Jetbook uses FBReader?

[capidamonte]

Does the Jetbook use FBReader? If so, how is the FB2 support? Does it allow the user to completely declare layout, as it does on the desktop version?

I'm asking because with the JB so cheap on NewEgg, it's getting awfully tempting to buy one...

Oh, and can it bookmark?

Mahalo.

[GhostHawk]

I'm not sure about declaring layout, but I am positive that it bookmarks.

Personally I read mostly .rtf's and .txt's, converting .lits or .pdf's as needed.

Compared to the competition I don't see how you can go wrong with a Jetbook.

[capidamonte]

Well, aside from converting to custom PDFs, I'm looking for a format with some sort of layout control. FBReader originally reads FB2 and supports all quirks of that format, but doesn't support ePub very well (basically just converts to text.)

So I was thinking of using FB2 as the format of choice for Jetbook, but want to know that I'm not going to be disappointed in the layout.

[Ken Maltby]

The JBL allows for the reading of eBooks in a large number of formats, but it is in no way
powerful enough to support a program that can implement all the features of the many
formats supported. It will never be able to support all the features that a powerful PC
can support.

The latest firmwares for the JetBook and the JetBook Lite made a number of changes
to how the devices display ePub and PDF. As I understand it the JBL and the JB are
still using different reading software implementations for the other formats that they
support. Even if the reader software is based on FBreader, it is a drastically limited
"embedded" version that does not include many features that you would see in a PC
version of the same software.

If you have access to Russian eBook or Ectaco Forum, you would be more likely to
find those with FB on the JB experience.

Luck;
Ken

[Jack Tingle]

Originally Posted by capidamonte

Does the Jetbook use FBReader? If so, how is the FB2 support? Does it allow the user to completely declare layout, as it does on the desktop version?

Oh, and can it bookmark?

Kind of. (Don't you hate those answers?)

Here's my guess (I haven't diassembled anything.)

Ectaco started with some kind of minimal presentation engine from their dictionaries. They took the format handling parts of FBReader and interfaced it to provide a lowest-common-denominator presentation of all the formats FBR can decipher. They allow you to pick Arial or Verdana text. It can show italics. It respects 2 or 3 levels of headings, depending on how you count. It works great with the built in dictionary. It doesn't do anything else. All of that has never changed.

Later, they pasted on a PDF engine as a completely stand-alone module. I believe they may have used a version of Foxit.

Still later, they took out the stand-alone PDF engine and pasted on ADE support, again, as a separate module. This is the current status of 0.35m, which works well.

If you aren't picky about presentation elegance, you can read almost any format known to man. If you want precise control, use a PC.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[capidamonte]

Thanks Jack,

That was very clear. So, short of making PDFs, there is very little layout control, and you're only able to use sans serif fonts.

Still might be worth it at the price -- have to think.