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A Critique of the Entourage eDGe: An In-Depth Analysis

Struggling to decide among numerous options can be common for consumers, much like deciding between equally appealing choices such as chocolate and vanilla. Creators of Entourage Edge have proposed an innovative solution to this persistent dilemma.

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4 min read
Confusion among consumers is common due to the vast array of choices available. It's comparable to...
Confusion among consumers is common due to the vast array of choices available. It's comparable to the dilemma of choosing between equally enticing options like chocolate and vanilla. The creators of Entourage Edge have come up with a creative solution for this ongoing predicament.

A Critique of the Entourage eDGe: An In-Depth Analysis

Let's Get Real:

You know the struggle, right? Deciding between chocolate or vanilla when both options are equally alluring. Well, the creators of the Entourage Edge bid farewell to your dilemma with their clever invention. This slick piece of tech is essentially an e-reader that morphs into a tablet PC, giving you the best of both worlds. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's definitely a must-have for students who can't decide if they'd rather read their textbooks or stream videos during their commute.

Living the Dream:

The coolest thing about the Entourage Edge? It looks like a book that folds in half, with two separate screens - a 10.1-inch color LCD screen and a 9.7-inch E Ink screen. You can use them independently or together, so you can read a tech manual on the E Ink screen while watching a YouTube tutorial on the LCD screen. However, don't get too excited; this gadget isn't lightning fast. The processor tends to give out, and the touchscreen tech feels older than your grandma's rotary phone.

Bigger is Better - Sorta:

Weighing in at 3 pounds and about an inch thick, this device is bigger and heavier than a Kindle, roughly quadrupling the weight, and almost twice as heavy as the iPad. So carrying it around is a workout in itself. And if you leave it flat on a surface, it's prone to getting a bit warm.

But all that weight and size come with their own benefits. The central hinge allows you to rotate the screens into various configurations, including tablet mode, notebook mode, and book mode. This means you can adjust the orientation to suit your preference.

E-Reader:

The 9.7-inch E Ink screen is pretty spacious - as big as the Kindle DX - but only supports 8 shades of gray compared to the DX's 16. However, it boasts Wacom Penabled touch capability, which lets you write annotations and make handwritten notes.

You can underline, highlight, save marked-up text as a PDF, and transfer it to the LCD screen to share it with friends. It's as simple as pie. Plus, you can use the digital diary to jot down your thoughts or ideas.

Tablet Time:

The 10.1-inch Android tablet part of the device is a bit of a letdown. It uses Android 1.6, so navigating the tablet would be a breeze if you're already familiar with the operating system. But there are a few proprietary tweaks, like the Entourage logo on the right-hand side, which reveals all the installed apps.

But here's the catch - the Edge doesn't support the Android marketplace, so you can't download popular apps like internet radio or Twitter apps. You'll have to wait for Entourage to launch its own Android app store, which is (supposedly) coming soon.

The LCD screen is a touchscreen, but it requires firm pressure or a stylus to work. This becomes noticeable when using the virtual keyboard, which takes up the entire screen. However, minor edits can be done comfortably with the on-screen keyboard, although for extensive editing jobs, you might want to grab a physical keyboard.

The Edge is packed with two USB ports, a micro-USB port, mic and headphone jacks, and SIM and SD card slots.

Performance:

The Marvell Amada PXA168 1.2 GHZ processor and 512MB of RAM aren't breaking any speed records. Boot-up time is over 30 seconds, and the device isn't exactly lightning-fast. But it can multitask, and Wi-Fi speeds are pretty zippy.

Battery Life:

Entourage claims the Edge has a battery life of 6 hours on the LCD screen and 16+ hours on the E Ink screen. However, in real-world usage, it lasts for somewhat less than advertised. If you use Wi-Fi and both screens, the Edge only lasts for about 4 hours.

Bookstore:

Entourage's online bookstore offers around 200,000 titles, which is smaller than Amazon's store. E-book prices range from $6 to $30. Unfortunately, Entourage doesn't offer periodicals in the same manner as Kindle or Nook.

As an e-reader, the Edge is compatible with ePub and PDF formats. The device supports MP3, WAV, 3GPP, MP4, AAC, and OGG formats, and can play M4A audio and 3GP and MP4 videos. However, support for H.264 Adobe Flash Lite is currently not available but will be soon. The Edge can also read Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations, as well as text files.

Final Thoughts:

The Entourage Edge tried to be an e-reader and a tablet PC, but it falls short in both roles. At $499, it isn't cheap, and there are better alternatives available. But if you're in need of a dual-screen device, there's nothing else quite like the Edge. But there are better single-purpose e-readers and tablets like the Kindle 2, DX, or iPad that offer superior functionality. Still, the twin-screen setup is unique, making the Entourage Edge stand out in the crowd.

Stay tuned to our Good E-Reader Blog for more e-reader news, and check out our Good E-Reader Magazine for information on tablets and e-readers.

  • Sovan Mandal sovy@our website Catch up with me if you're on the hunt for tech updates, movies, music, or experimental recipes! I'm also working on making a movie someday.

This gadget, the Entourage Edge, not only functions as an e-reader but also transforms into a tablet PC, boasting a touchscreen along with both E-Ink and LCD screens. Audio playback is possible with various formats, such as MP3, WAV, 3GPP, MP4, AAC, and OGG, making it a versatile device in the realm of technology and gadgets. The battery life, although not reaching the advertised 6 hours on the LCD screen and 16+ hours on the E-Ink screen, still provides some support for those long hours of use.

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