Archive for the ‘Review’ Category

One of my e-book obsessions is to find the cheapest ultimate reader.  As a result of my search I have accumulated lot of gadgets.  This week I’d like to review some of them.  Some are still available for sale from time to time on EBay.   First up is the DT375.  I first read about it on Teleread and it seemed like a good device.  My only hesitance was that it is a Win CE device. However, after visiting Andy’s site, I decided to go ahead.  I bought it from Andy when he had one for sale on EBay. 

Advantages:

The device is quite light when comparing it to my Cybook.  At first, I thought that the extra battery attached would be cumbersome, but it actually makes it easier to hold the tablet.  The greatest advantage is that all four of my major reading software applications are available.  Currently, I have MS Reader, Palm’s reader, µBook, and Mobipocket.  I found the learning curve to be non-existent since I am already familiar with Win CE.  I can also surf the Internet using the same Ambicom wireless card that I use for my Cybook.  Drivers are available at Ambicom’s site.  Surfing is slow, but I knew that going into it.  I also like the screen size at 8.4″.  It’s bright and settings can be adjusted.  Resolution is nice at 800 x 600. This is the same as the defaut setting on my UMPC.

Potential Disadvantages:

My biggest problem with the DT375 is the power button.  If I don’t push just right it will reset the tablet.  Once this happens I have to reinstall my programs.  I now have everything installed on the CF card.  So now when it resets I still have to reinstall the shortcuts to the menu and some other personal preferences.  This can be quite frustrating and I have to admit I no longer use it as much as I use to. The obvious disadvantage in my opinion is that it is Win CE 4.2. and if you want to add more applications, they are hard to find, if they exist.  Fortunately, Andy’s website has a nice selection to get you started.  I have written him and he responds quickly and with easy to understand information.  About a week after I received my tablet I thought that I had bricked it, but as usual he came to my rescue.  Currently he has posted a backup program which should help reset woes.  I will give it a try and report back.  Tomorrow I will continue my review of the DT375 along with some pictures and ways to maximize your use.

Since I wrote my last review on the Sony reader, it stayed mostly untouched on my desk.  While the device is portable it didn’t fit well in my purse and I found myself wishing more and more for a stylus and back light.  That said my newest reader du jour was my HP Ipaq 4700 recommended by Dear Author.  All that changed in May when I had Lasik surgery.  Suddenly the glare of any PC or PDA screen wreaked havoc on my eyes.  So I decided to dust off my Sony reader and give e-ink another try.  Boy, did it do the trick.  That is along as there were enough light in the room.  Having no choice in reading devices for a while also afforded me the time to actually read the user manual.  There were some features such as history that I never paid attention to.  The only use I have for that feature is when my finger accidentally hits one of the number keys and the reader fast forwards to another section in the book. I can then use history to get back to where I was originally.  I wish I had more good things to say, but I don’t.

Take the history feature.  Is this because Sony knew that I would touch the number button and lose my place, and instead of moving or eliminating the buttons, they added this “feature” to help me out?

I still don’t buy books from Sony.  I buy elsewhere and then convert.  Yes it is a hassle, but I am getting a lot better at it.   I do browse whenever I get their newsletter.  The Connect Store is still as clumsy as ever. Browsing for books should be fun, not an exercise in hide and seek.  Maybe now that Sony has closed its music store they will be able to concentrate more on on the e-book front.  I hope so, but I have learned not to hold my breath.  Another feature I have been looking at is the ability to add RSS feeds to the reader.  Sony offers very few feeds.  In their defense they do state that  theirs is a small offering.  My complaint is not about what they offer, but the inability to add my own feeds.   Some folks over at Mobileread have devised a way to add your own feeds to the device, but I have not had the time to delve into it.  Once I do read through the thread and give it a try, I will report back here.  My Connect software still gives me frequent  “not responding” messages and even when it works, it is so slow.  No, it’s not my computer, it is the software.  I only say this because new users will often automatically assume that something is wrong on their end and start doing all sorts of things on their PC that can change something that didn’t need changing.  This can lead to frustration and possible rejection of the reader.

I feel that in their effort to make their reader simple to use, Sony ended up making the reader too simple.  It irritates me that it can’t be adjusted suite individiual needs.  In other words, it is impossible to customize this reader.  This may be fine for first timers, but sooner or later they too will want to customize settings.  Really sooner since there really isn’t much of a learning curve to the device.  By allowing the user to make changes, Sony can increase perceived usefulness.  Then again, maybe that’s on purpose. Afterall, if we had a reader that truly grew with us, then why buy a new reader when the next generation comes out?

So after all this I have to admit I bought a second reader.  Why?  Because this reader does exactly what it says it does.  It allows me to read and access hundreds of books wherever I go.  It will never be my favorite reader, but to date this reader has never failed me. In that it is a quality reader that I do like. 

The following  is my first assessment of the Sony reader.  It was first published on Teleread.  I thought I’d post it here for comparison for how I feel about the reader now.  My updated review will be posted tomorrow. Will my opinion change for the better?  Stay tuned. 

My Thoughts on Owning a Sony Reader (Dec 2006)

I have had my reader now for two months and I still have mixed feelings.   For some reason it has taken me awhile to warm up to it, but I do like it.  Is it my favorite of all e-book devices?  Certainly not and I will explain later.  First, what I do like about the reader.  Battery life is excellent.  I have had to recharge only twice since it arrived.  The display is not what I had expected.  I thought that the background would be whiter.  Instead it is grey, but much better than the Sony Librie.  The text is clear and easy to read.  Changing the text size is simple and the font size choices should please most people.  Most of the functions I was able to figure out right away without having to read the manual.  I really like the Bookmark button.  It makes it very easy to mark my place without going through menu choices.  Screen size is adequate and the reader is light and easy to carry.  The lightness of the reader makes it easy for me to read for hours without straining my wrists.  Since it is e-ink I haven’t experienced any eye strain either.  When traveling to take my daughter back to college after Thanksgiving, I was able to read comfortably in the car in bright daylight.  This is definitely an advantage over my other readers.   Before I forget, redeeming the$50 credit was painless. Well, that’s about it for the good stuff.

What wasn’t so good was apparent from the start.  The cover for the reader has to be snapped on and is attached from the back of the unit.  Thank goodness for the Mobileread Forum.  They had some great tips on how to attach the cover.  Without that I think I would have broken the device, because the cover can be difficult to snap on.  That got worse when I received the leather cover I had ordered from Sony Style.  It took me almost an hour to get it on, mainly because it kept coming off.  Then I realized that the groves on the cover and the device didn’t match. So my reader looked off kilter. The bottom right edge stuck out.  After a couple of days, I couldn’t stand it and sent the cover back.  For $40 it should fit as expected.  Later, when I was in Austin, TX I bought another cover and it does fit better, but I had to strap bands around it to make the leather stretch. 

Next up is the Connect Software to include the Connect Book Store.  To say I am disappointed would be an understatement.  This is a small gripe, but in order to buy books, you have to have the software.  In order to get the software you have to have the reader.  Why can’t the software be downloaded for free online, you know like iTunes?  I don’t have to have an iPod to buy from their store.  The software has locked up on me twice and I had a time to get it to work again.   The store is not that easy to navigate and seems rather clumsy.  Sometimes the search brings up odd results.  Still, once I found a book it was easy to purchase and download.  Another annoyance is that when you register on the site you must give a credit card number that they keep on file.  Then they went on to charge a dollar to my account.  I got a quick response when I inquired.  Apparently it was a test to make sure the card was valid, and I got my meager buck back.  I’m upset because they didn’t tell me this up front.  Maybe they did, but it must have been in the very very fine print.  I doubt if I will be buying much from their store since the book selection is poor at best. I can find more, better, and definitely cheaper books from other sources.

So if I don’t buy from them, what are my choices?  None, unless I convert from another format.  So far I have had less than satisfactory results.  It is a hassle.  Why should I have to use two or more programs and spend more than 30 minutes to format a book to look right on the reader?  I’m not a programmer, but I am not stupid either.  There should be a better way to put public domain stuff on the reader, and have a Table of Contents (TOC), pictures, and show both the Author and Title in the main menu, without tearing my hair out!

I am hoping that the software and user features will improve.  Again, I must thank the many people on the Mobileread Forum.  Without their insight and knowledge I would be lost.  That said, why must customers rely on peer support for a product?  What about the first time users who are not familiar with such forums?

Personally my biggest complaint about the reader is why many love it.  It is exactly like reading a book.  There is no built in dictionary, no searching, and no hyperlinks.  I understand why there is no back light (e-ink), and yes paper books (p-books) don’t have built in lights.  But, then again I don’t pay hundreds of dollars to read a paper book.  I pay big money to have a digital reading experience.  That means that it shouldn’t be just like reading a traditional book.  It should be more.  In fact a whole lot more.