Yes, I believe it is.

Phil


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenifer Gilley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: the nls e-book reader


> wonder if this is free?
> Jenifer Gilley
> email
> [log in to unmask]
> MSN: *no email please!*
> [log in to unmask]
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:58 PM
> Subject: Fw: the nls e-book reader
>
>
>>I thought some of you might like to hear this.
>>
>> Phil.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: ".dan." <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:42 PM
>> Subject: the nls e-book reader
>>
>>
>>>I recieved one yesterday and books to read today.  I will describe it and 
>>>then some comments aboutwhat I like and don't like.
>>>
>>> It has the same overall proportions as the 4 track player but about 1/3 
>>> the size.  Many things are a hold over from the tape machine.  It has a 
>>> pull out handle in the front and the line cord fits into a nook at the 
>>> back.  A slot roughly in the same place as where tapes are inserted 
>>> recieves the cartridge  holding the memory chip.  Along the front edg 
>>> are the fast reverse, play, and fast forward buttons in that order. 
>>> Near the fast reverse is a power on and off button.  At other locations 
>>> are volume, tone and speed up and down buttons.  There is a headphone 
>>> jack on the same side as the tape machine but only the 1/8 small format 
>>> with no other jacks.
>>>
>>> With no book inserted one can turn power on and a recorded male voice 
>>> announces power status, if it is plugged iin and the current amount in 
>>> hours of battery life remaining; which was 18 hours out of the box.
>>>
>>> It also says that by hitting any of the other buttons its function and 
>>> operation will be spoken.  Holding down the play button for 2 seconds 
>>> has a detailed user guide, the kind that used to come on a tape.
>>>
>>> The book chip cartridge is about the size of apack of playing cards but 
>>> 1/3 the thickness.  It comes in a plastic mailer the same shape as a 
>>> tape mailer and otherwise works like one, but about 1/4 as thick.  The 
>>> cartridge has a finger hole at one end and it can only be inserted one 
>>> way, braille is on the top.  It starts reading as soon as it is 
>>> inserted. Other then that I will leave it to the internal recording for 
>>> operating instructions.
>>>
>>> I like that a great deal of thought went into its design.  This includes 
>>> it carrying over familiar shapes and functions from the tape machine. 
>>> Using it for the first time is easy and intuitive in no small part 
>>> because of it. It operates very smoothly and some effort went into 
>>> tweeking the soundquality from the speaker.  Like a cd and a tape 
>>> compared for music, the digital recording contributes to this sound 
>>> quality.
>>>
>>> Unlike the tape machine the very annoying power supply hum that appeared 
>>> to be very loud at night and came easily through earphones is gone.  It 
>>> is absolute dead silent in operation.
>>>
>>> As with the tape machine, it is needlessly large and heavy it seems to 
>>> me. Iyt is the size of a hard cover book and at least a couple of pounds 
>>> as a guess.  In these days when a digital player is held in a shirt 
>>> pocket this seems unwieldy to carry and begs for leaving it when going 
>>> out; having it on a bus for reading would be a chore.  In practical 
>>> terms it is portable in name only.  Having controls anyone can use was 
>>> no doubt part of this but all could have been put on a much smaller and 
>>> less heavy machine without changing button size.  Using a wall wwart for 
>>> recharging and non-battery use would have greatly reduce size and 
>>> weight.
>>>
>>> On balance a good job that will increasebook reading pleasure greatly.
>>>
>>>
>>>                                XB
>>>                                 IC|XC
>>>
>