hi does anyone tried other firmwares?

hi does anyone tried other firmwares?

Other than OpenInkpot, there is no other firmware.

Actually, there was also (now dead) eRead STK-101 and there are two active clones: Orsio (http://www.orsio.ru/index.php?language=rus&page=producte) from Russia and PocketBook (www.pocketbook.com.ua) from Ukraine. The last one is reportedly very good.

Actually, there was also (now dead) eRead STK-101 and there are two active clones: Orsio (http://www.orsio.ru/index.php?language=rus&page=producte) from Russia and PocketBook (www.pocketbook.com.ua) from Ukraine. The last one is reportedly very good.

Is the PocketBook really a Cybook clone ? I ask because I have seen and read about the different (apparently) incarnations of the Booken, which was reputed to be a Netronix, but which one, exactly ? There seems to be subtle differences, would they imapct the firmware ?

At least it does look the same - the menu looks nice aswell!

Too bad I am not able to read the text :(

I can't read Ukrainian, but I watched the video on their site and skimmed through some google-translated text. And it made me weep to see all those beautiful functions on a netronix device. They explicitly said it's a Netronix, maybe not eb-100 though. It makes you wonder what could have been, if it wasn't for *someone's* inaptitude.
From what I've seen, it has better use of screen real estate (no overblown margins, header, footer), on-screen keyboard, text lookup, you can probably write your own notes, better bookshelf design, really nice graphical main menu, ability to switch between landscape and portrait with reflow, text highlighting.
These are the specs:
--------------------------
Technical specifications
--------------------------
Display: 6" E Ink ® Vizplex 600 × 800, 166 dpi, B & W
Processor: Samsung ® S3C2410 ARM920T 200MHz Processor: Samsung ® S3C2410 ARM920T 200MHz
Operating system: Linux Operating System: Linux
Battery: Li-Polymer (1000 mAh) Battery: Li-Polymer (1000 mAh)
Memory: Systemnaya 8 Mb, OPERATIONA 32 Mb, Permanent 512 Mb Memory: Systemnaya 8 Mb, OPERATIONA 32 Mb, 512 Mb Permanent
Communication: mini USB (v 2.0) Communication: mini USB (v 2.0)
Slot memory: SD card (in a package with a version of "Standard" 1Gb SD Card) Slot memory: SD card (in a package with a version of "Standard" 1Gb SD Card)
Audio output: 2.5mm stereo Audio output: 2.5mm stereo
Power supply: INPUT: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz, 0,2 A; OUTPUT: 5V 1A Power supply: INPUT: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz, 0,2 A; OUTPUT: 5V 1A
Форматы Book: FB2, TXT, PDF, DJVU, RTF, HTML, PRC, CHM
Форматы Book: FB2, TXT, PDF, DJVU, RTF, HTML, PRC, CHM
Форматы image: JPEG Форматы image: JPEG
Форматы audio: MP3, WAV Форматы audio: MP3, WAV
Size: 118 x 188 x 8,5 mm Size: 118 x 188 x 8,5 mm
Weight: 178 g (without cover), 292 g (s zhestkoy oblozhkoy) Weight: 178 g (without cover), 292 g (s zhestkoy oblozhkoy)
Color: Black, Серый Color: Black, Серый
It's not so much different from the cybook if at all. I'm not sure if the amount of RAM is the same, the processor is definitely the same.
I don't see even the new bookeen's firmware update getting anywhere close to this one, no offence, I'm all up for a pleasant surprise.

Does anyone know if it supports utf encoding or some other than ukrainian encoding?
Do you think it would be possible to get pocketbook FW on gen3 cybook? I'm even prepared to shell out some solid cash for it. Oh, I want this FW sooo badly.

Did you see that "Text-input"-idea?
It allows you to enter text with a minimal amount of keypresses - its genious!
http://www.the-ebook.org/rus/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/dc4c5zfp-55j88nvnhk-b.jpg

The firmware can be found here (http://pocketbook.com.ua/index.php?id=200) :whistle:
We only need somebody to translate and find a way to install it :o

I really don't recommend to install non official Firmware on your CyBook, if it as even a single hardware difference with it, you may brick it and need to return it to Bookeen for reparation...

Even if they are made by netronics, it could have minor hardware differences

Allegedly, there are two versions 301 and 301 plus, and 301 should have the same hardware as cybook. There are also two versions of FW, one for 301 and one for 301 plus. So if anyone wants to try it, the 301 FW should be the right one. Though I can't warrant that, if you reflash your cybook, you're doing so at your own risk.
I would go for it myself but I don't know how to get the original bookeen FW back on the device if I'm not satisfied with the pocketbook's FW.
As for the instructions, they can be found in the archive along with the image file and easily translated by google translate (ukrainian -> english).
I've heard that the cybook's updates are not complete firmware, so I can't reflash the device back with them if anything goes wrong, is that correct?
The FW can also be found on the-ebook.org forums.

Come on, guys, I want the next post in this thread to be: "I tried it and it worked!" :) :) :)
--Edit
I gave it some thought and it's starting to dawn on me, that this probably can't be done.
I think it's the same as with bookeen's updates, it's not the complete image and on top of that there seems to be some testing done during the installation whether it's the right kind of device.
Well, that just makes me sad, because for a while I really believed that this magnificent firmware could be used on cybooks too. :( :( :(

I've heard that the cybook's updates are not complete firmware, so I can't reflash the device back with them if anything goes wrong, is that correct?

Typically yes. However, some complete versions (indicated with fmt in the file name) are available that do a reformat/flash. Here is 796 (http://bookeen.free.fr/bin/CybookGen3/34TDE56HJZYI82345TKJ2345NF/update_kernelb796fmt.zip).

I can't read Ukrainian, but I watched the video on their site and skimmed through some google-translated text. And it made me weep to see all those beautiful functions on a netronix device. They explicitly said it's a Netronix, maybe not eb-100 though. It makes you wonder what could have been, if it wasn't for *someone's* inaptitude.
Go get a pocket book then !

And a few thing.
Have you yourself any experience in programing ? How many devloppers there is at bokeen and what they are working on ? Or how many devloppers there are for the poket book ? Or how long both project have been running ?
Don't call someone incompetant unless you know what you're talking about, and have proof of what you're saying.

The idea for text typing is ingenious. But i'm not sure you can really type efiiciency with that.
Interface looks nice, though it's hard to see anything with such small images.

You know, i think we should to get a list of stuff we would like to see in the cybook, and once done, send it to bokeen. (Realistc stuff that don't requiers hardware change ;) )
I can even translate it to french if needed :)

Go get a pocket book then !

And a few thing.
Have you yourself any experience in programing ? How many devloppers there is at bokeen and what they are working on ? Or how many devloppers there are for the poket book ? Or how long both project have been running ?
Don't call someone incompetant unless you know what you're talking about, and have proof of what you're saying.
The idea for text typing is ingenious. But i'm not sure you can really type efiiciency with that.
Seems like I've hit a sore spot there, no need to be so touchy. I didn't mean to offend anyone, so I apologize if that happened.
Look, from my perspective the number of bookeen's developers or how long they have been working on their project is irrelevant (it would be of a matter if they were an open source project). I'm a customer. I'm interested in the final product and how it compares to other products. That's what will have an influence on my future decisions about which product to buy.
I'm not saying that bookeen developers are doing a bad job, they just leave themselves a lot of room for improvement. ;)

You know, i think we should to get a list of stuff we would like to see in the cybook, and once done, send it to bokeen. (Realistc stuff that don't requiers hardware change )
I can even translate it to french if needed
Bookeen is probably bombarded with feature requests and bug reports. I sent them a couple of ideas myself. The problem seems to be elsewhere. But all my ranting and complaining and whining has only ONE purpose and that is to help Bookeen improve their product, so that they have more customers and bigger revenue and the best parties, the fastests cars and the prettiest girls :). Because in the end it means better reading experience for me on my cybook.

Look, from my perspective the number of bookeen's developers or how long they have been working on their project is irrelevant
Well, it does. Two devloppers will program faster than one. You can to more stuff in two month than one. That's just the way it is.

I'm a customer. I'm interested in the final product and how it compares to other products.
Quitte true.
When chosing the reader, i went looking for the availible options. Looking what fonctions each reader have and all.
Result is, the Cybook does what i exepted it to do. If fonction X is important to me, then i'll make sure it does have it, and it works properly.
I knew that reading pdf's woudn't really works. And decided that well, i could live without it. If not, i would have chosen an other device.

An updates comes to improve pdf support ? All the better. But I woudn't have bought a reader hopping that fonction x i need will comes with a might never comes update.

The problem seems to be elsewhere. But all my ranting and complaining and whining has only ONE purpose and that is to help Bookeen improve their product, so that they have more customers and bigger revenue and the best parties
If i were to try a guess : the e-book market is very small. In france, i bought the Cybook in october last year, it was the first reader availible in france. Folowed by the Sony some times later. Small market means not a lots of sales , means not a lot of money.

I know, I know. I'm being unfair and petty. I'm really sorry for that.
You're absolutely right. I knew what I was getting into with cybook and I was happy at the time and it's still a wonderful device even if there are no more updates.

At least it does look the same - the menu looks nice aswell!

Too bad I am not able to read the text :(

Uhm ... Be careful. The Cybook itself has undergone at least a cycle of development, the first one had 64 Mb RAM, the second one has 512 Mb RAM, and maybe (according to the latest FW version) a 400 MHz processor. I say maybe, as nobody really seem to know exactly. Externally the look exactly the same. True, the FW seems to be the same.
The Pocketbook seems much faster, graphicwise, than my Cybook, which has 512 Mb RAM (I do not the processor, I do not want to open it).
I agree, though, that the menus are mothwatering. One has to look at the reader implementation, though. Anybody from Ukrain can tell us anything ?

Quitte true.
When chosing the reader, i went looking for the availible options.

Me too. i looked at what the company said and tried to guess what their approach to openness, respecting the GPL (which they still do not respect) and energy for implementing new features. I feel totally mislead by what the stated before the Cybook relese.

Also very early they promised folder support in the next firmware release and they broke that promise. Instead they release a firmware with a lot of bugs and where the battery time has been been reduced to half of what it was before. That is incompetence.

And yes, I work as a programmer.

I found a mention on the-ebook.org indicating that one of the previous iterations of pocket book was indeed EB-100. Doesn't the idea of having this FW on cybook tickle your mind just a bit?
This is a snippet of the version changes translated by google


301.10

* (301.09), the serial number in the "Information about the device" on the EBR-100 is displayed in a sequence of zeros (more)

I have to admit that I love my Cybook too much to try out a stunt like installing another developers firmware.
I also doubt it would work - both developers have some kind of software running that is used to do the update, I doubt it would install any software but the one that is ment by the developer.
So - I'm a covert when it comes to trying out stuff nobody else did before. :o

On the other hand, as soon as anyone managed to successfully do (and undo) it, I'll be the first to check it out - and if only for the gorgeous text-input-idea http://www.smilys.net/verliebte_smilies/smiley865.gif

I have to admit that I love my Cybook too much to try out a stunt like installing another developers firmware.
I also doubt it would work - both developers have some kind of software running that is used to do the update, I doubt it would install any software but the one that is ment by the developer.

You're right. It doesn't work. :)
The firmware that is already in place must have som update function that reads the new image from the sd card.
For one thing, pocketbook and cybook use different keys to launch the update sequence. You would have to reflash the device with a complete firmware in some different way for it to work.

If i were to try a guess : the e-book market is very small. In france, i bought the Cybook in october last year, it was the first reader availible in france. Folowed by the Sony some times later. Small market means not a lots of sales , means not a lot of money.
Who says they have to restrict themselves to french market. I'm not french, cybook doesn't even have a distributor in my country. Nowadays the bussiness is carried out on a global scale with internet and all that. I'm sure Bookeen has customers all over the world and the potential market is also global. You just need good arguments to convince would-be customers to order a device from a small company like Bookeen and have it shipped over half the world.

Who says they have to restrict themselves to french market. I'm not french, cybook doesn't even have a distributor in my country. Nowadays the bussiness is carried out on a global scale with internet and all that. I'm sure Bookeen has customers all over the world and the potential market is also global. You just need good arguments to convince would-be customers to order a device from a small company like Bookeen and have it shipped over half the world.
True. But then it make little sence for a company not to sell in thier own contry, where less shipping cost and law nastiness are involved. You could probably order from the bokeen website, but just going to a shop to get the reader, well.

Also very early they promised folder support in the next firmware release and they broke that promise.
Did they promised folders ? I woudn't know i wasn't there. And well, folder support is coming. Later than exepted, but coming nonetheless.
And anyway, i woudn't make the decisions to buy or not on "we're going to do that" sentance. Delays hapens, decisions changes.

That is incompetence.
Well, even as a programer, I would be wary of saying that unless i have all the facts.
It's just like saying "bokeen is doing a good job". We don't know about it.

Instead they release a firmware with a lot of bugs and where the battery time has been been reduced to half of what it was before.
Mmm, what firmware version are you talking about ? Battery seams to have a long life enough for me.

I'm sure Bookeen has customers all over the world and the potential market is also global. You just need good arguments to convince would-be customers to order a device from a small company like Bookeen and have it shipped over half the world.

I fully agree, I just hope that bookeen is really aware that they could jump to the top of the list of all non-touchscreen-6" devices currently available if they only delivered that long-awaited update in time.

They already have the lightest device with a firmware that beats others in so many ways - if they keep their promises and deliver the updates before somebody else does they have a lot to win.

Well, even as a programer, I would be wary of saying that unless i have all the facts.
It's just like saying "bokeen is doing a good job". We don't know about it.


Not testing the release with respect to battery time is pretty bad since it is an important parameter. I am pretty sure that the battery time was reduced when they tried to fix another bug (missing of keys pressed) and that the design of the whole system is so bad that solving the key press problem (probably by just increasing the polling) affected the battery time so it was halved.


Mmm, what firmware version are you talking about ? Battery seams to have a long life enough for me.

The first firmware had 6-7 days with the Cybook on all the time. The firmware release with the bad time had around 3 days. In later releases they managed to increase it to around 4 days but it is still not as good as in the original release.

Not testing the release with respect to battery time is pretty bad since it is an important parameter. I am pretty sure that the battery time was reduced when they tried to fix another bug (missing of keys pressed) and that the design of the whole system is so bad that solving the key press problem (probably by just increasing the polling) affected the battery time so it was halved.



The first firmware had 6-7 days with the Cybook on all the time. The firmware release with the bad time had around 3 days. In later releases they managed to increase it to around 4 days but it is still not as good as in the original release.

You seam to be reading a lot, or have a faulty batery, because i can't manage to empty the battery in such a short time.
My Cybook is down at 70%, after 3 day, and I spent some time reading.
I would say it hold 2 weeks, with about 2 hours reading / day.

You seam to be reading a lot, or have a faulty batery, because i can't manage to empty the battery in such a short time.
My Cybook is down at 70%, after 3 day, and I spent some time reading.
I would say it hold 2 weeks, with about 2 hours reading / day.

You can say so but you would be wrong. I have actually done empirical experiment of this and others here have gotten the same result. The battery display is not linear. Notice that this is with the Cybook on all the time.

The battery display is not linear[\QUOTE]
Yup, i noticed that.

[QUOTE]You can say so but you would be wrong.
Two week is about the time that happend between me recharging the Cybook, and the moment i found myself witout battery for forgeting to rechage.

To be more presice, reader came back from support on february 2. I recharged the reader once fully, and once the batery was about half empty. that's quitte a gap between 4 day and that.

.Notice that this is with the Cybook on all the time.
Ah, that may be the differance. I do switch it off. Though it's not supposed to use much power, maybe it does. :chinscratch:

Ah, that may be the differance. I do switch it off. Though it's not supposed to use much power, maybe it does. :chinscratch:

Well, if you design it for having good battery time (like the Bebook and the txtr reader) you will get it. The time I measured was without using the Cybook, just having it on. For me 30s or more startup time is to much for occasional reading during the day.

I would guess that the battery time the Cyook have is what you get if you do not optimize for battery time at all and just program the device with the applications you need with the most straightforward approach.

the first one had 64 Mb RAM, the second one has 512 Mb RAM

As far as I know, that's not RAM, that's internal storage space (think "hard disk").

As far as I know, that's not RAM, that's internal storage space (think "hard disk").

Yep, 64 vs. 512 MB is the flash memory. Both have 16MB RAM, IIRC.

It's impossible to install current pocketbook firmware on cybook. AFAIK, they've got different bootloaders and incompatible update procedures.

However, pocketbook developers have announced a modified version for other netronix clones. They're planning to sell it to the end customers.

Hip hip hoorraaaaaaay!! We finally have an alternative. Awesome news. Thanks.
:dtw:

Please, could you keep us posted about their progress in this area. It's pretty difficult to follow what's going on on their website if one doesn't speak russian or ukrainian. Thanks.

Yep, 64 vs. 512 MB is the flash memory. Both have 16MB RAM, IIRC.

Yes, sorry, I meant flash memory, as a hard disk.

Hip hip hoorraaaaaaay!! We finally have an alternative. Awesome news. Thanks.
:dtw:

Please, could you keep us posted about their progress in this area. It's pretty difficult to follow what's going on on their website if one doesn't speak russian or ukrainian. Thanks.

The Google Language Tools are pretty good at translating those 2 languages.
http://www.google.com/language_tools

Another example that pocketbook guys are serious about what they're doing and of some good thinking is that they started pocketbook free project and released a SDK.

I'm not sure that providing a SDK nor making a free project make people more serious than others

@ Godzil
Then you should maybe consider passing comments only on things you ARE sure about.Because unlike you, I have no doubt about it.

@ Godzil
Then you should maybe consider passing comments only on things you ARE sure about.Because unlike you, I have no doubt about it.

Here I must strongly disagree...

Providing a SDK and making a free project are pure business decisions.
Just like Open Office is open and Microsoft Office is not. Nobody in their right minds can claim that microsoft isn't serious though..

I would prefer it if you came with arguments instead of accusations..

Here I must strongly disagree...

Providing a SDK and making a free project are pure business decisions.
Just like Open Office is open and Microsoft Office is not. Nobody in their right minds can claim that microsoft isn't serious though..

I would prefer it if you came with arguments instead of accusations..

What are you talking about? Who did I accuse and of what exactly? All I said was that the pocketbook staff seems to be serious about what they're doing period. I haven't made any hints or insinuations to anyone.
And you can disagree all you want, nevertheless, the example you provided proves my point.
If a company is big and wealthy, it has enough funds to put into development and naturally it expects to turn profit, so it keeps its product closed to protect its investments and benefit from the innovations it came up with. On the other hand if you have a small company and you can't afford to spend a lot of money on huge teams of programmers (which I assumed was the case with pocketbook), you put your code out there, provide a sdk and let the community do the rest for you. You create a platform and coordinate the efforts. This will be beneficial for both the company and the users. If the platform is rich in features it becomes succesful, it grows in popularity and so does your product. The sales go up and you make more money. And the fact that pocketbook realized this is IMO some clever thinking on pocketbook's part.
You can argue with me, but the time will tell, all we have to do is to follow the situation around pocketbook. My guess is that it will become a popular platform.

Addendum:
For me being serious means to do the best thing under the given circumstances. Microsoft's revenue proves the best how serious they are. According to that, they're VERY SERIOUS! I have nothing but respect for them.

Yep, 64 vs. 512 MB is the flash memory. Both have 16MB RAM, IIRC.


Cybook : 200Mghz , 16k ram (Say bookeen website)
pocketbook : 400Mghz, 32k ram. sdhc (Say pocket book website),
http://translate.google.fr/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpocketbook.com.ua%2F&sl=uk&tl=en&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8

So, even if you can install, and unless pocketbook put more horsepower in thier hardware than needed, it's likley to lag horibly. Game Over ! Period.

Sorry to cold down the enthusiasm here. But unless there are some gen 3 Cybook with 400Mgh proc, as rumored, and you're lucky enough to have one of these, well.

Cybook : 200Mghz , 16k ram (Say bookeen website)
pocketbook : 400Mghz, 32k ram. sdhc (Say pocket book website),
http://translate.google.fr/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpocketbook.com.ua%2F&sl=uk&tl=en&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8

So, even if you can install, and unless pocketbook put more horsepower in thier hardware than needed, it's likley to lag horibly. Game Over ! Period.

Sorry to cold down the enthusiasm here. But unless there are some gen 3 Cybook with 400Mgh proc, as rumored, and you're lucky enough to have one of these, well.
You can't install pocketbook's fw unless they make a customized version of their FW for cybook. Pocketbook's FW also runs on eb100, so if the first condition is met, this shouldn't be an issue.

What are you talking about? Who did I accuse and of what exactly? All I said was that the pocketbook staff seems to be serious about what they're doing period. I haven't made any hints or insinuations to anyone.
And you can disagree all you want, nevertheless, the example you provided proves my point.
If a company is big and wealthy, it has enough funds to put into development and naturally it expects to turn profit, so it keeps its product closed to protect its investments and benefit from the innovations it came up with. On the other hand if you have a small company and you can't afford to spend a lot of money on huge teams of programmers (which I assumed was the case with pocketbook), you put your code out there, provide a sdk and let the community do the rest for you. You create a platform and coordinate the efforts. This will be beneficial for both the company and the users. If the platform is rich in features it becomes succesful, it grows in popularity and so does your product. The sales go up and you make more money. And the fact that pocketbook realized this is IMO some clever thinking on pocketbook's part.
You can argue with me, but the time will tell, all we have to do is to follow the situation around pocketbook. My guess is that it will become a popular platform.

Addendum:
For me being serious means to do the best thing under the given circumstances. Microsoft's revenue proves the best how serious they are. According to that, they're VERY SERIOUS! I have nothing but respect for them.

I guess we have a little misunderstanding here.
I'm not questioning the fact that the pocketbook staff seems to be serious about what they are doing. All I'm saying is that there is no better way. There are pro's and con's in both ways. And I didn't comment on your first post about the seriousness of the pocketbook staff but merely on your reply to Godzil where you implicitly claim that people at pocketbook are more serious about their business than people at cybook. I don't believe that's true. They make different business decisions, and yes, maybe even better ones. Time will tell. But both companys are evenly serious about what they are doing.

Hm, yeah, it probably got lost somewhere in the translation. ;)
I didn't mean no offence.
Maybe I should rephrase that. I honestly think that providing an open platform and a sdk is a better bussiness decision. But who am I to say.

*for a small company with limited resources, that is

You can't install pocketbook's fw unless they make a customized version of their FW for cybook. Pocketbook's FW also runs on eb100, so if the first condition is met, this shouldn't be an issue.

Except there are two versions of eb100. The pocketbook have a processor twice more powerfull, and twice more ram the the Cybook. The firmeware might NEED that extra power to work properly.

Then the cybook not being exactly the same, it will requiers adding drivers for the few stuff that changes. (Well, that can be done all right)

Yeah, having more than one firmware to chose from would be nice, but i don't see that happening anytime soon, so don't hold your breath for it.

Except there are two versions of eb100. The pocketbook have a processor twice more powerfull, and twice more ram the the Cybook. The firmeware might NEED that extra power to work properly.

Then the cybook not being exactly the same, it will requiers adding drivers for the few stuff that changes. (Well, that can be done all right)

Yeah, having more than one firmware to chose from would be nice, but i don't see that happening anytime soon, so don't hold your breath for it.

They (pocketbook) have firmware available for Orsio 721 ebook and it's model with 200 MHz processor. Not sure about memory, since there is no info on Orsio site.

http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10647

DrS

Except there are two versions of eb100. The pocketbook have a processor twice more powerfull, and twice more ram the the Cybook. The firmeware might NEED that extra power to work properly.

Then the cybook not being exactly the same, it will requiers adding drivers for the few stuff that changes. (Well, that can be done all right)

Yeah, having more than one firmware to chose from would be nice, but i don't see that happening anytime soon, so don't hold your breath for it.
Hey Eowyn, you have to catch up. There's only one version of EB100, the other one with twice the memory and doubled processor speed is called EB600. There are 2 versions of pocketbook firmware though, one for eb100 (pocketbook 301) and one for eb600 (pocketbook 301+). There's no need to optimize the fw for cybook, only change the installation process to make it work on cybook.

Hey Eowyn, you have to catch up. There's only one version of EB100, the other one with twice the memory and doubled processor speed is called EB600. There are 2 versions of pocketbook firmware though, one for eb100 (pocketbook 301) and one for eb600 (pocketbook 301+). There's no need to optimize the fw for cybook, only change the installation process to make it work on cybook.

Yeah, i looked for the 301+ specs. Should have guess there was a 301 somewhere.
And what usefull things that one would do the Cybook firmware don't anyway ?
Note typing ? the idea is ingenious for sure, but, i can't even type on my cell phone's keybord.
Epub ? -> That's coming for Cybook
Better pdf -> Same thing.
Folders -> Same again.
Fancy icones ? -> well, it's just fanciness.
Sudoku -> My DS does that better.

What's the hype about it hey ? And is there some 301+ only stuff ?

Well, if and when they realase a Cybook version, i'll probably try it, but not without making sure i can go back to the bookeen firmware.

The way you speak, it's like the bookeen firmware is total crap, while the pocketbook one is just wonderfully perfect. They are not that different.

@Eowyn
These are the things that pocketbook has and cybook doesn't (which probably won't be implemented even in the forthcoming update) and which I find very useful because they make the reader to an actual working tool, not just a leisure fiction reader:
search in the text
search in the dictionary
doc and rtf support
text highlighting and saving the selection (useful when proofreading)
note taking (proofreading, margin annotations, just two or three words, noone's gonna write novels with it)
better use of screen real estate (I really hope bookeen will implement customizable margins and optional header and footer in the new update)
For the other things you mentioned I couldn't care less.
Please note that I don't hold it against bookeen that gen3 doesn't have any of this. It wasn't advertised when I bought my cybook and I knew what I was getting for my money. If I want these functions, I have to buy another device, I get it.
Edit:
The way you speak, it's like the bookeen firmware is total crap, while the pocketbook one is just wonderfully perfect. They are not that different.
Please, don't put words in my mouth, I never said that bookeen's fw is crap. It's a solid fw, even though it's a bit sparse on functions.

* search in the text
* search in the dictionary

Mmm, ok

* doc and rtf support
Haven't try the mobipocket converter for .doc and rtf. But i guess it would work

* text highlighting and saving the selection (useful when proofreading)
* note taking (proofreading, margin annotations, just two or three words, noone's gonna write novels with it)
The Cybook will stay unable to do that in an enough effective way to be usable. If that if your need, go for an Irex. Writing more that that a few words is a pain unless you have a Keyboard (i mean PC keyboard), or a touch screen.

* better use of screen real estate (I really hope bookeen will implement customizable margins and optional header and footer in the new update)
Well, i guess it can be done, but that never really bugged me.

@Eowyn
What are you, a kid, that you feel the urge to disprove everything I say? If you're perfectly happy with your cybook, it's fine with me. Good for you.

I'll rather not say anything, or it's going to turn into a fight and I don't want that.


Please note that I don't hold it against bookeen that gen3 doesn't have any of this. It wasn't advertised when I bought my cybook and I knew what I was getting for my money. If I want these functions, I have to buy another device, I get it.
I don't know, the way you're speaking totally contradict what you're saying there. But then, maybe it's just some misunderstanding.

You were right, you shouldn't have said anything.
But you just couldn't help yourself, could you?

wooo calm down !

I was just pointing out it was some misunderstanding,

You have to understand, that nothing of what I said was meant in a bad way. I'm just trying to point out weak spots so they can be fixed. Isn't that what we all want, to have a better cybook?
However, cybook is not unmatched, the market is steadily growing and there's no way how it could avoid being compared with other devices, especially if they're based on the same hardware.
But you're right, let's be friends :drinks:

You have to understand, that nothing of what I said was meant in a bad way. I'm just trying to point out weak spots so they can be fixed. Isn't that what we all want, to have a better cybook?
However, cybook is not unmatched, the market is steadily growing and there's no way how it could avoid being compared with other devices, especially if they're based on the same hardware.
But you're right, let's be friends :drinks:

Well, we just happened to have two different opinions. Because i didn't agree with you on that point didn't mean I have anything against you.

It's perhaps worth noting that current CyBooks appear to be based on the Netronix EB600 hardware - ie 400MHz CPU, 32MB RAM (despite what the hardware spec on Bookeen's website says!).

It's perhaps worth noting that current CyBooks appear to be based on the Netronix EB600 hardware - ie 400MHz CPU, 32MB RAM (despite what the hardware spec on Bookeen's website says!).

Yeah, that got me wondering why bookeen didn't advertise them that way if that's the case ? :chinscratch: