Pandigital E-Reader is bugged with problems | Good E-Reader - ebook Reader and Tablet PC News
Jun
07

Pandigital E-Reader is bugged with problems

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The Novel e-reader from Pandigital does look promising so that many even tagged it as the poor man’s iPad. The other good thing with the Pandigital Novel is that there is no waiting to be done for the e-reader to show up in stores near you, it’s already there to be picked up at the Kohl’s. But its not all smooth sailing for the Novel and as per the latest e-reader news, things aren’t working out the way it should be for the reading device.

So what exactly it is that is playing spoilsport. Well, those who have already bought the device are complaining of its slow response times and the lack of a consistent WiFi connection. Flexibility is another thing that is painfully lacking in the Novel.

Touching the 7-inch LCD touchscreen won’t evoke the response as promptly as you would like and if you thought calibrating the e-reader would set things right, you are in for a surprise as this turns things for the worse. WiFi won’t connect at all. The e-reader takes its own sweet time to turn pages and the same applies when it comes to navigating e-books. And a recent firmware update notwithstanding, things like the margins, line spacing or fonts still can be adjusted.

Another thing that is surprisingly missing from the Novel is the accelerometer which its makers had claimed is built into the device. So there is only the portrait orientation that one has to be contended with as of now. Build quality too is nothing to cry home about and leaves a lot to be desired.

So if you are one of many who were willing to fork out the $260 that the Novel costs, it would be better to put that on hold for a while. Instead a Kindle or a Nook would make for a far sensible choice as things stand now though both these lack color display and a touch sensitive screen.

We will be following on this to see how things pan out. So keep watching along with other e-reader news.

Also, you can now have the brand new issue of the Good E-Reader Magazine delivered right in your inbox if you have subscribed to the color mag that deals exclusively with Slate/Tablet devices and e-readers.

Sovan Mandal  (1732 Posts)

is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email


Related posts:

  1. Pandigital to release a new color E-Reader
  2. Pandigital E-Reader is off the market, for now
  3. Pandigital releases new firmware update for Novel e-reader
  4. Pandigital Novel e-reader hacked
  5. New Pandigital Planet Android 2.2 e-Reader Arrives at the FCC
  6. Pandigital SuperNova tablet e-reader clears FCC
Categories : e-reader, e-Reader News
← Older Comments
  • Kenyon Farrow

    My main problem is not the wi-fi connection, but recently the thing has starting freezing after I have been reading it for a while (even if the battery is fully charged). The pages stop turning, and I have to turn it off and restart it, and then in after a little while, it does it all over again.

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  • Shaymo13329

    Can I download books from the kindle store?  I want the Harry Potter books but B&N doesn’t seem to offer them.

  • MizzCathe

    Your time has to match up exactly with your B&N time.ie same time zone etc.Once you get that and your updates it should work.

  • MizzCathe

    All it took was a simple paper clip to fix my problem.I had it all boxed up ready to exchange and thought to hit the reset.I lost no data and now it’s working perfectly.

  • ahthshch

    I was having the same exact problem and did what you said and fixed my date and time and it updated no problem!  Thanks!

  • Stwebster

    My ereader froze up in the middle of reading.  It would not power off so I tried to reset it. Now, the ereader will not power back on. Any suggestions?

  • Roybigb

    Ggot one for xmas 3 weeks later screen cracked (did not drop) PANDIGITAL WOULD NOT TAKE IT BACK. But best buy finaly after 4 phone calls took it back under the 1 months purchase  return policy as a xmas gift . 3 months ago i then got the android one, May have used it 6 times since . went to use it yesterday taped on the google icon sreenand it  craked . 2 items same problem  please reply all who have craked screen and did not drop pandigatal says they never get calls about cracked screens that were not droped

  • Jfland2233

    Roy–I had the same problem with my Novel.  Two “spider-web” cracks appeared suddenly on the screen (originating from the power button area) after I had my Novel for about a month.  In reading several other blogs, it appears as though this is a known problem, yet Pandigital refuses to do anything about it.  I tried five times to get in touch with tech support and when I finally did, they basically told me that I was out of luck.  I am considering gathering a group of simularly situated folks and initiating a class-action suit against Pandigital for selling such crap and not providing a resolution to known quality issues.  Any interest in being involved in litigation against them?

  • Jberholtz

    DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO GET THE WIFI TO WORK THO? I REALLY LIKE THE PANDIGITAL BUT THE INTERNET REFUSES TO WORK THEREFORE I CANT DO ANYTHING! ANY SOLUTIONSS?

  • jb

    the problem is that no matter where I go, the wireless doesnt work. And my wireless router works for all the laptops and computers in my house. I have also tried it at work, where there are more then 10 computers, and even with the correct password it still wont connect. you seem to know a lot about the pandigital so any suggestions?

  • http://goodereader.com/blog/ Good E-Reader

    The Pandigital has problems connecting to encrypted networks. I would recommend disabling any kind of passwords on your home network and see if that fixes  your problem

  • Edens801

    it can also be as simple as someone has turned off the wi-fi button on the top of the unit.  that happened with my and i was searching all over to find out what happened.  it was a simple fix now that i know.

  • Edens801

    Need some help with my pandigital.  I downloaded the office suite to my storage locker so i could open excel spreadsheets for work on the go.  But now, i can’t login to my storage locker even though i know the password and username are correct.  I have emailed them but haven;t gotten a response.  Any ideas? 

  • Gloria Pineda

    where is the reset button you hit with a paperclip?

  • Gloria Pineda

    I do have a linksys and it connected to all other gadgets i have (old and new) yet my pandigital won’t connect to the WiFi keeps replying “connection unsuccessful”

  • Carol O

    I also have problems connecting to my home linksys wireless-G network.  Have tried going without a password for the router, but it doesn’t work.  It will connect to unsecured nearby networks and it does work at bookstores and other wifi hotspots, as well as with the password at my daughter’s house.  Have ordered a new router – hope that works.

  • http://twitter.com/SusieQ143 Susie

    SO HEY EVERYONE!!! IF YOU CAN GET ONLINE BUT CANNOT CONNECT WITH B&N
    TO DOWNLOAD YOUR BOOKS (YOU GET AN ERROR ABOUT SERVER OR NETWORK
    FAILURE) YOU JUST HAVE TO FIX THE TIME AND DATE SETTINGS ON YOUR
    PANDIGITAL.  THAT SHOULD MAKE IT WORK.  HOPE THIS HELPS! =)

  • Je09573

    Thank you! That totally fixed it! If you get a message that reads ‘Wi Fi connected but can not connect to BN server” Try MizzCathe’s sugestion and check that your time and date is right in your settings.

  • David-G

    Did you connect your pandigital to your Wifi? I’m having the same issue as you, it just comes back as “connection unsuccessful”p;ease!! tell me what you did to fix this problem…thanx

  • LisaM.

    I recently bought the black 7″ color Multimedia ereader with the Android system.  I like it for the most part except for when trying to upload/update the damnable firmware that is supposed to be done when you first charge it.  The Wi-Fi set up was easy once we got one from our cable company but what’s frustrating is that I can’t open this ‘supposed’ downloaded file for the novel.  Emailing pandigital doesn’t do squat and I’m ready to toss this thing into the garbage.  Any help is appreciated!

  • Joewheeler

    my pandigital novel does not see the  ip address, help?

  • WhoThinksKarenIsADirtyWhore?

    Karen,
    I highly doubt the CEO of Pandigital gives two craps about you. Why don’t you stop being a hooker and relax? Pandigital just came out with a solution:  To correct this issue we recommend re-installing the firmware for your SuperNova Deluxe from the micro SD card.  Please follow the steps below to download the firmware file and re-install it to the device:
    1. Insert the micro SD into an adapter and connect that to the PC.  2. Open your browser of choice and direct it to http://www.pandigital.net/android3. Select “Click Here” to run PC 4. Application 5. If you are using Windows Vista, please select save from the pop up window. All other Windows operating systems should select to run the program.6. A second window will ask you to confirm that you would like to run the program, please select run. 7. In the PC Application select “Click here to start the process” 8. You should now get a drive letter 9. confirmation. Select the correct drive letter that corresponds to the micro SD card that you connected. 10. You should then get an error message that no serial number could be found. 11. Click ok.When you are prompted to search for updates, please select to search by model number.12. Please select R80B455 from the drop down menu.13. To ensure that your SuperNova Deluxe is updated with the correct firmware please make sure the available update is listed as: IR80_S_W_A_A_11162011.zipOnce completed, disconnect the SD from your PC. 14. Power off your device and insert the micro SD into the unitPower on the device by holding the volume + key and the power key simultaneously for 5 seconds. You will then get a screen that confirms the installation; this will apply the update to your device.  If this does not begin automatically and you instead get a recovery menu please select apply SD card update.

  • Renaefoley

    My grandma got it for me for x-mas and I wanted an iPad so she got me this cause it was not as expensive. I got it hoping for games, same as her, and instead it ended up being a book!!! I hate books! How do I download games??????

  • Ldeas1975

    you have to apply a firmware update for them to connect to the internet.  go to http://www.pandigital.net/android  hope that works, that is what pandigital told me.  I am still trying to download the update, they said there are a lot of people trying to get this update right now due to no connectivity to wifi with the pandigital supernova dlx tablet.  Hope this helps

  • Krosal03

    do you have any idea why it doesnt want to turn on and just stay in the blue screen from the begging ?

  • Bry

    The eReader is one of the easiest things to use. It may be cheaper than an iPad, but it works just as well. I agree, the Apple Company is over rated. But the eReader is more affordable. So why wouldn’t people buy it instead of the iPad? It may be a bit defective, but as long as it does its job. I think I’ve proved my point.

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