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A new e-book reader from China—looking for a home
March 22, 2008 | 9:30 am
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By Paul Biba
Moderator’s note: This is a variant of a model written up here earlier. Thanks to Paul for the post and also to the sharp-eyed Hadrien and arit. – D.R.
I don’t know what mailing list I’m on (probably something from CES), but I received the following email from Jason Shieh of Great Power International. The picture at the left is from the email.
“New, Slim e-Book. Distributor worldwide wanted
ONE CHARGE LASTS FOR 35 DAYS! (Condition: 2 minutes per page, 8 hours per day)
Specifications
1// OS: Linux
2// Format: Txt; Bitmap; Jpeg
3// Memory Card: SD Card
4//Language: English; Traditional/Simplified Chinese; Other language built by demand
5// Weight: Under 350g
6// Screen: 6 inch E-ink display
7// CPU: ARM compatible 32-bits RISC CPU Operated at 200Mhz”
This says a couple of things. First, that e-ink screens are available despite some speculation that production can’t keep up with demand. Second, that the Chinese don’t really understand the market as the formats supported aren’t exactly what we would call the most popular for ebooks.
If anyone wants to follow up with Jason his email is info@greatpower.hk.cn
Here is the second photo that came with the email:
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Comments:
Looks Cybookish.
It’s the exact same device with another software.
The usual PVI/Netronix OEM/ODM model.
Well, the mere fact that somebody is trying to sell dealerships does not mean in any sense that the screens are available. It merely means that somebody wants your money.
20 March, I checked the Sony online store, which assured me that they had their readers in stock ready to ship. I wasn’t interested in buying, just checking availability (mostly to check on the Kindle to see if their short supply was dependent on the screen or something else). So I didn’t find out whether the reader was, indeed, in stock, or if the online sony store was misinformed.
Man sometimes this eInk supply story, which has held ebook devices back for years now with their false promise of availability, quality, and low cost, is enough to drive you crazy. It’s like trying to pierce the fog of propaganda around some crazy fool dictator to see if he’s about to launch a war or something.
So here we are reduced to looking at emails from strangers as a counter-check on Amazon, just to try to take a guess in the dark about how many Kindles they have sold. Madness!