|
|
eSlick**
|
|||||||
|
Entire unit |
||||||||
|
Extended warranty
available? |
$69.95 2-years*,
if US-only is unclear
|
2-3 yr, price
varies |
2-4 yr, price
varies |
2-4 yr, price
varies |
No |
No |
||
|
Plays mp3s? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes (but no
audiobooks) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Touch Screen |
No |
No |
Beneath the display |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Price |
$259 |
$489 |
$259 |
$199.99 |
$299.99 |
$399.99 |
$199 (5Ó
display), $239 (6Ó) |
$259.99 |
|
Wireless
bookstore |
Free, Global |
Free, US-only |
Free |
No |
No |
Free, US-only |
No |
No |
|
Wi-Fi |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
The IILP isnÕt Consumer Reports. The chart is meant to be a quick reference, not a complete buyerÕs guide or advice of any kind. Please use the links to explore for yourself for the most up to date info.
* - Interestingly, the same company, Service Net, provides the extended warranty for both Barnes and Noble and Amazon. The B&N site also lists state-by-state warranty variations.
** - The eSlick runs on an embedded Linux system, and the company does offer the GPLÕed source, as theyÕre required to under the GPL. However, itÕs only for 3 years. IÕm not a lawyer (yet), and not a GPL expert, but I didnÕt think there was a time limit in the GPL. A recent press release by the company notes their product Òmeets the majority of GPL guidelinesÉÓ and they are Òproud of [their] efforts to comply with the requirements of the GPLÉÓ Last I checked, license terms arenÕt merely Òguidelines.Ó While itÕs great that consumers have a device they can modify, and the company should be applauded for giving consumers more freedom, releasing an open source device supporting most any format, etc., this seemingly blatant disregard of legal obligations by the company is disappointing and misleading by suggesting to others that one can pick and choose whether to comply with clear terms in a license.