I need a push to buy the Cybook

[Over]

I've downloaded the Mobipocket's Creator and have been experimenting. Apparently it's converting very well the eBooks I've tried to convert, but I have no idea if it's changing the size of the pages or anything, as I only have the pc software to test it. But at least I didn't notice any serious formating errors. Didn't try PDF with charts or big graphics, but I don't really need to carry them with me, as the Cybook wouid be for personal use, mainly entertainment.

I've also tried my proposed idea: using the mobipocket creator to compile the images of a single manga chapter into a *.prc file. I have no idea if the pages were resized or downgraded, but I would like to leave here the file for anyone of you with a Cybook. It would be great if anyone could check it out in his/her Cybook and tell the results (photos would be welcome too).

I'm gonna try now to use the Manga2Ebook software with the same manga chapter. I'll post it here too.

For now, here's the manga chapter (it's on rapidshare, as a direct download): http://rapidshare.com/files/117458916/Manga.prc (1417 KB)

(I'm assuming that posting a sample chapter isn't illegal. Besides, that manga isn't even comercialized outside Japan.)


Edit: Ok, here we go. I've used the Manga2Ebook software and generated 3 files.

This file, I've used M2E to change the image files (resizing, adding a little bit contrast and antialiasing) and convert to PDF:

http://rapidshare.com/files/117465326/Manga_M2E-PDF.pdf (direct download) (5578 KB)

In this file, I've used the M2E's generated PDF and converted it to PRC using Mobipocket's creator:

http://rapidshare.com/files/11746551...2E-PDF-PRC.prc (direct download) (1445 KB)


Finally, in this file, I've used M2E just to process the images, without converting them to PDF. Then I've grabbed those image files and compiled them in Mobipocket's Creator:

http://rapidshare.com/files/117465750/Manga_M2E-PRC.prc (direct download) (1462 KB)

Now... It would be reeealy nice if someone could check these out in his/her Cybook

[Over]

BTW, here's the Manga2Ebook software, as it seems the original link isn't working in its topic:

http://rapidshare.com/files/11745978...ckIncluded.rar

[Joerg_Mosthaf]

Ok, I've tried them.
All in all I like the M2E-PDF.pdf best, as it zooms the picture a bit (105%) and is the most clear to read (probably because of the zoom)

The M2E-PDF.prc is ok, but the picture is a bit smaller and the text is a bit less clear. Still, it is only about 1/3 the size of the M2E-PDF.pdf.

The M2E-PRC.prc shows one empty page for each page with a picture. Otherwise it looks exactly like the M2E-PDF.prc file.

[rasp1331]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you used an iLiad "for real", as a matter of interest? I owned one for several months before buying my Gen3. For me, the Gen3 is a far better machine.

If reading PDFs is your main priority, then yes, the iLiad is better. However, it's close to double the price of the Gen3, takes almost a minute to boot, has a short battery life (around 10-15h, depending on what you're doing), and for me was just too big to carry around with me everywhere, which is what I do with the Gen3.

I haven't tried it, but had so many problems with the cybook, not only with pdf files: the html viewer is also very basic not being able to handle fonts with accents for example. As it was pointed out, it is indeed only the mobipocket software that saves it from only being usable for plain english texts.

By the way, my latest problem: is there a dictionary for the cybook that recognizes nouns being in plural, etc? The sample oxford pocket dictionary is not like that, I've tried several nouns starting with l in plural, and it didn't find them unless the plural is "irregular" (the plural libraries worked for example).

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by rasp1331

I haven't tried it, but had so many problems with the cybook, not only with pdf files: the html viewer is also very basic not being able to handle fonts with accents for example. As it was pointed out, it is indeed only the mobipocket software that saves it from only being usable for plain english texts.

By the way, my latest problem: is there a dictionary for the cybook that recognizes nouns being in plural, etc? The sample oxford pocket dictionary is not like that, I've tried several nouns starting with l in plural, and it didn't find them unless the plural is "irregular" (the plural libraries worked for example).

The sample dictionary is really only a very small book, you need to get hold of a decent one from any of the e-bookshops.

[JSWolf]

When dealing with Manga, the 505 has a native shades while the gen3 has only 4. So that will enhance your Manga pleasure.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rasp1331

I haven't tried it, but had so many problems with the cybook, not only with pdf files: the html viewer is also very basic not being able to handle fonts with accents for example. As it was pointed out, it is indeed only the mobipocket software that saves it from only being usable for plain english texts.

MobiPocket is indeed the Gen3's "primary" format. Pretty much any other format can easily be converted to Mobi using the free "MobiPocket Creator" software.

By the way, my latest problem: is there a dictionary for the cybook that recognizes nouns being in plural, etc? The sample oxford pocket dictionary is not like that, I've tried several nouns starting with l in plural, and it didn't find them unless the plural is "irregular" (the plural libraries worked for example).

I have the Unabridged Chambers dictionary; it certainly handles irregular plurals just fine.

[Over]

Originally Posted by Joerg_Mosthaf

Ok, I've tried them.
All in all I like the M2E-PDF.pdf best, as it zooms the picture a bit (105%) and is the most clear to read (probably because of the zoom)

The M2E-PDF.prc is ok, but the picture is a bit smaller and the text is a bit less clear. Still, it is only about 1/3 the size of the M2E-PDF.pdf.

The M2E-PRC.prc shows one empty page for each page with a picture. Otherwise it looks exactly like the M2E-PDF.prc file.

Thanks a lot for testing it. But have you tried the first one (manga.prc)? In that one I just placed the pictures in Mobipocket's Creator, without resizing or doing anything. Could you check it out, please?

If the blank page problem appears again like with the M2E-PRC file, then I should assume that the problem is with the Mobipocket's Creator image file handling...

[Joerg_Mosthaf]

Oops, overlooked that one
Trying now ...

Yepp, same thing - on empty page between the manga pages.
Otherwise ok.

Oh and one other thing: all the files besides the Manga_M2E-PDF.pdf show a cover image in the Library.

[rasp1331]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have the Unabridged Chambers dictionary; it certainly handles irregular plurals just fine.

You misunderstood me: I'm also saying that the irregular plurals are handled well because they are in the dictionary. The problem is with the regular plurals, because they are not.

Originally Posted by GeoffC

The sample dictionary is really only a very small book, you need to get hold of a decent one from any of the e-bookshops.

The sample dictionary is *full* in the sense that it contains all the words starting with l from the pocket oxford dictionary (that's why I know "libraries" work).

Oh, and one more reason to get the iLiad is offline wikipedia: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24174

(Wikipedia is really a big favorite of mine, I'm running it exclusively on my iPod, it doesn't contain any music ATM.)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rasp1331

You misunderstood me: I'm also saying that the irregular plurals are handled well because they are in the dictionary. The problem is with the regular plurals, because they are not.

My apologies for the misunderstanding. The Chambers dictionary handles ALL inflected forms of a word just fine.

[Over]

Originally Posted by Joerg_Mosthaf

Oops, overlooked that one
Trying now ...

Yepp, same thing - on empty page between the manga pages.
Otherwise ok.

Oh and one other thing: all the files besides the Manga_M2E-PDF.pdf show a cover image in the Library.

Thanks a lot! I guess I found a way to read manga until full library sub-directories support is implemented (or zip/cbz/cbr files support).

I think I will take a shot with the Cybook Gen3. Just another minor question: I'm thinking about buying the Cybook with a cover, instead of the deluxe edition. The reason is that I can buy a 2GB SD memory card for less than 10€ here. The Cybook's site asks more than twice that price. Is it because it's overpriced, or is it some kind of special SD memory card?

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Over

Is it because it's overpriced, or is it some kind of special SD memory card?

There is nothing special about the SD card that comes with the Cybook...
Mine works OK-especially since I re-formatted from FAT to FAT32, but some seem not to going by the comments I've seen.

[Joerg_Mosthaf]

Originally Posted by Over

I think I will take a shot with the Cybook Gen3. Just another minor question: I'm thinking about buying the Cybook with a cover, instead of the deluxe edition. The reason is that I can buy a 2GB SD memory card for less than 10€ here. The Cybook's site asks more than twice that price. Is it because it's overpriced, or is it some kind of special SD memory card?

Definitely overpriced I also just got the cover, as I already have a USB power adaptor (apples also overpriced but powerfull iPod charger) and didn't see much use in the extra battery. I tried it with a fast name brand SD card and some cheap, slow ones and noticed no difference (after formatting both to FAT32, of course). Seems the CyBook doesn't use the advantage of the faster one much.

[GUIZMOW]

i own a gen3 since a few month and it has really change my way of reading.
finally i got the impression to 'read'. after 20 chapter of naruto, so far i only see the problem of the folders, but even with that you can put your picture on sd card and make free space by taking it out. or also create folders and then select 'sort' 'file path' to get an easy of reading your manga in your order of preference.