Why Should I Choose a Bookeen?

[SCBrazil]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and new to eReaders. I live in Brazil and have never even seen one 'in the flesh'.
I have found some reasonable prices for Bookeens and Sonys over here but don't know which to choose.
Could someone please explain to me the difference(s) between the Opus and Gen 3, which is better and why I should (or shouldn't) prefer them to the Sony PRS505?
I have a lot of books in ePub format so it is necessary that the unit I choose reads this. I don't care too much about storing and organising many books on the unit as I will only be reading 2 or 3 at a time. I also don't care about online access etc. I just want a reliable, robust reader with a good quality e-ink screen.
Thanks for your time.

[simplyparticular]

The Sony readers are more robust physically - the metal gives them more strength.

The Opus I have feels much more "toyish" because of the plastic, but it also weighs next to nothing.

Both work well with Calibre to organize and load ePubs.

I prefer the way the Opus displays books and their covers vs. the 505/300 list of titles, but I did like the Sony Collections feature, too.

I'm not familiar with the build or feel of the Gen 3.

[Jellby]

The Opus is smaller than the Gen3 (5" vs. 6" screen, but many people say the difference is not so noticeable while reading), and has an accelerometer, that allows you to use the reader in landscape orientation, and the text rotates automatically; it also has page-turn buttons which are probably easier to use.

The Cybooks let you choose whatever font you like (you just upload the TTF file), in 12 sizes, and you can also choose full justification or right alignment for the text. The TOC navigation is a bit primitive, you can use multi-level TOCs, but they're displayed flat. You can organize your books in a folder structure and navigate it easily.

I don't know about the Sony readers, but I think I read they have a built-in dictionary?

[MarlaChristy]

The Opus is small and very light and easy to carry around, in fact easier than a paper back. It "wakes up" and "goes to sleep" with a flick of a button.

You can use fonts you like; you can use lots of different sizes.

Folders (I don't know how people get by without folders).


It reads lots of formats.

It's French and the two CEOs are adorable geeks who have no idea about public relations

So you would be supporting a small company and free enterprise (love Sony and use their phones, but they don't need the business)

I love mine.

[Terisa de morgan]

PRS-600 has a build-in dictionary (English only), PRS-300 no.

[Manichean]

The Gen3, build-quality- wise, feels good, I think. It's very light compared to a PRS-505, but I don't think it feels flimsy. The cover (I got the first version) feels good, looks nice and so far, it's protected my Cybook well when I'm on the road.
The firmware, as it stands today, feels nice. It does what it's supposed to do, that is displaying books, without fuss. Folders are nice to organize the library. I very much like being able to use any TrueType-font I like to display (most) books- I believe that's a Bookeen-exclusive feature? With Calibre, it's very easy organizing the books- but I think that's been mentioned.

As far as which device being better or even best, that kinda depends on what you want. I like the Cybook for being a pretty minimalistic reader, but your mileage might vary.

[becket]

The Cybook Gen 3 has a better screen than a Sony 505, is lighter, easy to get round uses folders. We have three Ebook readers two Cybooks Gen3 and one Sony 505.
Becky

[bookoffers]

Cybook Gen3 has elegant design all in black even in full sunlight you will experience your pleasure in reading companion.

Although both have different specification but all are good.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by becket

The Cybook Gen 3 has a better screen than a Sony 505,

No, it has exactly the same screen, made in the same factory, on the same production line. Of course, factors such as a different choice of fonts and so on may make it look different, but the actual screen itself is identical.

[GeoffC]

The Gen3 is good, robust (in its case) and does what it needs to, provide a reader for books in a font and size of your choosing. [I read in the mobi format]
[I don't know about the other Bookeen models]

[Over]

Go for the Cybook Gen3. Don't forget to buy a cover, whatever the ereader you choose.

[FlorenceArt]

Bookeen devices are great if all you want to do is read. If you want to take notes, search for text in your books, or install other apps on your device, they are not for you. But for the basic reading functions, they are perfect. Simple to use and reliable.

I have never tried a Sony, but from what I understand they have a touch screen, which is important for some. The trade-off is that the technology for the touch screen makes the screen slightly more reflective and less readable. Many Sony users don't mind that, but if you don't need a touch screen, the Bookeen devices may be better.

[JSWolf]

Forget a Gen3. It's too expensive for what you get. The US price for a Gen3 is $269.99 while a Sony PRS-650 is $229. The 650 has a touch screen and the new Pearl screen. So page turns will be faster on the 650 and the 650 will be easier on the eyes. Plus, the 650 has 2GB internal ram plus the memory card slots. So really, it's a no brainer to say that the Gen3 has had it.

Given the competition, the Gen3 is just old.

[EowynCarter]

I have to second JSWolf. Go for the opus, or wait for the new stuff (from bookeen sony, pocketbook).. The new sony seams to solve the galre problem for the most part.
Or maybe, pocketbook 302, or beebook neo, that are out already.

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it has exactly the same screen, made in the same factory, on the same production line. Of course, factors such as a different choice of fonts and so on may make it look different, but the actual screen itself is identical.

The timedate where the screen was made is also a factor. And Bookeen seems to use more recent screen than Sony.