Jetbook with New Formats Now at Bed Bath and Beyond

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by Faenad

If you have one with the updated software, can you tell me what the font and margins looks like?

With the original software, the photos of the review showed horrible fonts and margins. A very small left margin, while the right margin is bigger.



I asked in the jetbook review thread if it was possible to change the embedded fonts like with the Cybook or the Sony, but didn't get any reply, so I guess it's not possible. Any luck with the new software?

I guess it's possible to create your own custom PDF with your own fonts, but it's a hassle to do that with every book you read.

Also, about PDF, is the reflow support now available?

You can see the reply on your question on newegg website below
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16858723001
...
Other Thoughts: In txt files, there are only two fonts available: Verdana and Arial. However, you can read books in any font you like, as long as you first convert the file to pdf. (I've been doing all of my reading in Garamond font, for example.) When you open the text file, convert it to the font you want, change the font size (I use 18 point, but it's up to you) go to Page Setup and choose 6in by 7.5in (no margins), and then save it as a pdf file. Voila! Your JetBook will easily be able to read this file. (You might want to choose "Full Screen" as your viewing option, which will make the display more aesthetically pleasing.)

[galavanter]

I'm new at all of this. I started with a new Kindle 1 about 6 weeks ago. $225.00 got me into ebooks thanks to CL. I don't know squat about the different formats, conversions, etc.

But I did manage to dl the right stuff, use terminal on my Mac, get my PID, and convert an azw to mobipocket. Every damn google search seems to point back here, and every thread has been redacted, but enough hours allowed me to read between the lines. It's all about the path Mac users. Open HD, click your home folder, and put the files, books there. THEN run the apps in terminal.

The new software version is v0.30e, patch v12. The fonts are the same, Arial and Verdana, one more than my Kindle. I have seen nothing that indicates one can add fonts. The alignment appears to be the same as well. The photo shows what I think is "Justify" alignment setting, the other option being "Align Left". Not much difference, but I prefer "Align left" as it leaves some more pleasant looking asymmetrical margins on the right. I agree that the margins (there really aren't any) should be improved. The Kindle is much nicer in this regard.

I want to point out that the above photo is blurry. Next to my Kindle 1, the jetBook text is much blacker and appears much sharper to my eye. I've read other comments suggesting the Kindle has better contrast, but this seems highly subjective to me and more related to the Kindle gray vs the jetBook light green backround. I think I prefer the gray backround of the Kindle, but I also prefer the much blacker text of the jetBook.

PDF reflow support? I had to google to hazard a guess as to what that is, and I still am not sure. I can tell you this:

I have one pdf ebook, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. If they would make it available for purchase, I would buy it. A favorite of mine.

I loaded this on my Kindle [EDIT - Make that emailed it to Amazon, and they converted it], and it read fine. I could change font size, and everything seemed to format correctly. On the jetBook, a no go. To get the full page, the font is so small it is unreadable, even to a youngsters eyes I would think, and when one zooms scroll bars appear on the side and bottom, making pleasant reading impossible. I called Ectaco and I was not offered a solution. If that is pdf reflow, the jetBook doesn't have it. Maybe someone here has a conversion process/app to suggest for me?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Kris777

You can see the reply on your question on newegg website below
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16858723001
...
Other Thoughts: In txt files, there are only two fonts available: Verdana and Arial. However, you can read books in any font you like, as long as you first convert the file to pdf. (I've been doing all of my reading in Garamond font, for example.) When you open the text file, convert it to the font you want, change the font size (I use 18 point, but it's up to you) go to Page Setup and choose 6in by 7.5in (no margins), and then save it as a pdf file. Voila! Your JetBook will easily be able to read this file. (You might want to choose "Full Screen" as your viewing option, which will make the display more aesthetically pleasing.)

ePub allows font embedding very easily. So you can use ePub to get whatever fonts you want. I'm not sure if you can use the same trick as you can with the 505 and 700 so you do not have to embed for each ePub if you want the same fonts.

[Faenad]

Originally Posted by Kris777

You can see the reply on your question on newegg website below
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16858723001

I guessed it was possible, but I would not want to do that process for every books I read. I hoped that it would now be possible to just add another fonts.

On the jetBook, a no go. To get the full page, the font is so small it is unreadable, even to a youngsters eyes I would think, and when one zooms scroll bars appear on the side and bottom, making pleasant reading impossible. I called Ectaco and I was not offered a solution. If that is pdf reflow, the jetBook doesn't have it. Maybe someone here has a conversion process/app to suggest for me?

Reflow is just that. From the Mobileread Wiki :

Some devices have problems with PDF since most content available is scaled for either A4 or letter format, both of which are not easily readable when reduced to fit on small screens. Some Readers can reflow some PDF documents, including the Sony PRS505, to accommodate the small screen.

Several Newegg users reviews are also pointing out that the Jetbook is very bad for PDF, but I hoped the update improved that, like the one for the Sony Reader did.
I hope the other new formats are better supported.

If you are looking for a converter for PDF, there are several of them. I used them a lot with my previous reader (Windows Mobile smartphone with µBook Reader).
Mobipocket Creator is the best free one.
Convert Doc is a little better, especially for files with images, but is quite expensive. A trial version is available.

The problem is that they don't works very well with PDF that have images with caption, footnotes, text insert, etc. In that case the text is all messed up.

[galavanter]

Mbipocket Creator and Convert Doc are Windows only I believe.

Calibre, even though it does not claim support for the jetBook, just put out a very nice conversion from pdf to epub for me. I had one small glitch. It didn't give me the cover image from the pdf, and when I tried to add one that's ALL I would get, a one page file with a cover and no book to read. This could be my fault as I just did a quick conversion, not playing with anything since I am unfamiliar. But the resulting file looks just great on the jetBook. Using align left, I can forgive jetBook for not having a margin on that side, as the screen is smallish to begin with.

I tried to output a mobi file from the pdf using calibre, but once loaded on the jetBook (not in calibre's viewer), every quote mark and apostrophe came out something like 壙. So epub it is, and I am very pleased.

I've had a few issues today, a few resets required, weird invisible files (Mac issue) on my SD card, but nothing a beginner like myself couldn't deal with.

I must say again, now that it is nighttime and I am reading by lamp, the jetBook print is much blacker than the Kindle. Side by side, I find the jetBook much easier to read in lamp light, as I did this afernoon. I have not tried the jetBook outdoors yet. This is a surprise to me, after all the talk of e-ink. Almost instant page turns too. The Kindle looks, no joke here, washed out and faded next to it. I paid almost exactly the same for both, and that's my honest take.

A small thing, but I wish the slider (and the page turn buttons on the left bottom)on the left of the Jetbook were non metallic, or rather non reflective. Just like with the Kindle, you angle the jetBook so your lamp doesn't reflect in the screen, but with the jetBook, at just that spot it causes a bit of a reflection in the slider. Angle it more and you loose screen brightness in relation to the lamp.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by galavanter

....

I've had a few issues today, a few resets required, weird invisible files (Mac issue) on my SD card, but nothing a beginner like myself couldn't deal with.

There's a easy to use, free little app for mac you can use to eject your SD card that deletes any invisible files. Of course I can't remember the name, and I'm at work, but if no one else chimes in, I'll try to remember when I get home today

[galavanter]

Originally Posted by Ea

There's a easy to use, free little app for mac you can use to eject your SD card that deletes any invisible files. Of course I can't remember the name, and I'm at work, but if no one else chimes in, I'll try to remember when I get home today

That would be great. I have been searching with no success. Thanks.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by galavanter

That would be great. I have been searching with no success. Thanks.

If I forget, just poke me, okay ?

[galavanter]

Nevermind! Thanks to you I found it. I googled "mac eject sd card app" and the first result was here:

http://mybebook.com/forum/viewtopic....st=0&sk=t&sd=a

orwell2k, another kind soul like yourself, posted a link to here:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id...hidden-cleaner

This must be the one you had in mind. Thanks a lot. Those files were driving me nuts. It works perfectly using a SD card reader. No ejection problems like with the jetBook cable.

In your honor, tomorrow I am going to get an ice cream at the newly opened, Danish owned parlor here in Los Angeles.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by galavanter

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id...hidden-cleaner

This must be the one you had in mind. Thanks a lot. Those files were driving me nuts. It works perfectly using a SD card reader. No ejection problems like with the jetBook cable.

Yes, it was Hidden Cleaner. Easy to use and does exactly what it's supposed to do.

Originally Posted by galavanter

In your honor, tomorrow I am going to get an ice cream at the newly opened, Danish owned parlor here in Los Angeles.

Nice You probably already have "ice-cream weather" i LA. It's a liiitle bit too cold here, yet.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by galavanter

I must say again, now that it is nighttime and I am reading by lamp, the jetBook print is much blacker than the Kindle. Side by side, I find the jetBook much easier to read in lamp light, as I did this afernoon. I have not tried the jetBook outdoors yet. This is a surprise to me, after all the talk of e-ink. Almost instant page turns too. The Kindle looks, no joke here, washed out and faded next to it. I paid almost exactly the same for both, and that's my honest take.

A small thing, but I wish the slider (and the page turn buttons on the left bottom)on the left of the Jetbook were non metallic, or rather non reflective. Just like with the Kindle, you angle the jetBook so your lamp doesn't reflect in the screen, but with the jetBook, at just that spot it causes a bit of a reflection in the slider. Angle it more and you loose screen brightness in relation to the lamp.

I like jetBook screen more if compare with ink screen too. I just checked NewEgg.com website and see that they sell a new updated jetBook version:

File Formats Supported:txt, .pdf, .fb2
Mobi, PRC, ePub, RTF

[MaggieScratch]

Originally Posted by Kris777

Off-topic, a bit...what the heck book is that??? Is it a work in translation? The syntax is kind of odd.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Kris777

I like jetBook screen more if compare with ink screen too. I just checked NewEgg.com website and see that they sell a new updated jetBook version:

File Formats Supported:txt, .pdf, .fb2
Mobi, PRC, ePub, RTF

Is there any difference in the hardware between the ones with and without Mobi and ePub support? And is the file on the website that says beta version in fact the same as the updated ones.

Fry's still has the older ones for $179.99. After shipping that's a savings of nearly $25 US (shipping to Hawaii is also more expensive at Newegg).

So is having to flash the firmware worth $25? Dunno, I'm still deciding if I'm gonna buy one.

P.S. Can anyone who has one of these do a mini-review on the text search feature please? Is it easy to use? Is it reasonably fast?

The text serch would be the only reason I'd get one of these, My Sony 505 works well enough except I REALLY miss being able to search.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by wodin

Is there any difference in the hardware between the ones with and without Mobi and ePub support? And is the file on the website that says beta version in fact the same as the updated ones.

Fry's still has the older ones for $179.99. After shipping that's a savings of nearly $25 US (shipping to Hawaii is also more expensive at Newegg).

So is having to flash the firmware worth $25? Dunno, I'm still deciding if I'm gonna buy one.

P.S. Can anyone who has one of these do a mini-review on the text search feature please? Is it easy to use? Is it reasonably fast?

The text serch would be the only reason I'd get one of these, My Sony 505 works well enough except I REALLY miss being able to search.

JetBook has the same hardware but I read several posts that people has some problems to update firmware - I'm not sure if it was fixed after contacted jetBook support ot not. As for me I had no problems with firmware update but I would prefer to pay $25 extra and get the unit with updated firmware. Another reason I like NEWEGG service more than Fry's

I use text search feature by keywords pretty often when I need to find something and l like how it works. No any problems with it.
You will see the popup and section to enter the keyword the same way as you enter text via cell phone keyboard and after it you will find kewords in the text on he current and next pages. It works for all formats except of PDF.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

Off-topic, a bit...what the heck book is that??? Is it a work in translation? The syntax is kind of odd.

This is SENSE & SENSIBILITY BY JANE AUSTEN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_and_Sensibility

I have this book preloaded on my jetBook but I didn't read it yet