MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cybook & Sony... Wait! Bizarre details included!

agari · 08-10-2009, 11:40 AM

Hi all, I'm new here.

Unfortunately since no ebook reader seems to be available for sale (physically) in the Emirates, I'm taking the opportunity of deciding what to buy here in Switzerland.

The Iliad, Cybook Gen3 and Sony PRS-505. The Iliad is out of the question, despite the fact that it seems cheaper than it was 2 years back when I was last here. (I did not buy it at the time, way too expensive.) And it still is expensive today.

The only stuff left is the Cybook Gen3 and the Sony PRS-505.

The Sony is the cheapest, EPUB, PDF & TXT support (Vital for me, I read Arabic texts on PDF). Major downside though: the PRS-505 is only available in German, no English no French. (I should learn German if I begin to use this one.) Price is at 380 CHF, which is reasonable I suppose.

The Cybook Gen3 is a 100 CHF more than the Sony. Has English and French support along with German. PDF & TXT, but no EPUB. (EPUB arriving on firmware in the near future?)

But what does the near future mean? I'll probably have to install the firmware. (Sometimes horrifying to me.)

I use Linux (Ubuntu, to be specific), so I understand that the Cybook Gen loads on Linux as a mass-storage device. Which is alright for me. Question: Does the Sony PRS-505 do the same?

Good typography is holy: The Cybook Gen3 openly advertises that I can add fonts of my own, TTF, does that mean its easy to support non-PDF Japanese and Chinese texts on the Cybook? (Yes, I read half a ton of languages, just not German.. Yet.)

What about the Sony, can I add fonts to the Sony, for Chinese or Japanese?

What about this firmware issue with Cybook Gen? How would I be able to install it using Linux? Or should I beg a Windows-using friend to lend me the computer to upgrade the firmware? That would be awkward.

Does the Sony have firmware issues too? Would I be able to solve them with Linux?

I know that's a lot of questions... Any input is helpful and welcomed.

I only have until the coming Friday to decide. Then I head back home to the Emirates. And I most certainly want to have an ebook reader when I head back. Any recommendations, notes, tips, comments? Anything would help.

08-10-2009, 11:40 AM	#1
agari Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	Cybook & Sony... Wait! Bizarre details included! Hi all, I'm new here. Unfortunately since no ebook reader seems to be available for sale (physically) in the Emirates, I'm taking the opportunity of deciding what to buy here in Switzerland. The Iliad, Cybook Gen3 and Sony PRS-505. The Iliad is out of the question, despite the fact that it seems cheaper than it was 2 years back when I was last here. (I did not buy it at the time, way too expensive.) And it still is expensive today. The only stuff left is the Cybook Gen3 and the Sony PRS-505. The Sony is the cheapest, EPUB, PDF & TXT support (Vital for me, I read Arabic texts on PDF). Major downside though: the PRS-505 is only available in German, no English no French. (I should learn German if I begin to use this one.) Price is at 380 CHF, which is reasonable I suppose. The Cybook Gen3 is a 100 CHF more than the Sony. Has English and French support along with German. PDF & TXT, but no EPUB. (EPUB arriving on firmware in the near future?) But what does the near future mean? I'll probably have to install the firmware. (Sometimes horrifying to me.) I use Linux (Ubuntu, to be specific), so I understand that the Cybook Gen loads on Linux as a mass-storage device. Which is alright for me. Question: Does the Sony PRS-505 do the same? Good typography is holy: The Cybook Gen3 openly advertises that I can add fonts of my own, TTF, does that mean its easy to support non-PDF Japanese and Chinese texts on the Cybook? (Yes, I read half a ton of languages, just not German.. Yet.) What about the Sony, can I add fonts to the Sony, for Chinese or Japanese? What about this firmware issue with Cybook Gen? How would I be able to install it using Linux? Or should I beg a Windows-using friend to lend me the computer to upgrade the firmware? That would be awkward. Does the Sony have firmware issues too? Would I be able to solve them with Linux? I know that's a lot of questions... Any input is helpful and welcomed. I only have until the coming Friday to decide. Then I head back home to the Emirates. And I most certainly want to have an ebook reader when I head back. Any recommendations, notes, tips, comments? Anything would help.