Quote:
Originally Posted by delphidb96
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What I'd like to point out is that the PRS-505 is the 'third-generation' in the Sony Librie series and the second in the PRS5xx series, whereas the Cybook Gen3 is the first offering in eInk devices for Bookeen. And the Cybook, while quite functional for most users, has had it's share of 'initial release' problems. But they're being shaken out.
And then there's the formats it either does or will support. No matter how big Sony's PRS gets, until it can directly, without hacking, support one of the major DRM'd ebook formats, be it eReader, Mobipocket, Microsoft's LIT or Kindle's AZW, the PRS will always be a second-class product.
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( Of course, I'd urge you to buy the Cybook from NAEB, http://store.naebllc.com/ as I'm part of NAEB, but that's a minor consideration, really  )
Derek |
Derek,
I'm in the same boat as the initiator of the discussion. I *was* absolutely convinced that the Cybook was the right way to go: it's agnostic on input formats (including probably he least-intrusive DRM), it has Mobi dictionary features, and the support of NAEB really means a lot. However, the first "real" round of user comments/complaints has made me somewhat wary. More and more people are complaining about the page-change button, and others have commented about the button's finish wearing off after a few weeks. It makes me really worry about the long-term reliability of the device.
I really hate to say it, but in spite of their evil DRM practices of the past (CD rootkits), I am seriously considering the Sony. In addition, a couple of the features of the PRS-505 have got me thinking that is going to be more similar to the p-book experience that I know and love (I'm talking about instant-on, and turning on right to the last page read).
I've owned two Sony PDA's (and two of their camcorders, a portable CD player and countless Walkmen). With the exception of one pair of headphones, all have been wonderfully solid machines. If Sony is working on a device like an e-book reader, I just *know* that their designers have made sure that the page-change button is going to be good for a million presses. I just can't work up that kind of confidence in Bookeen. There is absolutely no engineering information on their web site, and no company history in the "technical" section of their FAQ that tells me whether they have taken a five-year life cycle into account for their device.
I was hoping that you might be able to help convince me that both Bookeen and NAEB are laying the proper groundwork to deal with the inevitable warranty returns. I would have taken this question to the NAEB forums, but I haven't been able to log in for a week (you might want to get somebody to look into that). I was one of the folks who pre-registered to order your device when it becomes available, but I've become skittish about how much we still do not know about the Cybook. Otherwise, all of the other features of the Cybook aren't going to be able to overcome that nagging little man in my head that keeps talking about Sony's hardware reliability and warranty support. Can you help?
Curt