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Date: | Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:05:01 -0400 |
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wonder if this is free?
Jenifer Gilley
email
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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
>>
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