Disappointed with new Jetbook Lite, help wanted

[s1mp13m4n]

I have been waiting for my new Jetbook Lite for a week and it finally came. I preloaded an SD card with a Lisa Lutz book called The Spellman Files. What is going on with my unit? Here is what is going on:

It is slow in doing anything like loading books and menus
it locks up when trying to load books
have to remove batteries to reset it to get it to work again

Seriously though, what do I need to know about this device, is it my files that I have on the SD card the problem? Which formats work best on the Jetbook? I tried a .pdf and the screen was blank. I am just frustrated and disappointed, so now what? I am open to help, advice, and a trade. LOL

[dixieknits]

What format is the E book you loaded? f've found that Jetbook handles pdf's better than any other reader out there. All pdf's are not created equal and neither are the way they are handled by ereaders. Try running it through pdftoebpub and then re-loading as an epub.
What method are you using to load books when it freezes? If USB cable to sd card, try reformatting the SD card as FAT32 then loading.
I have Jetbook Prok not lite, but I believe removing the batteries is pretty much the same thing as punching the reset hole in Jetbook Pro. It clears the memory entirely and you are doing a "re-boot", so yes it takes longer to startup and go between menus than if you use the off/on switch. Once it is booted, the switches are quite swift.
Yes the screen is darker than a Kindle. It uses a different form of dsplay. The page turns though are much faster.
Yes it is heavier than the new Kindle, but alas all ereaders are..
Sorry you are unhappy with it, once you learn how to "tame the beast" it's a really sturdy, relialbe functioning little ereader and the file structure much easier to manage than Kindle. If you remain unhappy with it, a return probably would be best, but give it a chance..

[demingite]

There is a sticky at the top of this forum which relates to updating the firmware to the latest version. There is a way to find your firmware version from one of the top level menus (I don't have mine with me to check, but I believe that it is in the instructions). If you do need to update, be sure to back up any books that are loaded into the internal memory (not the SD card). Mine came with free books loaded internally. Make sure that if your SD card is over 4 gigs that it is a high capacity card. You may want to make sure that it is formatted as FAT 16, not FAT 32.

I have been using my JBL for about a month now and find it easy to use. Once books have been opened for the first time they usually open very quickly thereafter. Page turns are instantaneous and once it has been turned on for the first time (or after a reset), it turns on and off very quickly. I have read TXT, EPUB and simple PDF books without any difficulty. Read through some of the related posts in this forum for tricks and tips. Calibre is a very useful tool for managing your ebooks and ereader devices. Good luck.

[s1mp13m4n]

I am in the process of getting an RMA# from newegg. I want a device that works right out of the box. I do not want to have to convert this and do this or that. I stopped using Windows for that reason, I was tired of working on it and I just wanted something that worked....so I switched to Linux. I am sorry folks, but it looks like I may become a Kindle fan boy. It is lighter, has a larger display, and works great with .mobi files. I know I am new to these things but I see why the Kindle is so loved and is the best selling unit out there now. Thank you all for the help.

[cromag]

The screen will be grayer than the Kindle since it's TFT LCD, not E-Ink. Personal preference, but I like it.

I got mine from Newegg before Christmas and it had the latest firmware, so I'd be surprised if that's the problem. Mine has been getting pretty heavy use -- I drained the alkaline batteries that came with the JBL and I'm using NiMH rechargeables now -- I've never had a lock-up. Page turns don't seem to be unreasonable. I've gotten used to hitting the button (or sliding the switch) when I'm on the last line of the page -- by the time I'm ready the page turns.

I've tried RTF and EPUB formats. Both work fine, but EPUB seems to look a little nicer.



I just picked up a Pandigital Novel cheap at Kohl's and I'm very glad I got the JBL first. The Pandigital is flashier and does videos, MP3s, etc. -- but the JBL does a better job at being an ereader. IMHO, of course!

[Ken Maltby]

It weighs about what the specs for it claim, why does this come as a surprize?

The screen is not the new Pearl "e-ink" screen, and uses a different technology than
your "wife's Kindle 3", again you should have known that before your purchase. There
are a number of us who prefer the reflective TFT screen over the "E-Ink".

It should not be slow or "lock-up" trying to load books, it is not the case for the
thousands of books, of many kinds and formats I read with my JBL.

There is either something wrong with the JBL that you received or something wrong
with the files you are feeding it.

What Software version and patch version are given in the system settings?

How did you acquire this book and in what format? Did you have any problem removing
the DRM? Are you reading it on your JBL with the DRM still on it? If so, which DRM?

As I mentioned you should not be experiencing some of the "problems" you are describing
and we may be able to walk you through the steps to try and establish and possibly find
a solution to them.

Luck;
Ken

[dixieknits]

As nice as the new Kindle is, it cannot handle pdfs very well. I found that the print size on a pdf was minisule and enlarging caused the document to be so oversized so that panning across was the only way to read. The pdftoepub utility(also an option to convert to mobi) made a perfect epub/mobi for other readers, but Jetbook handled them perfectly as PDF's. Obviously your mind is made up, but Kindle won't do the PDF's with the ease and perfection of the Jetbook with reflow, you will have to reformat.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by s1mp13m4n

I am in the process of getting an RMA# from newegg. I want a device that works right out of the box. I do not want to have to convert this and do this or that. I stopped using Windows for that reason, I was tired of working on it and I just wanted something that worked....so I switched to Linux. I am sorry folks, but it looks like I may become a Kindle fan boy. It is lighter, has a larger display, and works great with .mobi files. I know I am new to these things but I see why the Kindle is so loved and is the best selling unit out there now. Thank you all for the help.

So... Between your 05:45PM post and your 07:00PM post you decided that
you didn't want to work on the issue with the posters here? That an hour
and fifteen minutes, or less I guess, is too much consideration to give to
the device you purchased?

It is good to know how much weight to give any future posts of yours, that
are based on your JBL ownership and experience.

It seems evident that you wanted the features and functions of the newer
Kindle, so you should be happier with that and should not have purchased a
device which you knew ahead of time wasn't what you really wanted.
(As for deliberately wasting our time...)

Luck;
Ken

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

So... Between your 05:45PM post and your 07:00PM post you decided that
you didn't want to work on the issue with the posters here? That an hour
and fifteen minutes, or less I guess, is too much consideration to give to
the device you purchased?

I have to agree with Ken here. When I got my JBL, I had a few minor problems right out of the box, which were mostly caused by my own misunderstandings and assumptions, and a failure to pay attention to directions, not anything wrong with the unit.

There might also be a problem with the file you're loading, or with your pdf settings, or with your SD card.

As far as the screen being gray--the Kindle screen isn't exactly white either. I was initially surprised by the JBL screen myself, but it turned out to be very easy to read on.

I'm especially confused about the complaint about weight--the JBL is half an ounce (plus the batteries) heavier than the Kindle. Hard to believe this is significant!

[s1mp13m4n]

Sorry about causing any trouble. I have talked with Newegg and yes my unit is defective. It has the latest firmware updates on it as well. They will offer another unit or a refund. My unit will not display any .pdf files and locks up with the use of any .mobi files.....and I am using free public domain books from www.feedbooks.com to test this out. I will work all this out with Newegg and see what happens, but it seems that I have a dfect....which can happen with anything. They will make it right.

[tomereader]

I had a few things happen with my JBL when I first got it not counting things like not being able to open (find) the battery compartment but then few posters here are blind and I admit I was treating the device very gingerly...

in the thread that you asked about formats I pointed out that Ectaco recommends txt files.. that they work best (according to them) with the JBL

In my first three days of JBL ownership, I had freeze and blank screen (thought it was the dreaded BSOD) I actually saw the usb cord fix first at the Ectaco site before here

In that format thread I mentioned the freeze bug and the "universal" cure
->to connect the JBL via the USB cord to the PC which fixed the blank screen and frozen screen since then haven't had those problems hmm since I stopped milking the disposable batteries and went to the rechargeable?

the other problem was after changing batteries the blank screen/no response, which I didn't know about the loooong push of the power button needed to re-start the JBL after a change of the batteries until I learned the looong power button push this happened every battery change

and when you do start using the rechargeable batteries to pre-warn you the battery indicator won't be accurate like it was with the disposable batteries that the unit came with

from my use I hit the two out of four batteries mark and within the hour the unit announces it must shut off when you see that check your page number! On the re-boot I have had the book start over at the beginning....

Sorry about your expectations from being able to use the unit "right from the box" and not having to fiddle with updates, I personally like updates, to me it shows that the manufacturer still cares

I hope the updates continue now that the mini has arrived and that two new models are reported at the ces show

I am most interested in the ability to flip the page color so the title area is black on white and the text is white on black...

I like the JBL but also notice that a LOT of posters (in all the sub forums) here, have more than one unit, so maybe being dissatisfied with your first pick is more common than you might think so it's good to have started on one of the most economical readers out there

I like that my local library "shows" ereaders, about every three months, this month they are doing the ipad and I hope to get there if the snow isn't too deep (hard to use cane in snow) I got to check out the kindle2 and dx at previous show for free and saw that for me, the keyboard was useless so was glad to scratch those off any future wish lists....

[s1mp13m4n]

Hello again everyone. My unit finally died and will be sent back to Newegg as defect. My unit has two vertical lines about 1/4 inch wide on its display and they are there no matter what screen you are on. My unit was simply defective. I am sorry if I upset anyone. Thank you all for the great help.

[cromag]

I wasn't that upset -- after all, mine still works!

I look forward to hearing your impressions after you get a working unit!

[MR. Pockets]

Originally Posted by s1mp13m4n

Hello again everyone. My unit finally died and will be sent back to Newegg as defect. My unit has two vertical lines about 1/4 inch wide on its display and they are there no matter what screen you are on. My unit was simply defective. I am sorry if I upset anyone. Thank you all for the great help.

Sounds like the screen must have broken in shipping. I dropped mine about a month after I got it and now it has the vertical lines every other pixel all down the left hand side of the screen for about a 3rd of an inch. It's still quite readable though!