There may be a larger group of users that find the outdoor readable device meets a
need that is not addressed by any of the other options available. (Businesses that
have operations in the outdoors, fleets of dispersed workers. Utilities, Repair companies,
Agriculture, Timber, Mining, Outdoor venders, Sports and Recreational pursuits, ect...)
Home schoolers, especially in K-12 and in conjunction with sites like the
http://www.ck12.org/ that is
linked to in the product description. Perhaps the "notetaking" capability is not up to a
collage student's needs, yet, but it could well meet a grade school student's needs.
Suggesting that it can't compete with an LCD tablet's color display or that it doesn't
function as well as, or in the same fashion, as another device is of no value unless that
other device can do everything that the JBC can. (And as far as I know there are no
other color e-Ink large format devices out there yet.) In fact they would be disqualified
even if they couldn't meet just one of a user's specific functional requirements, that the
JBC does meet.
So, like for many products, the JBC meets the needs of some quite well, just as it is.
Some of the "failings" that have been mentioned are likely a result of the nature of the
current performance available from this first generation "Triton" color e-Ink display.
Some maybe the result of overreaching and underperforming on product development's
part. Certainly there are features of the device that have not been implemented properly
yet.
Since it appears that Ectaco is selling them faster than they expected, even with the
need to promise further updates on the packaging, indicates to me that there is a buying
public willing to except the product as is. I am sure they are eagerly awaiting every
update, but I also think many are getting most of what they bought the device for, right
now. They are using its current capabilities to meet their current needs and for them
that is all they need for now.
Luck;
Ken