My Cybook Gen3 just died...now what?

[mbovenka]

Well, it had to happen: my trusty Gen3 has given up the ghost. It survived almost exactly two years; I ordered it the 29th of October 2007. Yesterday the internal flash failed and not even the full-format version of the software upgrade will touch it anymore.

So, time for a new reader.

I want:

1) 6"

2) Good Mobipocket support. I have a LARGE Mobi collection and would prefer not to have to convert.

3) Not essential, but a very-nice-to-have as future-proofing: ePUB support.

I have narrowed it down to:

1) Just getting a new Gen3.

Pros:
I already know and love it.
Very good Mobi support.

Cons:
Somewhat pricey.
No ePUB support (at least not without losing Mobi, which is a no-no)

2) BEBOOK.

Pros:
Cheaper than the Gen3
Supports both Mobi and ePUB.
Local support (I am in the Netherlands)

Cons:
Rather limited number of font sizes, and I like lots of text on screen.
Poorer Mobi support?

Decisions, decisions... Any ideas? Other options? I don't much like the Kindle, and the Sonys don't do Mobi.

[tompe]

I would require Bookeen to fix it since it is inside the time for when EU rules holds for consumer protection concerning faulty devices (obviously faulty since the flash died).

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Well, it had to happen: my trusty Gen3 has given up the ghost. It survived almost exactly two years; I ordered it the 29th of October 2007. Yesterday the internal flash failed and not even the full-format version of the software upgrade will touch it anymore.

So, time for a new reader.

I want:

1) 6"

2) Good Mobipocket support. I have a LARGE Mobi collection and would prefer not to have to convert.

3) Not essential, but a very-nice-to-have as future-proofing: ePUB support.

I have narrowed it down to:

1) Just getting a new Gen3.

Pros:
I already know and love it.
Very good Mobi support.

Cons:
Somewhat pricey.
No ePUB support (at least not without losing Mobi, which is a no-no)

2) BEBOOK.

Pros:
Cheaper than the Gen3
Supports both Mobi and ePUB.
Local support (I am in the Netherlands)

Cons:
Rather limited number of font sizes, and I like lots of text on screen.
Poorer Mobi support?

Decisions, decisions... Any ideas? Other options? I don't much like the Kindle, and the Sonys don't do Mobi.

The BeBook doesn't support Dictionary look up, IIRC, so consider that. Also, the BeBook does not support Mobi and EPub DRM simultaneously, meaning you'd have to strip the DRM from part of your collection eventually. If you don't mind stripping the DRM or fiddling with some Python scripts, you could also use a Kindle to read your Mobipocket books.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Well, it had to happen: my trusty Gen3 has given up the ghost. It survived almost exactly two years; I ordered it the 29th of October 2007. Yesterday the internal flash failed and not even the full-format version of the software upgrade will touch it anymore.

So, time for a new reader.

I want:

1) 6"

2) Good Mobipocket support. I have a LARGE Mobi collection and would prefer not to have to convert.

3) Not essential, but a very-nice-to-have as future-proofing: ePUB support.

I have narrowed it down to:

1) Just getting a new Gen3.

Pros:
I already know and love it.
Very good Mobi support.

Cons:
Somewhat pricey.
No ePUB support (at least not without losing Mobi, which is a no-no)

2) BEBOOK.

Pros:
Cheaper than the Gen3
Supports both Mobi and ePUB.
Local support (I am in the Netherlands)

Cons:
Rather limited number of font sizes, and I like lots of text on screen.
Poorer Mobi support?

Decisions, decisions... Any ideas? Other options? I don't much like the Kindle, and the Sonys don't do Mobi.

Is your computer still able to see it? I had a similar problem with mine and it wouldn't mount on the computer but when I connected it to the computer it allowed me to format it. I then did a Cybook format flash and it's been working since.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

The BeBook doesn't support Dictionary look up, IIRC, so consider that. Also, the BeBook does not support Mobi and EPub DRM simultaneously, meaning you'd have to strip the DRM from part of your collection eventually. If you don't mind stripping the DRM or fiddling with some Python scripts, you could also use a Kindle to read your Mobipocket books.

Yes, I know the BeBook doesn't support Mobi DRM; that's not an issue. Python scripts don't faze me :-)

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Barcey

Is your computer still able to see it? I had a similar problem with mine and it wouldn't mount on the computer but when I connected it to the computer it allowed me to format it. I then did a Cybook format flash and it's been working since.

A first PC I tried it with wouldn't see it, but another would. I could format the internal flash, but an upgrade with the 796 format version still failed. I then tried it under Linux, and wiped the entire internal flash device (/dev/sdc in my case).

Bad idea. Now the upgrade won't even *start* anymore...

[Lake person]

I have a Cybook Gen 3 that broke. After 3 months I received a replacement for it from Bookeen. In the mean time I purchased a Bebook. Now I have both. I use the Cybook most. The Cybook freezes at least once every book. At the most it was 7 times during a book. This is bad. And unfortuneatly not uncommon with Cybook. I am seriously looking into the Pocketbook. Very similar to the Cybook but seems to have better internal workings. I am waiting on the price.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Lake person

I have a Cybook Gen 3 that broke. After 3 months I received a replacement for it from Bookeen. In the mean time I purchased a Bebook. Now I have both. I use the Cybook most. The Cybook freezes at least once every book. At the most it was 7 times during a book. This is bad. And unfortuneatly not uncommon with Cybook.

Interesting. Why do you still use the Cybook most, if it freezes that often? It didn't do that for me; it froze now and again on the first boot screen, but that's it.

I have more or less decided to get a BeBook, as I can get one at our local Selexyz bookstore. I popped round there today and could play with one, assisted by a rather knowledgeable shop assistant. What she couldn't tell me was whether the BeBook will read DRM-ed ePUB and non-DRM Mobi at the same time. She thought not, but I have found out already that it can.

[Lake person]

Bebook has great support and forum on their web sight. I do not believe you can use the DRM-ed of both Mobi and Epub at the same time. As for the Cybook. It's lighter than the Bebook and my Bebook's page turner button does not work smoothly. If I do not press it just right it doesn't turn the page. Also the pages on my Cybook are easier to read. I guess I will put up with the freezing Cybook than fighting to turn the Bebook pages. Also I am looking very closely at the Pocketbook 360.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Lake person

Bebook has great support and forum on their web sight. I do not believe you can use the DRM-ed of both Mobi and Epub at the same time. As for the Cybook. It's lighter than the Bebook and my Bebook's page turner button does not work smoothly. If I do not press it just right it doesn't turn the page. Also the pages on my Cybook are easier to read. I guess I will put up with the freezing Cybook than fighting to turn the Bebook pages. Also I am looking very closely at the Pocketbook 360.

Funny, the somewhat stiff 5-way button of my Cybook was exactly one of the small niggles I had with it; I understand that the newer EB-600 based ones are better in that regard.

I didn't find the Bebook any more difficult to read than my Cybook. The font size (when set at the smallest) was pretty good too, which was a worry for me. I feared that it might be too large for my taste.

[Lake person]

The Bebook isn't difficult to read. The Cybook is just better. But, the way you can separate books into different files on the Bebook is awesome. You will really like that.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Lake person

I do not believe you can use the DRM-ed of both Mobi and Epub at the same time.

No, it won't do that.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

A first PC I tried it with wouldn't see it, but another would. I could format the internal flash, but an upgrade with the 796 format version still failed. I then tried it under Linux, and wiped the entire internal flash device (/dev/sdc in my case).

Bad idea. Now the upgrade won't even *start* anymore...

I used XP to format it so it was your first attempt that worked for me.

I didn't know that a Linux format would brick it.

Another option for you would be to purchase a Gen3 with a broken screen and combine the two.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Barcey

I used XP to format it so it was your first attempt that worked for me.

I didn't know that a Linux format would brick it.

I doesn't. At least for the old Gen3 you can just repartition and reformat the drive and copy your backup files to it.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by tompe

I doesn't. At least for the old Gen3 you can just repartition and reformat the drive and copy your backup files to it.

Normally it wouldn't have, no. But what I did was use 'wipe' on the entire flash device and try the firmware upgrade directly after. The upgrade wouldn't even start; it hung on the first boot screen, and didn't switch to the upgrade screen. And my PC wouldn't recognize it anymore, so I couldn't repartition.

The End

I bought a BeBook today as a replacement.