my eyes at all (i'm a tech geek, stare at pcs all day, used to it by now), but I won't drink the apple-aid because I love to tinker too much. I know it is a niche device, but it is exactly the media consumption device I have been looking for.

I figure install Fbreaderj, ACV, and ROckplayer and you have a nice multifunction tablet. Read my cbr, cbz, epubs, and watch some avis. Load some comics for my son on long road trips.

GeoffC · 08-19-2010, 11:19 AM

Despite it being grey-scale the Pocketbook 901 looks an interesting device - but there are a lot of tablet varieties now available or coming up in the near future ....

ebsebs · 08-19-2010, 02:36 PM

These look interesting, but does it make any sense that the Reader and the StoryPad (for kids) use an 800x600 (4:3) screen, but the Tablet uses a cheaper 800x480 (16:9) screen? The Tablet would certainly benefit from the higher resolution screen.

TheJohnNewton · 08-25-2010, 02:52 PM

These are listed for pre-sale (Available Sept 30) on the Borders site: http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_ereaders

gastan · 08-25-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebsebs

These look interesting, but does it make any sense that the Reader and the StoryPad (for kids) use an 800x600 (4:3) screen, but the Tablet uses a cheaper 800x480 (16:9) screen? The Tablet would certainly benefit from the higher resolution screen.

Resolution and aspect ratio are two different things. Comparing 800x600 to 800x480, without mentioning the pixel density (ppi), really tells you nothing execpt the aspect ratio.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution
"Note that the use of the word resolution here is a misnomer, though common. The term “display resolution” is usually used to mean pixel dimensions, the number of pixels in each dimension (e.g., 1920×1200), which does not tell anything about the resolution of the display on which the image is actually formed: resolution properly refers to the pixel density, the number of pixels per unit distance or area, not total number of pixels."

I wish mfgs would include ppi in their specs but they hardly ever do. I guess they don't want us to be able to know that gadget A has a sharper, crisper image than gadget B.

dioib · 08-26-2010, 12:46 PM

Looks like the display is not capacitive.

Ken Maltby · 08-26-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dioib

Looks like the display is not capacitive.

According to the Border's Comparison Chart; the Tablet is, while the Reader
isn't.

They look interesting and priced well, but I haven't found where the CPU
is identified in the specs. Makes me wonder if it might be underpowered.

Luck;
Ken

bill_mchale · 08-26-2010, 02:45 PM

Except for maybe taking notes, a well calibrated resistive touch screen can probably work ok for a reader. I had a smartphone with a resistive touchscreen a couple of years ago. In general, I needed only a bit more effort over a capacitive screen to do basic things on it. Where it really sucked was when fine detailed work was required. But I think you could probably get it to turn pages just fine.

Ken Maltby · 08-27-2010, 10:58 PM

I ran across a review that mentioned that both the "Reader" and the "Tablet" use an
800mhz CPU.

To my mind that would mean a low to medium level of performance for a 7" tablet but
very high performance for a reader. (My Jetbook Lite like the Jetbook run with 200mhz
ARM9 CPUs)

Luck;
Ken

Jakie · 08-30-2010, 03:02 AM

According to Slatedroid, the Cruz reader appears to be a rebadged Pandigital Novel! Their arguments seem fairly valid. I imagine that some tweaking might have been done.

John

Nonfriend · 09-01-2010, 12:57 AM

hello....
Has anyone heard when the Cruz will be available? Their web site just says August 2010. This could be a nice machine. thanks..

MsAstoria · 09-01-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonfriend

hello....
Has anyone heard when the Cruz will be available? Their web site just says August 2010. This could be a nice machine. thanks..

Velocity Micro site states shipping date Sept 18th while Borders is stating Sept 30.

SameOldStory · 09-02-2010, 03:24 PM

What has me TOTALY confused is this -

Pandigital Novel (black) review roundup by Nate TG

"No one really liked it that much."

And

Velocity Micro Cruz reader/Pandigital Novel from Slatedroid

"The Reader of the year is here, and it is... the Pandigital Novel"

It reminds me of the nook when it first came out. I tried it as soon as it was in the store and it was absolutely horrible. Now nook owners love it.

Did something like that happen here on MR? Nate TG got the bad copy and Slatedroid got the good one?

08-19-2010, 10:01 AM	#1
fdnyubergeek Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 42 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brooklyn Device: Cruz reader/tablet	Velocity Micro releases Cruz Reader http://www.cruzreader.com/ VM putting out 7 inch Android tablet. Says available now, but still cannot order. I am very excited to be seeing an Ipad alternative at a great price from a reputable company. Figure I might pick one up as a car device for the kids. No Android Market though. Video demo http://www.youtube.com/user/VelocityMicroPC Last edited by fdnyubergeek; 08-19-2010 at 10:05 AM. Reason: Found link

08-19-2010, 10:53 AM	#3
fdnyubergeek Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 42 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brooklyn Device: Cruz reader/tablet	Thanks, been a lurker for a while, since my REB 1150 days. learned a lot on here about ereaders and ebooks. I hope this product pans out. I love the ipad form factor, and lcds don't bother my eyes at all (i'm a tech geek, stare at pcs all day, used to it by now), but I won't drink the apple-aid because I love to tinker too much. I know it is a niche device, but it is exactly the media consumption device I have been looking for. I figure install Fbreaderj, ACV, and ROckplayer and you have a nice multifunction tablet. Read my cbr, cbz, epubs, and watch some avis. Load some comics for my son on long road trips. Last edited by fdnyubergeek; 08-19-2010 at 11:09 AM. Reason: added

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
stupid question on DR800SG - Micro-A or Micro-B USB?	X. Trapnel	iRex	4	12-01-2015 03:25 AM
Cruz reader	Noah98	Android Devices	44	06-04-2011 07:33 PM
Velocity Micro Tablets	jhempel24	News	19	09-27-2010 12:15 AM
Engadget: Velocity Shows off $199 Cruz	kjk	Android Devices	0	07-13-2010 02:16 PM
Reader press releases	Alexander Turcic	Sony Reader	1	09-27-2006 06:00 AM

08-19-2010, 10:26 AM	#2
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	fdnyubergeek Welcome to mobileread .... Interesting tablet .... an iPad with USB port

08-19-2010, 11:19 AM	#4
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Despite it being grey-scale the Pocketbook 901 looks an interesting device - but there are a lot of tablet varieties now available or coming up in the near future ....

08-19-2010, 02:36 PM	#5
ebsebs Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 49970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook ST/Nook HD+	These look interesting, but does it make any sense that the Reader and the StoryPad (for kids) use an 800x600 (4:3) screen, but the Tablet uses a cheaper 800x480 (16:9) screen? The Tablet would certainly benefit from the higher resolution screen.

08-25-2010, 02:52 PM	#6
TheJohnNewton Addict Posts: 256 Karma: 144599 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Boox Nova 2	These are listed for pre-sale (Available Sept 30) on the Borders site: http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_ereaders

08-26-2010, 12:46 PM	#8
dioib ∂₪≈☼ Posts: 113 Karma: 550104 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: ιη.σιγ.ηιφι.κα	Looks like the display is not capacitive.

08-26-2010, 02:45 PM	#10
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	Except for maybe taking notes, a well calibrated resistive touch screen can probably work ok for a reader. I had a smartphone with a resistive touchscreen a couple of years ago. In general, I needed only a bit more effort over a capacitive screen to do basic things on it. Where it really sucked was when fine detailed work was required. But I think you could probably get it to turn pages just fine.

08-27-2010, 10:58 PM	#11
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	I ran across a review that mentioned that both the "Reader" and the "Tablet" use an 800mhz CPU. To my mind that would mean a low to medium level of performance for a 7" tablet but very high performance for a reader. (My Jetbook Lite like the Jetbook run with 200mhz ARM9 CPUs) Luck; Ken

08-30-2010, 03:02 AM	#12
Jakie Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 225544 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmonton Alberta Device: Sony T1, Blackberry playbook and Q10	According to Slatedroid, the Cruz reader appears to be a rebadged Pandigital Novel! Their arguments seem fairly valid. I imagine that some tweaking might have been done. John

09-01-2010, 12:57 AM	#13
Nonfriend Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Device: blue	hello.... Has anyone heard when the Cruz will be available? Their web site just says August 2010. This could be a nice machine. thanks..

09-02-2010, 03:24 PM	#15
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	What has me TOTALY confused is this - Pandigital Novel (black) review roundup by Nate TG *"No one really liked it that much."* And Velocity Micro Cruz reader/Pandigital Novel from Slatedroid *"The Reader of the year is here, and it is... the Pandigital Novel"* It reminds me of the nook when it first came out. I tried it as soon as it was in the store and it was absolutely horrible. Now nook owners love it. Did something like that happen here on MR? Nate TG got the bad copy and Slatedroid got the good one?

Advert

Advert