Hi, Thinking of a ereader... - Page 2

HarryT · 03-07-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mak5

Seen some videos on Youtube and Cybook looked a bit laggy with Its own DRM - Mobi. While, when I play with 505 in Waterstones, it seems very responsive with LRF.

Not so. The refresh rate is entirely down to the "physics" of the eInk screen, and is identical for the Sony and the CyBook, since they use the same screen.

JSWolf · 03-07-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not so. The refresh rate is entirely down to the "physics" of the eInk screen, and is identical for the Sony and the CyBook, since they use the same screen.

While it is up to the screen how fast the refresh can be, it's also up to the controller to be able to drive the screen as fast as possible. Look at the K1 and K2, the K2 is faster using the same screen because it has a screen controller that can drive the screen faster.

HarryT · 03-07-2009, 09:32 AM

That's a good point, Jon, but in my experience, the 505 and the Gen3 do have pretty much the same screen refresh rates. As you rightly say, the PRS-700, Kindle 2, etc, are faster due to the more sophisticated controller they use.

Mak5 · 03-07-2009, 03:56 PM

Thank U Guys. I appreciate Your help.

Cheers

Luke

sigma8 · 03-07-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Sony has 3 zoom levels; the CyBook has 12, plus it support "real" bold and italic fonts (the Sony "synthesises" them), plus you can load any font you wish onto the machine. The CyBook has the best font handling of any device out there.

I read this before here.. What exactly is synthesized italics? Does it look visually different? When I see italics on my 505, they look like--shocker--italics.

HarryT · 03-08-2009, 04:46 AM

See the attached image.

A synthesised italic font is just a "slanted" version of the normal font.

A real italic font has different shapes for the letters - look at the "f" and the "g", for example.

You've really never noticed the difference?

gwynevans · 03-09-2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

See the attached image.

A synthesised italic font is just a "slanted" version of the normal font.

A real italic font has different shapes for the letters - look at the "f" and the "g", for example.

You've really never noticed the difference?

No, not compared to, say, the differences between a serif & san-serif font...

gwynevans · 03-09-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mak5

Just two more Q:
1) Is it possible to convert Mobi into LRF or Epub?
Like Mobi - PDF - Epub? I realize some formatting options might be lost, but is it possible technically?

2) I read that Sony requires PC connection to upload any new e-books and Cybook doesn't. How does it work for Bookeen then? There is no Wifi...

1) Yes. There are a number of apps, but the best to start with is probably an open-source app/suite of apps called Calibre, which will allow you to convert non-DRMed various formats into various other formats, including Mobi/Lrf/ePub. It doesn't itself remove DRM, but there are other programs that can remove DRM from files, including Mobi.

2) No, they both require a PC connection, where they both appear as a standard USB drive. Sony has a Windows app that you can optionally use to manage the device, but it's not required to be used. (The advantage is that it will pre-load the paging of an eBook when it's transferred using it, but all the not using it means is that the first time the eBook's opened on the reader, there'll be a one-off delay while the device calculates the paging.)

The main advantages of the Cybook are that it supports dictionaries & user-selectable fonts, the main advantages of the 505 are that it supports ePub and mechanically 'feels' better.

As for the fragility, just bear in mind that at present, the displays of all these devices are just sheets of relatively thin glass - it's just a matter of being careful to ensure that it's not going to be dropped or that there's no chance of any point pressure on the screen when in a bag, etc. E.g. the cover with the Sony is a decent one for round-the-house, but for travelling, I have a DVD-case type of hard cover I put it in.

Hantra · 03-11-2009, 12:31 AM

What pushes me toward the Kindle and away from the Sony is the sheer cost of books. The wireless is nice, but it comes down to the fact that all the books I want to read are cheaper on Kindle than in the Sony store, and especially cheaper than other stores besides Sony.

gwynevans · 03-11-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hantra

What pushes me toward the Kindle and away from the Sony is the sheer cost of books. The wireless is nice, but it comes down to the fact that all the books I want to read are cheaper on Kindle than in the Sony store, and especially cheaper than other stores besides Sony.

That's true, as Amazon does seem to be capping the prices for a number of books, but note that the original poster was/is in the UK, which means that they can't readily purchase a Kindle!

In addition, when comparing the Kindle vs Sony, don't forget that you can buy from other stores as well as Sony's (plus loans from libraries) so it's not clear-cut and may well depend on a personal balance including the value you put on the convienience of whispernet and the type/rate of books you buy.

kevindorsey · 03-11-2009, 08:59 PM

I think with the way I treat electronic items, I would break this in about a month.

03-08-2009, 04:46 AM	#21
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	See the attached image. A synthesised italic font is just a "slanted" version of the normal font. A real italic font has different shapes for the letters - look at the "f" and the "g", for example. You've really never noticed the difference? Attached Thumbnails

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03-07-2009, 09:32 AM	#18
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That's a good point, Jon, but in my experience, the 505 and the Gen3 do have pretty much the same screen refresh rates. As you rightly say, the PRS-700, Kindle 2, etc, are faster due to the more sophisticated controller they use.

03-07-2009, 03:56 PM	#19
Mak5 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Thank U Guys. I appreciate Your help. Cheers Luke

03-11-2009, 12:31 AM	#24
Hantra Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 18 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 3	What pushes me toward the Kindle and away from the Sony is the sheer cost of books. The wireless is nice, but it comes down to the fact that all the books I want to read are cheaper on Kindle than in the Sony store, and especially cheaper than other stores besides Sony.

03-11-2009, 08:59 PM	#26
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	I think with the way I treat electronic items, I would break this in about a month.

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