As folks have noticed, Bookeen seems to be shipping Cybooks with the M-Edge cover (http://www.buymedge.com/p_cybook_gleather.HTML) rather than the one on the Bookeen website.

Having had it for approximately thirty minutes, I don't think I mind all that much, but I'm wondering about a few things.

The Bookeen website describes the Bookeen cover as "easily foldable with integrated magnets". By contrast the M-Edge cover doesn't seem to fold back very easily (indeed, it seems designed not to), and has a leather tuck strap to keep things closed, which past experience with, eg. filofaxes, leads me to wonder whether this tuck strap will keep getting in the way of the screen.

The Bookeen cover seems to be clean on the inside. The M-Edge cover (or "genuine leather executive jacket", as they call it) has a loop for a pen and pockets for stuff (that seem to be the size they are purely as a function of the size of the cover as a whole, rather than as a function of anything one might want to put in them). These additions strike me as completely useless for the Cybook, although they might well be useful for some of the other things M-Edge makes stuff for.

As for brown v black - I could go either way.

So - the jury is out on the replacement covers. (And I wish Bookeen had told us about the switch...)

But does this black cover make it much wider? It looks like the brown cover fits very snug and the black looks bigger. Could you maybe make some pictures please?

To be honest, I still think they can't just change the cover without notifying people who ordered the brown cover.

The original tan cover doesn't fold back - at least not very easily. I wouldn't want to fold it back, personally.

BTW leeloo, the M-Edge cover is a bit stiff in the beginning but you can fold it back. Also you can fold it and then insert the strap to get it out of the way.

Check here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=66216&postcount=37)

HarryT, diabloNL - good to know, thanks (:

Also, while I quite like the brown cover, I'm not having any luck with the magnets at all - they're not strong enough to keep the cover closed.

Although I have no problem folding the cover back, unless I'm misunderstanding something.

I have to admit I'm glad that got one of the brown ones (altho brown is definitely NOT my favourite colour!) .. the brown/tan case is so snug and nothing 'extra' .. I really wouldnt want the card holder/pen holder bit at all and the flap closure would annoy me too ..

I find the magnets not very strong but when I put the Cybook down I put it face down (the tan case is rather nicely padded too and so soft) and the magnets hold no problem ..

When I read if I'm laying down I am tending to fold back the cover but sitting up I'm using it like a 'proper' book .. wow I dont think I'll want to ever read a 400 page 'real' book again! .. this thing is so wonderfully light!

Loopy

The magnets will work much better after some time. I got my Cybook in the first batch and it works perfectly now.

The magnets will work much better after some time. I got my Cybook in the first batch and it works perfectly now.

thanks Tompe .. good to know :)

Loopy

As Tommy says, after a couple of weeks the leather on the "hinge" of the case softens up and the magnets work fine then.

To be honest, I still think they can't just change the cover without notifying people who ordered the brown cover.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! :) And according to Bookeen's Terms of Trade:

"If the products are not available, We will inform You by email as soon as possible. In the event of this unavailability, We will provide You in replacement an article of same quality and equivalent price. In this case, if you decide not to accept this replacement in accordance with your right of withdrawal (in the sense of the French law), the shipment cost will be at our charge. If We could not provide You an article of same quality and equivalent price, You will be able to cancel your order." (emphasis mine)

They didn't stick to their own Terms of Trade.

I agree. The only "consolation", I suppose, is that the M-Edge cover is actually somewhat more expensive than the Bookeen one. I'm sure that if you write to Bookeen they'll exchange it for you.

I agree. The only "consolation", I suppose, is that the M-Edge cover is actually somewhat more expensive than the Bookeen one. I'm sure that if you write to Bookeen they'll exchange it for you.

If you would buy it from the US then yes. But if you buy it in Europe:

Bookeen cover $39.95 = Euro 27.69

M-Edge cover $54.99 = Euro 38.11

But unfortunately Bookeen just changes the Dollar sign to a Euro sign if you select for example The Netherlands. So that means I paid Euro 39.95 for a cover of Euro 38.11. :D

But to be serious, it's not about the money and maybe the black cover is even nicer. It is about the fact that they decide to send a replacement without even asking or notifying the customer.

But to be serious, it's not about the money and maybe the black cover is even nicer. It is about the fact that they decide to send a replacement without even asking or notifying the customer.

I agree. Poor customer relations, doing that.

I agree. Poor customer relations, doing that.

Can only chime in to that comment. I might even be a bit rambling about this (at least I have in other threads): in my opinion Bookeen's communication (or lack thereof) with their customers is pretty pathetic. Yes, might be that Bookeen is a 'company with two guys in a room' -- that does not, however, excuse the communication issues Bookeen seems to have.

Apart from the lack of customer information via E-Mail I also find the complete absence of a support forum rather irritating. A support forum is a great thing for everybody involved. Just in case the people at Bookeen haven't realized this: support forums tend to result in LESS work for a company, since a. there is always regular visitors to such forums which are not employees (and hence take no salary) and still are willing and able to solve a lot of customer issues, and b. such forums provide a nexus for customers to get information as well as for the company to spread information.

At least Bookeen could use this very forum (the mobileread forum that is) in a sort of official manner. That is, have somebody visit this forum regularly and clearly mark him / her as an official representative of Bookeen (by means of signature, avatar, introducing him/herself as such in a thread).

I have to admit I was a bit upset at first that I got the black cover. Buuuut... After using it for a few days and the spine softening up a bit I find that it folds nearly perfectly in half and that I can tuck the strap in backwards, giving the entire thing about the same thickness as a small paperback. Not bad what so ever.

Also, folded like that, my right hand naturally slips between the two covers and my thumb rests near the controls when reading. It seems to work out rather well in my opinion.

I also suppose the SD card slots could be handy for people with multiple cards... and perhaps put a thin notepad (Or a few pieces of paper anyway) in the other pocket, and of course then you'd need a pen. So the additions could turn out to be useful.

I'd be to scared to put anything in the pockets in case they scratched the screen.

Even if the notepad was so thin and small that it was completely covered by the wee pocket I'd still not chance it. I'm also thinking of buying a small electronic shock device for people who handle my cybook and go to touch the screen.

oh, and to answer the original post :)

Also dissapointed by the lack of customer support / feedback and will be contacting them about it, although the black is fine I would still prefer the brown. An email and maybe a small discount / voucher would have made the situation perfectly fine. the point (as others have said) is just sending something that I didn't order without bothering to let me know.

I've just got an e-mail from Bookeen about the cover switch: they had run out of brown covers and didn't think anybody would mind the black cover because that one is more expensive. But they're going to replace it if I want to. Well, that's something at least.

Still, they really need to work on better informing their customers -- and thus keeping them happy...

But the issue I see is Bookeen running out of covers and sending a coverless Gen3. It's not a good idea to port the gen3 around without a cover. I would never put any eink reader in my bag without a cover.

But the issue I see is Bookeen running out of covers and sending a coverless Gen3. It's not a good idea to port the gen3 around without a cover. I would never put any eink reader in my bag without a cover.

Considering that the regular Cybook doesn't include a cover - only the Deluxe does - I don't see an issue with sending a coverless Gen3. There's plenty of options that can be taken as temporary protective measures. I know that I would far rather receive my Cybook before Christmas, sans cover, than have them hold it until they get more stock of covers in, sometime in early 2008.

Though that may be a moot point, as I've still not received a Fedex email, despite the originally-promised December 14th-18th shipping date. The current notice at the Bookeen shop could be interpreted to include existing orders as well as new ones, unfortunately. If that's the case, I may end up seriously regretting my decision to go with the Gen3 instead of the Sony. At least the Sony was in stock and promising immediate shipment with probable 2-3 day delivery when I looked into ordering it. :sad3: