wonder if this is free?
Jenifer Gilley
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MSN: *no email please!*
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----- 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
>>