Jetbook's View of e-Ink

[Kralik]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Yes, but it doesn't seem to be related only to ePubs. Right now, I'm reading a Mobi file (a Richard Prather mystery) that I purchased from Fictionwise.

It appears to be also present on an RTF file (I just now confirmed that, as well.)

It's not really a problem - just an oddity, I suppose.


Don

You are correct -- my mistake -- it is all files except for PDF's. On further inspection, it appears to be paginating the files based on the lowest font size (12). At that size, 1 pageturn = ... 1 page. Perhaps to keep a constant frame of reference ("as you'll see if you turn to page 237...") regardless of font size?

[jgray]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Interesting, about the page turns that Kralik mentions, the jetBook seems to handle a number screens equated to a page turn.

I don't recall having seen this mentioned, although I could be mistaken. I personally don't like it, as I'm not certain how many screens to multiply to equal one page.


Don

Yep, you're mistaken I mentioned this a while back. A page seems to be based on some number of characters or words. This means that when you change font size, the novel doesn't shrink and grow. FBReader has always used this method.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Yes, but it doesn't seem to be related only to ePubs. Right now, I'm reading a Mobi file (a Richard Prather mystery) that I purchased from Fictionwise.

It appears to be also present on an RTF file (I just now confirmed that, as well.)

It's not really a problem - just an oddity, I suppose.


Don

It's not a problem if you don't rely on bookmarks, which are assigned to the beginning of the page. If you do then it can be a slight annoyance finding the exact location.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Kralik

Are you talking about how with ePUB you can turn the page a few times before the number changes? This is indeed very odd... it doesn't do it for TXT or for PDF. I haven't tried other formats in depth. Perhaps ECTACO could change this behavior.

It's a feature of FBReader. The author tried to equate the page numbers to what they would be in a pbook. I applaud his/her desires, but it just doesn't render well.

[Lemurion]

I can see how fixed pagination that matches a p-book could be handy, but it's not something I care for on a reader. I prefer the 1 page = 1 screen model myself.

[LuBiB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm not basing the Jetbook per say. I am bashing Ectaco and their deceptive & shoddy practices as seen on their website. The comparison list between the Jetbook, Sony 500 and/or 505) and K1 is just awful. And there there is the part about telling customers we can get you any eBook free. Just fill in our request form and we'll get it for you. That's also way off base.

have you ever dealt with Ectaco personally?

shady practices can only be excercised upon those that conduct operations directly with a company. you assuming these things is rhetorical and unecessary...cuz we all know what happens when you assume....

[LuBiB]

Originally Posted by akira28

I am a little disappointed in your answer. Although I have not addressed you directly in this thread, I feel a little put off that that you refer to the people who were trying to assist you and answer your questions as "Fanboys".

You, and one other poster within this thread, have pretended not be bashing the device, but whenever the product is mentioned you can't seem help yourselves and go all out bashing the company and not even mention the positive attributes of the product. I have already addressed these marketing accusations in another thread and I am clearly of the same opinion as Dr. Drib.

If you had sincere questions about the Sony or Kindle e-ink screens you would have been better off posting in those forums instead of baiting Jetbook owners in the General Forum with a headline such as "Jetbook's View of e-Ink (or as the Jetbook Fanboys call it: Jetbbok Bashing)".

If I had any interest in seriously discussing the Jetbook with you, I might be tempted to enquire as to why a darker e-ink gray screen meets your "needs" better than a lighter, slightly green one. But since you are a self admitted hater of the Jetbook & Co and a reader of Jetbook threads, doesn't that make you a "troll"?

this is more of a reply to pekings original post but i found akira's to be a phenominal reply to which i'm adding on to.

i agree with the post in the sense that i follow jetbook's forums because im always interested in what people have to say about the device that i love. i also talk about my itouch all the time as well. does that make me a "fanboy"? or put me in that category? Nope.

I just like expressing my views and thats what forums are used for. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and im all for hearing everyone out. But when someone describes or writes about things that they have never seen or tried, it tends to mislead others and your overall advice can be rendered useless since you really dont know what you're talking about. Now that was just a general statement and not getting at anyones throat, but lets keep it cool and talk about things we know rather than using our imaginations.

[LuBiB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't trust Ectaco. And that means, the Jetbook is out. The Jetbook might be the best 5" screen reader ever, but given the company behind it, I'd never recommend it.

again? really?

just let me know when the last time you dealt with Ectaco is. im dyingggggg to know

[ahi]

Originally Posted by LuBiB

have you ever dealt with Ectaco personally?

shady practices can only be excercised upon those that conduct operations directly with a company. you assuming these things is rhetorical and unecessary...cuz we all know what happens when you assume....

... they offer information on their website that was outdated well before their device came out.

That is a shady practice exercised upon all and sundry that visit their website.

Originally Posted by LuBiB

again? really?

just let me know when the last time you dealt with Ectaco is. im dyingggggg to know

Ridicule, like all things, can backfire when ill thought through.

- Ahi

[LuBiB]

Originally Posted by ahi

... they offer information on their website that was outdated well before their device came out.

That is a shady practice exercised upon all and sundry that visit their website.



Ridicule, like all things, can backfire when ill thought through.

- Ahi

i definitely agree that the info is fairly outdated as a comparison chart, but note that it came out over a year ago and im sure they should update it.

as far as ridicule goes, i am a pacifist and lover of all people and forums i just take things with a grain of salt and don't believe people should give such a strong opinion (on almost every jetBook forum) when they have never even picked up a jetBook or dealt with Ectaco.

No ridicule, just curiosity.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by LuBiB

i definitely agree that the info is fairly outdated as a comparison chart, but note that it came out over a year ago and im sure they should update it.

At which time it was already long outdated, which suggests bad faith.

Are we still agreeing?

This is how I see Ectaco subjecting non-customers to shady practices.

I did not and do not mean to be confrontational either... but the suggestion that this is simply a case of "outdated information on a webpage in need of updating" doesn't seem credible.

Having said that, a morally questionable company (and aren't they all, by the way?) can as easily create a great product as a more scrupulous one. Or perhaps even more easily. So none of this has any bearing on JetBook's quality or worth.

- Ahi

[LuBiB]

Originally Posted by ahi

At which time it was already long outdated, which suggests bad faith.

Are we still agreeing?

This is how I see Ectaco subjecting non-customers to shady practices.

I did not and do not mean to be confrontational either... but the suggestion that this is simply a case of "outdated information on a webpage in need of updating" doesn't seem credible.

Having said that, a morally questionable company (and aren't they all, by the way?) can as easily create a great product as a more scrupulous one. Or perhaps even more easily. So none of this has any bearing on JetBook's quality or worth.

- Ahi

well, outdated information doesn't necessarily mean bad faith. it just means the developers or overseers of the site need to step their game up (for lack of any better words)

maybe they're working on a new site? maybe their working on a new product? who knows. everyone has a reason to be lagging or late, and i can understand that it isn't "proper" but it doesn't affect their buisiness practices. as you can see, a lot of people who have the jetBook are very satisfied with it, so i dont think there's anything shady about that.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by LuBiB

i definitely agree that the info is fairly outdated as a comparison chart, but note that it came out over a year ago and im sure they should update it.

The problem is not simply that the chart came out over a year ago and should now be updated; but that the chart was already almost six months out of date when it was released.

When released it compared the Jetbook to the Sony 500 which had been discontinued the previous year.

Matching your products strengths against your competitors' weaknesses is a tried and true practice. Had Ectaco compared the Jetbook to the 505 it would have been appropriate as that was the currently available competing device from Sony at the time the chart was released. However, comparing it to the 500 is different only in degree to comparing a 2009 Chevy to a Model T Ford.

It's not a valid comparison to compare your current product to a competitor's discontinued and unavailable product. Compare it to what's currently out there or leave it off. (That's why I'm not as concerned about the Kindle comparisons - the K1 was Amazon's competing device at the time.)

[ahi]

Originally Posted by LuBiB

well, outdated information doesn't necessarily mean bad faith. it just means the developers or overseers of the site need to step their game up (for lack of any better words)

maybe they're working on a new site? maybe their working on a new product? who knows. everyone has a reason to be lagging or late, and i can understand that it isn't "proper" but it doesn't affect their buisiness practices. as you can see, a lot of people who have the jetBook are very satisfied with it, so i dont think there's anything shady about that.

Sorry... but I think you are missing the point.

Originally Posted by Lemurion

they're comparing with the Sony 500 and the Kindle 1, neither of which is readily available. The 500 had already been replaced and was out of production when the Jetbook was first released.

Unless they wrote the page in question well before the JetBook was released, that page was born either out of ignorance/incompetence or out of malice.

- Ahi

[Teyrnon]

Originally Posted by ahi

Unless they wrote the page in question well before the JetBook was released, that page was born either out of ignorance/incompetence or out of malice.

Well, when I first saw their marketing propaganda my first thought was that the bulk, if not all, of it was written while the thing was still in the late stages of development and well before an actual release.