How good is the DR1000's MobiPocket Reader?

HarryT · 05-31-2009, 05:52 AM

Could anyone comment on how good the implementation of the MobiPocket Reader is on the DR1000 compared with other devices? One of the main reasons I sold my iLiad was the extremely poor Mobi implementation - no bookmarks, no way to view the book's cover, etc. Have these shortcomings been overcome in the version on the DR1000?

Can one install additional fonts to use in the Mobi viewer?

Any info gratefully received - I am seriously tempted to buy a DR1000!

cbell · 05-31-2009, 06:34 AM

The DR000S's Mobipocket viewer has some added features compared to the iLiad's.

Bookmarks and covers are supported. Like the Cybook, the DR1000S will use the first image embedded in the Mobipocket file as the cover if there's no designated cover page.

There's a Mobipocket compatibility matrix for iLiads and DRs in the Download section at the bottom of the page at http://support.irexnet.com/index.php.

Additional fonts can't be installed in the native Mobipocket viewer on the DR.

HarryT · 05-31-2009, 07:13 AM

Thanks!

HarryT · 06-04-2009, 04:33 AM

Having used it for a couple of days now, I can gladly report that I'm happy with Mobi Reader on the DR1000. Dictionary lookup works beautifully (and has an excellent user interface), and the display font is clear and readable. My only slight dislike is the complete lack of margins - I think that a small margin (even only a couple of mm) would improve the appearance, but that's a very minor point.

All in all, a huge improvement over the iLiad!

rfog · 06-04-2009, 05:14 AM

DR's Mobipocket (and iLiad) lacks not only margins, it lacks a lot of things. It seems they aren't seeing the Kindle.

The DR1000 search sucks compared with Kindle one. Without touch screen a dictionary search in Kindle is far fast than in DR (or iLiad) with stylus and so.

Screen speed and flicks sucks too in DR...

Grimulkan · 06-04-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

DR's Mobipocket (and iLiad) lacks not only margins, it lacks a lot of things. It seems they aren't seeing the Kindle.

The DR1000 search sucks compared with Kindle one. Without touch screen a dictionary search in Kindle is far fast than in DR (or iLiad) with stylus and so.

Screen speed and flicks sucks too in DR...

Dude, non-DRM mobi files can be viewed in FBReader on the DR, which has every option under the sun (including custom fonts and margins AFAIK)

I think we're talking about DRM'ed Mobi files here, which the Kindle can't even read.

Nate the great · 06-04-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimulkan

Dude, non-DRM mobi files can be viewed in FBReader on the DR, which has every option under the sun (including custom fonts and margins AFAIK)

I think we're talking about DRM'ed Mobi files here, which the Kindle can't even read.

It would be nice if FBReader had full support of HTML. It drops a lot of formatting from Mobi books.

HarryT · 06-05-2009, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

The DR1000 search sucks compared with Kindle one. Without touch screen a dictionary search in Kindle is far fast than in DR (or iLiad) with stylus and so.

The interface for looking up a word on the DR is:

1. Tap the "Lookup word" icon (I have it on the toolbar for rapid access).
2. Select the word to look up with the stylus.
3. It shows you the "matching" headwords in the dictionary. Tap the one you want to look up.

That's three stylus actions. As I say, it works very well indeed.

What does one have to do on the Kindle?

rfog · 06-05-2009, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The interface for looking up a word on the DR is:

1. Tap the "Lookup word" icon (I have it on the toolbar for rapid access).
2. Select the word to look up with the stylus.
3. It shows you the "matching" headwords in the dictionary. Tap the one you want to look up.

That's three stylus actions. As I say, it works very well indeed.

What does one have to do on the Kindle?

Move the joystick to the workd and wait 1/4 of second. You will see the defintion at bottom of the screen. Moving with joysitck is very fast because you can start from top or from bottom, and if it goes out from right goes in into left and viceversa. Showing the word definition does not disturb text reading.

Basically, move de cursor and you will get the definition. Press central button and you will start to mark a text. Start typing in keyboard and you will get a comment. I think it won't be easier.

rfog · 06-05-2009, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimulkan

Dude, non-DRM mobi files can be viewed in FBReader on the DR, which has every option under the sun (including custom fonts and margins AFAIK)

I think we're talking about DRM'ed Mobi files here, which the Kindle can't even read.

How can I search in FBreader? I cannot

. FBReader does not integrates into DR system (you can patch the shell but then form me it becomes very unstable), and I dude it will have any kind of energy savings.

HarryT · 06-05-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

Move the joystick to the workd and wait 1/4 of second. You will see the defintion at bottom of the screen. Moving with joysitck is very fast because you can start from top or from bottom, and if it goes out from right goes in into left and viceversa. Showing the word definition does not disturb text reading.

My dictionary often shows me a whole page of definitions, etymology, and other information about the word. Can one not see the "full" dictionary entry on the Kindle?

rfog · 06-05-2009, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

My dictionary often shows me a whole page of definitions, etymology, and other information about the word. Can one not see the "full" dictionary entry on the Kindle?

Press "ENTER" key when showing the two lines definition at bottom. ;-)

HarryT · 06-05-2009, 04:43 AM

Those are certainly "different" interfaces, but I don't think that one can definitely say that one is "better" than the other. What does the Kindle do if there are multiple definitions for a word? Another benefit of the DR1000 is that one can have multiple dictionaries installed (eg, a "general-purpose" dictionary, and a number of "specialist" dictionaries for different subjects), and see the different definitions in the different dictionaries; something that the Kindle cannot do.

From the sound of it, both the Kindle and the DR1000 have "workable" systems for using dictionaries. We can all be happy about that, without having to claim that one is "better" than the other. It's not a "contest"

.

Over · 06-05-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Having used it for a couple of days now, I can gladly report that I'm happy with Mobi Reader on the DR1000. Dictionary lookup works beautifully (and has an excellent user interface), and the display font is clear and readable. My only slight dislike is the complete lack of margins - I think that a small margin (even only a couple of mm) would improve the appearance, but that's a very minor point.

All in all, a huge improvement over the iLiad!

How does it compare with the Cybook?
What about the FBReader?

HarryT · 06-05-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

How does it compare with the Cybook?
What about the FBReader?

I don't like FBReader at all, I'm afraid. It's very poor at handling Mobi files. No table support, it ignores hard page breaks, no dictionary support - I really see no need to uise it.

Comparison with the CyBook is difficult; they are so very different. Both are excellent; both have their own strengths and weaknesses. The CyBook is hugely more "configurable" - you can select fonts, change the justification, etc, so the page looks a lot "nicer" on the CyBook. On the other hand, seeing the same amount of text on the DR as you do in a printed book is great, dictionary lookup is a lot "slicker", and there is a text search facility (hurray!). Also, the fact that it has a generic "file manager" makes having a large number of books on the machine enormously more practical than it is on the CyBook.

I'm happy to have both - the CyBook for "read anywhere portability"; the DR for "large screen" reading pleasure at home.

05-31-2009, 05:52 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	How good is the DR1000's MobiPocket Reader? Could anyone comment on how good the implementation of the MobiPocket Reader is on the DR1000 compared with other devices? One of the main reasons I sold my iLiad was the extremely poor Mobi implementation - no bookmarks, no way to view the book's cover, etc. Have these shortcomings been overcome in the version on the DR1000? Can one install additional fonts to use in the Mobi viewer? Any info gratefully received - I am seriously tempted to buy a DR1000!

05-31-2009, 06:34 AM	#2
cbell Frenetic Posts: 590 Karma: 8181 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Device: iLiad V2	The DR000S's Mobipocket viewer has some added features compared to the iLiad's. Bookmarks and covers are supported. Like the Cybook, the DR1000S will use the first image embedded in the Mobipocket file as the cover if there's no designated cover page. There's a Mobipocket compatibility matrix for iLiads and DRs in the Download section at the bottom of the page at http://support.irexnet.com/index.php. Additional fonts can't be installed in the native Mobipocket viewer on the DR. Last edited by cbell; 05-31-2009 at 06:36 AM.

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05-31-2009, 07:13 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks!

06-04-2009, 04:33 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Having used it for a couple of days now, I can gladly report that I'm happy with Mobi Reader on the DR1000. Dictionary lookup works beautifully (and has an excellent user interface), and the display font is clear and readable. My only slight dislike is the complete lack of margins - I think that a small margin (even only a couple of mm) would improve the appearance, but that's a very minor point. All in all, a huge improvement over the iLiad!

06-04-2009, 05:14 AM	#5
rfog Guru Posts: 696 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	DR's Mobipocket (and iLiad) lacks not only margins, it lacks a lot of things. It seems they aren't seeing the Kindle. The DR1000 search sucks compared with Kindle one. Without touch screen a dictionary search in Kindle is far fast than in DR (or iLiad) with stylus and so. Screen speed and flicks sucks too in DR...

06-05-2009, 04:43 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Those are certainly "different" interfaces, but I don't think that one can definitely say that one is "better" than the other. What does the Kindle do if there are multiple definitions for a word? Another benefit of the DR1000 is that one can have multiple dictionaries installed (eg, a "general-purpose" dictionary, and a number of "specialist" dictionaries for different subjects), and see the different definitions in the different dictionaries; something that the Kindle cannot do. From the sound of it, both the Kindle and the DR1000 have "workable" systems for using dictionaries. We can all be happy about that, without having to claim that one is "better" than the other. It's not a "contest" .

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