For to Keep? - Page 2

sfrey · 02-06-2009, 09:35 AM

>my cybook has never crashed at all in 7 months of use. perhaps there's
>something wrong with yours?

Wow, don't know what to make of that. Do you read txt, html or large, scanned pdfs? On those formats (at least the latter two) i would crash every day. reset worked well enough to not make it a deal breaker but...

>do you have to use bookmarks? any book you're reading opens right to where
>you left off...

I can't use a highlighter or postits to take notes on it (even though that brings up funny images in my head), so I use bookmarks (which also cause crashes)

>btw, perhaps there is an existing firmware better for your needs than the
>one your cybook is presently reading. each firmware seems to have >different traits, from what i've read.

that is interesting, I also don't know what to make of that. I've assumed that newer Cybook firmware is better cybook firmware. Unless you are hinting at other projects. As for openinkpot, rom what i've seen, it isn't at a point where I could get it on the Cybook without knowing what I'm doing and without risking breaking it, and there isn't a strong community of alternative-firmware Cybook users, so I'd be on my own. I'd be happy to be shown otherwise.

-seth

HarryT · 02-06-2009, 09:42 AM

PDF is a little flaky on the Gen3, Seth. Mobi is rock-solid.

The general cause of problems with bookmarks is a corrupt file system; try doing a "chkdsk" on the file system.

tompe · 02-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

PDF is a little flaky on the Gen3, Seth.

HTML is flaky also. Taking a random short story in HTML format from the web the probability for it to crash the Cybook is high.

HarryT · 02-10-2009, 03:15 AM

"Flaky" is putting it mildly. HTML is almost worthless on the CyBook - it doesn't even support internal hyperlinks, for goodness sake!

delphidb96 · 02-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"Flaky" is putting it mildly. HTML is almost worthless on the CyBook - it doesn't even support internal hyperlinks, for goodness sake!

Too true. Mayhap Bookeen is working diligently to add ePub and better HTML support in the next release of the firmware.

But then, maybe they're tossing in the towel with the release of Kindle 2.

Derek

bwaldron · 02-10-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

But then, maybe they're tossing in the towel with the release of Kindle 2.

Doubtful, since I imagine most of Bookeen's sales are from areas outside the US where the Kindle isn't available.

And even with the current firmware, I personally find the Cybook to be a better reader for Mobi files than the Kindle (and don't expect that to change with the Kindle 2).

HarryT · 02-11-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Too true. Mayhap Bookeen is working diligently to add ePub and better HTML support in the next release of the firmware.

But then, maybe they're tossing in the towel with the release of Kindle 2.

Derek

No disrespect intended, but perhaps for people in the US it's easy to "over-estimate" the impact of the Kindle. Don't forget that it's a complete irrelevence for the majority of us, who cannot buy it.

nelsonescorcio · 02-11-2009, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No disrespect intended, but perhaps for people in the US it's easy to "over-estimate" the impact of the Kindle. Don't forget that it's a complete irrelevence for the majority of us, who cannot buy it.

Agree 100%.

Cybook has a rock solid position in the market. And Kindle simply does not count outside the US.

However, it is disturbing Bookeen's incapacity to distribute more regular firmware upgrades (last one was in the summer) and better comunicate with their costumers (nothing happens in it's blog because Bookeen simply does not say anything about anything...).

And, in this business, what is "rock solid" today may easily become something quite diferent tomorrow...

delphidb96 · 02-11-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No disrespect intended, but perhaps for people in the US it's easy to "over-estimate" the impact of the Kindle. Don't forget that it's a complete irrelevence for the majority of us, who cannot buy it.

I agree. I was just throwing a snit because, over here, the Great Ghod Amazon and it's High Priest, Jeff Bezos, has garnered tons of press - nearly to the exclusion of EZ-Reader, BeBook, PRS-700, etc.

Not that I don't like my Cybooks. I love them!

However, anyone who's thinking about *also* owning a BeBook or Kindle 2, could you please click on the links in my signature line? I'm only 5 orders away from a free BeBook and 6 away from covering my very own Kindle 2. (Yes, I'm whining. Life sucks when one tries to buy ebook readers while living on a low, fixed, income.

)

Derek

bwaldron · 02-11-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelsonescorcio

However, it is disturbing Bookeen's incapacity to distribute more regular firmware upgrades (last one was in the summer) and better comunicate with their costumers (nothing happens in it's blog because Bookeen simply does not say anything about anything...).

Not disagreeing, but if the Kindle is the comparison, there has been more activity by Bookeen than Amazon in the firmware area. Perhaps damning with faint praise, but there it is.

tompe · 02-11-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwaldron

Not disagreeing, but if the Kindle is the comparison, there has been more activity by Bookeen than Amazon in the firmware area. Perhaps damning with faint praise, but there it is.

Well, the reason for Bookeens firmware updates seems to have been that they needed to fix bugs. Amazons approach with not having so many bugs seems smarter.

bwaldron · 02-11-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Well, the reason for Bookeens firmware updates seems to have been that they needed to fix bugs. Amazons approach with not having so many bugs seems smarter.

<shrug>

I haven't really found my Cybook to be buggy (other than with non-Mobi content -- which the Kindle doesn't even attempt to handle directly, and I don't really attempt to use).

Neither is perfect, and they both have some advantages and disadvantages. On balance, I prefer the Cybook when I just want to read a book.

delphidb96 · 02-11-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwaldron

<shrug>

I haven't really found my Cybook to be buggy (other than with non-Mobi content -- which the Kindle doesn't even attempt to handle directly, and I don't really attempt to use).

Neither is perfect, and they both have some advantages and disadvantages. On balance, I prefer the Cybook when I just want to read a book.

I *have* found the Cybook firmware to be 'buggy' - but then everyone should understand that *I* started with firmware version 0.9 build254!

(That's the peril of getting an 'engineering sample'.

)

I can't really speak to whether the Amazon firmware has been 'overly' buggy because I don't own one. I know the PRS-500 firmware was not near as buggy as early Cybook firmware, but I do feel the later builds, 538 and higher, were/are 'good enough' for general use.

Where I've had the problem with Cybook firmware is the lack of any (perceived on my part) development of better HTML, RTF and/or ePub support as well as less-than-functional Library file management - including the idea that there's no way to delete an ebook using the danged DELETE key!

Even so, I see no reason why a non-US-resident should avoid a Cybook in favor of a Kindle/Kindle2.

Derek

HarryT · 02-12-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwaldron

<shrug>

I haven't really found my Cybook to be buggy (other than with non-Mobi content -- which the Kindle doesn't even attempt to handle directly, and I don't really attempt to use).

But what version of the firmware did you start with? The initial firmware had numerous bugs, pretty much all of which have been fixed (for Mobi books, at least).

nelsonescorcio · 02-12-2009, 04:08 AM

My Cybook still crashes too often - maybe once every week. It as build 802. And I read mostly mobi books.

I guess I am now getting used to it (restarting the device, I mean). But, off course, I shouldn't have to.

I still hope next upgrade will make major improvements on this.

02-06-2009, 09:35 AM	#16
sfrey Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: none	>my cybook has never crashed at all in 7 months of use. perhaps there's >something wrong with yours? Wow, don't know what to make of that. Do you read txt, html or large, scanned pdfs? On those formats (at least the latter two) i would crash every day. reset worked well enough to not make it a deal breaker but... >do you have to use bookmarks? any book you're reading opens right to where >you left off... I can't use a highlighter or postits to take notes on it (even though that brings up funny images in my head), so I use bookmarks (which also cause crashes) >btw, perhaps there is an existing firmware better for your needs than the >one your cybook is presently reading. each firmware seems to have >different traits, from what i've read. that is interesting, I also don't know what to make of that. I've assumed that newer Cybook firmware is better cybook firmware. Unless you are hinting at other projects. As for openinkpot, rom what i've seen, it isn't at a point where I could get it on the Cybook without knowing what I'm doing and without risking breaking it, and there isn't a strong community of alternative-firmware Cybook users, so I'd be on my own. I'd be happy to be shown otherwise. -seth

02-06-2009, 09:42 AM	#17
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	PDF is a little flaky on the Gen3, Seth. Mobi is rock-solid. The general cause of problems with bookmarks is a corrupt file system; try doing a "chkdsk" on the file system.

02-10-2009, 03:15 AM	#19
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"Flaky" is putting it mildly. HTML is almost worthless on the CyBook - it doesn't even support internal hyperlinks, for goodness sake!

02-12-2009, 04:08 AM	#30
nelsonescorcio Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 102 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Portugal Device: Cybook Gen 3	My Cybook still crashes too often - maybe once every week. It as build 802. And I read mostly mobi books. I guess I am now getting used to it (restarting the device, I mean). But, off course, I shouldn't have to. I still hope next upgrade will make major improvements on this.