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maynard · 04-27-2010, 05:10 PM

I still have a couple days left before I run out of time to return the device. Some points I'd like to make:

- It is true that one can better learn how to use the touchscreen to navigate web pages. But it's also true that the touchscreen is often too inaccurate for touch typing.

- The softkeyboard buffering is horrible. Perhaps one of the commercial keyboards would help. Android 2.1 is supposed to have a significantly better keyboard. Hopefully Entourage will deploy 2.1 in the near future.

- Power management is completely broken. It simply doesn't have a real sleep state. At best, it can turn off the LCD backlight- but that's not enough. Entourage really needs to resolve that issue ASAP.

A big problem I have with returning the device is that I'm now actually _using_ it. I have to admit that the web browsing experience outright sucks (especially compared to an iPad). However, having a large LCD screen next to that big eink screen is turns out to be _tremendously_ useful. Here's what I'm doing with it:

I've installed a Chinese language textbook in PDF format into both the ereader and Docs to Go. This way I can read the textbook either on the LCD screen or the eink screen. The textbook uses some color coding for grammar elements, so being able to see color is - at times - really useful. Also, since I've got the textbook displayed on the LCD, I have the eink screen free for notes. This lets me practice character writing without burning through paper! I think I've destroyed whole forests practicing my character writing while going through the language program. With the Edge, no more! And no more carrying heavy notebooks. Instead, I carry a heavy Edge. D'oh!

Next, I installed mp3s of the language audio supplement for the textbook. Now I have the textbook, a notebook, and all the audio supplements in one device. That's *really* useful! My only complaint is that an audio control isn't available in the top menu bar so I could load other programs (like Docs to Go) while simultaneously reading the textook in color. I can read it on the eink screen and control the audio player from the LCD screen though.

Other uses are more mundane... mostly just loading PDFs of various studies and academic reports. That eink screen is simply gorgeous.

I'm leaning toward keeping the Edge now.

04-27-2010, 05:10 PM	#17
maynard Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: iPhone, PRS-505, iLiad, Entourage Edge	I still have a couple days left before I run out of time to return the device. Some points I'd like to make: - It is true that one can better learn how to use the touchscreen to navigate web pages. But it's also true that the touchscreen is often too inaccurate for touch typing. - The softkeyboard buffering is horrible. Perhaps one of the commercial keyboards would help. Android 2.1 is supposed to have a significantly better keyboard. Hopefully Entourage will deploy 2.1 in the near future. - Power management is completely broken. It simply doesn't have a real sleep state. At best, it can turn off the LCD backlight- but that's not enough. Entourage really needs to resolve that issue ASAP. A big problem I have with returning the device is that I'm now actually _using_ it. I have to admit that the web browsing experience outright sucks (especially compared to an iPad). However, having a large LCD screen next to that big eink screen is turns out to be _tremendously_ useful. Here's what I'm doing with it: I've installed a Chinese language textbook in PDF format into both the ereader and Docs to Go. This way I can read the textbook either on the LCD screen or the eink screen. The textbook uses some color coding for grammar elements, so being able to see color is - at times - really useful. Also, since I've got the textbook displayed on the LCD, I have the eink screen free for notes. This lets me practice character writing without burning through paper! I think I've destroyed whole forests practicing my character writing while going through the language program. With the Edge, no more! And no more carrying heavy notebooks. Instead, I carry a heavy Edge. D'oh! Next, I installed mp3s of the language audio supplement for the textbook. Now I have the textbook, a notebook, and all the audio supplements in one device. That's really useful! My only complaint is that an audio control isn't available in the top menu bar so I could load other programs (like Docs to Go) while simultaneously reading the textook in color. I can read it on the eink screen and control the audio player from the LCD screen though. Other uses are more mundane... mostly just loading PDFs of various studies and academic reports. That eink screen is simply gorgeous. I'm leaning toward keeping the Edge now.