Viewsonic VEB612 is overpriced for limited functionality in our opinion, and we're concerned about reports of the new device being very buggy. It is a rather standard eReader with limited connectivity, a standard design, and only 8 greyscales compared to the 16 of the leading eReaders.
We've heard some major complaints about this eReader. Many are rather minor, but they do seem to be several; for instance, there is a function for bookmarks, but they don't always seem to work--the same with page numbers.
The Viewsonic VEB 612 has a headphone jack, but a nonstandard 2.5mm size rather than the normal 3.5mm. Unfortunately users have complained that the mp3 player is problematic, and songs sometimes slow or lock the machine.
The Viewsonic VEB 612 is very shoft on compatabiliy, recognizing only six file types. Even then, some PDF files simply don't work well, and some say they're not in the correct format.
The eReader comes with only 512 MB of memory, but this expandable via SD memory card.
This is the first foray (rushed we believe) into the ebook reader market for Viewsonic, which is a large, California-based manufacturer of several types of visual technology from plasma displays to projectors.
Connecting: The VEB612 has a USB 2.0 cord for linking to a PC, but no other means of connectivity--for this price we'd expect at least WiFi.
Accessories: The eReader ships with a universal power adaptor (US/Canada), USB cable, earphones, leatherette cover, wrist strap, and Quick Start Guide.
We're unaware of any other optional accessories for the VEB 612.
Price: The Viewsonic VEB 612 retails for $259--we believe that it won't sell many units priced as expensive as the much more capable Kindle 2 which currently dominates the eReader market.
Viewsonic's first eReader appears to suffer from several bugs and is expensive compared to the competition.
eBook Reader Basics