China Telecom rolls out Tianyibook e-reader to compete against Kindle PW

[Alexander Turcic]

Only two months after the Kindle Paperwhite was officially released to Chinese territory, another device, the Tianyibook e-reader, is up for grabs. At 849 yuan (~$140), it is priced exactly as the Kindle. The advantage of the Tianyibook (also called Skytel e-reader), so we were told, is the number of available e-books (Amazon: 40,000 versus Tianyi: 300,000) and the lower average cost per e-book.

Specifications:

• Display: 6" E Ink capacitive touch, 16 grey levels
• Resolution: 600x800
• RAM: 256B
• Storage: 4GB (expandable with Micro SD)
• CPU: 600MHz
• Formats: epub, pdf, fb2, oeb, html, txt, ztxt, tcr, prc, pdb, chm, rtf, mobi
• Battery: 1700mAh
• Connectivity: WiFi
• Dimensions: 161x112x8.3mm
• Weight: 190g
• Prize: CNY 849 (~US $140)

[via cctime.com (Chinese)]

[crich70]

I wonder how much their WiFi connection will be limited though. China isn't known for being the most open to a lot of websites.

[Dee Q]

I don't know what you guys over there think about China's products. Here in my country, their credibility and reliability are pretty much in question.

[tedpeer]

Originally Posted by Dee Q

I don't know what you guys over there think about China's products. Here in my country, their credibility and reliability are pretty much in question.

Did you mean made in? Many electronic devices are made in china. iPad. Kindle.

[HansTWN]

I am sure he means "designed in China" by a local company. Not OEM products.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

I am sure he means "designed in China" by a local company. Not OEM products.

Reminds me of the scene in Back to the Future pt. I where the time machine has broken down back in the 50's and Dr. Brown comments that it isn't any wonder it did so since the electronics are marked "Made in Japan." Of course back then I understand a lot of things weren't made right in Japan. Even wind up toys seemed to have their springs put in backwards. Maybe China today is where Japan was back then. I don't know. I have heard they do have problems with things like dumping the chemicals used to make circuit boards right in the the sewer system. Or at least they have in the past. I have no idea where the parts for things like the Kindle are actually made.

[manfred63]

I think it's cooler if China Telekom analyses what I'm reading rather than Amazon and the NSA.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by crich70

Reminds me of the scene in Back to the Future pt. I where the time machine has broken down back in the 50's and Dr. Brown comments that it isn't any wonder it did so since the electronics are marked "Made in Japan." Of course back then I understand a lot of things weren't made right in Japan. Even wind up toys seemed to have their springs put in backwards. Maybe China today is where Japan was back then. I don't know. I have heard they do have problems with things like dumping the chemicals used to make circuit boards right in the the sewer system. Or at least they have in the past. I have no idea where the parts for things like the Kindle are actually made.

The difference between Japan back then and China now is the mentality. In Japan they wanted to "do it right 100%". In China they want to do it "just good enough". Sloppy design and quality control are the result. (yes, environmental problems are another issue).

You must have read about the milk powder shortages everywhere. Problems like that exist because even Chinese consumers don't trust Chinese brands. This is just one example. And, given my long experience in China, neither do I.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by manfred63

I think it's cooler if China Telekom analyses what I'm reading rather than Amazon and the NSA.

That is not something you should joke about. Obviously we all would prefer it if nobody analyzes what we are reading but given the choice between the NSA and Chinese intelligence...

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The difference between Japan back then and China now is the mentality. In Japan they wanted to "do it right 100%". In China they want to do it "just good enough". Sloppy design and quality control are the result. (yes, environmental problems are another issue).

You must have read about the milk powder shortages everywhere. Problems like that exist because even Chinese consumers don't trust Chinese brands. This is just one example. And, given my long experience in China, neither do I.

I read somewhere that it was General MacArthur who set the Japanese on the road to quality.

I understand that China is rather inclined to ignore the effects of lead and other things in products. That is why many plastic containers such as those used in Jello and pudding cups cannot be recycled. What I can't understand is why North American and possibly European countries are importing and using these products. Or why they are allowed to by our governments. Even children's toys that they may chew on can contain lead and are sold in the dollar stores.

Helen

[jlynton]

Originally Posted by crich70

I wonder how much their WiFi connection will be limited though. China isn't known for being the most open to a lot of websites.

That would affect any other ereader too, as well as all other "internet enabled" devices.

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

That is not something you should joke about. Obviously we all would prefer it if nobody analyzes what we are reading but given the choice between the NSA and Chinese intelligence...

What's really the difference, though? It's an invasion of privacy either way, and I wouldn't feel more comfortable if it's an American secret service spying on me instead of a Chinese one. (I live in neither country.) Not that I believe that anyone cares what we read, and presumably the Chinese reader will only allow access to approved books.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

That is not something you should joke about. Obviously we all would prefer it if nobody analyzes what we are reading but given the choice between the NSA and Chinese intelligence...

I choose neither. The US is very paranoid in the wake of 9/11 and has gone off the deep end. I'll leave it there, since this is easily a political topic and best discussed elsewhere.

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I read somewhere that it was General MacArthur who set the Japanese on the road to quality.

Hardly.

The Japanese have always been sticklers for quality, probably more so than anybody. However, no nation can transition from being an insular, largely traditional, war-ravaged society to a mass-producer/exporter of high quality goods overnight. Japan accomplished that shift in an incredibly short time and if any American can be credited with helping them, it was professor W. Edwards Deming.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Istvan diVega

Japan accomplished that shift in an incredibly short time and if any American can be credited with helping them, it was professor W. Edwards Deming.

Never knew that. Learned something new. Thanks for the info.