OS2008 has been available now for a while. I initially tried to update mine just before Christmas, but I had trouble being able to download and install the update. I figured that the servers were busy with everyone else trying to do the same thing. This week I read over at Internet Tablet Talk that there were server problems as well. All should be fine now. This week I have been busy installing the new operating system. This is the same OS that comes installed on the N810. So far, I like the update. My only observation so far is that my N800 seems to move a little slower. I also miss my Valentine’s theme that came packaged with OS2007. I wish there was a way that I could have kept that theme. All the other themes seem so masculine. I downloaded and installed Gutenbrowse. This utility works in conjunction with FBreader. You also have to have Python Runtime 2.5 installed. Gutenbrowse allows the user to search, find, download, and read e-books from Project Gutenberg. All I can say is that this is one fantastic little program. All I had to do is input either the author or title and seconds later I got the results. I then clicked the one I wanted, it downloaded and asked me if I wanted to read it. I clicked yes and Voila! FBreader opens and I am reading. This has certainly made obtaining books from Gutenberg not just faster and more convenient, but actually fun.
This could be a lifesaver for students. I hope that someone out there will port this over to the Eee PC. The application also works on OS2007. I did not see a version for OS2006. I may have to hack my husband’s N770 so that he can take advantage of the application’s features.
And now that I mentioned the Eee PC, I wanted to give a heads up for those looking for a case for their small wonder. Some users have reported that the Case Logic Hard Drive case makes a great carrier for their Eee and its accessories. Overstock has it on sale for $21.99.
In a perfect world I would have been able to purchase every piece of technology that caught my eye. Sadly, the world is not perfect and like most people I have a limited tech budget. In light of that I really tried to make the most of what I had to spend and it didn’t always work out. The bad results were that I ended up either with something that I really didn’t want or something I had to send back (and pay the restocking fee). My resolution this year is to research my purchases with more scrutiny and then wait an extra few weeks to make sure that I really want my new toy. Will it work? Only time will tell. There are more than a few things I bought in 2007 and the following are my top worse and best choices:
Worse:
Tablet Kiosk UMPC: I thought that I could rotate the screen, but could not. This was important since I really wanted to be able to read in portrait mode. Since this was before I had Lasik, I had a hard time reading the screen. I tried to adjust it, but I immediately got frustrated. I hastily sent it back and ended up paying a 15% restocking fee. I really should have read more reviews and watched the online videos. I still think that the Tablet Kiosk is a nice UMPC, but it just wasn’t for me.
iLiad: I hate listing this as a worse buy. I knew it was too expensive, but I am not complaining about that. I only placed it here because I really didn’t get much more bang in my reading experience. It’s a great machine, but its advanced features are more than what I currently need. I did have fun installing the hacks (I think that’s the correct phrase) and add on applications I read about on Mobileread. The e-book reader did boost my Linux confidence.
Best:
Nokia N800: Since I live in an area that has limited hot spots, the N800 coupled with my Razr has allowed me to browse the Internet and check my email anywhere I go. As a bonus I can read my books at night. The big plus is that I can easily read the screen.
DT375 Web Tablet: Yes it is old tech, but as an e-book reader it is just great. In addition to a color screen and backlight, I now have a device with MS reader, Palm reader, uBook, and Mobipocket reader.
Eee PC: It’s just a great little notebook.
Try as I might I could not finish a good completion of my Kindle review. I am just not interested in the reader. It took me forever to find a book to buy and download. Since Amazon has the one click buy and download, I quickly learned that you got to be very careful when browsing. If you are not paying attention there is the possibility that you will buy something by mistake. I feel as though I have to adjust myself to the reader rather than the reader adjusting to me. For example, I rarely get to read during the day. Most of my leisure reading takes place at night so in order to use the Kindle I have to use a light. To be fair I knew that and that’s the reason why I don’t get much use out of my Sony reader either. Another adjustment is the case. It makes the reader bulky to me. At home I remove it, but I wanted to try using the reader in a different environment. I toted it with me to a coffee café and used the case to keep it from any damage. It was just too uncomfortable for me. M-edge plans to offer a cover for the Kindle. It should be out within a couple of weeks. Maybe that will change my mind about using the device. They do have the second generation Sony reader cases available for pre-order. Also, the on/off and Wifi buttons are on the back. I find it annoying to take off the cover to perform what I see as frequent tasks. I forgot to do so and the battery ran out in a day or so. I guess the Wifi shortens battery life considerably.
The only thing that has surprised me is that people recognize the Kindle. I get questions about the reader everywhere. Most people seem to react positively to the reader, but shy away because of the price. When I have had my other readers with me, most people thought I was playing some sort of video game, or using a PDA. So I am happy that word is spreading about e-books. I just wish that another e-book device would come out that will make me as excited as I was about my Cybook.
On the catch up, I have been running around like crazy. It happens to me every Christmas. I keep telling myself that I will do better, (buy early, buy less, and stress less) but I never do. I have been using my Eee PC more and more. I really like the laptop. My only change would be for it to have a swivel screen. If you are looking at getting a different type of case for yours, take a look at Fabrix Cases. The cases are about $40 plus another $10 for shipping. That’s a bit too pricey for me. Usually I use a portable DVD player case or insert padding into a book/Bible cover. I have yet to find one in a color and style that suits me. I am thinking about making my own cases. We’ll see.
I sincerely hope that everyone had a beautiful holiday season and a great new year ahead.
You can now get the newest OS for your Nokia N800. I just finished updating mine and I feel as though I have a brand new toy. The only thing I dread is reinstalling all my applications. Hopefully most if not all of them are still compatible with the new OS. To get the latest update head over to this link. The download is really large (134mb) and I timed out on my first attempt. I tried a few more times with no luck. I then came across Random Weirdness via Maemo.org. The site belongs to a blogger who has graciously volunteered his bandwidth to host the file download. Thanks! Usually my updates are painless, but I was in a rush and didn’t pay close attention to what I was doing. So that you don’t repeat my errors I have listed the correct steps to take:
1. Go to Nokia and download the update wizard.
2. Uninstall your current update wizard.
3. Install the new update wizard.
4. Install the new update per the wizard’s instructions. It won’t do an automatic update. I had to do a manual install by pointing to the bin file I downloaded.
I don’t know the differences or changes made yet. I will report back later.
On other fronts, I had really hoped to have the next installment on the Kindle written up and posted by now. It’s still not done yet, but hopefully it will be up by the weekend.
This weekend I finally got around to using the Kindle. The packaging it comes in is really nice. It looks like a book. I could have lived without all that though. Maybe if Amazon had used a plainer package it could have knocked a few bucks off the Kindle’s price tag. Yes the Kindle is still homely looking, but softer on the eyes in person. I like the way the device feels in my hand. I have rather large hands with long fingers. I also have nails, but I try to keep them short. I was concerned about finger placement on the reader, but my fingers naturally fell in the right place. The Kindle is also quite light and I had no problems using it with one hand. I am not a fan of rubber grips and it has been one of my few dislikes reference the EBW1150. That said, the one on the kindle is not too thick, and not too much of a rubbery feeling.I purposely did not read any user guides. I wanted to see just how user friendly the Kindle is straight out of the box. It took me a few hours to figure out how to get to the SD card slot underneath the gray rubberize back. Then, when I wasn’t trying to remove the cover, it just popped off. Go figure. I was surprised to see what looks like a user replaceable battery. I hope that Amazon will start selling these separately. It would be a real plus if they come out with a battery charger. The reset button is also located under the rubber backing. I don’t like having to remove the backing just to do a reset. It shouts potential hassle. I hated the location of the reset button on the Sony reader. I was so afraid I was going to break the reader snapping that cover on and off. I can also see the little slot inserts getting broken too.
The case looks like a moleskin notebook. It is leather, but it feels bulky and is cumbersome when trying to use the Kindle. The power switch for the Kindle is on the back and it is hard to get to it with the case on. I have gotten to the point where I store the reader in its case and then remove it when I am using it. I was at M-edge and they are coming out with a case for the Kindle in January 2008. So I won’t have too long to wait. The site says that the case will be available in a variety of colors. No word on pricing though.
The screen is no better or worse than any other e-ink device I have. I like the keyboard and the scroll wheel. The keys feel solid, but I won’t be speed typing on it. It took me more than a minute to realize that the scroll wheel has a window. The window is directly above it and runs the length of the screen. The position indicator is hard to see. It’s a light silver color and blends in. At first I had to hold the device a certain way to see it, but that could just be me. It’s not so bad now, so I must be getting use to it. I am just glad the scroll wheel is there. It makes it so much easier to navigate. Hopefully tomorrow, I will cover my Kindle set up and book purchase experience.
It’s always disappointing and frustrating to receive a gift to find out that it needs something else to get it to work. Double the feeling is the gift is for a child and the occasion is Christmas. When I give a gift I always buy batteries or whatever is needed to avoid any immediate problems. I have extended this process to include memory cards especially if I know the person is not familiar with gadgets. So, if I give a digital camera I also include the correct batteries and a memory card to get things going. I figure the easier I make it, the better the chances are that the person will enjoy and continue to use the gift. Right now there are some great deals on memory. Meritline is selling a Kingston 8gb SDHC card for $54.99 shipped. After the mail in rebate the final cost is $39.99. This sale is good through the end of this month. This is ideal for the Eee PC users out there. A real steal is a 1gb SD card for only $7.95 shipped. They also have a Sandisk 2gb MicroSD Card for $26.96 shipped. The card includes both miniSD and SD adapters. For those needing CF Cards, you can get a 2gb A-Data one for $17.00 shipped. You may find many deals better than this in brick and mortar stores this time of year. While you are at it, don’t forget to buy yourself a few memory cards. For those of us that are still using Smart Media Cards, Geeks is selling Delkin eFilm 128mb cards for $40.50! Yes, that is expensive, but considering how hard it is to come by these, it may be worth the price. While Ebookwise sells cards with the EBW1150, I don’t believe they sell these cards separately. Geeks is also selling Hitachi 4gb CF+ type II microdrives for $15.50. I bought one of these and have had no problems. You can also get a 23 in 1 card read for only $3.99. As always you should check to make sure the cards are compatible with your device.
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