Another one of those d*mned 'which one' questions from a newbie...

dyerfr · 11-14-2007, 11:01 PM

OK - I have read most of the threads on this forum on 'which one' is best for me...

If I am looking at 1) reading only (no graphics needed), 2) primarily current best seller type titles, and 3) least fun/frustration with conversions, what would you recommend?

Leaning towards Sony at this point, but that's kind of the default knee-jerk reaction when looking at high brand image vs. one I'm not familiar with ...

Many Thanks,
Frank

JSWolf · 11-14-2007, 11:16 PM

Where do you live? If you live in the USA, the 505 is going to cost a lot less then the Gen3. $350+$23 shipping + the cost of the case. if you go for the deluxe edition, $450+$23 shipping. The Sony is $299.99 + shipping. Or less if you look on the forum for some other websites. Conversion is very easy for the 505 given the very nice tools available on this forum.

NatCh · 11-14-2007, 11:54 PM

JSWolf makes good price related points. Another thing to look at is availability of titles for tje device. Have a look at Sony's store and www.fictionwise.com to see if the have the sorts of titles you're looking for. For the Cybook, look at www.mobipocket.com and also fictionwise to see how you like what's available in mobi format. If you like Baen books, they'll work fine on either device since the Sony takes RTF files unconverted. You'd of course want to use Baen's Mobi version on the Cybook, though it takes RTF just fine too, so far as I know.

HarryT · 11-15-2007, 02:34 AM

If "best sellers" and "no conversions" are important factors for you, the CyBook Gen3 would probably be your best bet, since it supports MobiPocket, which has a vastly wider range of commercial sellers (and books) than any other eBook format. Other formats can be converted, of course, but for hassle-free buying, I'd go for the Gen3.

HarryT · 11-15-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

You'd of course want to use Baen's Mobi version on the Cybook, though it takes RTF just fine too, so far as I know.

No, the Gen3 doesn't currently support RTF. It's a format they've promised to add in the future. The formats it currently supports are:

- Text
- HTML (subset only)
- PalmDoc
- MobiPocket
- PDF (sort of, as you know!)

nekokami · 11-15-2007, 08:54 AM

If Fictionwise has the books you want, you might want to consider the eBookwise 1150. It's much less expensive than the e ink devices and is still well-supported. Otherwise, I'd agree with HarryT that the Gen3 looks like a good bet, because of the strength of the Mobipocket catalog and the (relative) portability of Mobipocket as a "bestseller" format.

NatCh · 11-15-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, the Gen3 doesn't currently support RTF. It's a format they've promised to add in the future.

I stand corrected. Well ... sit corrected, anyway.

Thanks, HarryT.

HarryT · 11-15-2007, 12:45 PM

No problem. The original spec for the Gen3 did include RTF, so that's probably what you're thinking of.

NatCh · 11-15-2007, 01:17 PM

Or I could just have too many factoids bouncing around my skull to keep them all straight. It was easier when there were only three.

DaleDe · 11-15-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Or I could just have too many factoids bouncing around my skull to keep them all straight. It was easier when there were only three.

Three factoids?

NatCh · 11-15-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Three factoids?

I meant three devices, I think I had more than three factoids at birth.

dyerfr · 11-16-2007, 10:50 AM

I appreciate the replies... Since there's a cost difference between the Sony device (which I have been leaning towards) and the CyBook, which may meet my stated need of least fun/frustration with conversion, let me ask the following as well (note that I am new to the ebook world...):

- if I purchase a book in Mobi format (or any other not supported by the Sony device), what kind of experience would I have porting the book over to one that Sony does support? For example, would I download to my computer, then port the book, then load onto device? Or some other method? Is it a 10 minute process? Longer? What software is good for this? Is there a potential for formatting issues or other things that I need to be aware of that would negatively impact my enjoyment of the book once it is ported?

I do like playing around with stuff like this in general, but with a tough job, long commute, and a three year old, the actual reading time is paramount!

Thanks again,
Frank

NatCh · 11-16-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyerfr

- if I purchase a book in Mobi format (or any other not supported by the Sony device), what kind of experience would I have porting the book over to one that Sony does support? For example, would I download to my computer, then port the book, then load onto device? Or some other method? Is it a 10 minute process? Longer? What software is good for this? Is there a potential for formatting issues or other things that I need to be aware of that would negatively impact my enjoyment of the book once it is ported?

As far as I know, there's no way to get a book out of mobi at all. Probably the best format choice for what you're asking about would be .LIT (microsoft reader format). With a non-DRMed .LIT file, you can pretty much drop it into any of three or four apps found on this site and get an LRF out of it in a few minutes without much finagling at all. Then it's just load and go. So 10 minutes of mostly waiting on the computer to do stuff is probably a rather long estimate ... more like 5~7, I'd guess. Unless you want to do fancy stuff like Tables of Contents and illustrations. Stuff like that can take hours to set up.

dyerfr · 11-16-2007, 12:00 PM

Good to know that about Mobi... but that brings up another question. Can you buy current titles in .lit format? Again - I want to read mainly the newer stuff...

DaleDe · 11-16-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyerfr

Good to know that about Mobi... but that brings up another question. Can you buy current titles in .lit format? Again - I want to read mainly the newer stuff...

Lit is backed by Microsoft and is a major format. Probably more stuff in lit than it almost any other format.

Book Designer can, I believe, import mobi files but only if they use the original mobi compression and are not DRM.

Dale

11-14-2007, 11:01 PM	#1
dyerfr Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: N/A	*Another one of those dmned 'which one' questions from a newbie...** OK - I have read most of the threads on this forum on 'which one' is best for me... If I am looking at 1) reading only (no graphics needed), 2) primarily current best seller type titles, and 3) least fun/frustration with conversions, what would you recommend? Leaning towards Sony at this point, but that's kind of the default knee-jerk reaction when looking at high brand image vs. one I'm not familiar with ... Many Thanks, Frank

11-14-2007, 11:16 PM	#2
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 34,227 Karma: 13801376 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-650, iPad	Where do you live? If you live in the USA, the 505 is going to cost a lot less then the Gen3. $350+$23 shipping + the cost of the case. if you go for the deluxe edition, $450+$23 shipping. The Sony is $299.99 + shipping. Or less if you look on the forum for some other websites. Conversion is very easy for the 505 given the very nice tools available on this forum. __________________ Jon 2013 Reading List

11-14-2007, 11:54 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	JSWolf makes good price related points. Another thing to look at is availability of titles for tje device. Have a look at Sony's store and www.fictionwise.com to see if the have the sorts of titles you're looking for. For the Cybook, look at www.mobipocket.com and also fictionwise to see how you like what's available in mobi format. If you like Baen books, they'll work fine on either device since the Sony takes RTF files unconverted. You'd of course want to use Baen's Mobi version on the Cybook, though it takes RTF just fine too, so far as I know. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

11-15-2007, 02:34 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 54,666 Karma: 26165759 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, PW, Fire HD, iPad 3, iPhone 4, Samsung Tab 2 7 + More	If "best sellers" and "no conversions" are important factors for you, the CyBook Gen3 would probably be your best bet, since it supports MobiPocket, which has a vastly wider range of commercial sellers (and books) than any other eBook format. Other formats can be converted, of course, but for hassle-free buying, I'd go for the Gen3. __________________ Harry Currently proofreading The Poison Belt, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

11-15-2007, 08:54 AM	#6
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	If Fictionwise has the books you want, you might want to consider the eBookwise 1150. It's much less expensive than the e ink devices and is still well-supported. Otherwise, I'd agree with HarryT that the Gen3 looks like a good bet, because of the strength of the Mobipocket catalog and the (relative) portability of Mobipocket as a "bestseller" format. __________________ ~neko “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Click here for Ministry of Unutterable Silliness loot -- featuring Rock Lobster Souvenirs! Is an iPad an InfoPad ? What about the Entourage Edge? Hm...

11-15-2007, 12:45 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 54,666 Karma: 26165759 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, PW, Fire HD, iPad 3, iPhone 4, Samsung Tab 2 7 + More	No problem. The original spec for the Gen3 did include RTF, so that's probably what you're thinking of. __________________ Harry Currently proofreading The Poison Belt, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

11-15-2007, 01:17 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,605 Karma: 926222 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Nook STGR	Or I could just have too many factoids bouncing around my skull to keep them all straight. It was easier when there were only three. __________________ ΨΦ! "Torg, why do you have emergency pants?" -- Riff

11-16-2007, 10:50 AM	#12
dyerfr Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: N/A	Many thanks! and a follow up... I appreciate the replies... Since there's a cost difference between the Sony device (which I have been leaning towards) and the CyBook, which may meet my stated need of least fun/frustration with conversion, let me ask the following as well (note that I am new to the ebook world...): - if I purchase a book in Mobi format (or any other not supported by the Sony device), what kind of experience would I have porting the book over to one that Sony does support? For example, would I download to my computer, then port the book, then load onto device? Or some other method? Is it a 10 minute process? Longer? What software is good for this? Is there a potential for formatting issues or other things that I need to be aware of that would negatively impact my enjoyment of the book once it is ported? I do like playing around with stuff like this in general, but with a tough job, long commute, and a three year old, the actual reading time is paramount! Thanks again, Frank

11-16-2007, 12:00 PM	#14
dyerfr Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: N/A	Good to know that about Mobi... but that brings up another question. Can you buy current titles in .lit format? Again - I want to read mainly the newer stuff...

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