The JWF eReader-4000 is in fact a Chinese made device that I have come across in other parts of the world, where it is sold under a wide range of names and have written about before (link to earlier post below).
Much more than an ereader.
This device is much more than a simple ereader, as it offers a wide range of media playback possibilities, video, music and photos, all of which in the examples I have seen it does remarkably well, given that it is a low priced entry level gadget.
Some people had problems with it.
To judge from the various comments that the earlier post produced, some people experienced a number of problems with this ereader, but for my part, provided you do not try and instal ebooks from Amazon on it, but stick to ebooks in e-Pub format, and make sure you have sorted the DRM position out (using Adobe Digital editions on your computer to enable you to use ebooks with DRM protection) it should work fine.
Built in speakers not so hot.
A further complaint was that the built in speakers were not much good, but this is also perfectly normal I feel, such small speakers are unlikely to deliver HiFi at any volume… use earphones and all should be well in that regard.
No WiFi Connectivity here.
As this is an entry level device, it offers no WiFi or 3G connectivity, so you will need a computer to download ebooks, videos and so on and then will have to transfer them to your ereader via the USB ports on your computer and the ereader, but this should present no great problems, as your computer should see the ereader as simply an external portable data storage device…
Worth buying?
So, having briefly looked at the problems, is it worth the roughly 60 British Pounds it will cost you, is it worth buying this device?
Well, if what you are looking for is a cheap gadget to read ebooks, magazines with, listen to music or watch videos on then this one is well worth your consideration I reckon.
The company which is selling this particular version of this ereader has this to say of it on their blurb: Please excuse the somewhat purple prose of his description, but they are trying to convince you to buy it after all.
The JWF eReader-4000 really packs a punch. It’s an incredibly affordable eReader with a great design, user interface, vivid 7″ colour screen, and the opportunity to expand the already generous 4GB memory capacity via a Micro SD card slot (max. 16GB expandable).
At first look – the JWF appears to be a great looking eReader just like all the others on the market. Not until you switch it on is when you notice the difference. You are greeted by a crisp looking colour menu, with a vast array of content. The first choice on the menu is the eReader function. Obviously the prime function of the eReader is its eReading ability – and it’s no problem to keep your entire reading library with a massive 4GB internal storage allowing you to store thousands of your favourite books and magazines – with around 15hrs reading time. To load eBooks on is simple; just transfer them across via USB from your PC!
Further down the main menu is where this eReader gets interesting. There are tabs entitled ‘Music’, ‘Video’, ‘Photo’ and so on. You guessed it – this eReader doubles up as a multimedia player – allowing a plethora of multimedia content to be stored and played back – including high resolution video playback with 720p support (AVI,FLV,WAV,WMA,RM,RMVB), music playback (MP3,WMA,FLAC,AAC,OGG,APE) with around 18hrs of battery life – through the internal speaker or headphone jack, and even your complete photo library! All featured in your eReader! The JWF comes with some sample videos, photos etc pre-installed, to give you the ability to see the amazing quality media possibilities – the 7″ screen really is a feast for your eyes – especially with it’s wide viewing angles and glare that is much lower than what you would find on an iPad or various other tablet devices that have the same capabilities.
Also, JWF eReaders have partnered with Ink-Slinger (ink-slinger.com/jwf), the online ebook distributor, allowing users to obtain ebooks cheaply and efficiently!
Important additional note, written later:
Since I wrote this post, JWF has got in touch with me with a few bits of extra information, which rather changes the judgement on this ereader.
They tells me the following facts:
The shell of the device is the same as others – but we run a different custom operating system firmware on the device – getting rid of any problems known with the generic OS that is run on cheaper devices. This also allows more formats of files to be used, and makes it easier for the customer to use. We also use slightly different internals inside the shell – leading to greater reliability. One of the main changes is the large battery, giving the device up to 15hrs battery life on a full charge – which is unseen on other generic devices.
To this day we have never had any software issues with the device, which we are glad about. If a user is in need of support, our customer support team does indeed help rectify their issues.
This of course makes the JWF-4000 into a rather more interesting device to own, as it would seem to address a number of the problems that users of the earlier and totally Chinese versions of this ereader came across.
So, now you know what it offers you.
My feeling is that if you look upon this as an entry level device, and not to compare with rather more expensive ereaders such as the Kindle or Sony, than it is probably a good buy.
Here is a video to give you a better idea of what it offers you.
http://youtu.be/VrLpBNM8hCM
And a short promo from the company selling it as well:
Specifications:
Display Type: Hi Res LCD Backlit Screen
*Custom User Interface
*supported video format:AVI,FLV,WAV,WMA,RM,RMVB
*Supported Music format: MP3,WMA,FLAC,AAC,OGG,APE
*Recording function
*Image view: support image format JPG, BMP, PDF etc
*Image rotation: support 0, 90, 180, 270 degree rotation
*Browsing history feature
*TXT ebooks
*DOC ebooks
*FB2 ebooks
*HTML ebooks
*PDB ebooks
*PDF ebooks
*EPUB ebooks
*WORD ebooks
*Bookmark function
*Auto page turn function: support 10 sec, 30 sec, 50 sec, 80 sec, 100 sec and 120 sec
*Font Enlarging function
*Support date and time
*Calendar function
*Auto shutdown time: support 3 min,5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min and Auto shutdown off
*System restore function
*SNR: equal or more than 90dB
*Support software update
*TF card: built-in 4GB storage, support TF card external.(Max 16GB)
*Large 2400mA battery for extended battery life
*Audio 18 hours, video 6~7 hours
*Electronic book reading: about 15 hours, 3500 pages.
*Accessories: manual, charger
*Charger Specification: input AC100~240V 50/60Hz output: DC5.0~5.5V 500mA~1500mA
*Interface Specification USB2.0(High Speed)
Where to get it: jwfselling.com and eBay
Link to review of the same ereader under another name: Ematic ereader.
Share with us:
Have you bought one of these ereaders? If so, how do you find it? As good as you hoped? Do share your experiences with it here for others to benefit from your experiences with it.
