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enTourage eDGe Review
For those looking for a fully integrated e-reader, the enTourage eDGe may be your best solution. Not only is the enTourage eDGe an outstanding e-reader, but it is also a great little notebook, tablet, and audio/video recorder and player. At first glance, the device might seem a bit pricey, but once you consider all that it does, the price is actually low.
If you are new to the enTourage eDGe, the first thing you will probably notice is its dual screen set up. The device has a 9.7 inch e-Ink display as well as a big 10.1 inch LCD screen.
The LCD panel offers 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. It uses resistive touch and will respond to both stylus and finger pressure. The e-reader screen offers 1200 x 825-pixel resolution. The e-Ink display is Wacom Penabled, which means that by using the included stylus you can write on the panel to make notes, highlight text, etc. Users can also open a blank journal to draw or handwrite notes.
As mentioned earlier, the device also contains a tablet function. This function allows users to browse the Internet by using the built-in Wi-Fi. Users can also record audio and video as well as playback both. The tablet function also allows for email and contains a calculator, contacts list, alarm clock, and a library function which can be sued to organize and manage books and files. The enTourage eDGe employs the Google Android™ operating system. An assortment of apps is already available and more are on the way.
An important and useful feature to the enTourage eDGe is that the two screens are integrated. Users can attach links to e-books and those will open on the color tablet screen. User can also select text from an e-book and then easily begin a search using Google or Wikipedia. Users can also listen to audio files and take notes at the same time.
The tablet screen is 10.1 inches and provides displays in color. It is Android-based, which allows for a wide range of functionality, from playing movies or MP3 files, to instant messaging. This screen also supports the virtual keyboard. The tablet side also contains the audio and video recorders.
While the device contains a lot of features, it weighs in at only 3 pounds.
The Edge comes with 3 GB of memory and can store thousands of e-books. If more storage is needed, users can use an SD card or a USB flash drive. The Edge measures 8 ¼" by 10 ¾" by 1"; this is small enough that it slides into a backpack or large purse easily.
The Edge supports a variety of formats, but the only two that will load onto the e-reader screen are e-Pub and PDF files. The Edge itself, however, can read and edit MS Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and text files.
It also supports MP3, WAV, 3GPP, MP4, AAC, OGG and M4A audio playback and 3GP and MP4 video playback.
The device hosts plenty of useful features including 2 USB ports, BlueTooth 2.1, SD card slot, built-in stereo speakers, headphone and microphone jacks, and Lithium-ion polymer battery. The battery can power the Edge for 16 hours when using the E-Link display, or up to about 6 hours when both display screens are in use. The battery can be replaced if needed.
The enTourage eDGe was designed with easy access to all of its buttons and slots. Users will find that ports and slots for SD or SIM cards are provided with rubber lids to keep debris out of them. The USB connector is easily accessible as is the Wi-Fi button. The hinges that support the two panels are high-quality and firm enough that the panels stay where they are placed by the user. A nifty feature that can be very useful at times is the rotate function. Users can rotate the screen in 90-degrees increments. This allows for either portrait or landscape viewing of the content.
The enTourage eDGe allows users access to its own e-book store. This can be done either from the device or from the Internet on a PC. As of this writing the store contains about 200,000 titles.
It should be kept in mind, however, that due to its e-Pub support, the device is able to download and read millions of e-books that are currently in that format. For example, users can download from Google Books, which already has a million titles alone.
While the enTourage eDGe may cost a bit more than other e-readers, it contains features that you simply do not find on other products. Students and professionals will find that this e-reader is one of the most useful and productive e-readers on the market today. Because it is Android-based, users can expect an influx of new apps, many of which will only increase the functionality and usefulness of this somewhat incredible e-reader.