New here....

Icarusflis · 09-25-2008, 03:40 AM

Hello All;

This is my very first post in this forum. I am also a very new e-book reader user.

I am about to buy my first e-book reader and I think the Sony 505 is the winner (US$ 500.- in Spain, where I am now...!!!!...outrageous if you ask me). Since I am in Europe I can not have access to the kindle so my choice was between the Cybook and the Sony. I chose the Sony because I believe it is better made and by a major company. I will wait till October 2 to make the purchase to see what this famous announcement of Sony is....

My question is: If I buy e-books at Amazon is there a way to re-format them so I can read them in the Sony with the same reading quality? Is the re-formatting a complicated and/or time consuming process?

The main reason why I buy a reader is to buy new release books in English which are hard to get here.

Thanks a lot;

Steve

HarryT · 09-25-2008, 04:01 AM

Hi Steve,

You can't buy e-books at Amazon unless you own a Kindle.

If you want a Sony, your best bet would be to buy one from the UK. The UK price is almost identical to the US price at the current exchange rate, so it is a good place to buy, plus you'll have a European warranty, which you won't if you buy directly from the US.

Personally, however, I'd recommend the Gen3. It has (IMHO) numerous benefits over the Sony. It uses the extremely popular MobiPocket book format which gives you numerous places to buy books at good prices.

gwynevans · 09-25-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarusflis

My question is: If I buy e-books at Amazon is there a way to re-format them so I can read them in the Sony with the same reading quality? Is the re-formatting a complicated and/or time consuming process?

As Harry says, you can't buy Amazon eBooks without a Kindle. You can, however, buy books that the Sony will read, either directly, by buying them in BBeB (Sony LRF/LRX) format or in Adobe ePub format, or indirectly, by buying them in formats such as MS Reader (LIT) format and converting them to a Sony format. The conversion from .LIT to .LRF is normally quick & easy process.

Icarusflis · 09-25-2008, 08:41 AM

Thank you guys.

I understand.

Harry, you recommend the Cybook. Is the build cuality as good as the Sony? I guess I can find a ton of material about Cybook Vs Sony in this forum.

Thanks again;

Steve

basschick · 09-25-2008, 09:12 AM

i also recommend the cybook. i've had my hands on both, and for me, the cybook is the winner. i've had mine since mid-june, and i love reading with it

pilotbob · 09-25-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarusflis

Harry, you recommend the Cybook. Is the build cuality as good as the Sony? I guess I can find a ton of material about Cybook Vs Sony in this forum.

There is also the BeBook which now supports Mobi format, includes folder support (cybook users have been asking for this for over a year now) and it's about the same price as the CyBook. however, from what I have seen (anecdotal) the customer service seems to be much better. They also have a referal program which can save you some money (€25), and maybe get you a refund on your bebook.

BOb

Icarusflis · 09-25-2008, 03:19 PM

Thank you for the feed back.

Where can I buy e-readers, preferably in the UK,...I think that for European buyers is the place to buy.

Steve

gwynevans · 09-25-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarusflis

Where can I buy e-readers, preferably in the UK

Cybook - WHSmith
Sony - Waterstones

Icarusflis · 09-26-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Cybook - WHSmith
Sony - Waterstones

Thanks for the info.

I see that they only deliver to the UK and now I am in Spain. I thought that we were in Europe, you know that place without borders .....

Steve

HarryT · 09-26-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

There is also the BeBook which now supports Mobi format, includes folder support (cybook users have been asking for this for over a year now) and it's about the same price as the CyBook. however, from what I have seen (anecdotal) the customer service seems to be much better. They also have a referal program which can save you some money (€25), and maybe get you a refund on your bebook.

BOb

BUT - and for me this is an important "but" - from what people are saying, the BeBook does NOT support dictionary lookup. You can open a dictionary and search for a word in it, but you don't appear to be able to look up the definition of a word in the book that you're reading. That's a major shortcoming.

gwynevans · 09-26-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarusflis

Thanks for the info.

I see that they only deliver to the UK and now I am in Spain. I thought that we were in Europe, you know that place without borders .....

Steve

Ah, it does appear WHSmith doesn't, but Waterstones do sell internationally

DaleDe · 09-26-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

BUT - and for me this is an important "but" - from what people are saying, the BeBook does NOT support dictionary lookup. You can open a dictionary and search for a word in it, but you don't appear to be able to look up the definition of a word in the book that you're reading. That's a major shortcoming.

I believe you are correct but I also believe that Jinke (maker of the BeBOOK) has a history of being pretty responsive with firmware upgrades and this shortcoming will be corrected via a firware fix at some point.

pilotbob · 09-26-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

I believe you are correct but I also believe that Jinke (maker of the BeBOOK) has a history of being pretty responsive with firmware upgrades and this shortcoming will be corrected via a firware fix at some point.

What he said.

So, I guess it is a question of which feature you find more important... Would you rather have folder navigation support and wait for an integrated dictionary lookup or have integrated dictionary support and wait for folder navigation support?

BOb

HarryT · 09-27-2008, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

What he said.

So, I guess it is a question of which feature you find more important... Would you rather have folder navigation support and wait for an integrated dictionary lookup or have integrated dictionary support and wait for folder navigation support?

BOb

Personally, the latter. I don't particularly need folders, but I use dictionary lookup every time I read a book. Folders are at the "they'd be nice to have, but I'm not really bothered" level for me.

pilotbob · 09-27-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Personally, the latter. I don't particularly need folders, but I use dictionary lookup every time I read a book. Folders are at the "they'd be nice to have, but I'm not really bothered" level for me.

Should we take bets on which feature will appear first? Given Bookeens history of delayed releases I'm putting my money on Hanlin/BeBook.

BOb

09-25-2008, 03:40 AM	#1
Icarusflis Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3	New here.... Hello All; This is my very first post in this forum. I am also a very new e-book reader user. I am about to buy my first e-book reader and I think the Sony 505 is the winner (US$ 500.- in Spain, where I am now...!!!!...outrageous if you ask me). Since I am in Europe I can not have access to the kindle so my choice was between the Cybook and the Sony. I chose the Sony because I believe it is better made and by a major company. I will wait till October 2 to make the purchase to see what this famous announcement of Sony is.... My question is: If I buy e-books at Amazon is there a way to re-format them so I can read them in the Sony with the same reading quality? Is the re-formatting a complicated and/or time consuming process? The main reason why I buy a reader is to buy new release books in English which are hard to get here. Thanks a lot; Steve

09-25-2008, 04:01 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Hi Steve, You can't buy e-books at Amazon unless you own a Kindle. If you want a Sony, your best bet would be to buy one from the UK. The UK price is almost identical to the US price at the current exchange rate, so it is a good place to buy, plus you'll have a European warranty, which you won't if you buy directly from the US. Personally, however, I'd recommend the Gen3. It has (IMHO) numerous benefits over the Sony. It uses the extremely popular MobiPocket book format which gives you numerous places to buy books at good prices.

09-25-2008, 08:41 AM	#4
Icarusflis Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3	Thank you guys. I understand. Harry, you recommend the Cybook. Is the build cuality as good as the Sony? I guess I can find a ton of material about Cybook Vs Sony in this forum. Thanks again; Steve

09-25-2008, 09:12 AM	#5
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	i also recommend the cybook. i've had my hands on both, and for me, the cybook is the winner. i've had mine since mid-june, and i love reading with it

09-25-2008, 03:19 PM	#7
Icarusflis Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3	Thank you for the feed back. Where can I buy e-readers, preferably in the UK,...I think that for European buyers is the place to buy. Steve

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