Quote:
Originally Posted by CommanderROR
I guess what is REALLY important now is content.
Sony has it's connect store and the Cybook has mobipocket support. I guess connect is more customer-friendly right now since it offers an iTunes like approach with a central store where you get all there is to get.
Mobipocket might just come out ahead, depending on...the Kindle. If Amazon really puts it's weight behind the Kindle AND goes with mobipocket as a main format (that would make sense, but you never know) then we could be looking at a real upswing for Mobipocket formatted books and also the related infrastructure.
The device as such is inferior to the Sony Reader, especially when it comes to battery life. I have no idea how far they might be able to improve on that, but as of now, the Cybook can't really offer anything special there. Vizplex was an advantage fro the Cybook, but the new Sony Reader also has that, so no advantage there.
The Cybook can read more formats. That's it actually, at least from my perspective.
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I would agree that content availability is paramount but there are other features to consider like the nifty dictionary lookup thingy, the differences between how well each of them performs various formatting tasks, the feel of the UI, library management, fonts, and the general flexibility and access of the device. The battery life is actually a non-issue for me. The Cybook's battery life is more than long enough for me. Sony's is longer, but longer than long enough isn't really a big added value. Then I think there are going to be some of us that are going to prefer to throw our dollars behind the NAEB guys if we can get a reader we'll like rather than to Sony or Amazon.
Either way I think a lot of us are waiting to see the Kindle and possibly the upcoming HanLin releases. I wouldn't be jumping at the PRS-505 right now anyway, so a delay in the firmware and review isn't really changing where I stand at the moment. The average consumer might go for the 505 right now since they'll see it on the shelves at their local Circuit City or Best Buy but I don't know how much visibility Bookeen has with them anyway. I think Amazon and the Kindle take the biggest hit from the 505 release. But that said, Bookeen would do well to get this thing out the door by the time the Kindle comes out.