Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Technically, I don't have this model. I received the 4GB version with different firmware (from QVC) for Christmas. However, it's basically the same thing. Unlike the earlier white model, this has Android 1.5, not 2.0. This is the most significant negative I can come up with as the OS limits the available apps (for example, the Kindle and Nook apps require 1.6 and the Google Books app requires 2.0 or 2.1, I think). Also, the video and audio formats that are compatible with this device are very few.
That being said, video/audio/book files can all be converted if need be (even Kindle books can be converted to another format if you're enterprising enough). Out of the box, everything works well enough, and I would probably give it 3 stars. However, if you put some effort into it, you can really get a lot out of this device, which is why I gave it 4 stars. If it did everything it does after I fiddled with it or if it came with Android 2.0/2.1 (or even 1.6 for crying out loud), I would give it 5 stars. Alas, upgrading OSs is no simple task and may never happen unless Pandigital decides to make it available as they do Android 1.5. My QVC PDN came "open," so I didn't need to hack it to install apps. The White PDN comes with more RAM and Android 2.0, but it needs to be hacked to really get a lot of use out of it. This version of the black PDN is not open, I don't think, so it may need to be hacked. However, there are a lot of resources (such as slatedroid.com) to learn how to do that. Also, I believe the Canadian firmware is open, so I believe you can just update to a Canadian firmware.
Anyway, I believe the black ones have a more responsive touch screen and come with a stylus (which I really like), and they are lighter and possibly slimmer, so there are some advantages to it over the white ones.
Back to the review. I don't really care for the Barnes and Noble app. It's clunky and confusing, and there's no real good way to organize your books. They have some stupid bookshelf option, but it's a huge hassle to make good use of it if you have tons of books, as I do. Plus, if you update your firmware, all of that work may disappear as a lot of stuff gets deleted (though not your books that you added from your SD card or PC), such as contacts and books downloaded from Barnes and Noble (though you can re-download). You can't simply navigate through your directories as you can on a PC to find your books because the stock ereader can not be opened that way. If you get the latest version of FBreaderJ (it reads epub files), version .98.10 beta, you can navigate through your local directory (any version allows you to navigate what's on your SD card) and open books. However, that reader has it's own negatives. A number of other epub readers (such as Moon+ and Aldiko) either don't install or have major display issues. There are more choices for reading pdf and txt files. Basically, there are myriad hassles to wade through, but most if not all problems are solvable. Plus, you can download games (emulators for Game Boy Advance, NES, SNE, and Sega Genesis all work fine) and comic books (there are several decent comic readers).
Another issue I don't like is the load up time. It seemingly takes forever to star this thing up, especially if you have an SD card installed. However, battery life, especially if you decrease brightness and turn off wifi, is pretty decent, and it's pretty nice to read on, I think. One negative about the stock ereader is that you have to swipe to go to the next page as opposed to tapping. You can navigate by tapping using the FBreaderJ app, though.
I suppose I've rambled a bit, but out of the box I give it 2.5-3 stars because of odd annoyances and clunkiness, but if you are relatively savvy, I'd give it 4 stars as you can really do a lot with this device.
Word to the wise - get a screen protector. The stylus will eventually scratch your screen.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Pandigital Novel 7" Color Multimedia eReader with WiFi - Black PRD07T20W
This eReader offers phenomenal access to books and magazines using the Barnes & Noble. It's the Pandigital Novel 7" Color Multimedia eReader with WiFi and it's aproduct that demonstrates many, many stories with multimedia prowess. Pandigital is a leading manufacturer of digital display products, including a wide selection of digital picture frames. This eReader is a suitable extension for Pandigital. For you, this eReader is a dependable performer offering expandable memory and many multimedia capabilities, including 802.11n WiFi availability. Read. Surf. Play. Access millions of books and view them on a brilliant color screen. Surf the web and collect APPS through the Android system.The word "Novel" takes on new meanings. The Pandigital Novel Color Multimedia eReader will change the way you curl up with a good book. With instant access to the Barnes & Noble online bookstore, the Pandigital Novel Color Multimedia eReader lets you read and carry hundreds of books, magazines, and newspapers with you wherever you go. The Novel 7" Color Multimedia eReader will entertain with many beginnings and happy endings - and many wonders in between - and goes beyond black-&-white. It's a colorful world. See it and experience all with the Pandigital Novel 7" Color Multimedia eReader with WiFi. Features:Operating SystemAndroid Unit Size 5.5 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches / Weight 19 oz Supported Formats - eBooks EPUB, PDF / Audio MP3, AAC, WAV / Images JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF / Video MPEG4 Internal Memory 1GB Card Reader - 2-in-1 with support for SD SDHC, MMC/MMC+ up to 32GB Full touchscreen / Virtual Keyboard Connections - WiFi 802.11b/g/n where applicable router is present / 1x mini-USB 2.0 / Headphone Jack for 2.5mm stereo headphone Built-in rechargeable Li-ion Battery (AC adapter included) English, French, Spanish display menus Operating System compatibility - Windo
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