Cybook Recieved, First Thoughts - Page 2

Jellby · 03-28-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thanks - I misread it. I wonder if the "missed button press" bug was fixed in 538? I don't recall whether or not I've seen it since upgrading. Have you?

My Cybook had 538 preinstalled, and I've experienced the bug multiple times. As others have reported, it was much more frequent the first days/weeks of use. Maybe the butto has become softer or maybe I have learnt to use it properly, since it almost never happens now (it happened yesterday, though, so it's still present).

billyad2000 · 03-28-2008, 03:39 PM

My Cybook also has 538 preinstalled. Maybe it is just because its new, it seems a bit odd if this is the case because the LED indicates a button press.
Justification doesn't seem to make any difference to the variable speed of page changes.

As for the line spacing, thats just a personal preference, it would benefit me to be able to reduce this slightly, but even without this option I still feel the whole screen could be utilised when headers are disabled for example.

If replacing the SD card fixes the bookmark issue then I can live with everything else.

HarryT · 03-28-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I think it is always the same on the Cybook also. And I really appreciate that the line spacing is as it is since it makes it easier to read.

My apologies - it's not possible for a book to control line spacing, but it can explicitly control paragraph spacing and indentation with Mobi-specific attributes on the <p> tag. I've just tested it, and the Gen3 does honour this. Take a look at the "Alice in Wonderland" sample on the Mobi developer web site - it plays around with this kind of thing in all sorts of different ways.

tompe · 03-28-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyad2000

As for the line spacing, thats just a personal preference, it would benefit me to be able to reduce this slightly, but even without this option I still feel the whole screen could be utilised when headers are disabled for example.

Only up to a certain point. Too small line spacing will make it harder to read since the error rate in finding the next line will go up.

Justy · 03-28-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyad2000

I noticed in the menu there is options to remove the header and pageometer. I removed these expecting to get an extra couple of lines on each page, unfortunatley the page size doesn't change. In a similar vein, an option to set the size of the borders would be great. There is enough room on each page for the ammount of text I wish, It's just not utilized at the moment.

I saw that option as well. I too was expecting to get a few extra lines by removing the header & pageometer as this is what happens for the Mobipocket books I read on my iPAQ PDA. As soon as I realized that the amount of space used by the book itself didn't change, I put the header information back in. I would *love* it if they added the option to use more of the top and/or bottom of the screen when these options are not selected.

GeoffC · 03-29-2008, 05:52 AM

Well , finally it has arrived !
First impressions are wow ! .
I have it set on the lowest font size , and the quality of the writing on the page surpasses many paper-back books .
I am obviously in early days ( or hours ) with the enjoyment , but apart from a niggle or two I am impressed . ( Who has chocolate that shade of brown !!! ?? ) .
It looks , though , as if I am going to have to order another !!!

billyad2000 · 03-29-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

have it set on the lowest font size , and the quality of the writing on the page surpasses many paper-back books .
( Who has chocolate that shade of brown !!! ?? )

You must have supervision

When I first received it I tried the smallest font, gave me a headache after about 10 minutes.

Your right about the colour - As a boy I went to church every Sunday and it looks like a hymm book we used to use.

tompe · 03-29-2008, 09:30 AM

With Verdana the second smallest gives you the same number of characters per line.

mbovenka · 03-29-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

With Verdana the second smallest gives you the same number of characters per line.

That goes for most fonts. Using the smallest font size only gives you huge margins, and buys you little extra text. I'm using the second smallest as well.

lmarie · 03-29-2008, 12:01 PM

FWIW, I haven't had any variation in forward page turn speeds (I press the bottom of the button rim surround) but I have often have to press the left side two or three times to go back. I don't quite understand why it goes forward reliably, but not back.
Lelah

IceHand · 03-29-2008, 02:39 PM

The line spacing on the Cybook is determined by the font's OS/2 metrics. I had some trouble using the font Dolly – the line spacing was too wide – but by editing the metrics via FontForge it looks perfect now.
Btw, I can really recommend Dolly, it's the best looking font I've tested on the Cybook so far and I've tested a lot of fonts.

EDIT: Should I make a tutorial how to edit the line spacing?

Halk · 03-29-2008, 03:04 PM

Rather than make a new thread. Here's my initial thoughts.

Cybook arrived on Thursday, well packaged. The box contents were surprisingly sparse - but this is a good thing for me, I've got too much needless crap around anyway. The Cybook and the USB cable. The box had space for the case which I'd ordered as well.

The page flash annoys me immensely, as I had thought it would. Thankfully it can be turned off, and there's almost no ghosting. The ghosting that is there is less than what you would see with the print on a paperback showing through from the other side. However with the page flash off there is a touch less contrast.

Emboldened text seems to be the way to go to increase contrast. Also lighting has a very large effect on things. The more light the smaller the text can be comfortably.

So far I've only read 1/3 of a book - Imperium by Robert Harris. I cannot tell how many "pages" I've read. However from the bar down the bottom, and by checking the paperback has 500 pages I would say I've read 200.

There is a delay between pressing the button and the page updating. There's also a green light up the top right which goes on when you initiate a page press. This lets you know it's been registered. Unfortunately an oversight has meant that the case completely covers the green LED meaning you can't tell if the page turn has registered or not, other than waiting.

What this means is that you hit the button and then wait, and then think that's long enough it's not changed and hit the button again, just as the page moves and you end up moving forward 2 pages. I started changing pages using the down key, and over time I got less, and less presses without a page turn. I've since switched to the right key to move pages. I still press and don't get a page turn, but I'd say that's becoming less - although with only 200 pages read it's hardly a scientific measurement.

The case is well done, it's perfect for the job (bar the green light being blocked). It's padded and there's rigid material inside to hold shape. I have no idea if it's cardboard or if it's plastic inside. The "spine" has no rigid material, and so far having been bent both over to close the Cybook, and completely in the other direction when I hold the book shows no signs of stretching, cracking, etc, and no lines have appeared on it. Personally I don't like the colour, I'd far prefer a black case, but that's my preference not yours.

Reading the book is far superior to a paperback. The book doesn't fold back closed, you don't need to hold it open. There's no papercuts, it's less bulky, it's easy to hold. You can support it to sit at 45 degrees for an easy reading angle by just propping it up against almost anything. So far it's been propped up against the centre speaker at my PC, a mug, the sugar jar, the milk jug, and when I'm in bed it quite happily sits on the quilt, unlike a paperback which is too heavy.

An area where I think the Cybook suffers is dim lighting. Again it's hardly scientific, but I feel the contrast suffers when the lighting is poor. However, the Cybook does have a trick up it's sleeve there. You can increase the font size, which you can't do with a book. The ability to increase (and decrease) the font size means that no matter what the lighting conditions are I'll be able to read. There will be times I suspect where I could read a paperback with smaller print than the font I'd be using on the Cybook. However again it's such a subjective thing, so I'm not going to put any money on it!

I did have an issue with fonts, but deleting the cache (as said in another thread here) fixed that with no other impact. I'm sure Bookeen will fix that issue in a firmware revision, but it's hardly critical, the only time you'll stick new fonts on you will be in a position to delete the cache. The ability to put new fonts on is pretty spanky. I've already stuck on some free fonts (Liberation) although I'm back to Verdana. Over time I'll try different fonts, and eventually I expect I'll find a favourite and stick with it. Line spacing, however, would be nice if it was adjustable, there's a little wasted space on my screen at the moment, and the more text that's on there the less page turning I have to do.

Frankly the Cybook is wonderful, and I'm delighted I've bought one. I can't justify the price at all, it came out at £280 with just the basics (I'd consider the case to be essential). I love my toys, so I can justify it. But £280 is a hell of a lot of paperbacks. I managed to talk myself into it because £280 is the amount I'll have saved by next year because I negotiated my Vodafone contract down. But at the end of the day if you consider the amount of use you'd expect to get from it - what, 10 hours reading a week, that's 500 a year, assuming it lasts you 3 years that's not bad going per hour. For me I expect I'll read more than 10 hours a week.

Halk · 03-29-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceHand

EDIT: Should I make a tutorial how to edit the line spacing?

Please!

IceHand · 03-29-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halk

Please!

Here's a how-to:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?p=165429

DocGo · 04-24-2008, 03:09 PM

My first post here. I received my Cybook Gen3 yesterday after waiting for it with much anticipation. Unfortunately, after charging for 5 hours, then reading one of the pre-installed ebooks for about 10mins, the beautiful white screen with black print became very dark all of a sudden I can still make out the print but it's as if I am looking at a negative image of a photo...sad to say, my cybook is on its way back to France (RMA). I am very disappointed with this experience but at least the Bookeen folks were quick enough to give me an RMA. Hopefully, I will get a working replacement soon.

03-29-2008, 02:39 PM	#26
IceHand Linux User Posts: 323 Karma: 13682 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Device: Kindle 3	The line spacing on the Cybook is determined by the font's OS/2 metrics. I had some trouble using the font Dolly – the line spacing was too wide – but by editing the metrics via FontForge it looks perfect now. Btw, I can really recommend Dolly, it's the best looking font I've tested on the Cybook so far and I've tested a lot of fonts. EDIT: Should I make a tutorial how to edit the line spacing? Attached Thumbnails Last edited by IceHand; 03-29-2008 at 02:52 PM.

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03-28-2008, 03:39 PM	#17
billyad2000 Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 2968 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Cybook Gen3	My Cybook also has 538 preinstalled. Maybe it is just because its new, it seems a bit odd if this is the case because the LED indicates a button press. Justification doesn't seem to make any difference to the variable speed of page changes. As for the line spacing, thats just a personal preference, it would benefit me to be able to reduce this slightly, but even without this option I still feel the whole screen could be utilised when headers are disabled for example. If replacing the SD card fixes the bookmark issue then I can live with everything else.

03-29-2008, 05:52 AM	#21
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Well , finally it has arrived ! First impressions are wow ! . I have it set on the lowest font size , and the quality of the writing on the page surpasses many paper-back books . I am obviously in early days ( or hours ) with the enjoyment , but apart from a niggle or two I am impressed . ( Who has chocolate that shade of brown !!! ?? ) . It looks , though , as if I am going to have to order another !!!

03-29-2008, 09:30 AM	#23
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	With Verdana the second smallest gives you the same number of characters per line.

03-29-2008, 12:01 PM	#25
lmarie Dilettante Posts: 153 Karma: 500 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Philadelphia area Device: EB1150, Cybook Gen3, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo, Kobo Clara BW	FWIW, I haven't had any variation in forward page turn speeds (I press the bottom of the button rim surround) but I have often have to press the left side two or three times to go back. I don't quite understand why it goes forward reliably, but not back. Lelah

03-29-2008, 03:04 PM	#27
Halk Fanatic Posts: 538 Karma: 469999 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS-650 (PRS+ alpha - thanks Kartu!)	Rather than make a new thread. Here's my initial thoughts. Cybook arrived on Thursday, well packaged. The box contents were surprisingly sparse - but this is a good thing for me, I've got too much needless crap around anyway. The Cybook and the USB cable. The box had space for the case which I'd ordered as well. The page flash annoys me immensely, as I had thought it would. Thankfully it can be turned off, and there's almost no ghosting. The ghosting that is there is less than what you would see with the print on a paperback showing through from the other side. However with the page flash off there is a touch less contrast. Emboldened text seems to be the way to go to increase contrast. Also lighting has a very large effect on things. The more light the smaller the text can be comfortably. So far I've only read 1/3 of a book - Imperium by Robert Harris. I cannot tell how many "pages" I've read. However from the bar down the bottom, and by checking the paperback has 500 pages I would say I've read 200. There is a delay between pressing the button and the page updating. There's also a green light up the top right which goes on when you initiate a page press. This lets you know it's been registered. Unfortunately an oversight has meant that the case completely covers the green LED meaning you can't tell if the page turn has registered or not, other than waiting. What this means is that you hit the button and then wait, and then think that's long enough it's not changed and hit the button again, just as the page moves and you end up moving forward 2 pages. I started changing pages using the down key, and over time I got less, and less presses without a page turn. I've since switched to the right key to move pages. I still press and don't get a page turn, but I'd say that's becoming less - although with only 200 pages read it's hardly a scientific measurement. The case is well done, it's perfect for the job (bar the green light being blocked). It's padded and there's rigid material inside to hold shape. I have no idea if it's cardboard or if it's plastic inside. The "spine" has no rigid material, and so far having been bent both over to close the Cybook, and completely in the other direction when I hold the book shows no signs of stretching, cracking, etc, and no lines have appeared on it. Personally I don't like the colour, I'd far prefer a black case, but that's my preference not yours. Reading the book is far superior to a paperback. The book doesn't fold back closed, you don't need to hold it open. There's no papercuts, it's less bulky, it's easy to hold. You can support it to sit at 45 degrees for an easy reading angle by just propping it up against almost anything. So far it's been propped up against the centre speaker at my PC, a mug, the sugar jar, the milk jug, and when I'm in bed it quite happily sits on the quilt, unlike a paperback which is too heavy. An area where I think the Cybook suffers is dim lighting. Again it's hardly scientific, but I feel the contrast suffers when the lighting is poor. However, the Cybook does have a trick up it's sleeve there. You can increase the font size, which you can't do with a book. The ability to increase (and decrease) the font size means that no matter what the lighting conditions are I'll be able to read. There will be times I suspect where I could read a paperback with smaller print than the font I'd be using on the Cybook. However again it's such a subjective thing, so I'm not going to put any money on it! I did have an issue with fonts, but deleting the cache (as said in another thread here) fixed that with no other impact. I'm sure Bookeen will fix that issue in a firmware revision, but it's hardly critical, the only time you'll stick new fonts on you will be in a position to delete the cache. The ability to put new fonts on is pretty spanky. I've already stuck on some free fonts (Liberation) although I'm back to Verdana. Over time I'll try different fonts, and eventually I expect I'll find a favourite and stick with it. Line spacing, however, would be nice if it was adjustable, there's a little wasted space on my screen at the moment, and the more text that's on there the less page turning I have to do. Frankly the Cybook is wonderful, and I'm delighted I've bought one. I can't justify the price at all, it came out at £280 with just the basics (I'd consider the case to be essential). I love my toys, so I can justify it. But £280 is a hell of a lot of paperbacks. I managed to talk myself into it because £280 is the amount I'll have saved by next year because I negotiated my Vodafone contract down. But at the end of the day if you consider the amount of use you'd expect to get from it - what, 10 hours reading a week, that's 500 a year, assuming it lasts you 3 years that's not bad going per hour. For me I expect I'll read more than 10 hours a week.

04-24-2008, 03:09 PM	#30
DocGo Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Bookeen Cybook Gen 3	My first post here. I received my Cybook Gen3 yesterday after waiting for it with much anticipation. Unfortunately, after charging for 5 hours, then reading one of the pre-installed ebooks for about 10mins, the beautiful white screen with black print became very dark all of a sudden I can still make out the print but it's as if I am looking at a negative image of a photo...sad to say, my cybook is on its way back to France (RMA). I am very disappointed with this experience but at least the Bookeen folks were quick enough to give me an RMA. Hopefully, I will get a working replacement soon.