Pandigital Novel -- not that great, is it?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by gastan

I completely disagree.

First of all, did either reviewer bother upgrading the firmware or hack the device? If so they didn't mention it. I admit that the Novel, out of the box, is limited. Upgrading firmware on any newly purchased device is so obvious that any reviewer that ignores it is suspect, IMO. Hacking the Novel is so easy that a 3rd grader could probably do it in about 15 minutes.

I also got a review unit. My opinion: if you want an e-reader, get a real e-reader. The Novel is a tablet that sacrifices most of the upside of a tablet and gains nothing from becoming an e-reader.

In case anyone is interested, here are all the reviews:


The Digital Reader:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...ndigital-novel
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...eader-at-risk/

Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/p...-novel-review/

Techlicious:
http://www.techlicious.com/review/pa...-black-review/

Techland:
http://techland.com/2010/08/18/two-m...digital-novel/

CNet:
http://reviews.cnet.com/e-book-reade...-34150168.html

[mrscoach]

I don't see taking the car for repairs being the same as having to update an electronic device as soon as I buy it. I don't buy a car and drive it to the mechanic for updates to make it run properly, and electronic devices should run right from the box.

[roebeet]

A few things (as a PDN owner):

- Engadget article is crap. They confused the white and black versions (which are different hardware), and they didn't even get the specs right - It's not Android 1.5, and not 128MB RAM. Don't even bother reading it, it's a waste of time.

- Hacking versus base firmware. This seems to be acceptable for iPods / iPhones (jailbreaking them) as well as Android phones and even my PRS-300 with the Russified firmware. So why not for the PDN? You aren't even altering the firmware itself, only adding another launcher to bypass the Pandigital one. It's really a question of how comfortable you are with doing this. You can also check out Slatedroid.com which has a whole forum dedicated to the PDN.

- The price. I got mine for about $107, after all rebates/coupons/price matches. BB&B seems to be very lenient in this area, although their rebate is now over. Kohl's, however, still has a rebate going on + they pricematch and also have their 30% coupons sometimes.

For me, the bang for the buck is great and I use mine daily. In six months I'm sure it'll be replaced with a better tablet, but for now it'll do. Btw, with the hack + Aldiko, I see NONE of the swiping issues shown in the Engadget article. Granted, I have the white device and not the black one.

Originally Posted by mrscoach

I don't see taking the car for repairs being the same as having to update an electronic device as soon as I buy it. I don't buy a car and drive it to the mechanic for updates to make it run properly, and electronic devices should run right from the box.

Very true. But some cars are altered after-the-fact to enhance performance. This falls into the same category -- some enhancements may be simple, and some might require more expertise.

[mrscoach]

I haven't even seen a Pandigital Novel, or kept up too much with the reviews, but the original assertion that the reviews weren't worth anything because they didn't update or hack before doing the review is just wrong.

I believe in being able to hack your own device. I have Russified my own 300 because I wanted the clock. It didn't bother me to NOT have the clock, but I just got the urge to tinker and have a clock. That said, the reader worked perfectly well without the hack, and I was perfectly happy with it that way.

So, yes, people do after-market mods to their cars, as well as to readers, game consoles, and even computers, but that doesn't negate the fact that those should be optional, not a necessity to make the device usable.

Now, if they review the wrong device, then, well, they're idiots. You can't review a Mustang, and put the review out as for a Taurus.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by afa

So the Pandigital Novel which we kept hearing about has been reviewed, and it's disappointing to say the least.

Here's the review from CNET:
http://reviews.cnet.com/e-book-reade...contentBody;1r
They gave it only two stars (out of five).

And this is from Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/p...-novel-review/

Their conclusion -

I like this part of Engadget review:
" It is nice that Pandigital throws in that stylus, but have you ever dreamed of reading a novel with a small stick in hand to turn pages? Didn't think so."

[Mr. Dalliard]

Resolution is too low for my liking.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dalliard

Resolution is too low for my liking.

pick it up a bit ....

Considering this so-called reader is sold at places like Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, and Walgreens, I think it is failed logic to think that the buyers would even know what firmware is, much less how to install it. If it doesn't work correctly and well out of the box, it deserves a bad review. And since Pandigital screwed up on the white model and had a long time to fix things before the black model was released, it deserves a bad review to the tenth power.

If Pandigital was smart they would do firmware updates like the Kindle. One day you wake up, turn it on, and it says new firmware installed. You have the option of course to prevent auto-updating. But you don't even have to know what firmware is to have it updated in the Kindle case.

I agree with the vast majority posting in this thread when we say the Pandigital is terrible out of the box and so it deserves the bad reviews it is getting. it is not being marketed to tech geeks as you really don't see many tech geeks shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, and Walgreens. If it were marketed to tech geeks it would be sold online at geeky stores.

[magicmonster]

I have used PDN for several days with just the original software and it was working fine. Mine actually had the most current firmware running on it. (found out after trying to update the firmware) I just could not hack it since it could do so much more with just a little bit of help.

[Marcy]

Originally Posted by gastan

I don't understand the sentiments against firmware updates or hacks. Okay, I can sort of understand the anti-hack sentiment but, honestly, if you can read you can hack the Novel. To me, saying that you don't want to do a simple hack that will turn a crippled device into a acceptable, useable device is like saying you don't want to be bothered fixing your car so it runs better.

Firmware updates are one thing. Expecting a reviewer to hack the Novel is totally unreasonable.

And despite what you said, hacking it was *not* that easy. It took me two days of frustrations and begging for help posts here (slatedroid was down the three days I had the Novel) to figure it out. And I am a geek who likes to tinker with things. I've run a linux server and written some simple database websites in php/mySQL. And I couldn't figure the hacking out easily.

And after hacking, frankly, the Novel sucked. It was still sluggish and unbearable to use. Turning pages was so slow I wanted to scream. The touchscreen was sluggish and barely responsive. I returned it and bought an iPad. I spent more money, but got what I paid for in the end, as my iPad has become my favorite reader, displacing my beloved PB360 for that spot.

-Marcy

[sashusmom]

1. Had Kohl's price match walgreens $150.00 on line price- no problem. Kohl's didn't even care to see the flyer.

2. 30% off (using Kohls charge) --- ($150-$45.00 = $105.00 + $7.00 NJ tax= $112.00 - $15.00 rebate= $97.00.

A great price for a good reader after hacked with adobe, eReader, and aldiko reader programs. Works with Calibre and ADE for library borrows.

A fun thing to play with hacked into a cheap tablet. And a backlit reader for nitetime reading. Check out Slatedroid.com/pandigital novel.

[sashusmom]

"Considering this so-called reader is sold at places like Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, and Walgreens, I think it is failed logic to think that the buyers would even know what firmware is, much less how to install it."

Please don't underestimate the intelligence of bargain hunters!!! Or their desire to get the job done or learn how to do it!

I disagree. People who shop here are basically looking for cheaper alternatives to the high ticket stores. I would never spend $500 to $800 on an ipad when I think it is just a ipod touch on steroids! But I would spend $100 on a backlit reader that doubles as a pseudo android tablet. I have learned to hack devices out of being cheap and wanting to use my property the way I see fit, not being told how I'm allowed to use something I own by the manufacturers. All it takes is one gadget that has been successfully altered, then look out! We're game for another challenge.

I have found that google is my best friend when it comes to learning how to do stuff and people out there love to help. I'm not extremely computer literate, but can follow directions from techies who love to break into firmwares and mod them to their liking. Then share their wealth of knowledge. Gotta love em!!!!

Don't get me wrong Marcy- I'm glad you love your Ipad!! Enjoy it , But personally I'm too cheap to invest in one! And I have hacked the PDN 2 or 3 times so far and only had minor problems. It now works great and is a great reader. Page turns on aldiko are instantaneous with just a touch.

But I had an Incite that I hacked till it was perfect. I couldn't have made it any better! (Out of the box it was very poor, but I got it for a penny courtesy of at&t and a yearly upgrade) I had the chance to get an Iphone for $200 (and I sold my jailbroken ipod touch on ebay to finance it) and there was no comparison to my incite, even though I really liked it, the iphone was so much better. So my incite is my back up phone and the iphone is my main one. So I can see where your love of the ipad comes from.

Have any of you actually bought the black Novel? All the ads I've seen at local retail stores are for the white version.

EDITED since some people don't seem to have a sense of humor.

[gastan]

deleted by op

[poohbear_nc]

OK folks - let's stay on topic and avoid the personal comments and and retorts! Put that stuff in PM's. OK?