ECTACO jetBook mini Anthracite Black ECTACO jetBook mini Anthracite Black

Pros: Size, weight, price

Cons: Size (screen), compatible formats, very little internal memory

Other Thoughts: The small screen has acceptable resolution but looks crude compared to a Kindle or Sony. It's limited to a single sans-serif font. Biggest drawback is that the reader uses only open-source txt or fb2 files so the more common formats (epub, mobi) must be converted. Conversion to fb2 seems to work best but the conversion takes a long, long time. Much better readers can now be had for twice the price.

Pros: Convenience - Portability and ability to use standard AAA batteries are the only real reasons to get this rather limited player.

General Quality/Design - Nice readable screen, comfortable grip, light weight, extremely long battery life with included (but expensive) AAA lithium batteries. The card reader is also capable of handling cards much larger than 2gb, which is stated repeatedly.

Options - The unique and simplified interface allows the device to be rotated to any orientation, and usually without more than 2 button presses. Many font sizes, and formatting choices to pick from. This device will actually run on only 2 batteries. This means you can swap 2 - then the other 2 without shutting down or losing a page. Same thing can be done by using a computer interface and allowing the reader to run off the usb power. Nice option while you're waiting for batteries to charge or simply run out of them.

Cons: Extremely Limited - Unless you really like looking at .txt files I wouldn't bother. The .fb2 format is alright, but doesn't seem to have any formatting advantages over boring old .txt, especially since this thing simply can not handle any pictures.

It's absolutely laughable but I still have a TRS-80 Model 100 in my basement..... from 1983!, which I just realised does just about everything this does but using 4 AA batteries instead of AAA.

This device did fail to read roughly 20% of the SD cards I attempted to use in it. This seems to be on a model basis and not brand. Although as mentioned above, SDHC cards seem to work fine, I'm using an 8gb at the moment.

Price - If this were a full-featured Ebook reader at $75-90 it'd be a steal. Sadly it feels more like a calculator that can handle simple text. If it were closer to $50 it'd at least be a 3 egg product; under $50 probably 4.

"Software" - The conversion software consists of a free program (not included) that is very

Other Thoughts: Perhaps not the fairest review ever as this is my first e-book reader, but I have owned an android tablet for some time. The inevitability of fingerprints on a touch screen, coupled with the sun/mirror effect lead me to purchase a dedicated book reader.

I had mistakenly believed that this reader, which supports .fb2 files would support the images which .fb2 files support. I was planning on using this thing to read manuals with limited black and white schematics; oh well.

If I did not already have a stack of rechargeable AAA batteries, and unread fiction I would have returned this thing and purchased a larger android tablet. I still debate it, as the price is painful for what it does(n't) do.

I am also holding out hope for future firmware updates. Ectaco is somewhat famous for their constant updates, although I believe this device will never be able to display even simple images according to what I've read. Native PDF support however would make me much happier with it.

Pros: Small, great battery life. A pleasure to hold and read books on. ultra light weight.

Cons: This product has issues with sd cards. If you buy this update to the latest firmware and that seems to speed it up and make it 10 times better for everything. The real issue here is the conversion. If you have a pdf and convert it with calibre software its hit and miss. The formatting is good on some books and not on others. Also i was sad there is no image support. So you cant see the cover of the book and also that means you cant read comic books on it.

Other Thoughts: Books that format to the fb2 file work great! It is a very good ereader when it converts good. I found the Sony 600 touch reader to be much better and the price was about 17 dollars more. It can actually support pdf and all other types native, in other words you dont have to convert anything. Also comics look great on it. ALso im not fond of the minis font they use its very plain. on the Sony any pdf looks like it would on the computer. Some people dont like the flashing eink on the sonys but i dont mind it at all. If you really like this just make sure to update the firmware.

Pros: Good price and simple to use. I have always been a big fan of the LCD screen and this didn't disappoint. I also like the idea of the replaceable batteries, i don't have to worry about a problem with an internal battery later on down the line.

Cons: Not too much a problem but i would have liked a dictionary feature.

Other Thoughts: After i got the Mini i did my magic and put some great books on there for my grandmother. She is 71 years old and loves the thing and i swear she cant even turn a computer on but the Mini is no problem. Its nice an simple for her and if you have any knowledge about book downloading and format conversion (as i do) you have a huge amount of books at your disposal. Kudos to jetBook for getting a nice stable eReader for under $100. They should pay me because a "sold" a few to my friends. :D

Pros: There is no Pros to this piece of junk. A wast of my time and money. Was a preasant for my wife. She loves to read books. We down loaded too books. tried to confert to fb2 format and will not confert DRM. So this thing is useless sad in manual can read ePub Mobi PRC RTF PDF or LIT format if you convert them to txt or fb2 using Calibre converter. Lie any book worth reading New books hafe DRM and can not be converted. you need to buy a reader that is compatable with adobe digital. Sony is a good one if you wont a reader.

Cons: This thing is a big rip off if you want a e reader buy sony well known and Ectaco sucks.

Other Thoughts: Do not buy this it is a piece of junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pros: Great screen, light, creative design, simple to use, text formatting options make picky reading easier, SD cards are great for expansion

Cons: You have to use Calibre to convert books to TXT and FB2 but its easy and the text looks good, thats not really a con though...

Other Thoughts: I've been a fan of the jetBook since it first came out and it shows how dedicated Ectaco is to their products with the jetBook mini. They really thought it through in terms of ergonomics and functionality and now i cant wait until they release more updates for it (since they're always free!). BTW, i saw a review about SD Card support and i'm pretty sure its not true. I tried every SD card i can think of including Kingston and Transcend and they all work fine....person who reviewed last needs to insert the SD card into the slot for it to be recognized lol

Pros: Handles text (.txt) ebooks great, fair handling of fb2 files.
Light weight, compact and fits in jacket pocket nicely

Cons: No direct support of other ebook formats, all other ebook formats must be converted to .txt or .fb2.
Does not handle DRM files such as DRM epub or .pdb

Other Thoughts: Description on the handling of the file formats needs to be reworded, it is misleading, as of now it says:
"Support for LIT, MOBI, EPUB, HTML, PRC, RTF, PDB, PDF via Calibre conversion to TXT and FB2."
Which I took to mean that it handled all the other file formats and you needed to convert the PDF using Calibre. However, the device does not handle any other format except TXT and FB2 files.
If you need a device that can handle other file formats do not get this one. It only had 2 megabytes of onboard memory, and requires an SD card to extend the memory for additional books to be installed.
It is a serious ripoff for the money. For the same price you can get the Jetbook Lite or spend a little more and get something that will actually handle DRM ebook files.

Pros: Light weight, nice screen, batteries.

Cons: Has very small amount of internal memory so you NEED the SD card. I own a computer store so I have lots of different SD cards to try. None worked. This unit locked up, froze, and was a pain to try to get to work. I had one SD card almost work but it would come and go. I tried everything. Support on their website sucks. I emailed them and received a response three days later telling me I have to contact their New York office (what a joke).

Other Thoughts: Save your time and money. NewEgg was going to charge me a re-stocking fee (15%) until I complained.

Pros: Small size, light weight, PRICE! You cannot beat it. Do not know about battery life as I'm reading for 3 days at 3 hours a day. No changes in the battery bar yet.

Cons: It comes with no pouch or cover. Requires dedicated pocket or purse.

Other Thoughts: I love this gadget! I read it mostly while waiting for the kids during baseball practice. I read nothing but live journal articles so I save them in text format and load them to the mini. It's super handy and fits perfectly in my purse.