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Date: | Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:58:34 -0600 |
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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
>
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