Bookeen SAGA (NOLIM in France & Spain) new approach to e-reader design

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I guess. But then the Bookeen isn't exactly an option in the US, yet we still manage to get one if we want it bad enough

Sure - I agree. Just saying that this device and the Nook aren't really competitors .

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sure - I agree. Just saying that this device and the Nook aren't really competitors .

Okay. Lets try this another way then: For the price of the Bookeen Saga you could get a Kindle Paperwhite which has a better screen and the Amazon book store.

Don't get me wrong. I like the physical design of the Saga. But the button layout is weird. The (admittedly neat) attached case could be problematic if it rips and with that screen resolution it feels overpriced.

You could say that it is priced comparably with the Aura Edition 2, but Kobo's software seems to be miles better than Bookeens (based on the video reviews I've seen). And there have been many grumbles about the Aura E2 feeling like a step backwards.

I'm not an expert. Just another blowhard spouting opinions on the internet.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Okay. Lets try this another way then: For the price of the Bookeen Saga you could get a Kindle Paperwhite which has a better screen and the Amazon book store.

Yes, I made much the same comment myself earlier in the thread. For somewhat less money, the Kindle has half the storage, but a significantly better screen. Really a question of whether you prefer the Amazon or the ePub world.

I'm in two minds about the built-in case. Saves you money on the one hand, but what it gets damaged, or you just don't like it?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I made much the same comment myself earlier in the thread. For somewhat less money, the Kindle has half the storage, but a significantly better screen. Really a question of whether you prefer the Amazon or the ePub world.

I'm in two minds about the built-in case. Saves you money on the one hand, but what it gets damaged, or you just don't like it?

If you don't like it, you really shouldn't buy it in the first place. It's not like you didn't know before hand

I think the array of colors for the Saga reminds me a bit of the doomed iPhone 5C and that may be part of what's prejudicing me to say that the device should be cheaper.

I do appreciate that with the Oasis, the GlowLight 3 and the Bookeen Saga e-readers have been trying to move away from the touchscreen slab. And the return of buttons is welcome.

[JSWolf]

So why is Bookeen releasing a new Reader with RMSDK 10 instead of RMSDK 11?

[rem736]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Bookeen did it with the Opus long before the Oasis was a gleam in Amazon's eye.

didn't know this. thanks. but still on point. bookeen did it before. now they do it again. what's innovative about this reader?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rem736

didn't know this. thanks. but still on point. bookeen did it before. now they do it again. what's innovative about this reader?

I think the design of the shell is innovative (for ereaders). The internals and screen are nothing to write home about. But the silicone case and button layout are unique.

If the page back/forward buttons were reversed and if the price was around $80.00, I'd buy one.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So why is Bookeen releasing a new Reader with RMSDK 10 instead of RMSDK 11?

Where do you get that from? A quick search didn't show any evidence for which is being used.

[barryem]

I don't think we're going to know much about which of these, the Bookeen or the Nook, will be the better devices till we see some actual reviews and even then not for a few weeks till the more subtle problems and benefits have been found.

Personally I think it's nice that the readers of the world are getting more options and even more innovation.

By the way, innovative as the Bookeen seems to be I wonder if the Nook isn't even more innovative; going back to something people liked at lot instead of trying to come up with something new. Nooks latest attempts at something new weren't that great. It took a bit of original thinking to walk things back like this and original thinking isn't something B&N is known for lately.

Barry

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Where do you get that from? A quick search didn't show any evidence for which is being used.

https://bookeen.com/pages/bookeen-saga

Web Browser/OS: Linux/Adobe Reader Mobile: SDK 10/supported ebook standards: EPub, PDF, Adobe ® DRM, HTML, TXT, FB2,

Bookeen posted it in the technical specifications.

[Philippe D.]

This looks like the cover cannot be removed, is this correct?

On my Kobo, I have a soft enough cover that it can be bent backwards, so the ereader only takes as much space as if it was without cover - very useful when reading in cramped spaces. I wouldn't like to do this with a cover that could not be changed if needed. I also like to occasionally remove the cover to make the whole thing lighter (but then, my ereader is rather larger than this one, so probably heavier).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

This looks like the cover cannot be removed, is this correct?

That's correct, yes.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by barryem

I don't think we're going to know much about which of these, the Bookeen or the Nook, will be the better devices till we see some actual reviews and even then not for a few weeks till the more subtle problems and benefits have been found.

Barry, there is a review for the Saga out there already (as the Nolim). It's a Goodereader review, but you take what you can get.

Personally I think it's nice that the readers of the world are getting more options and even more innovation.

By the way, innovative as the Bookeen seems to be I wonder if the Nook isn't even more innovative; going back to something people liked at lot instead of trying to come up with something new. Nooks latest attempts at something new weren't that great. It took a bit of original thinking to walk things back like this and original thinking isn't something B&N is known for lately.

Barry

That I can't argue with. I was a big cheerleader for the Glowlight 3, except for the partitioned storage.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

This looks like the cover cannot be removed, is this correct?

On my Kobo, I have a soft enough cover that it can be bent backwards, so the ereader only takes as much space as if it was without cover - very useful when reading in cramped spaces. I wouldn't like to do this with a cover that could not be changed if needed. I also like to occasionally remove the cover to make the whole thing lighter (but then, my ereader is rather larger than this one, so probably heavier).

The cover can not be removed, but it is made of silicone and the spine is the thinnest part, so the cover can be folded all the way back.

It's a shame, really, that the reader isn't waterproof. If that silicone case got too dirty, you could just wash the whole device in your sink.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Barry, there is a review for the Saga out there already (as the Nolim). It's a Goodereader review, but you take what you can get.

Thanks for that video. Goodereader's reviews are often confused but they do pack in a lot of information, even though it's often obvious they don't really understand it all.

This one in particular was useful, giving a good look through the device. I really like the look of the interface. It's simpler than the Kindle/Nook/Kobo interfaces and more straightforward and with nice large text. If it ever gets an English dictionary I might find it tempting.

Barry