MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

Bigtop305 · 11-08-2010, 07:04 PM

OK more notes on sound and now a few days “out in the field, as it were:

Sound -
Bluetooth was a snap to sync and sounds really good, my current stereo head phones sound as good as anything I have paired them too, I use Motorola MH800’s for my music listening. Really clear, good Bass and nice rich mids, I also note that it has a very good BT range. Happily the “pop I heard when listening to system speakers, or earphones (see below) is NOT present over blue tooth, so that is a major plus.

My wired Earphones all had good, if not great results. Volume is good, not earth shattering, which is a must for in ear buds for me. And again the audio is what I have come to expect from my various units. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with the electronic “pop being audible in the earphones as well, all three variants I tried. So I think this officially warrants a call to service to see about this, I should not be hearing this pop constantly when something on board is being used to monitor audio. Two pairs of Sony ear buds were used: PSP ones (the official in ear model) and a pair of lowish end MDR-EX55’s. Sound was as good with them as anywhere I have used them, on this front I am pleased. The others are a pair of Samsung pack ins I got with my Instinct, so pack in quality is not the best, but they are non bud in ear phones with decent sound for needing to keep one ear on the world, sound here was better than on my phone (of course) so again, they will stay in the active duty bag and out live their reason for being a pack in appliance.

Function -
I did not get to play on any open wireless networks yet alas, so I am unable to comment there, I will as soon as possible however.

The e-ink screen is just fine in outdoor light and taking notes has not been an issue for me. Getting used to the lag while writing is not as big of a deal either. But I think much faster than I can write or type so I am actually used to my hands being behind my mind to some extent. It may sound crazy, but that little delay, while very noticeable, does not bother me in the least. The menus for navigating the features for the journal notes do seem to move rather slowly however, but they all do what they say so again, hopefully these are tweaks that can be made to the soft side of things to improve.

My Pocket Edge made its first (of many) appearances at Church on this past Sunday, and despite my not actually downloading a full Bible beforehand (My fault) performed as expected. writing notes and scripture references was as easy as the space provided on the printed program, only this goes with me back to the pc and is all electronic, that is fantastic! it is one of the main reasons I got the Entourage. The note writing function, I surmise is a reason a good many owners will pick this tablet up. It works for me, it has been solid and I look forward to keeping notes and work on it when I am on the go, or simply want to work away from my pc for a while.

battery life was no issue for me, but to be fair, I do carry my adapter if I have no way to recharge a device via USB, as I have a DC/AC converter in my car that can power several household electric gadgets if needed. Primarily used to charge them of course, but in a pinch can and has been used to run a piece of hardware from time to time. The Entourage’s power plug is a bit unwieldy, but with three spots o choose from and the near flush nature of the design on the plug end, I was able to get it hooked up with minimal fuss, and the charging was clean and uneventful.

All in all I am very pleased so far and only have a little apprehension about the popping I hear when manipulating a hardware switch with audio playing. I will get to contacting the company and inquiring about this issue very soon. In the meantime, I am sure that if you already own an Entourage you pretty much know what to expect from this unit, its the same, only more portable. My honest opinion of it after these first few days is that the unit is, to me at least, all substance and very little flash, and in my book that is a very good thing!

11-08-2010, 07:04 PM	#52
Bigtop305 Edge User	OK more notes on sound and now a few days “out in the field, as it were: Sound - Bluetooth was a snap to sync and sounds really good, my current stereo head phones sound as good as anything I have paired them too, I use Motorola MH800’s for my music listening. Really clear, good Bass and nice rich mids, I also note that it has a very good BT range. Happily the “pop I heard when listening to system speakers, or earphones (see below) is NOT present over blue tooth, so that is a major plus. My wired Earphones all had good, if not great results. Volume is good, not earth shattering, which is a must for in ear buds for me. And again the audio is what I have come to expect from my various units. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with the electronic “pop being audible in the earphones as well, all three variants I tried. So I think this officially warrants a call to service to see about this, I should not be hearing this pop constantly when something on board is being used to monitor audio. Two pairs of Sony ear buds were used: PSP ones (the official in ear model) and a pair of lowish end MDR-EX55’s. Sound was as good with them as anywhere I have used them, on this front I am pleased. The others are a pair of Samsung pack ins I got with my Instinct, so pack in quality is not the best, but they are non bud in ear phones with decent sound for needing to keep one ear on the world, sound here was better than on my phone (of course) so again, they will stay in the active duty bag and out live their reason for being a pack in appliance. Function - I did not get to play on any open wireless networks yet alas, so I am unable to comment there, I will as soon as possible however. The e-ink screen is just fine in outdoor light and taking notes has not been an issue for me. Getting used to the lag while writing is not as big of a deal either. But I think much faster than I can write or type so I am actually used to my hands being behind my mind to some extent. It may sound crazy, but that little delay, while very noticeable, does not bother me in the least. The menus for navigating the features for the journal notes do seem to move rather slowly however, but they all do what they say so again, hopefully these are tweaks that can be made to the soft side of things to improve. My Pocket Edge made its first (of many) appearances at Church on this past Sunday, and despite my not actually downloading a full Bible beforehand (My fault) performed as expected. writing notes and scripture references was as easy as the space provided on the printed program, only this goes with me back to the pc and is all electronic, that is fantastic! it is one of the main reasons I got the Entourage. The note writing function, I surmise is a reason a good many owners will pick this tablet up. It works for me, it has been solid and I look forward to keeping notes and work on it when I am on the go, or simply want to work away from my pc for a while. battery life was no issue for me, but to be fair, I do carry my adapter if I have no way to recharge a device via USB, as I have a DC/AC converter in my car that can power several household electric gadgets if needed. Primarily used to charge them of course, but in a pinch can and has been used to run a piece of hardware from time to time. The Entourage’s power plug is a bit unwieldy, but with three spots o choose from and the near flush nature of the design on the plug end, I was able to get it hooked up with minimal fuss, and the charging was clean and uneventful. All in all I am very pleased so far and only have a little apprehension about the popping I hear when manipulating a hardware switch with audio playing. I will get to contacting the company and inquiring about this issue very soon. In the meantime, I am sure that if you already own an Entourage you pretty much know what to expect from this unit, its the same, only more portable. My honest opinion of it after these first few days is that the unit is, to me at least, all substance and very little flash, and in my book that is a very good thing!