Mibook - First Impressions

Nate the great · 06-30-2008, 03:00 PM

Just to give you an idea what it can do, here is the main menu:

miBook Guides
photos
video (divx worked)
music (mp3 worked)
photos + music
calender + clock
text (it works)
settings
editor

First of all, it does have a text mode. The file I tried was over 1MB in size and took a few seconds to load. Page turns were quite good.

The Guides - I'm shocked. I'm truly surprised they did this. There is no DRM or file format obfuscation in the guides. It will be very easy if you want to make your own. Each recipe, for instance, is a collection of Divx files in its own folder, and the folders are organized pretty much like you'd expect for a cookbook.. Skirt steak is located at:

Code:

E:\001_Quick & Easy Meals\001_Beef\002_Grilled\003_Skirt Steak

I'm going to go back to playing with it. I like what I've seen so far. I think it might be worth buying (as a tool, not just as a gadget).

P.S. Pictures and a hands-on video will be forthcoming.

igorsk · 07-01-2008, 05:53 PM

Is there any kind of firmware update available? I'd like to see if it's hackable

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 05:07 PM

I won't be able to finish this review for a while. I don't know how long.

Monday night I dropped and broke the miBook. This is somewhat embarrassing, but not a big problem because QVC had an open return policy. Okay, I packed it up, printed out a return label, and dropped it off Tuesday morning.

I checked online on Wednesday; the package was in the hands of QVC. Great. Then I looked for a tracking number for the replacement. There wasn't one. So I emailed QVC customer service and asked about the status of my shipment.

They will not ship the replacement for 17 days. Why? Because that's how long it takes to process the return!

I have never encountered a web retailer with such a stupid policy.

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 05:09 PM

Do you what makes this extremely annoying? I don't just want the miBook so I can review it. I actually want to have it because I like it.

Greg Anos · 07-03-2008, 06:57 PM

Here's a few quick hits.

No Wav file support.
320x200 resolution - I could hardly watch it.

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

320x200 resolution - I could hardly watch it.

I checked some of the Divx files. They showed a resolution of 480 by 234. Which ones were you looking at?

Greg Anos · 07-03-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I checked some of the Divx files. They showed a resolution of 480 by 234. Which ones were you looking at?

I was looking at the enclosed cooking book. Blocky, pixellated, barely watchable. (Of course, you must understand, I'm a rezz freak. I watch Laser Discs back in the 80's).

daffy4u · 07-03-2008, 07:49 PM

I just watched the video on QVC. What other cards are available besides cooking and where does one get them?

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

I just watched the video on QVC. What other cards are available besides cooking and where does one get them?

I've seen the retail packaging for a Disney tour guide for Orlando, FL. I haven't yet found it for sale, but I do know it exists. I've also found references to other guides.

Hopefully someone from Photoco can tell us where we can buy the guides *HINT*, *HINT*.

daffy4u · 07-03-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I've seen the retail packaging for a Disney tour guide for Orlando, FL. I haven't yet found it for sale, but I do know it exists. I've also found references to other guides.

Hopefully someone from Photoco can tell us where we can buy the guides *HINT*, *HINT*.

Looks like they have a website going live next week. Maybe then we'll find out.

http://www.mibook.com/

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 10:54 PM

Finally they updated it. It used to say "Coming: Spring 2008".

daffy4u · 07-03-2008, 10:58 PM

May I ask how you plan to use this device? I can't see not using my laptop for most of what is offered. Are you a wannbe whiz in the kitchen?

Edit: I forgot about that "book" you're working on.

Nate the great · 07-03-2008, 11:13 PM

I checked several dozen Divx files and they all have a resolution of 480 by 234. (I use Divx for my movie archives, so I already had the converter and player installed.) I don't know why Ralph says it's 320 by 200.

When I heard that the miBook would be sold for $130, I expected the screen to have about this resolution. Why? Because this was the standard screen resolution for a 7" PMP about 4 years ago. The current screen resolution is 800 by 480 and it could be used instead if you want to add about $200 to the price. The miBook would not be this cheap without the older, cheaper, low res screen.

I too am a res junkie, but I still found this screen acceptable for the current task. Would I watch a feature length movie on it? No, but only because I don't like to watch movies on mobile devices.

pilotbob · 07-04-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Finally they updated it. It used to say "Coming: Spring 2008".

I just went to the web site... it says "Launching Next Week".

BOb

HarryT · 07-05-2008, 08:21 AM

It's a perfectly acceptable resolution for a small screen. I watch a lot of video on my iPod Touch (I specifically bought it as a mobile video player, to replace my Archos) and that has a 480x320 resolution.

06-30-2008, 03:00 PM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Mibook - First Impressions Just to give you an idea what it can do, here is the main menu: miBook Guides photos video (divx worked) music (mp3 worked) photos + music calender + clock text (it works) settings editor First of all, it does have a text mode. The file I tried was over 1MB in size and took a few seconds to load. Page turns were quite good. The Guides - I'm shocked. I'm truly surprised they did this. There is no DRM or file format obfuscation in the guides. It will be very easy if you want to make your own. Each recipe, for instance, is a collection of Divx files in its own folder, and the folders are organized pretty much like you'd expect for a cookbook.. Skirt steak is located at: Code: E:\001_Quick & Easy Meals\001_Beef\002_Grilled\003_Skirt Steak I'm going to go back to playing with it. I like what I've seen so far. I think it might be worth buying (as a tool, not just as a gadget). P.S. Pictures and a hands-on video will be forthcoming.

07-03-2008, 05:07 PM	#3
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	QVC is run by a bunch of idiots I won't be able to finish this review for a while. I don't know how long. Monday night I dropped and broke the miBook. This is somewhat embarrassing, but not a big problem because QVC had an open return policy. Okay, I packed it up, printed out a return label, and dropped it off Tuesday morning. I checked online on Wednesday; the package was in the hands of QVC. Great. Then I looked for a tracking number for the replacement. There wasn't one. So I emailed QVC customer service and asked about the status of my shipment. They will not ship the replacement for 17 days. Why? Because that's how long it takes to process the return! I have never encountered a web retailer with such a stupid policy.

07-03-2008, 11:13 PM	#13
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Re: screen resolution I checked several dozen Divx files and they all have a resolution of 480 by 234. (I use Divx for my movie archives, so I already had the converter and player installed.) I don't know why Ralph says it's 320 by 200. When I heard that the miBook would be sold for $130, I expected the screen to have about this resolution. Why? Because this was the standard screen resolution for a 7" PMP about 4 years ago. The current screen resolution is 800 by 480 and it could be used instead if you want to add about $200 to the price. The miBook would not be this cheap without the older, cheaper, low res screen. I too am a res junkie, but I still found this screen acceptable for the current task. Would I watch a feature length movie on it? No, but only because I don't like to watch movies on mobile devices.

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07-01-2008, 05:53 PM	#2
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Is there any kind of firmware update available? I'd like to see if it's hackable

07-03-2008, 05:09 PM	#4
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Do you what makes this extremely annoying? I don't just want the miBook so I can review it. I actually want to have it because I like it.

07-03-2008, 06:57 PM	#5
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,509 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Here's a few quick hits. No Wav file support. 320x200 resolution - I could hardly watch it.

07-03-2008, 07:49 PM	#8
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I just watched the video on QVC. What other cards are available besides cooking and where does one get them?

07-03-2008, 10:54 PM	#11
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Finally they updated it. It used to say "Coming: Spring 2008".

07-03-2008, 10:58 PM	#12
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	May I ask how you plan to use this device? I can't see not using my laptop for most of what is offered. Are you a wannbe whiz in the kitchen? Edit: I forgot about that "book" you're working on.

07-05-2008, 08:21 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's a perfectly acceptable resolution for a small screen. I watch a lot of video on my iPod Touch (I specifically bought it as a mobile video player, to replace my Archos) and that has a 480x320 resolution.

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