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As its name implies, the BeBook Mini eReader is smaller than the standard 6” EPD ereader. Endless Ideas’ move of trimming an inch off from the original BeBook is to make a pocketable device for those who want a book companion that’s more convenient to carry around. With reduced size comes reduced price as well. Retailed at $199, it’s clearly targeted for people looking for an affordable yet versatile and stable device.

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Features  – Hardware and Software

The BeBook Mini, distributed by Netherlands-based Endless Ideas, is actually a variant of Jinke’s Hanlin V3. They share the same looks, the same hardware. The difference lies on the firmware.

BeBook Mini has all the basics of a modern ereader. It has a backlight-free e-paper display optimized for long reads, power-thrift battery capable of juicing up to 7000 pages per charge, and 8-level grayscale that mimics contrast/resolution of real books. Onboard storage of 512 MB is rather sparse compared to leading ereaders like the Kindle and Sony Touch Edition, but inclusion of 16GB SD slot can level up differences.

Versatility with file formats, a strength of the first BeBook, is a shared character of the BeBook Mini. The device supports a wide range of text, file, and music formats include tif, djvu, fb2, lit, and htm. It can display public domain books as well as DRM-protected content from bookstores like Dymocks and Mobipocket titles. Another step up for the BeBook is the addition of Text-to-Speech. You now have the option of listening to a book read out loud to you.

Packaged in a small form factor of 150 x 105 mm and 10 mm thick andweighing less than 6 ounces, the BB Mini comes in two color options: black and white. Numerical keypads below the screen are used for page and menu navigations.

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The Bottom Line

The BeBook Mini was already released in Europe and Asia, and plans of releasing it in the US are under way. Though the BeBook Mini needs improvement in interface and design, it still has a lot of things to admire about. If you are looking for a functional device without the big price tag, the BeBook Mini is light on the pocket, light to be carried around.

Pros

Firmware is clearly BeBook Mini’s high point. Customizable folder and sub-folder system lets you arrange your library in the order you want. Even when your book collection grows to thousands, you don’t have to sweat finding a book from the stack. There’s a shortcut button for jumping up to 10 pages if you want to skim through pages or quickly reach a desired number page. BeBook designed with global readers in mind, as it can support multiple languages. Font architecture is also open; you can add fonts of your choice onto the device. You can even add foreign language fonts! To help build your library, BeBook site offers free download of public domain titles. The site currently lists 20,000 classic titles.

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Cons
While the BeBook Mini is a pretty functional device, there are still rooms for refinement. Absence of QWERTY keyboard means there’s no text input for BeBook. The buttons are sufficient for page navigations, but it sets users into laborious task when searching. The 8-level grayscale is good for texts, graphs, and diagrams but not for photos. With no 3G or WiFi, users do not have the convenience of downloading books from one’s device. And while its small frame makes it ideal for traveling around, there’s no sleekness to the BB Mini’s appearance.

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What’s in the Bebook Mini box

• USB cable
• Earphones
• Screwdriver
• User Manual
• Quick Start Guide
• Lanyard

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Main Features

• Lightweight
• 5-inch Vizplex display
• 512 MB flash memory stores hundreds of books
• Battery is user-replaceable
• SD card slot handles up to 16 GB additional storage

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Key Features

• Zoom-in capability; 5 adjustable font sizes
• Bookmarking
• Supports both unencrypted and DRM-protected file formats
• Supports multiple languages
• Supports (optional) Text-to-Speech
• Supports multi-directory folder system


Bonus Features

• Plays MP3 and audiobooks

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