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Asus DR750 Reader
Asus DR750 Reader Overview
In 2009, Asus gripped the reading public’s imagination when it showed a prototype of dual-screen, netboo-like ereader. We are yet to see the “eee” reader, but already Asus is showing what promises to be one more groundbreaking multimedia contraption. Named the Asus DR-570, it’s another showcase of Asus unwillingness to go with convention.
According to the Times Online report, the DR-570 will move away from the gray e-ink screens dominating current ereaders. While EPD is extremely battery thrifty, it has one glaring lack: it can only display black and white or grayscale imagery. E-ink makers have yet to produce a colored screen that is also capable of displaying video. Fujitsu has rushed ahead with its FlePia colored device, but its price tag (three times more than the Kindle) has put it out of touch of average buyers.
Now Asus is placing a stake again in the digital reading world with OLED technology. OLED screen panels are based on a film of organic components. Like EPDs, they require no backlight and can emit their own light. They are thinner, more flexible, produce brighter images, and cost less than LCDs. The 5.7-inch OLED colored screen panel may just be what Asus needs to keep competition out of the curb.
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Features – Hardware and Software
Thanks to OLED technology, users can enjoy up to 122 hours of use per charge. Page turns are lightning quick – supposedly, 23 times faster than EPDs. Improved refresh rate gives way to faster streaming of flash online videos, which Sony hinted will be available via Amazon video.
4GB onboard storage – twice that of the Kindle – lets you store thousands of files into your device, but expansion slots for SDHC cards let you grow your virtual library to limitless size. With integrated web browser, WiFi and 3G, your DR-570 is not just a virtual library, it’s your one-stop shopping for e-books, videos, and music, too!
While the Asus DR-570 is smaller in body built than the Asus “eee” readers, measuring 124 x 170 x 8.8 mm, it is packed with competitive features. Asus 570 will bring its own RSS reader and text-to-speech engine (presumably the Svox software). The DR-570 is expected to support multiple text, audio, and video formats including ePub, PDF, MP4, and AVI formats.
The Bottom Line
No price available yet, and release date for retail is a tentative “end of the year.” What’s clear at the moment, the Asus DR-570 is for those who want their e-reader to get them fast across pages, allow them to browse online sites, and watch YouTube videos. With its capability to display color, the Asus DR-570 is what you need to enjoy your Frank Miller series and Times magazine.
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Asus DR750 Reader Pros & Cons
Pros
Graphs, illustrations, photos (such as those in cookbooks) come to life in the DR-570. Full-color display expands your reading choices from text-filled books to comic books and graphic novels. Pixel resolution of 768 x 1024 brings better reading experience with sharper and clearer texts and images. The device can play 3D games, too, so you have more option for entertainment when you’re not up to reading or listening to music while stuck in traffic or waiting for your plane.
With only a 4-key directional pad and a touch-responsive screen, flipping through ebooks or navigating 3D graphics is simpler and easier than the Kindle. Asus knows how to make their books light, too: the device weighs less than half an ounce so there’s no straining of arm.
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Cons
OLED’s Achilles heel is the limited lifetime of its organic materials, ranging from 14000 to 230,000 hours only. OLED screens tend get damaged by water easily. 22-hour life of 1,530mAh battery may be a big improvement on LCD screens, but it still pales in comparison to e-ink readers.
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Asus DR750 eReader Features
Main Features:
• Sports 5.7-inch OLED screen panel
• Full color screen display with touch capability
• Virtual QWERTY keyboard
• Dimension: 124 x 170 x 8.8 mm
• Lightweight: less than half an ounce
• Built-in WiFi and 3G
• 1,530mAh battery
• Single charge is equal to 122 hours of battery life
• 0.03-second refresh rate
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Key Features
• Web browsing capability
• Supports multiple text formats
• Supports audio and video playback with online video streaming capability
• Support for 3D games and 3D graphics
• Built-in RSS reader
• Text-to-speech capability
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