So far all ok ....

Processing:

The device is manufactured unsurprisingly like most in the world of plastic and makes neither a particularly valued even a particularly cheap impression - an everyday object.

Processing and stability are good, from the supplied case the device is practicable protected and is well suited for daily use.

Service:

It is operated by a total of 17 keys. 10 Of which represent a multi-occupied number field, an "OK" and "Back" button, two separate keys to scroll, two more buttons to adjust the volume when playing MP3 files and the on-off switch.

The operation and selection of books to be read via numbered menus by pressing the appropriate digit, through the levels you can move with OK / Back.

Depending on the current activities receive the numeric keys other uses, so you can put in the book bookmark or leaves. Which functions are available depends in part on the formats used, so no bookmark entries can be placed in protected Mobipocket books for example.

On the left side there are two separate keys to scroll, holding the BeBook in your left hand so the thumb is placed directly on this and allows convenient reading with one hand. At least for this attitude is neither uncomfortable nor unnatural.

PDF files are usually processed without complaint, but each file is not really suitable because of the formatting for playback on the BeBook since the three zoom levels are not always sufficient to change the text readable display (eg the layout of the mirror is very poorly suited for a reader).

The menu system is simple and functional, in principle, it has Weig more than one way by the file system on the device or SD card to navigate. The last 10 opened books are listed in the "Last" and allow a fairly rapid change between these books without having to move through the entire file system. Prolonged pressure on "OK", a menu is obtained almost anywhere that offers a more options.

What the device really missing is a touch screen, such would greatly improve the operation.

Battery life is excellent as with other ePaper devices. Since buying I have read several books on the device and it once charged. In a pinch, you could have a holiday probably spend without charger. To load However, since a standard USB port is used but should be no problem finding a charging option nowadays.

Connection to the computer:

The USB connection to the computer by means of USB 1.1. While this is not a problem at relatively compact formats such as Mobipocket are large PDFs an ordeal. The solution is to use the USB port for charging and instead to use an SD card for their own books. Together with an appropriate device to the computer which then goes faster and easier.

Unlike other readers, there is no software that you would use to fill the reader of books.

Other:

- At the moment only copy-protected books are supported in Mobipocket format. The equipment must be stored ID of the Readers selling such books on pages. The file which you can then download must then be copied only to the reader or the SD card. Nothing actually still the most viable DRM; Mobipocket is probably * not * (besides PDF), the most common eBook format as it already reached on various PDAs. Nothing but the EPUB format on the rise seems to be remains to be seen whether there will be for the BeBook support of DRM ...

- The speed of sheets is dependent on both the format and the file size. In Nomalfall the leaves is carried out from one side to the following in less than one second. When is not fully pre-formatted files (text, HTML) but it takes sometimes several minutes to a page number at the end of scroll (you can in the OK-menu to enter a page number to which you want to scroll directly). Then you have the background probably only once the entire document be wrapped "calculate" the page. For this reason, the number of pages to be understood in this document rather than a rough estimate.

- When rendering HTML files and texts, there is sometimes a little trouble with the representation of the characters. For example, hyphens are displayed instead of the end at the beginning of the next line. Not pretty but still readable. By installing a different fonts, the partly be corrected.

Conclusion:

The device itself, I am satisfied, the biggest problem is and remains the legal reference books.

On PDAs and phones there were already several attempts to establish eBooks. In addition to technical reasons (battery life, size of the screens, etc.) the format diversity caused by incompatibilities and DRM traps for a far-reaching failure of these concepts - "mass appeal" was all so never. Due to the many "islands" the range of books has remained quite manageable, to acquire a certain desired book as an eBook, the probability is relatively low. Added to this is the question whether one can then read the respective format at all.

Furthermore, the price expectations are adventurous part. If you look at what you all * not * may DRM protected work and the risk should take the files will be unusable if the seller withdraws from the market or surrounded only be DRM it is outrageous for this performance the same price (and sometimes more) to demand than for the hardcover on paper.

The BeBook at present represents a compromise, in the end it is only an interim solution to * finally * someone will come the presents a sufficient range of books along with matching reader available. In the US, Amazon with the Kindle seems so in this way to be.