Edge the first foldable dual screen ebook reader/netbook

Posted June 9th, 2010 by cool

If you are looking for a dual screen ebook reader/netbook which is available now, the enTourage eDge may be exactly what you need.
This Android device has a 9.7" E-paper Display and a 10.1" LCD Touchscreen Display

enTourage eDGe™ Specifications

* Dimensions: 8.25" x 10.75" by 1.0" (closed)
* Weight: approx. 3 lbs.
* Internal Memory: 4 GB (3 GB for user)
* E-reader File Formats: ePub, PDF
* LCD Touchscreen Display Size: 1024 x 600 (10.1")
* E-paper Display Size: 9.7" e-Ink®(1200 x 825), 8 shades of gray
* E-paper Input: Wacom® Penabled®
* Operating System: Linux with Google® Android®
* Screen Rotation: 90 and 180 degrees
* Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth capability
* Battery Life: 16+ hours utilizing the e-reader screen / up to 6 hours running the LCD screen
* Battery Type: Lithium-ion polymer
* External Memory: SD card slot, 2 USB ports
* Audio and Microphone Jack: 3.5 mm each. Includes internal microphone and speakers.
* Audio playback: MP3, WAV, 3GPP, MP4, AAC, OGG, M4A
* Video playback: 3GP, MP4, Adobe Flash Lite (H.264)
* Input: Stylus input on e-paper and touchscreen. Virtual keyboard. USB keyboard (optional)

The possibility of customizing the device with skins may appeal to college kids

The E-reader has a nice contrast and is very readable, it only supports 2 ebook formats but I guess if the device is running android support for other formats can easily be added.

enTourage claims the build in microphone is able to record speech from up to 30 feet, this sounds like a nice feature for recording the teacher in the classroom, which saves you from taking notes.

Seems like a nice device overall, it's available for $499 at entourage

Looking for more cool Linux stuff? blogrol is here

Impractical device

Anonymous 1 year 33 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago

I played around with the device for a couple of weeks. A friend of mine bought it.
We both reached the same conclusion. It's too heavy and clunky. The android os is
good. We both wanted to rip off the lcd when we were reading from the e-ink side.
It's not a ebook reader. It's a stupid design and the device will sink.

I think my friend plans to dump the device as soon as possible. Whatever the features
of the android based system is they need to make it ultralight. It's just a cheap
chinese product with an american rebadged label. Not worth the effort. If you want a
net book get one. If you want an e-ink reader get one. If you think entourage edge
is the solution, to having both in the same place look elsewhere. It's a waste of your
time and money. The annotation features on the e-ink side require a stylus. Just go
and splurge some money on a better e-ink reader.

Using the LCD side to watch video ... em works but when you have something that
weighs almost as much as a netbook might as well use a netbook! Honestly just I was
impressed with a review of all ebook readers or some of the major ebook readers from
a popular blog, it gave entourage edge a 0% chance of survival. I tend to agree. Ebook
deals with publishers or otherwise this is a sinking ship don't get on it! Maybe if they
came out with version 2 before august which is super-light I will change my mind.

But I think they were dead in the water when the ipad came out. If someone is a serious
bookie and wants to read books they will go with the kindle dx. If they want video ipad
is fine. Entourage edge fails both due to the other screen being too clunky!

reply
-5

Off-base & Totally Terrible Review

Anonymous 1 year 33 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago

Hi,

I must say that you are the most close-minded reviewer of all time. There is no comparing the Edge to an iPad. The Edge can run circles around the iPad. The iPad is nothing more than a 9" iPhone.

The Edge can do the following:

1. eReader
2. Flash (no Jobs, HTML5 is not wave of future... flash is not dead...
3. Has USB to read my different flash memory sticks (can accept USB, Industry "STANDARD")
4. Can connect to Printers (iPad can't)
5. iPad is a TOY!
6. is open format, "Highly" expandable
7. has dual microphones which can pick up normal speech from over 30 feet away.
8. Uses Android and is expandable...

Before you BASH the Edge, check out the forum...

Fully research products before you make a half-cocked review...

Respectfully,

Ken J. Brose

posting from my edge...

Anonymous 1 year 34 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago

I just wanted to say that this is a great device, fantastic for school. If you want a large screened ereader, you should get this over a kindle. Android and linux are a great combo!

-matt

Yes, running Android makes it expandable.

kenjennings 1 year 34 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago

There are a number of eReader apps for Android: Aldiko, eReader.com's reader, FBReader, Djvu, and many more. If those don't support the right formats Calibre works with the edge to convert formats. And there are more readers in the works for Android. Reportedly there will be a Kindle Android app, and there's BlioReader -- a kind of multi-media, animated book reader.

I have an edge and it is excellent

kenjennings 1 year 34 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago

The edge works great. I can have a programming book up on the reader and browse related material on the web at the same time.

The dual screen integration even lets me read two pages at the same time -- snapshot one page on the reader which is shown on the color LCD, then turn the page on the ereader.

Not to mention it can also run Flight Frenzy and play color video on a full 10 inch color screen.