Ectaco knows what you want, and that's an e-book reader that hits the $149 price mark, no matter what has to get cut in the process. The jetBook Lite, recently shown off at the Frankfurt Book Fair, is just such a handheld. Gone is any notion of electronic ink, opting instead for a 5-inch reflective TFT manufactured by Toshiba and usually implemented in pocket dictionaries. The other big sacrifice is an internal battery, instead going for a slot for four AA batteries that literally jut out of the back of the unit. Internal memory's just 100MB, but there is a SD slot for expansion, and there's language options for English, German, Spanish, Russian, and Polish. While the spokesperson singled out Barnes & Noble as where to buy the e-books from, we're not sure if that's an exclusivity agreement as much as it is just a suggestion. Lesen.net got some hands-on time with the device, who noted it's got some heft to it for its size, but is still quite pocketable. Still, for around $150 you can probably get yourself an older Kindle or Sony Reader instead, but don't let that stop you. See it for yourself in the video after the break.
I'm actually attracted to the idea of a backlight-less reflective LCD for an ebook book reader. The refresh/page turn is instantaneous, so searching, browsing, text input, etc can be far more usable. And I've seen some monochrome reflective LCDs that are approaching e-ink in readability. Still a bit dim, but with the right light it is much more comfortable than reading from a glowing screen. Think of a good calculator display (the kind with no backlight).
the only problem being that LCDs require a constant influx of power to sustain an image, significantly shortening battery life to hours rather than days.
this one is doubtless crap, but I agree with vance that LCDs are under-rated for ereading, with the exception that I do want a backlight, I just want the ability to turn it off for outdoor reading.
I do more than half of all my enjoyable reading at night just before falling asleep, and lamps, booklights, any frontlighting that isn't so powerful that it can evenly and very brightly cover the entire surface of the book is as straining for your eyes as a backlight display is in daylight. I've been reading on backlit LCD screens since 2003, most of it at night just before sleeping, and instead of a new eyeglasses prescription every other year, I've only had one minor adjustment in the past 6 years. It is mostly worthless outdoors though.
Pixelqi is already doing this with a laptop, and I hope someone grabs their tech for an ereader (and for cell phones, for that matter). Most especially, I hope someone does it for B&N, because while I buy nothing from them now, their use of eReader.com tech means the least intrusive DRM of any ereading device on the market for new mainstream commercial books.
Those who want an e-book reader this cheap and useless are the ones who don't read. Come on, for us who enjoy it, price tags like the actual ones can't compare for how much we have spent on books for years. Just let the e-ink devices become cheaper as more and more e-readers fly from the shelves.
Amen to that. This thing is a seriously weak attempt at an e-reader. Ironically, for what it offers (and purports to be), it's actually completely overpriced!
No kidding. I don't see why this thing is more expensive than those electronic dictionaries it cribbed its screen from. Without an e-ink screen, this thing seems like it should cost more in the neighborhood of 20 bucks.
Actually this doesn't seem too bad for me. I've tried a couple of the Sony readers, starting with the original Librie, and my big frustration has been the slow refresh rate, combined with few lines of text per screen. I'm a pretty fast reader, and my biggest frustration is that it takes me a few seconds to read through a page, and even with the newer e-ink readers, the second or two it takes to refresh the screen breaks the flow. I don't mind this being ugly or TFT as long as it refreshes instantaneously. Now having said that, I'm saving for a big screen reader, because the more words per page, the better.
Actually I have the original jetBook and I love it. Until the newest release from Sony it was extremely competitively priced ($179 vs Sony 505 $279). It's small enough to fit in a back pocket and it feels really sturdy. I don't feel that I have to treat it with kid gloves like I do every Sony product. I love the fact that it's a TFT screen rather than e-ink. The page turns are instantaneous and it doesn't have that annoying flash that is ubiquitous with all e-book readers. Yes that does mean that the battery lasts hours instead of days but that's 15-20 hours which is like a week's worth of reading for me. The only regret I have is that the 5 inch screen makes reading manga a little difficult.
The Sony PRS-505 I have feels _very_ solid -- the chassis is made from a single piece of metal and the cover is leather -- so I don't think there's any real reason for baby-handling it.
Wow, at this point TFT seems superior to eink. So what if battery is less, we are used to having recharging things daily. Complaining about 15 hour battery is just lazy at this point. Hot having to deal with the epileptic refresh of every pageflip is amazing.
I purchased jetBook-Lite in Frankfurt Book Expo just for 99 Euros and I really like this unit. It has much faster schreen if compare with Sony 505 or BeBook readers. The replacable batteries is a big plus for me too.
i actually think its great. what other reader can you find thats TFT.......none. for $149 its cheaper than any other new eReader on the market. If you want to read books, and your on a budget, this is a way to go.
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posted Oct 18th 2009 10:31PM
Pure Trash.
I'm actually attracted to the idea of a backlight-less reflective LCD for an ebook book reader. The refresh/page turn is instantaneous, so searching, browsing, text input, etc can be far more usable. And I've seen some monochrome reflective LCDs that are approaching e-ink in readability. Still a bit dim, but with the right light it is much more comfortable than reading from a glowing screen. Think of a good calculator display (the kind with no backlight).
the only problem being that LCDs require a constant influx of power to sustain an image, significantly shortening battery life to hours rather than days.
--neg
this one is doubtless crap, but I agree with vance that LCDs are under-rated for ereading, with the exception that I do want a backlight, I just want the ability to turn it off for outdoor reading.
I do more than half of all my enjoyable reading at night just before falling asleep, and lamps, booklights, any frontlighting that isn't so powerful that it can evenly and very brightly cover the entire surface of the book is as straining for your eyes as a backlight display is in daylight. I've been reading on backlit LCD screens since 2003, most of it at night just before sleeping, and instead of a new eyeglasses prescription every other year, I've only had one minor adjustment in the past 6 years. It is mostly worthless outdoors though.
Pixelqi is already doing this with a laptop, and I hope someone grabs their tech for an ereader (and for cell phones, for that matter). Most especially, I hope someone does it for B&N, because while I buy nothing from them now, their use of eReader.com tech means the least intrusive DRM of any ereading device on the market for new mainstream commercial books.
"...but is still quite pocketable" ??????????????
Who's pockets?
Hmmm.. reflective LCD. Haven't had to squint at one of those since my original Gameboy. Maybe I can reuse the Spider Light for this...
Does the price include the cost of the inevitable lawsuit from jetBlue?
Wow, I was expecting at least $99.
Well, I guess it exceeds your expectations then.
Ha, well played.
I'll take 3 dfjdklfds and 2 dfjdklfddfgfdffgfdfh434rfffs. Gift wrapped please.
Those who want an e-book reader this cheap and useless are the ones who don't read. Come on, for us who enjoy it, price tags like the actual ones can't compare for how much we have spent on books for years. Just let the e-ink devices become cheaper as more and more e-readers fly from the shelves.
Amen to that. This thing is a seriously weak attempt at an e-reader. Ironically, for what it offers (and purports to be), it's actually completely overpriced!
Looks like they were pretty quick to design on the chopping block as well.
Wow, they went and made $150 seem expensive. I'd expect _that_ for around $100.
No kidding. I don't see why this thing is more expensive than those electronic dictionaries it cribbed its screen from. Without an e-ink screen, this thing seems like it should cost more in the neighborhood of 20 bucks.
I can only hope that's not one the devices that B&N will be selling.
one of* (I hate this comment system...)
I've seen the comment system blamed for many things, but never for a typo. Leave the poor thing alone!
I just want to be able to edit my terrible typing >:(
Same for me please. Oh, and throw in a @@##### just for good measure.
Actually this doesn't seem too bad for me. I've tried a couple of the Sony readers, starting with the original Librie, and my big frustration has been the slow refresh rate, combined with few lines of text per screen. I'm a pretty fast reader, and my biggest frustration is that it takes me a few seconds to read through a page, and even with the newer e-ink readers, the second or two it takes to refresh the screen breaks the flow. I don't mind this being ugly or TFT as long as it refreshes instantaneously. Now having said that, I'm saving for a big screen reader, because the more words per page, the better.
I would check that website out, but I'm having a very difficult time reading your post.
I wonder if they have the dfjdklfddfgfdffgfdfh434rfffs in a size 13...
Amazon is selling refurb Kindle 1s for $149.00 - why would anyone buy this for that price?
Because one is new, the other is a refurb.
....On a side note, is it me or did Engadget actually work this weekend? I have never seen so many stories in a weekend. Good Job!
It's no iTablet.
Paul Chapel is that you?
5 inch Reflective TFT？
Price should be $49 at most.
That bullshit looks like something from Sharper Image(RIP and hopefully THE SHACK follows your ass to the grave) circa 1983.
looks like HanWang, 汉王 in China
Actually I have the original jetBook and I love it. Until the newest release from Sony it was extremely competitively priced ($179 vs Sony 505 $279). It's small enough to fit in a back pocket and it feels really sturdy. I don't feel that I have to treat it with kid gloves like I do every Sony product. I love the fact that it's a TFT screen rather than e-ink. The page turns are instantaneous and it doesn't have that annoying flash that is ubiquitous with all e-book readers. Yes that does mean that the battery lasts hours instead of days but that's 15-20 hours which is like a week's worth of reading for me. The only regret I have is that the 5 inch screen makes reading manga a little difficult.
The Sony PRS-505 I have feels _very_ solid -- the chassis is made from a single piece of metal and the cover is leather -- so I don't think there's any real reason for baby-handling it.
I've already commented that my PRS-600 is the most solidly-made gadget I've owned for years. I bet it could withstand more than this piece of junk.
Yeah... As I thought. Only the manga fans want an e-reader with an LCD screen.
It's thicker and likely quite a bit heavier than some paperback books. No thanks.
This gadget got me thinking about all the advantages an e-reader offers over paper and ink, so I'll be ordering a Sony from Amazon pretty soon.
Ectaco? Looks more like shit taco.
I've down-rated your post because you didn't use a darker font.
Wow, at this point TFT seems superior to eink. So what if battery is less, we are used to having recharging things daily. Complaining about 15 hour battery is just lazy at this point. Hot having to deal with the epileptic refresh of every pageflip is amazing.
Anyone else think the name/logo was ripped off from jetBlue?
You know, this is available under a different name, from a company known as Aluratek. http://www.aluratek.com/product_info.php?products_id=102&display=All they call it the Libre :) go figure but I'm sure we will see it on NewEgg soon like every other Aluratek product.
I purchased jetBook-Lite in Frankfurt Book Expo just for 99 Euros and I really like this unit.
It has much faster schreen if compare with Sony 505 or BeBook readers. The replacable batteries is a big plus for me too.
i actually think its great. what other reader can you find thats TFT.......none. for $149 its cheaper than any other new eReader on the market. If you want to read books, and your on a budget, this is a way to go.