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Jetbook Color confirmed for US release this fall – 9.7″ E-ink screen, $350

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I’ve just been told by Ectaco that they will be shipping their newest ebook reader to the US in December. And yes, they plan to sell it for $30 less than the Kindle DX.

This is the first color epaper ereader to hit the market anywhere, and it’s based on a 9.7″ color E-ink screen, with a SD card slot, Wifi, and a Wacom touchscreen.The rest of the specs are not finalized just yet.

I’m not sure that ebook reader is actually a good term for this device; it’s not targeted at the same market as the Kindle DX. The Jetbook Color is an academic product. It’s running a lot of customized software that you don’t find on your usual ebook reader, including test-taking, scheduling, reference sheets, and other apps that schools have requested. It will also have TTS courtesy of SVOX, a specialist.

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According to Ectaco, this model has been under development in Russia since May. Ectaco has a deal signed with the Russian government to customize the software for Russian schools.

The screen resolution is going to be rather low when displaying (800×600), and screen refresh isn’t very fast, but then again it’s going to cost less than the Kindle DX and come with a color screen. That alone will give the Jetbook Color a shot in the retail market,


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Comments


burger flipper August 16, 2011 um 4:34 pm

they aren’t going to sell 12 of those in the US at that price

Nate Hoffelder August 16, 2011 um 4:36 pm

Well, this is aimed at the academic market.

burger flipper August 16, 2011 um 5:08 pm

I guess, but I still think almost everyone will just get a tablet instead at that price.

800×600 resolution is what my Pandigital has. Passable on a 100 dollar 7 inch device. Can’t imagine it would look even halfway decent on an iPad sized screen.


Dale DePriest August 16, 2011 um 5:48 pm

800×600 will likely look better than the numbers show. A pixel is actually 4 of the monochrome pixels with filters for 3 colors and white. The controller supports subpixel sampling for anti-aliasing which should make it look higher.
See: http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Wisereader_color and http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E_Ink_Triton

Dale


Jaxs August 16, 2011 um 7:31 pm

Maybe it’s not a bad election if you want a 9″ ereader and you have to choose between Kindle DX or this one. If there are people who buy a Kindle DX, why not a Jetbook?


Alex Sher August 16, 2011 um 9:47 pm

I think I will buy it for my kid. I found more pictures on Ectaco website:
http://ectaco.ru/jetbookcolor.php?p=gallery


Jaxs August 17, 2011 um 5:29 am

I would like to see the representation of an ebook on this device.

Robert August 17, 2011 um 8:47 am

The pictures on Ectaco’s website are clearly mock-ups. I wouldn’t base any decisions on those.


Jetbook Color eReader with color E Ink display coming this year – Liliputing August 17, 2011 um 11:13 am

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Gruda August 17, 2011 um 4:48 pm

That is actually awesome. I would not have expected that from ECTACO. Way to go up.


Mike Cane August 17, 2011 um 8:31 pm

There is color in that screen? Where?


Paulo Ney August 18, 2011 um 1:31 am

Parece que existe um pouco de cor naquela tela.

Luiz October 16, 2011 um 1:25 pm

Oaulo, você tem algum aparelho da Ectaco? Tem um Jetbook?

Luiz October 16, 2011 um 1:25 pm

Perdão… não Oaulo e sim Paulo.


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Jaxs October 27, 2011 um 2:54 am

Will it be available only for Russian and American educational market? I’ll explain myself, Could an individual buyer get it?

Nate Hoffelder October 27, 2011 um 7:06 am

I beleive Ectaco will carry it for the retail trade, yes.

LB November 7, 2011 um 5:45 pm

Hey, email [email protected] if you’re an international buyer who’d like to buy one for yourself. I believe he can hook you up if you act soon 😉


Jaxs October 27, 2011 um 1:34 pm

TY Nate. I can see in this device a good potencial, maybe a little slow with color images but its O.S. with a lot of features and functions, and the price slighty minor than Kindle DX are enough advantages for me.

And I would suppose with a normal ebook (not color) the device answers will be very good.


LB November 7, 2011 um 5:47 pm

I’m definitely getting one. I can’t stand reading on LCD screens and I need color displays for my textbooks. This is definitely worth the price, and I love how the screen is almost 10″ as opposed to the smaller e-readers for pdfs


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