Pandigital has quietly released a new Pandigital Novel color multimedia ereader. This one has a larger 9-inch screen, whereas the other two color models have 7-inch screens.
The Pandigital Novel 9″ ereader has a lot of the same features and functions and the 7″ models, like the white model I reviewed earlier this year, just with a larger display and some added hardware buttons.
Like them it can play video, music, games, send and receive email, browse the web, and view photos and slideshows on the color touchscreen, among other things.
It ties in with Barnes and Noble for downloading ebooks and periodicals directly to the device via WiFi. It also supports Adobe EPUB and PDF ebooks purchased from other vendors, free ebooks borrowed from libraries, and can install other ebook reading apps thanks to the Android operating system (even the Kindle for Android app).
The screen technology is TFT LCD, and the pixel resolution is 800 x 480—pretty low for a 9-inch screen. Overall the device measures 9.5″ x 5.75″ x 0.5″ and weighs 20.5 ounces.
For memory it comes with 2GB internal and has a microSD card slot for cards up to 32GB. It looks like it comes with a 4GB microSD card too, at least the one listed on QVC does. It also sells from Bed Bath and Beyond. The price is at $199 on QVC, and the same at BBB after a $20 mail in rebate which appears to be valid until February 2nd, 2011.
The 9″ Pandigital Novel runs Android 2.0 and is open to installing 3rd party apps. For videos it can play MP4, for audio it supports MP3, AAC, and WAV. Here’s the user guide for more details on specs and functions.
I’ve got one coming in next week so check back soon for a full hands-on review.
ebook readers at $200 is just too much money nowadays, although popular do you really need it?
I just received mine. Purchased from BBB for $159.00 + tax with the 20% off coupon plus $20 rebate. Now I am in search of a cover. Anyone be lucky enough to find one yet?
I just got mine today too; it’s charging right now. That’s a great deal you managed to get, btw. The only cover I could to find was this one at QVC.
BBB is out of the PDN 9″ online, but after calling the 800 number…they were able to tell me that the Northridge store on Tampa had them. Called and ask to hold…they said, “no need, we have a large supply”. Went and picked mine up…Wife is saying I have to wait for Xmas morning to play with. 🙁
That’s going to be a tough wait. There’s quite a big learning curve when first getting started with Android so in the meantime you might try stocking up on some apps to install. Here’s a good place to start with my Android Reading Apps pack.
I bought mine @ BBB also. Not bad for the price with discounts. They also carry the sleeve cover not many are on ebay. I downloaded 20 books in about 10 min or less. So far I love it and the best 159+ tax I paid. Actually posting from it right now. Better than carrying a laptop. Works great with my wifi and very fast. No delay as I read from different posts. Glad I decided to get it. Very worth it.
okay looking for a good eBook reader for my online classes. I’m really really considering the Pandiital 7″ or 9″ I need some really good feed back on this device. it would be great and very helpfully. I’m in grad school with limited time and space.
I picked up the 9″ Pandigital yesterday at Costco (Canada) for $199 and after a couple of hours of putting it through its paces, its going back ASAP. You were way too generous in your review of it Nathan!
I found the unit to be slow, with poor screen resolution and was clunky overall. On many of the ebooks and pdfs, the font size is not adjustable or barely so. It is also slow to change between Landscape and Portfolio configuration. The touch screen response is also poor and sometimes non-existent.
Try to read it in any sort of bright light outdoors and you are pretty much out-of-luck. I really need a good affordable colour ebook reader for my work (writing and book reviewer) but this certainly doesn’t cut it. Am hoping that someone, someday will come up with a larger format full colour reader than does the job. In the meantime, I’ll have to use my laptop.
I am in agreement with Matt….I just bought this same eReader during the Black Friday sale at Big Lots for $79, on sale from $119.00. The first thing I noticed was that the ad had advertised this device like it was actually an Ipad. I have since learned the difference between the two, however, I am still disappointed in my purchase. One of the things that attracted me to purchase this was because it worked from the Android platform. In turn, I thought it would be just like my Android cell phone. The “read-up” on it also states that Android apps can be downloaded as well, but I have yet to see how to do that. There is not a link to access the Android Market from the eReader and when I try to download an app from the market online, it doesn’t even recognize that I am trying to download to the eReader.
The promotion for this product is very deceiving and misleading. It is also slow and lags on the Internet. I am using WiFi and all the laptops in my home work at maximum speed but the Reader is slow, and even though the Facebook app was already installed for use when I bought it, the touch doesn’t work well and most of the time it doesn’t at all. Truthfully it seems that the developers added a few perks to the Reader that would attract the average PC users but they didn’t take time to actually see if the perks were beneficial or not. Needless to say, if I can’t find a better way of getting thru these bugs or if there aren’t any useful updates soon, I will be returning this device to the store and spending a little more money for a product that I can actually use!
I would like to know if you can connect a keyboard to the Pandigital 9″? I could really use it with my clinicals.