http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/ Engadget Comments for 5-inch BeBook Mini now shipping in the US for $199 (hands-on) http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/It's the same jinke Hanlin eReader V5 rebranded as BeBook, so they look identical and Astak rebrand is also $199, so the price is also identical.]]>Oct 12th 2009 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Not sure why anybody would buy this over the much better looking, similar Sony...]]>Oct 12th 2009 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
The similar sized nicer looking Sony Reader doesn't come with an sd slot so you are kind of limited to the amount of space on the reader. (I know because my sister bought one and I thought she was nuts. I have an older Sony 500 and lots of SD cards with varying stuff on them to keep me a happy camper). ]]>Oct 12th 2009 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/BTW, many other free e book reader are available for free for Android, "word player" was not bad and had a great free catalogue too, but Aldiko is the best by far.]]>Oct 12th 2009 5:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
"nothing more than bigger versions of PDAs from 10+ years ago"

As has been discussed on Engadget before, don't confuse the greyish looking screens with screens from old Palm devices and similar. E-ink is a completely different technology, designed to replicate a paper reading experience which they do very well, 180 degree viewing angle side to side and up or down, exceptional in sunlight and easy on the eyes. Battery life is measured in weeks.

Comparison with netbooks is just FUD. A netbook will hardly replicate the book experience whereas these do. ]]>Oct 13th 2009 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/

... maybe.]]>Oct 12th 2009 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Here goes my lunch....]]>Oct 12th 2009 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
No one cares about you stupid phone.™]]>Oct 12th 2009 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Damn, I just KIRFd my own made-up trademark! ]]>Oct 12th 2009 4:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
What a deal!!


Also: I pay less than Kindle/Sony for more formats and SD-expansion...yes please!]]>Oct 12th 2009 4:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 4:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 7:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
That said......would it be possible to have some more shots like the 2nd one, that show the whole device and something else in frame, that let me get a sense of the scale of it? From the edge on shot of the bottom (top?), it looks about 4.5" wide, and very thin! Stacked or side-by-side with everyday objects, like a CD case or DVD case would be helpful too!]]>Oct 12th 2009 7:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
If they're going to try to make it smaller than a paperback, why do they insist on wasting 1/4 of the front facia with ugly buttons and such? I'm surprised that I haven't seen one designed with the the buttons on the edge of the device (like the volume buttons on a cellphone)]]>Oct 12th 2009 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Too many new devices are skimping on so much bezel or thickness that it gets uncomfortable to hold the freakin' thing for any period of time. Ah needs somewhere to put mah thumbz! That goes for bottom-edged buttons, too. Though I'll admit that key layout isn't aesthetically pleasing. At all.]]>Oct 13th 2009 3:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Come on!]]>Oct 13th 2009 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
someone could easily adapt netbook tech to a better ebook reader than any of the crappy e-ink ones. ]]>Oct 12th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Just because you have a hammer doesn't mean that you need to nail everything in sight.]]>Oct 13th 2009 3:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Utter nonsense.

You cannot compare 'screen quality' just because these don't do color, and by trying to compare these with lcd just completely misses the point. ]]>Oct 13th 2009 12:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 8:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 3:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 12th 2009 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 12:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 3:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 3:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 13th 2009 3:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
I still hate you.

Love,
ansnimus3]]>Oct 13th 2009 3:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/
Here's my question for you... what is this damning limitation of a netbook that has you convinced they're so worthless? It can't be the keyboard or the screen, since both have been drastically improved in the two years since the EEE was first launched (and typing on even the lowly 701 is a big improvement over the imprecise iPhone touchscreen). It can't be the hard drive, because the capacity has jumped from 4GB to 160GB in the same span of time. Is there some crucial piece of software you have to have with you at all times that you can't run on a netbook? I'm not aware of any... at least not any that *could* be run on another handheld convergence device.

I think your beef with netbooks can be boiled down to the gigahertz penis-measuring contest that has obsessed far too many computer enthusiasts. Sure a netbook is never going to be used to render a Pixar movie, play Crysis, or prevent a nuclear attack, but they're not designed for such overreaching applications. Hell, neither is an iPhone! That device gets a free pass on its inherent limitations, but nobody extends that courtesy to netbooks, which are routinely and unfairly compared to HOME computers. It's total hypocrisy and complete crap.]]>Oct 13th 2009 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/12/5-inch-bebook-mini-now-shipping-in-the-us-for-199-hands-on/Oct 25th 2009 3:43PM