Hi Members:
I've had the Cybook Gen3 for 3 days now: here are some first impressions;
on the whole, I like it a lot and think it's incredible, but a few things do seem annoying.

1) The Introductory Splash Screen:
I've always liked to see what I want to load, display etc on all gadgets, not what some company thinks I ought to like. Already that splash of their selection of books with Bill Clinton's mug grinning out at me is rankling.

2) The Print Quality looks wonderful, but the page turning (after reading 300 pages) still seems rather weird. I assume it will lessen and/or I'll just get used to it.Just one of those thing.

3) Page Numbers.
Astonishingly I can go to any page I mention, but there is nothing to tell me which page I'm on when I get there! On my Palm, when I tried ebooks a couple of years ago, I could see page numbers. I realise that this will vary according to print size etc, but it's really ingrained in me to see page numbers, and I miss it a lot.

4) Page turning seems weird. After a natural type of print, it seems peculiar. Am having a visit from an author friend next week. he uses technology with reluctance, and is doubtful he'll ever take to an ebook. I wonder what he will say.

These points notwithstanding, it is really wonderful to have the ability to carry such a volume of literature around with me.... and to read it almost anywhere...

Regards
John

PS: When I demonstrate the device to my friend, I'll have to boot it when he can't see it, or I'll be bound to get some embarrassing remark from him about about my reading selection... so to revert to the subject of the post, something, anything other than the existing flash screen would be very welcome.

I also would LOVE to have a custom splash screen! However, Cybook hasn't provided a way to replace the splash screen yet. I asked them about it last year and the response was: "no plans at this time, but it has been asked for often so it may be included in a future firmware release."
Since Cybook has not released the information/code needed for 3rd party updates to be created I don't see this being an option in the near future if at all.

Just keep the cover closed until it's got past the splash screen.

Ha!
I would call that a great "low tech" solution!

4) Page turning seems weird.

I'm just curious, what is weird about the page turning? I've never seen a cybook, so I don't have any perspective.

By default the Cybook inverts the screen before changing a page.
That way it appears to flash on every pageturn, but improves the quality of the newly displayed page (text looks a lot sharper when the option is enabled, but it can be turned off)

That "flashing" is a bit disturbing at the beginning but I got used to it pretty fast and now I even miss it when it's disabled.

Edit: The effect is clearly visible on bookeens demo-video:
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I'm just curious, what is weird about the page turning? I've never seen a cybook, so I don't have any perspective.

Oh, it was just the way it appeared to melt and then re-form; it didn't seem much like a reading experience, but reading subsequent posts I see this is something to do with improving the quality of the text -- and the text quality is excellent.

It's certainly a nice piece. Shame about the luck of stuff you can get for it.

I believe that you can get almost any text an turn it into an ebook yourself... ?

It's all fine, but some people have asked me how much time spent in actual reading, and how much time is spent in fiddling about with the technology of reading... A good question!

Kind regards,

John

Oh, it was just the way it appeared to melt and then re-form; it didn't seem much like a reading experience

This happens when "flash"-refresh is disabled, personally I don't like it that way because the flashing gives the impression that the page "is turned" and that something is happening, when it is turned off I sometimes get the feeling I have to "re-check" it the page really was turned because I missed the process :)

It's all fine, but some people have asked me how much time spent in actual reading, and how much time is spent in fiddling about with the technology of reading... A good question!


That is an excellent question! Having just gotten my Gen 3 yesterday, I'm very high on the 'fiddling' end of the scale. I'm hoping I can get a handle on the technology soon, so that it will become second nature and I can achieve a majority of reading time.

It's all fine, but some people have asked me how much time spent in actual reading, and how much time is spent in fiddling about with the technology of reading...

You just need to learn the tricks of the trade and that's it. After you've found a nice font you like and a bunch of books, you're ready to go... :)

At first you should install Mobipocket on your PC (easier to use) or you can use calibre (more functions, but not so easy) - they'll do all the converting, you can manage your library and transfer books to the CyBook.

Look in the forums for some nice free fonts and copy them to the Font-directory (you'll surely find one you like).

Get some free books (plenty of this in the forums too)... :thumbsup:

That is an excellent question! Having just gotten my Gen 3 yesterday, I'm very high on the 'fiddling' end of the scale. I'm hoping I can get a handle on the technology soon, so that it will become second nature and I can achieve a majority of reading time.
Hello Madam,
I'm relatively new to this forum, the members of whom were ace in helping me decide my requirements.
These days I'm quite silent.
The reason?
I'm so sucked in by the fiction I'm reading I forgot all about the forum and indeed, mostly all about the device I was reading it on; evening dreaming about the fortunes of the characters.
What better recommendation could one get, eh?
Kind regards
John