Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea
Ugly. Very ugly. I prefer a slightly longer longer device instead of a wider device. I agree with GA Russell, it'll be too wide for a pocket. While if it were a bit longer and smaller, it would probably fit, though it might stick out a bit.
|
Functional. Extremely functional.
The design is built around usability not marketting.
They are meant to be used one-handed in either hand and the curves are designed to be comfortably held, not pretty. Even the rounded ridge serves a purpose, maybe two. (It looks like it can lie on its face without activating any button.) True, the top and bottom buttons could be prettier but, on the other hand, there is no doubt as to where to press to activate them. (The PB360 is built on a similar philosophy but their top and bottom buttons are hidden under stiff plastic flaps. It looks gorgeous but it takes a few tries to figure out the sweet spot that activates them reliably.)
All it needs is a line of snap-on plastic covers with colorful designs. Maybe even a Barbie, Hot Wheels, or a Hello Kitty cover. (Gettem while they're young!)
If the software lives up to the hardware (and current Jetbook software is decent--not great but competent and very stable)--you'd have the equivalent of a cute young lady with a great personality. As opposed to an anoxeric fashion plate.
At the price point Jetbook operates at, function is more important than looks and the Mini is looking like it might be a lot of young people's first reader. So the dayglo plastic is appropriate; these are *not* intended to be seen in corporate boardrooms.
To me, they look like savvy "counter-programming" to the K3. They know nobody can match the K3 combo of features, ergonomics, looks, and price so they looked for a *different* value proposition; LCD instead of eink, bright colors instead of elegant graphite-gray, ePub instead of azw support, etc, etc. Throw in a price around US$99 and place it in department stores, pharmacies, etc, and go for the younger reader who *isn't* going to be buying a couple dozen books a year but *is* likely to be reading classics and tapping libraries.
It won't sell a couple million a year (just yet) but then, neither is anybody else this side of Kindle.
If the Ectaco guys really did crash the Sony launch event and snuck the Mini in then I bow to their savvy; a clever move that hints at a guerilla marketting campaign to come. I'd keep an eye on the product and the company. And it wouldn't shock me if the Mini outsells Sony in at least several markets.
