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Aug
9
Ereader Devices and the Traveler
Filed Under Kindle, Reader, Reviews, e-Book, eReader, jetBook | Leave a Comment
The potential usefulness of ebook reading devices for travelers has not escaped the attention of bloggers and journalists. For example, we’ve recently noted a review from a Sony Reader user who was about to take the Reader along for a week at the beach, another review about taking an Ectaco jetBook along on a cruise vacation, and the Amazon Kindle’s presence on Time Magazine’s list of “gotta have” travel gadgets.
Concierge.com has also weighed in on the topic of ereaders for travelers. Tom Loftus recently explained why he views the Amazon Kindle as the “most important piece of travel technology since the inflatable neck pillow”:
Say you’re on the road and you suddenly realize that you must have–must have!–Oprah’s new book. All you need to do is turn on the Kindle and connect to the store. (The connection is through Sprint’s EV-DO network. It’s free.) You’ll have to pay for the book, but it will be cheaper than the dead-tree version. Or, if you wish, you can download sample chapters for free.
Earlier, a gear review at Concierge.com discussed the value of the Sony Reader to travelers. Noting a perceived tepid response to the Sony Reader in some quarters, the reviewer had this to say:
To these arbiters of judgment, I offer a single and uncontestable fact: My 80-day circumnavigation would have been much less pleasurable without my Sony Reader. Thanks to it, I was able to take part–whenever I wanted, and for long, memorable stretches–in one of my most favorite of activities: reading.
So if you have a getaway planned for these last few weeks of summer or the upcoming Labor Day weekend, you might want to think about giving the ebook reader of your choice a “field test” during your getaway.
Aug
8
The blogger at Techusers.org recently gave the Ectaco Jetbook a thorough test when she took the Jetbook along on a cruise vacation. She gave good marks to the Jetbook’s built-in dictionary and the device screen:
Dictionary: I love the dictionary included. All I have to do is press the menu button, then select dictionary. This highlights the first word on the page and then all you have to do is to navigate using the jog pad to the word you want and press ok. It was almost like have my Rocket book back, but without the touch screen.
Screen: I was worried that the screen would be green like the Ebookman or Kolin reader. I was worried for nothing. In regular light reading is great, but the brighter the better. In the Sun the screen is better than e-ink, but then again I am not a real big fan of e-ink. Page turns are so much quicker which really enhances my reading experience. I am glad that someone out there is creating alternative devices.
The blogger also liked the Jetbook’s file management, font size choices, and page turning attributes. In the minus column, she placed the lack of support for html, .doc and .rtf document formats, the inability to add fonts, the lack of backlight for the screen, and an awkward on-off switch.
Her overall conclusion: “This is one of the easiest-to-use e-book readers I have come across. There are cons to the reader, but I wouldn’t let that be a show stopper. I think that the Jetbook is excellent as a second reader and [complements] the on-the-go person.”
Jul
25
Ectaco jetBook Gets Accessorized
Filed Under News, e-Book, jetBook | Leave a Comment
The Ectaco jetBook - it’s not just for lovers of the color Burgundy anymore. PR News Now reports that the jetBook is being made available in a variety of colors, and with additional accessories:
As the release of jetBook has become a market success, Ectaco Inc. presents it in new colors. Now, in addition to the Burgundy edition there will be White, Gray and Graphite jetBooks. The line of jetBook accessories has also been extended by the Earlight (a spot-light device which allows reading in darkness with more comfort for the eyes) and the Silicon Sleeve (a skin-thin transparent dust protection cover). More accessories and colors are on the way . . . .
Jul
10
Jetbook Review: Some Favorable Comments from Ectaco Jetbook Users
Filed Under Reviews, jetBook | Leave a Comment
 | US $329.95 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:15:32 PST Buy It Now for only: US $329.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
We’ve been checking comments on blogs and forums to see what
Over at DVICE, one commenter who doesn’t seem to have actually used the product questioned whether the was simply an imitation of the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader. A couple of other commenters, however, had good things to say about the Jetbook. Marinak50 commented that the “etbook is a great present. It is affordable and the screen is easy to read. It is very good for the eyes. Love it!” Kris said, “I purchased Jetbook unit from Ectaco for my dad. He really love it. You can make fonts bigger, add many bookmarks and read books in txt and pdf formats plus it has english-english dictionary so you can get explanation for each word! Great product and not so expensive like iREX unit.”
Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle Books Review carries some positive customer reviews. One customer had this to say about the Jetbook:
In one phrase: Well rounded! It reads PDF docs with ease. Formatting of docs is great, and it is small yet fast. I can open up a large doc, and it takes only a couple of seconds (with Sony, it took about 10). The screen is smaller than the SONY or Amazon, and I thought it would bother me. Here is the good news: you can rotate your doc! You can read landscape style, and the screen is perfect for that. The device is small that you can control it in one hand, and not heavy that you get tired. The keys are well placed, and the user interface is very simple! I charged it four days ago; been using it since, and the battery is at about 95%!
What I would add to this device: wireless internet access and a web browser. I know this kills the battery life, but it is worth it. I would like a back-light so I can read docs in the dark. None of the readers have this feature, but it would be very good thing to have. It doesn’t read SD Cards over 2Gig, but I still have over 1Gig left - with over 200 docs already on the card.
Another customer stated that the Jebook “does a pretty decent job. Size and weight is good, resolution is sufficient to make reading comfortable, and the speed is impressive.”
Over at the MobileRead forums, a forumite named Pilotbob provided an extensive review of the :
The Jetbook has some great features. On the plus side it has a good looking screen that is very fast. The library management with fully nested folder support is a feature I have seen many beg for on the Kindle, Sony and CyBook. Navigating through hundreds or thousands of files would be no problem with a well organized folder structure. The device is also a nice size. While you don’t get as much on one screen as you will with a 6inch device it is certainly better than a cell phone or PDA screen. The more compact size will make the Jetbook a nice device to take with you on the road while a 6inch device might be more friendly at home in the easy chair.
One the minus side as good as the screen looks and as fast as it works it doesn’t have the same contrast as an eInk screen. The color is an off gray with black text. It also can have some glare in bright lights. However, it is readable in sunlight you may just need to angle it the correct way to remove the glare. The other issue is file format support. As mentioned above it only supports plain text and PDF files. While there are many thousands of free books available in this format some newer books may be harder to find.
A commenter (Minas) at Daily Digitals gave the Ectaco Jetbook an enthusiastic thumbs up: “I loved this device, I don’t need to read all the latest info and pay for it but still I can have an access to thousands of books and plus listen music and audio books.”
To find a good price on the Ectaco Jetbook, check these current Jetbook auctions:
ECTACO jetBook Portable Electronic eBook eReader MP3 + | US $329.95 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:15:32 PST Buy It Now for only: US $329.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
ECTACO jetBook Portable Electronic eBook eReader MP3 +
 | US $299.95 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:16:27 PST Buy It Now for only: US $299.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Find more
Jul
10
Ectaco Jetbook in the UK
Filed Under jetBook | Leave a Comment
| GBP 225.70 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:15:32 PST Buy It Now for only: GBP 225.70 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
The is positioned to do well in the UK market, according to Tech Loose:
[W]ith the jetbook, it looks like we finally have a rabble-rouser that’s set to rip up the rulebook, and any other books that stand in its way. Yes, this is actually available to buy in the UK. It comes with a 5in VGA TFT screen, and support for .txt and PDF - format files, but its killer feature is an almost Babelfish - style skill with languages. It supports almost every European Language and boasts built - in Russian, Polish and English dictionaries.
These Ectaco Jetbook ereaders are currently available for bidding or immediate purchase:
ECTACO jetBook Portable Electronic eBook eReader MP3 + | GBP 225.70 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:15:32 PST Buy It Now for only: GBP 225.70 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
ECTACO jetBook Portable Electronic eBook eReader MP3 +
| GBP 205.18 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:16:27 PST Buy It Now for only: GBP 205.18 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
ECTACO jetBook Chinese Electronic eBook eReader Sony
 | GBP 205.18 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 0:16:29 PST Buy It Now for only: GBP 205.18 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Find more
Mar
26
Another Ereader Enters the Market: Ectaco jetBook
Filed Under Kindle, News, Reader, eReader, jetBook | Leave a Comment
From DVICE comes word of another Ereader to compete with the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader: the Ectaco jetBook.
If the Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle ebook readers just aren’t doing it for you, now there’s a third choice, the Ectaco jetBook that rolled out today. While this $349.95 reader’s 5-inch screen is smaller than the Sony Reader or Kindle (both with 6-inch screens), its 7.5-ounce weight makes it easier to carry around than both the 9-oz Sony Reader and even heftier 10.3-oz Kindle.