|
No, they don't need a new designer. The jetBook layout is very functional. It is not sexy.
There are 3 usable hand positions for reading, and 3 differnent methods for page advance to avoid RSI. The action functions are all grouped around the D-pad with decent icons, and the selection buttons along the right edge have several uses.
They only offer two fonts, but one of them, Verdana, is expressly designed for the type of screen an ebook reader has. It's very legible. I'd like more choice, but "best font for the display" is hard to argue with.
They could use a bit more imagination in the firmware. Their default assumption is that you want to read text files, or you want to convert your other things into pdf. Since there are oh, a dozen different file types in common use, they throw in "...and we also read a bunch of other file types, too." As long as you don't want any more functionality in those file types than plain text gives.
This appears to be a straight "take out the easiest to remove/least-used features" cost reduction effort. My biggest question is, "Will it work with NiMH rechargeables?" If it will, they may have a winner.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
|