For research purposes only, I, um, massaged an ePub eBook edition of a newly-released Michael Jackson biography so it could be tested on Judie Lipsett’s Nook to judge its ability to handle ePub.
This is a muthah of an ePub file: over 4MBs with lots of pictures in it.
Let that sink in a moment.
This is a book about Michael frikkin Jackson, OK?
It’s not an atlas or some niche specialty book.
It’s not a forgotten book like Jack London’s The People of the Abyss.
It’s an eBook the average reader would buy!
Can you guess what the results of this challenge were?
From Judie Lipsett of Gear Diary‘s email to me:
i can’t open teh michael jackson book past the cover and the copyright page …
Click = big
– i am getting an activity reader error – whatever the hell that is!!
Click = big
And that’s a huge, huge FAIL on the part of the Nook.
Imagine wanting to buy that Michael Jackson book, ordering a Nook so you could do so — and then BAM! That slap in the face!
Now let’s see how the Android-powered Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Aldiko ePub eBook reading software handles it. Here is a video of that (note, the commentary sound is low, so you might want to plug in headphones or turn up your volume):
The photos are displayed as they are in the actual ePub: one to a page. (Note that unlike print, there is no paper waste here and although we can quibble about it lacking design, it at least guarantees no photo will be accidentally cut off by bad reading software.)
There are no multi-second delays, no squawking about the file being too large. It handles the ePub with aplomb!
Now are you getting the message to stay the hell away from all these underpowered crappy eInk devices?
One flaw in that video: Aldiko did not create a thumbnail of the cover; it’s using a generic placeholder. I will ask about that and report back.
Additional:
Gear Diary: The Barnes & Noble nook; or how I managed to completely waste my Saturday on a piece of over-hyped hardware
Previously here:
Barnes & Noble Nook: CoverFAIL!
Barnes & Noble Nook Gets Trashed By Archos 5 Internet Tablet
The Coming Android Mini-Tablet Flood
Syntron Android Mini-Tablet: 3G, 8.9″ Screen
Camangi Android Mini-Tablet: ePub Built-In
Android OS Aldiko ePub Display Challenge
eBook Use On The Archos 5 Internet Tablet
eBook Notes For Monday, October 5, 2009
The eBook Cover Scandal
ALL eInk Devices: BAD For eBooks!
The eBook Test 
Does the Archos Tablet really use a stylus? The 1990s are calling and they want their Newton back.
No, it doesn’t. He used it because it’s a resistive screen, like ones in old stylus-based PDAs. It’s not capacitive, like an iPhone. The stylus simply insured that his taps would register immediately. Everyone wants Archos to drop that screen for a capacitive one.