Here’s an interesting device I stumbled upon at Walmart.com while checking out the new listing for the Kobo WiFi, the Ematic EB101B 7″ eBook Reader.
This device looks like it has the same exact hardware as a variety of other devices going by different names. These companies buy them in bulk from China, slap their logo on them, and then the products end up at places like Walmart for nice and cheap.
The downside is that you probably aren’t going to get much for product updates and support, but if the thing works it could make a nice starter device, backup, or gift. There aren’t any written reviews to be found on this particular unit unfortunately, just three 5-star ratings at Walmart with no comments on performance or reliability.
For features the Ematic EB101B 7″ eBook Reader has some good things going for it with its 7″ 800 x 480 pixel color display, 4GB of internal memory and microSD card slot, video and audio players, and support for EPUB, PDF, TXT, and DOC ebook formats.
Here are the complete specs for the Ematic eReader from Walmart’s product details page:
- 7″ 800 x 480 pixel Color Display allows you to watch videos, movies, view song information and pictures, and browse e-books
- 4GB of memory stores up to 2,300 songs, 20 hours of video or thousands of e-books
- Supports the most popular e-book formats including TXT, EPUB, FB2, HTML, PDB, PDF and DOC
- Expandable microSD card slot holds up to 40,000 e-books (microSD card sold separately)
- Built-in MP3 player allows you to complement your reading with your favorite background music; supports MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, and more
- Sync to your Mac or PC, then drag and drop e-books from your computer to your reader in seconds
- Photo/Video Player lets you browse photos and watch your favorite videos in stunning color; supports JPG, BMP, AVI, MP4, FLV, and more
- Built-in rechargeable battery with extended battery life
- Includes wall charger, headphones, leather case, USB cable and user manual
There’s no mention of DRM support, which isn’t surprising. None of these particular models, by whatever brand-name they carry, have support for encrypted ebooks, it seems. That means you have to rely on ebooks in the public domain and from websites that sell DRM free ebooks like Smashwords and O’Reilly.
Don’t forget Baen is a large publisher that sells DRM-free ebooks as well.
Can you please tell me when you will get more Ematic 7″ e Readers in stock? I have checked with the Walmart Stores and they told me I could only purchase this unit on the Internet. They only carry Barnes and Noble and Sony Readers.
It doesn’t look like Walmart has anymore, but I found this one on Amazon for the same price, although it has a different brand name: http://www.amazon.com/EMATIC-Ematic-TFT-ebook-reader/dp/B004CRGYKW
NATHAN….I HAVE A USER MANUAL PDF FILE FOR
Ematic EB101B 7″ eBook Reader SENT BY XoVision …contact me if you want it forwarded to you
Please forward the Ematic EBook reader.
Thank you
Hello Dan, I am thinking about one of these for my Dad, he’s 89 and I am not able to find a manual on these anywhere…could you email me a copy of the one you have?
Here’s the manual for the Ematic eReader (thanks, Dan): http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Ematic-eBook-Reader-Manual.pdf
they are back at walmart. but how this e reader work? I have been searching for a ebook reader of 7″ color..at a good cheap price.
I sent an email, and the response was that they do not have drm support and they didn’t answer about firmware updates.
and they are gone again at Walmart, it seems they just buy a couple and they are gone very quickly, last time they were up at 86 dollars.
According to them, the battery lasts up to 10 hours, they dont have any firmware updates, but they are working, and they dont offer drm support. The people from ematic are very prompt in their answers, which I like it. As I’m still waiting for answers from Augen.
If you use Adobe Digital Editions to manage your DRM content, it does sync, and it does let you download and read DRM epub books.
I downloaded the Adobe Digital Editions on my PC, but i still can’t get a book i bought off google to download to my PC or reader. Any ideas?
Is there any special software needed to work with the EB101B? My PC running under Windows XP has a problem recognizing the reader. Once I got it too, I was not able to copy any files to the directory it created in Explorer. Right now I just have what I had when I bought it and that’s not much. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.
Nathan, have you use this? What do you think? I found this pretty interesting and I was wondering about your opinion, as the price is not that bad.
Ematic eGlide 7″ Touchscreen eBook Tablet
No, I’ve never tried the Ematic or any of its siblings that go by different names. Haven’t heard much about it/them either. Probably not bad for the money but no DRM support leaves out a lot of good books.
The ematic ereader can be used with the Digital editions software by adobe for free. I synced mine up and buy DRM (rights managed) books from the google ebook store and read them all the time on my ematic reader.
This is a great ,inexpensive ebook reader and has many cool feature like the 20Gb optional micro sd slot- playing of .vob, mkv,flv,avi,mp4 (and more!) and mp3 files makes this a great little entertainment center for the road or home.
I have just started looking at comics on this by converting the .cbr and .cbz files to .pdf using free software I found online.
Thank you for letting us know it works with ADE; you’d think they’d mention that in the specs :). Definitely a big selling point.
Hi HDW,
Could you tell me the name of the software you are using to convert the comic files to pdf form? If you could provide a link, I’d appreciate that, too. Thank you in advance!
Hi, I bought 2 e-readers at wal mart.com (granddaughter and myself).
Tell me the lingo what is ADE & DRM ? New at this intel need e-readers for dummies HELP!
The manual is not very helpful and small print. How do I download the books. Manual didnt say!!!
THanks for your time!
ADE, Adobe Digital Editions, is the software you need to use to transfer DRM encrypted ebooks purchased from major ebook websites to an ereader. Here’s some info on ADE and DRM. Not all ebook have DRM. These don’t need ADE; just transfer them to the internal memory or SD card.
for a list of Adobe DRM-compatible ereaders:
http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/supported-devices
Hello, just wanted to know if this Ematic Ereader could surf the web via wifi, or is the wifi just for downloading books?
Thanks
It doesn’t have WiFi at all as far as I can tell.
Does Ematic support foreign languages?
I don’t know. You might try checking the user manual link a few posts above.
I have loaded onto my Ematic via ADE the novel MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS that I borrowed from my library. I tried to read it on the Ematic and get an error message, “Loan info is wrong”. I also borrowed a WMA audiobook from my library, and transferred it to Ematic using OverDrive Media Console and when I try to play it I get the error message, “Play error!” Any help would be greatly appreciated. ADE asked me to authorize my Ematic when I connected it to my PC, and OverDrive also recognizes my Ematic. I can get borrowed files onto the Ematic, but cannot read or listen to them once they are there. I can listen to my own WMA or MP3 files, and read my own free epubs that I get from Project Gutenberg, or create myself using Calibre.
HDW, will you please help me load and use ADE ebooks, and if possible, OverDrive audiobooks? Thanks, Wade
It’s not going to play audiobooks from OverDrive. They require the use of the OverDrive app for these platforms: http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc/.
The ebooks should work if you finished authorizing the Ematic once prompted like you said. Then you have to use ADE to transfer the library ebook to the Ematic. Perhaps there’s something wrong with that particular ebook? Also, make sure the Ematic’s time and date are set properly—that can affect library ebooks since they are set to expire after a certain amount of time.
Quicky Review:
I just got one today from Wal-Mart (Fed Ex’ed for $1.97, took 5 days to get from upper NY state to central NC – not bad for the price considering free store pickup had a 2-3 day longer delay specified). I am not too impressed having been through a number of tablets/readers lately: Android color tablets, including Huawei S7, the sibling tablets, Cruz Reader and Pandigtal Novel, and 2 from Archos, the 70 and the 5 (kept that and still like it since it is so compact and light, but just big enough to read easily, and runs Nook, Kindle, and Borders Android readers just fine). I also tried a couple eInk readers, the Sony Touch PRS-600, and the Pandigital 6-inch Linux-based unit (had screen identically sized with that of the Sony, but not quite as nice).
I wanted something a bit bigger than the Archos 5, with color, but did not want to put much money into it, so I thought to try the Ematic.
The Ematic feels much flimsier than any of the above, and is much less flexible in fitting the non-default fonts into the screen space – lots of sluggish, jerky panning and scrolling for PDF’s, and ebooks’ text seemed to skip the “off-screen” parts quite a bit when going back and forth in the larger text modes (only 4 or 5 size choices, and no font choices). If you do stick with the default size, it fits ok, and looks fairly clear, if small.
I had the impression in my brief viewing of a few dozen pages from several of my decrypted ebooks that the backlighting had a harsher quality than the Android tablets, and it gave me the feeling that it would fulfill all those dire predictions of migraines per the die-hard eInk advocates. It probably is better suited for its picture and video viewing functions, and where I suspect its design originated based on all the other Ematic products.
Not much luck with the music. The FM tuner could not pick up for more than a second a few of the dozens of strong signals available in the Raleigh-Durham area that about any other FM tuner I have gets easily. I tried that without and with a headset plugged in for the possibility that it needed the wire for an antenna – no difference. Also, it would not even show any of about a dozen MP3’s I had on a microSD card, but which are visible and playable on several other devices.
Considering I can get another Pandigital Novel (white, which has better specs than the black) from Kohl’s this weekend (if in stock) for about $5 more after discounts/price-match with OfficeMax/rebate, I would much rather do that for an ereader bigger than my Archos 5, with a lot of Android capabilities such as Nook, Kindle and Borders apps that will do the decryption for me and have the wifi for direct downloads (and the music player will work ok, although some PDN owners with better hearing have complained about the sound quality).
I guess I have been spoiled,too, by touch screen interfaces (but, since I hate smearing them up, I actually prefer the cheaper resistive screen tablets that respond well to a stylus or fingernail, such as the S7, Archos 5, and PDN, instead of the capacitive type’s need for full fingertip like the Archos 70). The button navigation just seems clunky.
I am sending this puppy back to the Wal-Mart kennel.
thanks for the manual! How would I get the Nanny and the Professor series from youtube on the ematic? Will it’s video player do this?
The YouTube ones won’t work; you’d need an Android tablet for that. Otherwise you’d have to find it the supported video formats for the Ematic: AVI, MP4.
Hulu has the series but no info on format. Thoughts?
Ereader will be used as a homeschooling tool loaded with manybooks, project gutenberg, googlebooks and Librivox audiobooks. Does it make a difference where I save any- internal or microsd? Will I need a large microsd to hold that video series? Thanks so much for your feedback. Very helpful for this newbie.
Hulu stinks for mobile; it doesn’t work. I was hoping it would work on the Adam with Flash installed and it won’t even work with that: your platform is not supported, it says. Arggh! They’ll probably release an Android app so that we have to pay a monthly fee. Nuts to that. If you do manage to get that series in MP4 format, which will probably require use of a piracy site, then yes you’ll need the biggest memory card the Ematic can handle because video files are huge.
I have a ematic ereader but lost the users manuel which was included in box. I dont know how to get the ereader registered or if i have to. What is the first thing that I need to do to get this started.
There’s a copy of the user manual 3rd comment from the top.
Hello. I just bought the emaatic @ walmart. I bought ebooks from Barnes and Noble thinking that they would work on my ebook. Please help. I am so close to returning it to Walmart
B&N ebooks will not work on the Ematic, only B&N supported devices. I’d recommend taking a look at the Nook Color or Pandigital Novels if you want a color ereader with support for B&N ebooks. Otherwise you’ll have to get ebooks from stores on this list that support Adobe DRM for the Ematic.
Sara, get rid of that Ematic, it’s hardly more than a Speak-N-Spell for kindergardeners. If all it can read is Adobe DRM, you’re stuck with Google Ebooks. None of the ereaders for under $100 are really worth their price. You’re better off spending a few dollars more on something with reliable technical support, and that works with more e-book types.
Thanks for the advice. I am using google ebooks. They have a lot of free books and their other selections are pretty good. Can anyone tell me where I can find the free software to convert comics so that I may view them on my ebook. I am also trying to learn how to play videos.
Try downloading books from Borders E-books. Loads easy in EPub format. They have some free ones too, to test loading to your reader.
I’m having the same problem as Wade with an ebook. Adobe Digital Editions recognizes my ematic and I have transferred several books that way before. But when I try to put the ebook I borrowed from my library I just keep getting the “loan info wrong” message. The date is correct on my eReader and the ebook works fine on my comp using Adobe Digital. Is it because the ematic can’t connect to the internet? PLEASE HELP!!!
I received the Ematic Ebook Reader for Mother’s Day from my kids. Have played with it some each day trying to get familiar with it. Seems pretty good for my first piece of equipment like this?! I can’t figure out how to download to it. Anyone have some directions you would like to share for someone so not tech savy? Would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I love my ematic, and only have one problem with the headphones and it won’t work with phones but does great otherwise. I like it as is, and don’t want to send it back. Has anyone had the same problem? As I said, it’s great as it is and has a great sound and great way to view books, pics, and videos.
Just got my ematic. No problem purchasing book from borders and transferring it to ereader. But, I want to use the larger font size and I can’t figure out how to get it to scroll correctly. Anyone else have this problem or know how to read with larger font size?
THANKS! Dan and Nathan for the manual for the ematic ereader. It was a life saver. Again, THANKS!
Help Please! I purchased the Ematic EB101B 7″ Ereader from Walmart the other week. This is my first Ereader and I don’t know where to start or how to get books on the Ereader. I read the Manual and it does not direct you on how to do this. I am not tech savy and plus I am 71 years old. Will someone please advise me step by step as what to do as how to get books on my Ereader. It will be highly appreciated. God Bless and have a great day.
There are a number of ways to add ebooks. You can plug it into your computer with the USB cable and drag and drop ebooks onto it. Or you can use Calibre to manage your ebooks. That’s the best method. Hit the link for a tutorial.
I’m having trouble loading ebooks on this reader! I’ve downloaded 2 ebooks from BN & my device is not recognizing the books.
I’ve downloaded the ADE but I’m not sure of how to convert the ebooks for this reader
If BN’s books don’t work for this reader then could someone direct me to a website that is compatible for this ereader.
Thanking everyone in advance!!
Barnes and Noble’s ebooks won’t work on the Ematic because they have DRM that requires B&N software or a supported device. All the sites listed on this page that support Adobe EPUB will work with the Ematic, and these sites for DRM-free ebooks.
thanks for the information Nathan. I just downloaded the Calibre but my computer is giving me a warning. so should i bypass it? also, will this convert the 2 ebooks i purchased from BN?
I’m having the same problem as Wade with an ebook. Adobe Digital Editions recognizes my ematic and I have transferred several books that way before. But when I try to put the ebook I borrowed from my library I just keep getting the “loan info wrong” message. The date is correct on my eReader and the ebook works fine on my comp using Adobe Digital. Is it because the ematic can’t connect to the internet? PLEASE HELP
I just picked my e-reader up, and downloaded books from Border’s ebooks and everytime I try to open the file it says “File Open Failed” I read that several people had no problem downloading from Borders. Help please!!
Border has gone under; you need to transfer your Borders ebooks to Kobo. Also, make sure your device is authorized with Adobe Digital Editions.
That’s what I meant they were the Kobo books. I’m not sure if I’ve authorized my book with Adobe Digital Editions though so thank you and let me try that.
i just got my ematic ereader 104 and its hot pink and i love it, i have tons of fanfiction i read and i put video on it and audiobooks too i went with this because the price was right {under 100 $} i dont need wifi i bought it to read my books it fits in my purse. if you travel buy portable charger you wont always be near a computer. the print is big enough for me,lighting good.plays songs and youtube, and photos one game. i you want to read this might work for you. i dont want touchscreen in my purse lol!
Nice product, but if anything goes wrong, say good bye to it, worst customer service I have deal with, repair it is more expensive than buying naother, mine just work for 7 months, one day it only never starts again… don´t waist your money on this.. use it to buy another brand more reliable.
It doesn’t turn my pages fast enough for me. It moves too slow, which made me lose interest in what I was reading.
I NEED HELP! I ALSO HAVE AN EREADER FROM WALMART, I PURCHASED A BOOK FROM KOBO, AND IT WILL NOT OPEN, I GOT 2 FREE BOOKS JUST TO SEE IF THEY WOULD AND THEY OPEN JUST FINE. I AM ON MY LAST NERVE. I TOOK IT TO OFFICE DEPOT TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP AND HE WORKED AND WORKED WITH IT, NEVER COULD FIND THE SOFTWARE FOR KOBO. AND IT WILL NOT LET U DOWNLOAD KOBO EITHER . SAYS IT WAS INSTALLED AT FACTORY. SO WHAT I CAN READ THE FREE BOOKS BUT NOT THE ONES U BUY? OR CAN I BUY THEM AT AMAZON ? AND WILL THEY OPEN? CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE.
OH AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT RETURN YOUR CALLS.
WELL I FINALLY GOT SO FED UP WITH THIS EMATIC I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A KINDLE TOUCH. AND AS DUMB AS I AM ABOUT COMPUTERS AND EREADERS. I HAD IT UP AND RUNNING AND ORDERING BOOKS, WITHIN 15 MINS. I AM SO TICKLED WITH THIS KINDLE, I WILL JUST USE THE EMATIC FOR GAMES. WHEN WILL I LEARN U GET WHAT U PAY FOR. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME SPEW YESTERDAY. I WAS REALLY ON MY LAST NERVE.
THANK U, CINDY
NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO DELETE THE FREE BOOKS I HAVE ON IT, THAT ARE NOW ON THE KINDLE . AND I HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING THE BOOK I PURCHASED TO OPEN. THANKS AGAIN
I bought 2 ematic ereaders for my grand daughters and I can’t even figure out how to set the date and time. I have the directions but, but…..can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?
Umm I’m direr need of help I just got a Ematic 7″ color but I have no clue on how to scroll down or to get the font a lil bigger when centered, also I figured out the music part but not the video, how can I upload videos on to it. Pls can someone help me. Thank You 🙂
My daughter has bought me the Ematic 7″ color for christmas, I’ve downloaded Adobe Digital Editions & the Kobo app, synced all books to the ereader however, when I try to open any of the books on the ereader, I get the error message, “file open fail” – Does anyone know how to fix this?
Tracey,
I’m having the same problem you are. Except I bought them for the kids stocking stuffers. Have you figured out how to open your files yet?
I’ve got an email into Ematic. I’ll let you know that they have to say…
I received an Ematic Ereader for Christmas, and quickly found out that although Kobo is listed on the outside of the box, and free ebook download coupon was inside the box from Kobo my Ereader for some reason would not download anything from that particular company. Kobo is in fact not very compatible with the Ematic Ereader, so if you can get downloads from them you are doing much better than I did.
I did however call Ematic customer support at 1-888-968-1985 M-F 9AM-5PM PST. They were very helpful, and sent me an email of a lot of different things I can download to enhance my ereader function, including several ebook download sites that are more compatible with my Ematic Ereader than Kobo, so I listed those for you here in case anyone else is running into the same problem. Good luck and Enjoy.
http://www.gutenberg.org
http://www.manybooks.net
http://www.bookrix.com
http://www.aldiko.com