Delstar OpenBook at Walgreens

[imaredr]

I started to post this under the news thread, but wasn't sure if it belonged there (Don't want to get into trouble)

Anyway, I saw this in my Sunday paper. Walgreens is selling the Delstar Openbook E-book Reader with color LCD Screen. Right now it is available through online purchase only (not in stores). Regular price is $149.99, Sale price is $99.99 Here is a link to the site:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/catal...n=push-product

I had to pay $5 flat shipping fee plus tax .

I am amazed that now drug stores are selling ebook readers. Wow, things are changing. Maybe now that it is just under $100 more people will be willing to try ebooks. From what I can tell it doesn't support DRM, but there are people that prefer this. It does support these formats:

ANSI, UNICODE TXT, DOC, PDF, HTML, FB2, PDB, and EPUB

I had been waiting for the Simplicity reader that JC Penney had on their site, but that doesn't seems like it will ever happen. So this may be a good alternative.

Ellen

[Bremen Cole]

Excellent find! After you get it, please do a mini review... battery life would be the downside that I see, but who knows....

One thing for sure, it looks like a good deal at $100....

[imaredr]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Excellent find! After you get it, please do a mini review... battery life would be the downside that I see, but who knows....

One thing for sure, it looks like a good deal at $100....

I'll do a review. Right off I can say that this looks like it is targeted at the over 50 crowd (that includes me). I say this because of my ordering experience. It has actually got me excited. I haven't been like this about a reader in a long time.

Ellen

[ColdSun]

Ellen,

Where was this device a couple years ago!? Form factor: check. Format Support: check. I think I'll buy one of these. I wonder how good the screen quality is? Resolution seems good.

[kennyc]

I'll be very interested in what you find. I'm tempted to order one myself in any case...while the price is right.

[imaredr]

Originally Posted by ColdSun

Ellen,

Where was this device a couple years ago!? Form factor: check. Format Support: check. I think I'll buy one of these. I wonder how good the screen quality is? Resolution seems good.

I had to sit and stare for a moment when I saw the reader. At first I thought it was another Jetbook type device, but then as I read the specs, I was like where has this been hiding at. The last color dedicated device I bought was the Cybook 2nd Gen if I don't count the Jointech device. I can't wait to see this, from the description it is something I have been wanting for years. I hope it is as good as it sounds. I wonder if the device that JC Penny has on their site will ever materialize. Also Delstar had plans for a 7" device back during CES timeframe. I can't remember if I saw this at CES. I do know that Sungale has some color readers similar to this on display and are better than the Cyberus. I need to go through the photos I took and see if I took a couple. Still as always there is no guarantee they will come to market.

Ellen

[SCION]

Battery life is 8 hours. That's respectable.

http://delstar.net/multi-function-de...ok-reader.html

[Katelyn]

And they accept Paypal.

Probably worth taking a chance on for $105 shipped. My only concern is that Google and Bing show almost no hits for this thing. I could not locate another distributer other than Walgreens. nor could I locate much on the specs, like what kind of OS and processor. I wonder if it is one of the devices listed under multiple names depending on which retailer you buy from? I did look through the manual (see SCION's link) and it does have some nice features and it looks as though it will be very easy to load files onto it. Plus it does have a File Manager. I noticed you could set the font color to Black, Blue, or Red, and the font size to Small, Medium, or Large. The backlight is adjustable. Like I said a good feature set for such a low price. I just wished there were some reviews out there.

[ColdSun]

Yeah, from the specs it looks like it is designed to get the job done. For that price, and the fact that it is available through Walgreens, I think it is worth the risk. I'm guessing a refund wouldn't be too hard from Walgreens.

I wish they had the black ones though. I might hold off on getting this until Ellen reviews it and there are more retailers carrying it. I'm thinking we will see other stores, perhaps like Fry's Electronics, start to carry it too. I would definately want a black one.

A couple of things that say caution to me: The manual lists the companies email address as Delstarswc@aol.com. What respectable electronics company would use AOL? That seems odd. Also, all the photos I see on the web and in the manual are of very low quality so it is difficult to tell how good the screen is or is not. But still, for $105 probably worth a gamble.

Here are some features from the manual:

• Electronic books viewer and manager
• Support for electronic books contents in multiple languages
• Bookmarks and auto turn page functions
• Adjustable font size
• Supports screen rotation (portrait & landscape modes)
• Built-in MP3 player that supports background playback
• Picture viewer
• 1 GB internal memory
• SD slot for up to 2GB SD cards for storing books, music, and pictures
• Compact and lightweight case
• Internal Li-ion polymer rechargeable battery

Twice the manual states it can use up to 2GB SD cards, but later it states, "E-Reader supports Standard size SD cards of up to 16GB capacity for storing thousands of books, music and pictures." Even if 2GB is correct that is still a lot of space for books.

[Bremen Cole]

I agree with jswinden, I wish there was a bit more info. I tried as well to get more info, but there is very little out there. I could not find even one review. Very tempting price, and thanks to Scion's link the 8 hour battery life would sure work for me..... somebody hurry up and get it so you can tell me if it's any good

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by jswinden

But still, for $105 probably worth a gamble.

Plus... you are ordering it from Walgreens not Delstar... so at least you know you are dealing with a real company and could probably return it if you had problems.

BOb

[Bremen Cole]

Found something http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/31/p...color-lcd-dis/ If you read the little article you learn delstar is distributing it in the US, it's actually made by paradign-shift....

EDIT: I checked at the Walgreens site, and this one looks nothing like the one they show... so never mind.... but does that mean Delstar is distributing 2 different 5" and 7" readers? Confusing lack of info.........

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Found something http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/31/p...color-lcd-dis/ If you read the little article you learn delstar is distributing it in the US, it's actually made by paradign-shift....

EDIT: I checked at the Walgreens site, and this one looks nothing like the one they show... so never mind.... but does that mean Delstar is distributing 2 different 5" and 7" readers? Confusing lack of info.........

A link on the page you found does have a closeup photo of the one shown on the Walgreens site, but it has "preliminary" stamped across it: see below:

Looks like the film covering the LCD is a bit bowed out of shape.

[edit] Another brief article: http://hothardware.com/News/Paradigm...For-Under-200/ [/edit]