Aiptek Story Book in Color - a brief review

Nate the great · 12-23-2009, 11:17 AM

I picked up the package containing my newest reader at the post office this morning. I've used it about half an hour, and I'm really having trouble not saying rude things about Aiptek.

The Story Book in Color has an 8" LCD screen, and the dimensions are about an inch taller and wider than the original Kindle. It doesn't have a touch screen, but it does have speakers, USB Host, and a SD/MMC/MSPro card slot. It has a white book like case that is covered with speckles of color. The inner lining of the case is soft green faux leather with 3 slots stitched in the opposite face for spare SD cards.

It can play MP3s and show jpeg images, but the only ebook format that it supports is proprietary to Aiptek. I've already asked for a copy of the software needed to make the ebooks; they said no.

It came with 20 ebooks, and they all have a target audience in the 4 to 8 year old age group. All the ebooks have color page images, and all are narrated. Eric Carle's works are a good example of the type of book that would fit the design intent of this device.

Now let's consider what's wrong with the Story Book in Color. It's obvious that the target audience is small children. I do not understand why Aiptek would expect that the average 6 year old could be trusted with a $200 piece of electronics. Nothing against children here; it's just that they're destructive little buggers.

Think about this device's abilities. It shows images and plays words. Why would someone buy this when they already have a television that does the same thing? Literally the same thing.

Consider the locked in format. One must buy all ebooks from Aiptek. Why would you do that when anyone who had kids probably already has a collection of kid's movies?

Lastly, why did they add those slots for spare SD cards? Don't they realize that some kid would take the card out of the slot and try to swallow it? I figured that out right away, and I don't even _have_ kids.

Frankly, I do not see why anyone would buy this.

jamadams · 12-23-2009, 03:21 PM

Well that sounds like a big old heap of crap

raven312 · 12-26-2009, 12:39 AM

With that cover I'd say that they're marketing it to the parents of little girls. Looks like they're mimicking Amazon's model, though I doubt it will work for them. I understand the idea of tapping the young market while ebooks are in their infancy (market-wise) but that looks like an idea whose time has not yet come, IMO.

Bremen Cole · 12-26-2009, 11:13 PM

What a waste of time and money. With a six year old I would rather use my PC and an interactive educational program/game. A ultra durable ereader might be a good marketing idea to this age group (like the mp3 players, DVD players...etc for kids) .... but this thing..... forget it.

Nathan Campos · 12-27-2009, 09:03 AM

WOW!
Finally the colors got on our fingers, but if it can show colors, then it don't use E-ink and then the battery isn't like a Kindle battery, that can hold many hours of reading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

What a waste of time and money. With a six year old I would rather use my PC and an interactive educational program/game. A ultra durable ereader might be a good marketing idea to this age group (like the mp3 players, DVD players...etc for kids) .... but this thing..... forget it.

I agree totally!

poshm · 01-06-2010, 03:07 AM

It's a shame it's not much good, I liked the look of it initially when I read the blurb. I'd love to get an ereading device suitable for my little girl.

I tell you what is pretty indestructible for young kids and that's the Nintendo DS - when I got my new machine, I gave my 3 yr old my previous model with an age appropriate game. It has been dropped numerous times on a hardwood floor (from a jumping height on sofa!) had goodness knows what smeared over the screens and gets stabbed at with the included stylus - and yet it's still in good shape and the battery lasts for weeks between charges. My little girl knows how to turn it on and work it, can remove the card and stylus but thankfully is past the age of wanting to put these in her mouth. She loves gadgets (takes after me) and I think this is a pretty robust one!

I'd still love to see a kid's ebook reader though.

12-23-2009, 11:17 AM	#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	Aiptek Story Book in Color - a brief review I picked up the package containing my newest reader at the post office this morning. I've used it about half an hour, and I'm really having trouble not saying rude things about Aiptek. The Story Book in Color has an 8" LCD screen, and the dimensions are about an inch taller and wider than the original Kindle. It doesn't have a touch screen, but it does have speakers, USB Host, and a SD/MMC/MSPro card slot. It has a white book like case that is covered with speckles of color. The inner lining of the case is soft green faux leather with 3 slots stitched in the opposite face for spare SD cards. It can play MP3s and show jpeg images, but the only ebook format that it supports is proprietary to Aiptek. I've already asked for a copy of the software needed to make the ebooks; they said no. It came with 20 ebooks, and they all have a target audience in the 4 to 8 year old age group. All the ebooks have color page images, and all are narrated. Eric Carle's works are a good example of the type of book that would fit the design intent of this device. Now let's consider what's wrong with the Story Book in Color. It's obvious that the target audience is small children. I do not understand why Aiptek would expect that the average 6 year old could be trusted with a $200 piece of electronics. Nothing against children here; it's just that they're destructive little buggers. Think about this device's abilities. It shows images and plays words. Why would someone buy this when they already have a television that does the same thing? Literally the same thing. Consider the locked in format. One must buy all ebooks from Aiptek. Why would you do that when anyone who had kids probably already has a collection of kid's movies? Lastly, why did they add those slots for spare SD cards? Don't they realize that some kid would take the card out of the slot and try to swallow it? I figured that out right away, and I don't even _have_ kids. Frankly, I do not see why anyone would buy this. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Nate the great; 12-24-2009 at 08:54 PM.

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12-23-2009, 03:21 PM	#2
jamadams Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 712900 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hull, UK Device: Kindle PW, Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Touch, Sony PRS-505, 600 & Librié	Well that sounds like a big old heap of crap

12-26-2009, 12:39 AM	#3
raven312 Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 6462 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Kindle 2	With that cover I'd say that they're marketing it to the parents of little girls. Looks like they're mimicking Amazon's model, though I doubt it will work for them. I understand the idea of tapping the young market while ebooks are in their infancy (market-wise) but that looks like an idea whose time has not yet come, IMO.

12-26-2009, 11:13 PM	#4
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	What a waste of time and money. With a six year old I would rather use my PC and an interactive educational program/game. A ultra durable ereader might be a good marketing idea to this age group (like the mp3 players, DVD players...etc for kids) .... but this thing..... forget it.

01-06-2010, 03:07 AM	#6
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	It's a shame it's not much good, I liked the look of it initially when I read the blurb. I'd love to get an ereading device suitable for my little girl. I tell you what is pretty indestructible for young kids and that's the Nintendo DS - when I got my new machine, I gave my 3 yr old my previous model with an age appropriate game. It has been dropped numerous times on a hardwood floor (from a jumping height on sofa!) had goodness knows what smeared over the screens and gets stabbed at with the included stylus - and yet it's still in good shape and the battery lasts for weeks between charges. My little girl knows how to turn it on and work it, can remove the card and stylus but thankfully is past the age of wanting to put these in her mouth. She loves gadgets (takes after me) and I think this is a pretty robust one! I'd still love to see a kid's ebook reader though.

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