Hello from York, England

Ned · 10-03-2008, 07:52 AM

Hi

First let me admit I don't have a reader yet in spite of what it says on my profile, but it wouldn't let me join without putting one in!

This is the story so far:

I saw the Iliad in Borders in York a while back and thought the readability was amazing, but the price at £300-ish ridiculous. And on top of that, why do they use such a slow processor and such a small storage capacity? Making the thing faster and giving it a few Gig of storage would cost pennies. So I wrote it off for now, but made a mental note to keep an eye on things.

Then yesterday I saw on the WHSmith site (a UK bookseller/stationer) the Cybook at £180 including delivery. And I can get 8% off that by ordering though Quidco. Now we're talking, still a rip off but £165.60 is a lot nearer what I'm prepared to pay.

The next obvious step was to find and join your great forum with a view to checking out what the owners of all the various bits of kit really think about them, before making up my mind and having my wife buy me one for Christmas.

The price of the Cybook in Smiths is the big attraction, but I'm not sure whether I need a bigger screen or not. I usually read paperbacks which aren't a lot bigger than that, and it's got to be better to carry a small reader about than a big one. So it may be OK. But I'd hate to get one then have to ditch it for something bigger.

Practically all of the stuff I read is the classics - Trollope and the like - and available free presumably from places such as Gutenberg - so I'm not bothered about who sells what books for it or DRM and the like. I'll find plenty of content I'm sure.

So there we are. The jury is out, I'll look around here if I may, and ask any questions I have when I know they haven't been asked before.

And of course I'll let you know what I get

pilotbob · 10-03-2008, 07:56 AM

First, welcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned

First let me admit I don't have a reader yet in spite of what it says on my profile, but it wouldn't let me join without putting one in!

You should be able to edit your profile and remove the device. Click on UserCP in the menu bar, then in the left menu click "Edit your detail". If you scroll down you should be able to remove device and save it as empty.

If not, you should report it to Alex in the forum feedback section. This is probably just a mistake that it is required. Or, I could be all wet.

BOb

pilotbob · 10-03-2008, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned

The price of the Cybook in Smiths is the big attraction, but I'm not sure whether I need a bigger screen or not. I usually read paperbacks which aren't a lot bigger than that, and it's got to be better to carry a small reader about than a big one. So it may be OK. But I'd hate to get one then have to ditch it for something bigger.

For the type of reading you describe a 6inch size device will work well. It is very similar in size to a mass market paper back.

Even better sources then PG are right here in the Mobilread ebook section and also feedbooks.com. I'm not talking content here but formatting.

We look forward to having you in "da house".

BOb

Slite · 10-03-2008, 08:02 AM

Hi Ned and welcome!

The Cybook should suit you just fine for what you want to do with it. As long as you don't want to be able to read heavy-duty technical manuals in PDF format, the 6 inch screen is just peachy. I'm on the verge of ordering my second reader, and I'm leaning towards a cybook instead of the Bebook that I already have, reson for a second reader is that wifey is buggin the hell out of me to use mine all the time

Ned · 10-03-2008, 08:16 AM

Hi guys and thanks for the warm (and prompt) welcome! I thought there was only me spent most of the day on the PC

Yes Slite, I'm definitely veering that way and that's the kind of reassurance I'm looking for.

Well Bob, it definitely won't let me edit the field to blank, but it's no big deal - it was just a conversation opener really lol!

And I'll no doubt in time find an easier way to put smilies in posts than dragging them across from the panel on the right and putting img in brackets before and after

.

But anyway, looking forward to being in your group. And thanks again.

Slite · 10-03-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned

Hi guys and thanks for the warm (and prompt) welcome! I thought there was only me spent most of the day on the PC

Yes Slite, I'm definitely veering that way and that's the kind of reassurance I'm looking for.

Well Bob, it definitely won't let me edit the field to blank, but it's no big deal - it was just a conversation opener really lol!

And I'll no doubt in time find an easier way to put smilies in posts than dragging them across from the panel on the right and putting img in brackets before and after

.

But anyway, looking forward to being in your group. And thanks again.

reg. Smilies, just click on them out in the panel

no need to drag them over into the textedit field

Ned · 10-03-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

reg. Smilies, just click on them out in the panel

no need to drag them over into the textedit field

Like this you mean?

Silly me, was that damn Noscript addon in Firefox that was blocking them.
The number of times it catches me out, and it's still not the first thing I think of when looking for why something doesn't work.

bbusybookworm · 10-03-2008, 11:59 AM

Welcome Ned

And I have to chime in that for normal book reading the Cybook Gen 3 is excellent.
And I have to say that it looks like you'll be able to get the better of an already great deal

I'm not bitter I tell you

I'm really not, for having paid full price (£270+10) for it a few months ago. Really

As for PDF's while I would not recommend any of the 6'' devices for very much PDF use, the new firmware has fixed a lot of the bugs, and has made PDF files actually usable. I occasionally use it to read newsletters which are only available in PDF and have complex formatting, so converting them with Mobipocket Converter is not an option.

MickeyC · 10-03-2008, 12:28 PM

Hi Ned and welcome to the Forum. Good luck with your decision.

Ned · 10-08-2008, 04:44 AM

Well this is just a brilliant site.

With your help, I've now confirmed that the Cybook is the right one for me and placed my order with WHSmith's. Can't wait.
Thanks everybody.

MickeyC · 10-12-2008, 05:40 PM

Ned, be sure and let us know how you like it, once you get your hands on it.

Ned · 10-13-2008, 02:47 AM

Hi Cassidym
Received it late last week - they just sent it in the mail for anybody to steal, no signature or anything! Anyway, charged up fine, updated firmware and put a few books from here on it. It's a beautiful looking little thing, so I hope it works out.

Currently selecting the best font from the suggestions given in response to my other thread. Looks like small but thick font with lots of white space around is easier on the eye for us oldies, but I'll try a few.

My initial reaction is "gosh, is that all I can get on a page?", but since turning the page is so easy it may not matter. I suspect we have to adopt different criteria with ebook readers as I'd never buy a paper book with not much on the page. Something like 24 lines with the font I'm trying just now. There's a font with reduced line spacing posted that I'll try too.

It's a culture shock, but I'll keep you posted.

10-03-2008, 07:52 AM	#1
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Hello from York, England Hi First let me admit I don't have a reader yet in spite of what it says on my profile, but it wouldn't let me join without putting one in! This is the story so far: I saw the Iliad in Borders in York a while back and thought the readability was amazing, but the price at £300-ish ridiculous. And on top of that, why do they use such a slow processor and such a small storage capacity? Making the thing faster and giving it a few Gig of storage would cost pennies. So I wrote it off for now, but made a mental note to keep an eye on things. Then yesterday I saw on the WHSmith site (a UK bookseller/stationer) the Cybook at £180 including delivery. And I can get 8% off that by ordering though Quidco. Now we're talking, still a rip off but £165.60 is a lot nearer what I'm prepared to pay. The next obvious step was to find and join your great forum with a view to checking out what the owners of all the various bits of kit really think about them, before making up my mind and having my wife buy me one for Christmas. The price of the Cybook in Smiths is the big attraction, but I'm not sure whether I need a bigger screen or not. I usually read paperbacks which aren't a lot bigger than that, and it's got to be better to carry a small reader about than a big one. So it may be OK. But I'd hate to get one then have to ditch it for something bigger. Practically all of the stuff I read is the classics - Trollope and the like - and available free presumably from places such as Gutenberg - so I'm not bothered about who sells what books for it or DRM and the like. I'll find plenty of content I'm sure. So there we are. The jury is out, I'll look around here if I may, and ask any questions I have when I know they haven't been asked before. And of course I'll let you know what I get

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10-03-2008, 08:02 AM	#4
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	Hi Ned and welcome! The Cybook should suit you just fine for what you want to do with it. As long as you don't want to be able to read heavy-duty technical manuals in PDF format, the 6 inch screen is just peachy. I'm on the verge of ordering my second reader, and I'm leaning towards a cybook instead of the Bebook that I already have, reson for a second reader is that wifey is buggin the hell out of me to use mine all the time

10-03-2008, 08:16 AM	#5
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Hi guys and thanks for the warm (and prompt) welcome! I thought there was only me spent most of the day on the PC Yes Slite, I'm definitely veering that way and that's the kind of reassurance I'm looking for. Well Bob, it definitely won't let me edit the field to blank, but it's no big deal - it was just a conversation opener really lol! And I'll no doubt in time find an easier way to put smilies in posts than dragging them across from the panel on the right and putting img in brackets before and after . But anyway, looking forward to being in your group. And thanks again.

10-03-2008, 11:59 AM	#8
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	Welcome Ned And I have to chime in that for normal book reading the Cybook Gen 3 is excellent. And I have to say that it looks like you'll be able to get the better of an already great deal I'm not bitter I tell you I'm really not, for having paid full price (£270+10) for it a few months ago. Really As for PDF's while I would not recommend any of the 6'' devices for very much PDF use, the new firmware has fixed a lot of the bugs, and has made PDF files actually usable. I occasionally use it to read newsletters which are only available in PDF and have complex formatting, so converting them with Mobipocket Converter is not an option.

10-03-2008, 12:28 PM	#9
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Ned and welcome to the Forum. Good luck with your decision.

10-08-2008, 04:44 AM	#10
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Well this is just a brilliant site. With your help, I've now confirmed that the Cybook is the right one for me and placed my order with WHSmith's. Can't wait. Thanks everybody.

10-12-2008, 05:40 PM	#11
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Ned, be sure and let us know how you like it, once you get your hands on it.

10-13-2008, 02:47 AM	#12
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Hi Cassidym Received it late last week - they just sent it in the mail for anybody to steal, no signature or anything! Anyway, charged up fine, updated firmware and put a few books from here on it. It's a beautiful looking little thing, so I hope it works out. Currently selecting the best font from the suggestions given in response to my other thread. Looks like small but thick font with lots of white space around is easier on the eye for us oldies, but I'll try a few. My initial reaction is "gosh, is that all I can get on a page?", but since turning the page is so easy it may not matter. I suspect we have to adopt different criteria with ebook readers as I'd never buy a paper book with not much on the page. Something like 24 lines with the font I'm trying just now. There's a font with reduced line spacing posted that I'll try too. It's a culture shock, but I'll keep you posted.

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