14 DAY TRIAL // Just a short while after end-users everywhere learned that the Amazon Kindle e-reader had broken the monthly sales record, it seems that another company besides Sony and Barnes and Noble is ready to take the e-book reader competition up a notch. Chinese company Aigo has unveiled its EB6301 model which, although at a disadvantage through its lack of WiFi connectivity, still packs quite a bit of functionality.
The EB6301 measures 164 × 127 × 11mm and has a 6-inch e-Ink screen capable of 800x600 resolution. The device supports a variety of text formats, including TXT, PDF, DOC, HTM, HTML and CHM and there is a built-in bookmark function for quick navigation.
Also, despite the aforementioned lack of WiFi connectivity, the product can still offer access to a large collection of books if one fully utilizes its storage capacity of 2GB, with up to 8 extra gigabytes offered by TF cards. The EB6301 even supports the display of photos, with supported formats including JPG, JPEG, BMP, GIF and PNG. The maximum picture size processable is 4000 x 2000.
One feature that will prove a plus, although the Kindle also has it, is the integrated capability of the EB6301 to playback music files. Thanks to its integrated speaker, as well as to the built-in support for MP3, WMV and WMA music file formats, the gadget can enhance any reading experience through playback of end-users’ favorite audio tracks. So far, however, there has been no mention of an audio jack.
File management and reading are achieved through use of the navigation buttons located beneath the screen. The e-reader also features a host of buttons on the side whose purpose, however, is, as of yet, unclear.
The EB6301 has USB 2.0 interfacing capabilities and runs on a 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery. Currently, the listed price is of 2,499 yuan, which is the equivalent of about $366.