Jetbook's View of e-Ink - Page 2

HansTWN · 08-06-2009, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

So why don't we just rename this thread to "The jetBook bashing thread"?

I agree that ECTACO's marketing department sux, but that doesn't detract from the quality hardware they sell. They could do themselves a favor and hire a crack Madison Ave advertising firm, begin supporting some sort of encryption (perhaps license Digital Editions) and make a ton of money.

It's the tho old saw, "It takes money to make money!" and it's hard to find deeper pockets that Sony and Amazon.

Sony lost billions during the last year, not exactly "deep pockets". Ectaco tried bashing the others and it is backfiring.

Dr. Drib · 08-06-2009, 08:20 AM

Let's keep it nice, please, with NO personal attacks.

We're talking about issues and opinions here.

Don
(Moderator)

Dr. Drib · 08-06-2009, 08:23 AM

I'll be the first to admit that the comparison chart needs to be updated - which is what this thread is about. I personally wouldn't call the chart full of lies, but I certainly do recognize that to compare the Jetbook with a discontinued [Sony] model is disingenuous and really not very helpful to people who are looking for a Reader to purchase.

The Jetbook - in my opinion - is a finely crafted tool for reading. I'll be working on my review today on my Jetbook. My review will be quite favorable.

Don

EDITED: Actually, I'm probably the 20th-30th person to admit the Comparison Chart doesn't "work."

ny10522 · 08-06-2009, 09:31 AM

Jetbook display is sharper than eink. I have returned a Kindle-2 and a Kindle DX but keep my Jetbook! One problem: the default English-English dictionary is too weak to be useful. This should be an easy fix (increase the number of words) but so far Ectaco has not addressed the issue.

Kralik · 08-06-2009, 11:21 AM

I actually found the comparison chart fairly useful when I made my jetBook purchase. But as with anything, you have to take it with a grain of salt. Anyone see Microsoft's Internet Explorer vs. Firefox vs. Chrome comparison chart?

All the tech people I know admit that it is a pile of *ahem* garbage. So I don't take marketing too seriously.

For me it came down to the price. At the time, the cheapest I could get a new Sony PRS-505 was $260 (now on sale at Costco for $199?!). For almost $100 less, the jetBook was a no-brainer. And of course I had fun dying it. On the other hand, I don't think the jetBook will be competitive at the $299 price range now that we have a bunch of nice 5-inchers coming out. If the Astak reviews are favorable, I might switch devices.

As for the screen -- some people think it's great, others not so much. It IS comparable in a certain sense to e-ink and is NOT like the LCD display on your laptop with the backlight and glare. If you want to see "yesterday's" LCD technology, take a look at the EB-1150. It's come a loooong way. I'm looking forward to the upcoming promises of laptops that will be able to switch between the standard LCD and the reflective type that the jetBook has. Now that would be nifty.

LuBiB · 08-06-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kralik

I actually found the comparison chart fairly useful when I made my jetBook purchase. But as with anything, you have to take it with a grain of salt. Anyone see Microsoft's Internet Explorer vs. Firefox vs. Chrome comparison chart?

All the tech people I know admit that it is a pile of *ahem* garbage. So I don't take marketing too seriously.

For me it came down to the price. At the time, the cheapest I could get a new Sony PRS-505 was $260 (now on sale at Costco for $199?!). For almost $100 less, the jetBook was a no-brainer. And of course I had fun dying it. On the other hand, I don't think the jetBook will be competitive at the $299 price range now that we have a bunch of nice 5-inchers coming out. If the Astak reviews are favorable, I might switch devices.

As for the screen -- some people think it's great, others not so much. It IS comparable in a certain sense to e-ink and is NOT like the LCD display on your laptop with the backlight and glare. If you want to see "yesterday's" LCD technology, take a look at the EB-1150. It's come a loooong way. I'm looking forward to the upcoming promises of laptops that will be able to switch between the standard LCD and the reflective type that the jetBook has. Now that would be nifty.

By the looks of things and releases of 5 inch readers, the battle will most likely take a turn toward price wars. Obviously there are differences between e-ink and TFT, but they're fairly negligible especially if you just want to read books.

I've favored the jetBook over others since it's never let me down and i look forward to the updates ECTACO releases frequently. The $199 price point is a very favorable one for most - especially avid readers looking to get the most bang for their buck.

You can find tons of reviews over the internet and marketers always push their product over others, that's why i stick to forums and see what everyone has to say before purchasing anything

LDBoblo · 08-06-2009, 12:09 PM

I get ghosting on my 505, as do a few others I've had the rare occasion to see, and so do a few other devices with equivalent screens. Not major, but noticeable. Or perhaps not, depending on who is looking. There are people who claim e-ink isn't fuzzy and low quality at fine print sizes. Wonder where I can find these special edition devices that contradict every e-ink sample I've seen so far...

I'm no JetBook fan really...the thing is rather hideous, and the screen is not really a step up in visual quality--just in responsiveness (which may be important). Still, I don't completely reject their cons regarding e-ink. Perhaps these kinks (obviously the high percentage of lemons, given that apparently every device I've seen so far must be defective...) will be worked out in the future, or perhaps good LCDs will win the day. Regardless, I can't say any current monochrome display is particularly convincing, and certainly not worth the premiums that are being charged for them.

Lemurion · 08-06-2009, 02:46 PM

I love my 505 - though I do see faint striations on the screen when it's turned off. Like many I got it for $199 at Borders and I think it was a great purchase at that price.

I don't have a real problem with LCD - I own a few LCD devices, though not a Jetbook, and have done a lot of reading on them - and the Jetbook hardware seems pretty solid from everything I've seen. I know it's good enough to have attracted an enthusiastic fanbase if nothing else.

I'm less impressed with the company, and for me that's an issue. I'm still glad that there are options for everyone to have the device that meets their needs best, no matter which device it is.

worxland · 08-06-2009, 03:08 PM

I've just checked carefully and found no hint of ghosting on my 505. Eye tired of flashes - blatant lie. It is me and not my eye that tires after a lot of reading - no fault of the device.

JSWolf · 08-06-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

I get ghosting on my 505, as do a few others I've had the rare occasion to see, and so do a few other devices with equivalent screens. Not major, but noticeable. Or perhaps not, depending on who is looking. There are people who claim e-ink isn't fuzzy and low quality at fine print sizes. Wonder where I can find these special edition devices that contradict every e-ink sample I've seen so far...

What I can do is take a photo of my 505 and show you how it looks with a small text size on screen. I'll try to do so tomorrow.

JSWolf · 08-06-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worxland

I've just checked carefully and found no hint of ghosting on my 505. Eye tired of flashes - blatant lie. It is me and not my eye that tires after a lot of reading - no fault of the device.

I just had a look at my 505 with the screen off and in bright light. I saw no trace of what was on the screen then I turned the screen off. My 505 was purchased the first week of October in 2007. I have not seen any ghosting at all. It is clear and it is sharp.

rgeorg · 08-07-2009, 02:41 AM

I've been (and will shortly return) at the beach in Greece where there is an abundance of sunlight and heat. Although I can't read (anything) in direct sunlight, I've been reading the jetBook outside under an umbrella and in very hot environments. So far, no problems at all - the screen is crisp and it is so very convenient to have a large book collection available. I've been reading 3-4 or more hours per day and enjoying every minute!

I'll try out the new firmware when we return in Sept....maybe the txt-formatting "feature" will be resolved by then.

Kris777 · 08-07-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgeorg

I've been (and will shortly return) at the beach in Greece where there is an abundance of sunlight and heat. Although I can't read (anything) in direct sunlight, I've been reading the jetBook outside under an umbrella and in very hot environments. So far, no problems at all - the screen is crisp and it is so very convenient to have a large book collection available. I've been reading 3-4 or more hours per day and enjoying every minute!

I'll try out the new firmware when we return in Sept....maybe the txt-formatting "feature" will be resolved by then.

I had the same experience with my jetBook in Florida last year.

akira28 · 08-07-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

It's always bad if you have to praise your hardware/software by bashing the hardware/software of your competitors. It makes it sound to me like you've no faith on your own product.

Did you ever see the "I'm a Mac" commercials?

Kris777 · 08-07-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akira28

Did you ever see the "I'm a Mac" commercials?

Smart Dogs blame the Cat

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08-06-2009, 08:20 AM	#17
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,391 Karma: 59504381 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Let's keep it nice, please, with NO personal attacks. We're talking about issues and opinions here. Don (Moderator)

08-06-2009, 08:23 AM	#18
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,391 Karma: 59504381 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I'll be the first to admit that the comparison chart needs to be updated - which is what this thread is about. I personally wouldn't call the chart full of lies, but I certainly do recognize that to compare the Jetbook with a discontinued [Sony] model is disingenuous and really not very helpful to people who are looking for a Reader to purchase. The Jetbook - in my opinion - is a finely crafted tool for reading. I'll be working on my review today on my Jetbook. My review will be quite favorable. Don EDITED: Actually, I'm probably the 20th-30th person to admit the Comparison Chart doesn't "work."

08-06-2009, 09:31 AM	#19
ny10522 Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 60 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Jetbook, Kindle2, Kindle Touch 3G, Ipod Touch	Jetbook display is sharper than eink. I have returned a Kindle-2 and a Kindle DX but keep my Jetbook! One problem: the default English-English dictionary is too weak to be useful. This should be an easy fix (increase the number of words) but so far Ectaco has not addressed the issue.

08-06-2009, 11:21 AM	#20
Kralik Guru Posts: 609 Karma: 1013897 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Rooted NST	I actually found the comparison chart fairly useful when I made my jetBook purchase. But as with anything, you have to take it with a grain of salt. Anyone see Microsoft's Internet Explorer vs. Firefox vs. Chrome comparison chart? All the tech people I know admit that it is a pile of ahem garbage. So I don't take marketing too seriously. For me it came down to the price. At the time, the cheapest I could get a new Sony PRS-505 was $260 (now on sale at Costco for $199?!). For almost $100 less, the jetBook was a no-brainer. And of course I had fun dying it. On the other hand, I don't think the jetBook will be competitive at the $299 price range now that we have a bunch of nice 5-inchers coming out. If the Astak reviews are favorable, I might switch devices. As for the screen -- some people think it's great, others not so much. It IS comparable in a certain sense to e-ink and is NOT like the LCD display on your laptop with the backlight and glare. If you want to see "yesterday's" LCD technology, take a look at the EB-1150. It's come a loooong way. I'm looking forward to the upcoming promises of laptops that will be able to switch between the standard LCD and the reflective type that the jetBook has. Now that would be nifty.

08-06-2009, 12:09 PM	#22
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	I get ghosting on my 505, as do a few others I've had the rare occasion to see, and so do a few other devices with equivalent screens. Not major, but noticeable. Or perhaps not, depending on who is looking. There are people who claim e-ink isn't fuzzy and low quality at fine print sizes. Wonder where I can find these special edition devices that contradict every e-ink sample I've seen so far... I'm no JetBook fan really...the thing is rather hideous, and the screen is not really a step up in visual quality--just in responsiveness (which may be important). Still, I don't completely reject their cons regarding e-ink. Perhaps these kinks (obviously the high percentage of lemons, given that apparently every device I've seen so far must be defective...) will be worked out in the future, or perhaps good LCDs will win the day. Regardless, I can't say any current monochrome display is particularly convincing, and certainly not worth the premiums that are being charged for them.

08-06-2009, 02:46 PM	#23
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I love my 505 - though I do see faint striations on the screen when it's turned off. Like many I got it for $199 at Borders and I think it was a great purchase at that price. I don't have a real problem with LCD - I own a few LCD devices, though not a Jetbook, and have done a lot of reading on them - and the Jetbook hardware seems pretty solid from everything I've seen. I know it's good enough to have attracted an enthusiastic fanbase if nothing else. I'm less impressed with the company, and for me that's an issue. I'm still glad that there are options for everyone to have the device that meets their needs best, no matter which device it is.

08-06-2009, 03:08 PM	#24
worxland Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hungary Device: PRS-505, Paperwhite	I've just checked carefully and found no hint of ghosting on my 505. Eye tired of flashes - blatant lie. It is me and not my eye that tires after a lot of reading - no fault of the device.

08-07-2009, 02:41 AM	#27
rgeorg Guru Posts: 675 Karma: 3314796 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe & USA Device: K3/3G(2x), Glo HD, Amazon Voyage	I've been (and will shortly return) at the beach in Greece where there is an abundance of sunlight and heat. Although I can't read (anything) in direct sunlight, I've been reading the jetBook outside under an umbrella and in very hot environments. So far, no problems at all - the screen is crisp and it is so very convenient to have a large book collection available. I've been reading 3-4 or more hours per day and enjoying every minute! I'll try out the new firmware when we return in Sept....maybe the txt-formatting "feature" will be resolved by then.

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