Archive for September, 2007

The other day I mentioned the Asus Eee PC as an alternative to buying the OLPC XO.  Yesterday, I decided that I am getting one when it finally hits the streets.  A couple of months or so I saw it available for presale on Allasus.com.  I dismissed doing so because of the $150 non-refundable deposit.  That made me too nervous.  Then while surfing I found out that I could preorder without a deposit at Citrusmicro and decided to go for it.  In case you haven’t heard of the Eee PC it is a small sub notebook sporting a 7 inch screen using a flash drive instead of a traditional hard drive. The Eee PC runs Linux so start up and shutdown happens within seconds rather than minutes. Ever since I got my Nokia N800 I have been fascinated with Linux.  I am a big fan of open source software and I really feel a new shift coming in operation systems; I plan to be a part of it.  In fact, I am going to put Linux on an old laptop I have as soon as I get some free time.  I am also looking into taking some Linux courses at the local community college.  It was suppose to debut earlier this month, but this week I read that it has been delayed again.  The only good thing about that is that at least it’s not just e-book devices that run into problems. From what I gather it should be out prior to the end of October.  The biggest thing about the Eee PC is its small price tag.  When first announced it was suppose to be just $199, aimed at low income families, students, etc.  Unfortunately the price has gone up to $259 for the basic configuration of 2GB storage/256mb RAM/no camera/black case only.  There are two other models at $299 and $399.  These have more RAM, storage, include an integrated web cam, and the choice or color (white or black). All models have WiFi, Ethernet, and a 56k modem.  My greedy side wishes that it also included Bluetooth, but I do have a dongle.   So this won’t be a deal breaker.    I think that this will be great to share with my soon-to-be seven-year-old son to use.  The smaller keyboard will fit his fingers a lot better than mine.  I can see him liking this much better than his learning laptop toys for kids that have that tiny little screen.  As far as e-books, I don’t like reading novels or pdf files in landscape mode.  It’s high time I get over that and try something new.  This would be great to take notes on in class, keep up with RSS feeds, email, and blogging on the go, since it weighs in at less than two pounds. While you are waiting for the OLPC and the various new e-book devices coming out, take a few moments and check out this potentially great device.

Some links for more information:

Eeeuser.com: Blog and Forum

Laptoping: Blog

Clove.co.uk to order from UK

http://event.asus.com/eeepc/ Asus flash Demo of Eee PC

Good hands on Review

When I read that Bookeen has delayed the release date for the Cybook 3, I wasn’t surprised.  In fact, what would have surprised me is if it came out on time.  Back when they were still offering the Cybook 2, the scheduled update didn’t happen on time.  When it did get released, it was pulled after a few days , never to resurface.  Besides that, the sample devices have just come out and I am sure that they would want to have some feedback from the users.  At least when it does come out it will have support for pdf files.  I think that is worth waiting for.  You only get one chance for a good first impression, so the better the device at introduction, the better chance it has for success.  It doesn’t sit too good to get something that already needs an update. I hope the wait is worth it and that pdf files are actually readable on the device. Here’s another wish:  Please have a dictionary already installed and for free.  I read that customers will have to purchase their own.  Not good. I believe that a major feature such as word lookup should be working out of the box.  Not after I spend more money.  Remember the price is $350.  Even a small dictionary like a pocket size would suffice.  If the EBW1150 can do it… At times like this, Sony’s offer of $50 in books or 100 classics doesn’t sound so empty. 

I am not picking on Bookeen, on time release dates are seldom met with e-book devices.  Have we forgotten the Sony reader?  At first it was suppose to come out spring 2006.  That got moved to the end of summer.  Finally, it came out late September last year.  These things happen.  Yes, I got frustrated last year as I saved up to get my Sony reader several times (I kept spending the money at every release delay announcement). My only concern is that Bookeen doesn’t keep delaying and give the competition a chance to beat them to the door. The Kindle from Amazon is scheduled for October 15, but who knows?  Other than that really bad prototype photo, we are really in the dark.  Then there’s the new Sony reader that most expect to be out next month also.  I will probably get the Cybook 3, but it is not first on my list of gotta-have-it. Amazon’s reader is first on my list as long as it looks nothing like the prototype.  I am also in no rush for the Sony reader, but I could be persuaded if it turns out to be significantly better than the original. So it looks like October will be a hot month for E-books.

Way back in the day I remember making my radio “kiss” my cassette player to record a song.  Never matter all the background sounds and me going “shhh” to people around me.  All that mattered is that I had my song until I had enough money to get the 45.  I was about 11 years old then and a 45 cost 39 cents.  The thing is that no one from the record company police squad came knocking at my door and I did eventually buy the record. Then when the double cassette player/recorders came out, my friends and I would make each other mixed tapes. I would even tape my records so that I could listen on the go. By this time over half of the songs on the album sucked anyway and albums were about $10.  Again, no police squads or nasty letters from lawyers.  So now I wonder what happened.  Maybe we were breaking the law and I was blissfully unaware.  Or is it that the quality of recording is better and sharing them has gone world-wide? Or have we become more dishonest? Well at least record companies are coming around that DRM just doesn’t work.  All it does is keep honest people honest and limits the use of a purchase; that eventually it decreases sales.  It’s a smart move to start selling DRM-less music. So what about e-books?  Sooner than later (I hope sooner) publishers will take a page out of the music industry’s book and give us a chance to buy bestsellers without being tied to a format or device. I could go along with a password, just as long as it is not my credit card number.  While they are at it, if they can resist the need for greed, lower the price. When I download an e-book, I am doing all the work and I have to store it too on a costly device.  I have no physical product.  I can’t resell it, share it, or donate it. Would I give away copies of a book that I paid $15 for on the net?  No.  But I would like to give it to my daughter after I have finished with it.  No a copy, but the actual file just like I would with a paper book.  E-books need to be more people friendly.  That means easy to download, easy to navigate, and search. In order to give up having a physical book, there has to be some sort of advantage for the user, like larger type, or some bonus content that isn’t included in the paper version.  Since most devices include audio capabilities, maybe a short story or epilogue read by the author could be included.  What do you think would make e-books more attractive?

I never thought that the price of the OLPC would really be just $100.  So finding out that it will cost $200 doesn’t surprise me, but having the price double is disappointing.  I was hoping for $150.  From what I get from the OLPC newssite, the rise in price comes from failed anticipated government purchases.  I read on Engadget this morning that for a limited time starting on November 12^th  we will be given the opportunity to buy an XO for $400, a get one sent to you and get one that you’ll never see deal. The one you won’t see will go to one of the deserving children in a developing country.  You can sign up here to be notified.

I have a problem with this whole thing.  One, I want to choose where my other laptop goes.  Given that choice, I would want it to go to a child here in the United States.  When I was working on my dissertation, I tried doing it at the library on Fort Hood.  On any given day the wait was at least an hour. Everyone there was in line for the Internet.  Since I didn’t need any online features, I began to lug my laptop with me.  Then every time I needed a break I had to pack it up and take it with me.  Then the Internet system went down.  During the two weeks it took to bring the system up, I was the only person in the library all day.  I loved it.  It was so nice and quiet.  The thing is that there is a need here for this type of device.  I also wonder how the Internet is going to work on this.  Will it be free?  Or will they have access to some sort of grid network?  From reading what I could, I did not find a definitive answer.  So if anyone can explain this to me, please make comments. I also doubt if a limited time only sale or any sale at double the price will help send enough of these laptops to where they need to go.  I would think that in order for it to be effective, every child in the class would have to have one.  Why just the folks here in the U.S.?  Shouldn’t everyone get a chance to help developing nations?  Also if the host government doesn’t want to make an investment in their own future, what’s my motivation?  Forgive me, maybe by November I will be in the seasonal giving mode. If not, I could just use that money to get an Asus Eee PC and have some change left over. Bah Humbug!

No, this isn’t strictly about e-books, but I feel that it’s worth talking about.  By now most people have more than enough thumb drives, especially the lower capacity ones as we constantly upgrade.  So if you are wondering what to do with those 256 and 512mb drives consider installing some portable software.  Portable applications can be run directly from your flash drive so no matter where you are you can use your own applications. A great place to start is Portable Applications.  In addition to Open Office they have applications ranging from games, photo editing, chat, and password managers.  My favorite other than Open Office is the pdf creator.  These are some of the possibilities listed on their site:

Carry your web browser with all your favorite bookmarks

Carry your calendar with all your appointments

Carry your email client with all your contacts and settings

Carry your whole office suite along with your documents and presentations

Carry your antivirus program and other computer utilities

Portable applications are also convenient too!  The most convenient feature is that you can carry utilities that can be used to help your friends that are having PC problems.  Another site to check out is Everything USB.

SanDisk’s Cruzer Freedom comes with applications already install on the flash drive.  The software allows the user to storage and use copyrighted digital content such as e-books, games, and music. SanDisk offers a variety of books at their digital store.  While the Freedom Cruzer is geared towards students, others may find the content offered interesting.  You may want to check out the virtual tour.  I like that it has a dictionary onboard.  Maybe now that the prices are so low we may see mobipocket books on a stick.  Just think about having the Harry Potter collection on one and being able to read it on any PC.  Just a thought.

There may seem to be many choices of e-book devices, but we still remain at square one. That’s because there is not one device that reads all formats natively.  We as e-book fans know this and spend our time working around this obstacle.  We buy e-book devices, PDAs, and modify other electronics to get our e-book fix.  While it does satisfied our need to read electronically, it can also add up in dollars.  This is especially true of first adopters.  What if you aren’t that dedicated?  What if you don’t want to be a dedicated-conversion tooling-make your e-book content type of consumer?  I know there are people who just want one device to buy popular content, download classics, or read work related documents with no hassle.  Maybe, the ultimate e-book reader really isn’t a dedicated device.  At least not yet.  Even if  TPTB (The Powers to Be) are able to standardize the e-book format, I suspect that DRM will still be a problem.  Either developers or the publishing industry will still come up with something to limit consumers’ use of downloaded media.  If you are not yet at the e-book addict status consider buying an UMPC (Ultra Mobile Personal Computer) and get out the cycle of disappointment and minimize your restrictions.  Yes, UMPCs are expensive, but so are dedicated devices.  Consider this.  Earlier this year, I thought I could stop my e-addiction madness and I bought a Tablet Kiosk UMPC.  I had a horrendous experience and returned it.  Read about it here.  Then I read someone’s post over at Teleread.  The writer had a Samsung Q1 and loved it.  Base on his comments, I did some more research and took the plunge.  I bought a Q1B for about $760 shipped.  That is the about the same price as the iLiad plus shipping.  The difference is I get so much more.  The Samsung, since it runs Windows XP, is capable of reading any format.  I can read pdf files with comfort, and it is the only 7 inch screen UMPC that I know of that I can change the screen orientation.  The screen is bright, resolution is adjustable, and it doesn’t get hot.  I won’t get into the technical specs here, but I suggest that you do read more on the particular manufacturers’ web sites.  I have found that some of the retail sites don’t always have the correct information.  I’ll also link to some sites that review the various UMPCs.  Even if you only have one dedicated device right now, chances are you paid at least $300 for it and are probably thinking of buying another.  If you own an e-ink device and have a PDA for night reading, you have invested quite a lot of money.  So while an UMPC seems like a lot to pay up front, just think about what you are getting and how long it will last.  You could be saving in the long run.

Links

JK on the Run

UMPC Portal

Gotta be Mobile

UMPC Site (no longer being updated, but archive may be useful)