http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/ Engadget Comments for Aluratek Libre eBook Reader PRO sports monochrome reflective LCD, $179 pricetag 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/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/you know, 80 bucks makes the difference to some people if you just want to read some books.]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/first off. E-ink is still the cause of the outrageous prices of "premium" readers. i like to read and would love to own one. but i just cant justify spending that sort of money on one. and if this screen is really as low power as it claims it should have some pretty decent battery life. ]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/The LCD tech in these ebook readers is no more inherently straining on the eyes than an EPD screen like e-ink Vizplex. In fact, in some ways, reflective LCD is easier on the eyes with small fonts and languages like Chinese, where the higher contrast of the LCD doesn't force the reader to squint quite as much as the lower-contrast EPD screens do.

Thinking that the acronym LCD automatically means eye problems or unreadability is nothing short of idiocy.]]>Dec 9th 2009 2:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
Why was the press release just today? Seems odd.]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
although reading through the specs on this it says "there is no backlighting" so it'll be interesting to see how readable it is even in normal lighting conditions.]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
Bought for wife's online school.]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
glossy lcd? not so much...]]>Dec 8th 2009 9:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/that why we are all waiting for the courier. ]]>Dec 8th 2009 8:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/wow, i actually hate to hold real books. its just a pain to hold open a book, especially a thick one, with just one hand. i even prefer my laptop to a ordinary book, because i can just stand it on my stomach and hold it easily with one hand while in bed.

even better with a light slate e-book, which is a breeze to hold one handed.

but maybe im just different...]]>Dec 8th 2009 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
I'd just as soon have the more compact tablet format and give up the rather clumsy side by side pages. ]]>Dec 9th 2009 12:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 8:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
Utmost]]>Dec 8th 2009 11:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/It seems like a lot of new products for a fringe market.]]>Dec 8th 2009 9:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
http://cgi.ebay.com/ECTACO-E-Book-Reader-jetBook-Lite-New-Black_W0QQitemZ200415695834QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea9b4d3da]]>Dec 8th 2009 9:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 9:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/One of the reasons some people choose the JetBook or Libre is because they DON'T want e-ink Vizplex. Vizplex is slow and rather low-contrast, and drives many readers crazy. Good reflective LCDs have higher contrast and are far faster and less jarring (no screen flash). They're not perfect either but they do ameliorate many of the issues many people have with overhyped e-ink devices.]]>Dec 9th 2009 1:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
I need one for me and one for my old man to keep him from going senile.

Seriously, though, I haven't read any reviews but I suspect that the reflective LCD works just fine compared to e-ink. Is there a battery life advantage? Sure. For the amount of reading I do in a month? I'd have to charge it every two weeks, tops, and that's a REALLY optimistic estimate.

If they made one with a screen that was close to A4/Letter for $300-ish, I would buy it in a heartbeat.]]>Dec 8th 2009 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 8th 2009 10:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
Yeah, 'cause the first think I thought when I looked at it was "Damn, that looks JUST LIKE the Amazon Kindle."

/sarcasm

]]>Dec 8th 2009 10:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 9th 2009 12:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 9th 2009 12:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
NO backlight. It is a reflective screen that cannot be backlit.

NO innate eyestrain. The letters LCD do not make eyestrain. Hell, even backlit displays don't inherently cause eyestrain. Bad reading/focusing habits do, and those are promoted more on backlit LCDs than on reflected screens.

BETTER than e-ink in some ways. Speed is far superior for pageturns and navigation (none of that "at least it's faster than turning a page manually" rubbish). Contrast is also noticeably higher (see caveat below)

WORSE than e-ink in some ways. Slightly lower resolution in the current generation, constant power draw means slightly more limited battery life, slightly more restricted angle of view for optimal contrast.

e-ink is garbage in several key usability areas. It's good for battery consumption and wide angle of view, but it doesn't live up to the hype some people are regurgitating.

The ECTACO version of it has multilingual dictionary support built-in, which can be nice.

I'm eagerly waiting for the next generation of JetBooks and Libres that may have higher-resolution and higher-contrast LCDs or alternative screen techs, more powerful processors and perhaps more attractive physical design. Even with their current flaws, they're currently some of the best ebook readers on the market as well as some of the cheapest.]]>Dec 9th 2009 1:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
Thanks for that well-written post. I haven't tried the new LCD display, though I have looked at the e-ink one, and I have to say that, for casual reading, an increase in contrast would be worth the trade-off in resolution for me. A 5" screen with resolution 600x800 (e-ink) is 200dpi, whereas a 5" screen with resolution 480x640 (this new LCD) is 160dpi. The screen on my laptop is just under 120dpi, and holding it as close as I'd hold a book, it's just at the point where I start to tell that it's pixellated. 160dpi is probably perfectly adequate.

Now, for trying to read PDFs, it's not going to be so great. But then again, a 5" screen isn't great either.]]>Dec 9th 2009 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/Dec 9th 2009 2:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/- this one, or
Amazon Kindle]]>Dec 9th 2009 3:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/I mean who in their right mind thinks it's a deal to pay more for the electronic version of a book than the hardcover? What kind of moron thinks this is sustainable? "Nobody wants eBooks, they don't sell" was the claim a while ago when the craze first hit. No, dumbass, they don't want to be ripped off while you save money on binding, rechecking, shipping, stocking, storing...]]>Dec 9th 2009 4:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/aluratek-libre-ebook-reader-pro-sports-monochrome-reflective-lcd/
I'm hoping they'll blow them out like seasonal candy after New Years.]]>Dec 9th 2009 4:58AM