Why You Can Trust CNET BeBook Mini review: BeBook Mini
The BeBook Mini takes some getting used to, but it's the perfect handbag-sized ebook reader for someone on the go.
BeBook Mini
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Design
The BeBook Mini is one of the smallest ebook readers currently on the market. With dimensions of 151x105.5x10mm, it's a bit too big for the average pocket, but it is the perfect size for your handbag.
The Mini has a comfortable and ergonomic design with a set of page-turning controls located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand. The SD card slot as well as the USB port are situated at the top of the Mini, but regrettably, the headphone jack has been placed on the bottom right corner and has a tendency to get in the way of your hand.
While the design rates high marks for functionality, its fairly bland and plastic-looking casing is unlikely to win any awards for style.
With a 5-inch E Ink electronic paper display screen with a 600x800-pixel resolution and 8-level greyscale, the Mini's screen is clear and sharp just like a printed page. The smaller screen fits less text per page than ebook readers with a larger screen, which means you may have to turn the page a little more frequently and hence draw down its battery more rapidly. Unfortunately, this also means that some of the books/files you want to read on the Mini have to be formatted to the right size to be able to fit on the screen.
Interface
Navigating your way around the menus takes a little getting used to on the Mini, as it uses a numbered keypad system rather than a more traditional scrolling wheel. In order to navigate through the menus, you need to select the number which corresponds with the folder/file you wish to open.
This may be radical, but we suggest you read the user guide before using the Mini to familiarise yourself with the controls and their functions. Navigation is not immediately intuitive and it's tempting to use it as a touchscreen (which doesn't work), so a good peruse of the menus is helpful to start with. Once you get the hang of it, however, the BeBook Mini's interface is simple to use.
Storage and file compatibility
With 512MB of internal memory, the Mini can store up to 1000 books which is fine for many readers, but those who need more can do so through its SD card slot. The memory can be expanded up to a whopping 16GB via an SD memory card, so you can carry the whole library with you if you like.
The Mini supports up to 18 different formats, the most important ones being EPUB (DRM), EPUB, PDF (DRM), PDF, Mobi, TXT, HTML and LIT.
Overall
The BeBook Mini is comfortable to use with its page-turning controls at your fingertips and the perfect size for someone on the go who loves to read. The controls and menus does take a little getting used to, but we would definitely recommend it if size is what matters most.