Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Myfriend ebook reader review
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "OFF-TOPIC" @ 11:00 AM
http://www.francisli.org/misc/myfriend.html
Another "rants, raves and other random thoughts" site has reviewed the Myfriend ebook reader, which is a stand-alone ebook reader using Windows CE 3.0. It has Microsoft Reader 2.0.
The author, Francis, sums it up in the first paragraph. "When running Microsoft Reader 2.0 with its ClearType sub-pixel font renderer, it produces incredibly sharp text. However, what could have been a perfect ebook reader is hampered by a fatal flaw- Microsoft does not support the activation of this device for access to encrypted owner-exclusive ebooks, making many exclusive premium titles inaccessible." Third party alternatives don't look any better. Mobipocket content is far behind what Microsoft and Palm offer and the software doesn't scale well to the Myfriend screen size. The Palm Reader software simply won't install on it. Palm has stopped development of Windows CE software and focusing purely on Pocket PC, Palm and the Windows and Mac desktops.
Being a huge fan of ebooks, I am always looking for signs of the ebook audience growing. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that Myfriend, given its limitations, is going to help much.
Another "rants, raves and other random thoughts" site has reviewed the Myfriend ebook reader, which is a stand-alone ebook reader using Windows CE 3.0. It has Microsoft Reader 2.0.
The author, Francis, sums it up in the first paragraph. "When running Microsoft Reader 2.0 with its ClearType sub-pixel font renderer, it produces incredibly sharp text. However, what could have been a perfect ebook reader is hampered by a fatal flaw- Microsoft does not support the activation of this device for access to encrypted owner-exclusive ebooks, making many exclusive premium titles inaccessible." Third party alternatives don't look any better. Mobipocket content is far behind what Microsoft and Palm offer and the software doesn't scale well to the Myfriend screen size. The Palm Reader software simply won't install on it. Palm has stopped development of Windows CE software and focusing purely on Pocket PC, Palm and the Windows and Mac desktops.
Being a huge fan of ebooks, I am always looking for signs of the ebook audience growing. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that Myfriend, given its limitations, is going to help much.
