8+ Readers in comparison

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by poshm

Thanks for ranking 3 OP!

Based on that ranking - it has got my interest up on the BeBook Neo. Will have to look into that one further I think.

That's one of the hardest to rank units. I'm into looks, I openly admit it. And if I compare BeBook Neo to, let's say, Sony 900, it seems like a slightly different era or something like that. But the features are great (frankly, it's more or less what I'd hoped for on iRex 800). And the price is very low as well. In direct comparison, iRex 800 doesn't stand a chance of course. And Sony 900 looses because of display quality.
Imagine, some of BeBook Neo's features with Sony 900's design and Amazon's AND B&N's bookstore.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by poshm

OP isn't keen on 5" devices I think. Though it is a very good device and o e I'd recommend to anyone wanting a portable e-ink device.

I keep telling him, but he just does not listen . He has an Opus mind you, so it can't only be an inch thing (hum... now, that doesn't sound as I wanted it to sound )

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by aceflor

I keep telling him, but he just does not listen . He has an Opus mind you, so it can't only be an inch thing (hum... now, that doesn't sound as I wanted it to sound )

But I've bought the Opus when I was much younger. Today, with way more experience, it would be too small for me.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

But I've bought the Opus when I was much younger. Today, with way more experience, it would be too small for me.

Is that so ?

[HarryT]

For me, the PB360 is the ideal "travelling" reader. I can just put it in my coat pocket, without needing to carry a bag. The Neo is by far my favourite reader, but the PB is, I think, the perfect "portable" device for when I'm "out and about".

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

For me, the PB360 is the ideal "travelling" reader. I can just put it in my coat pocket, without needing to carry a bag. The Neo is by far my favourite reader, but the PB is, I think, the perfect "portable" device for when I'm "out and about".

Didn't you have Cybook Opus as well? Does Pocketbook 360 have any advantages over Opus?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Didn't you have Cybook Opus as well? Does Pocketbook 360 have any advantages over Opus?

Yes, it's better in many ways:

- It has a "snap on" cover which provides excellent protection, and is a lot more convenient than the Opus' carrying pouch.

- The firmware is much, much better. It has support for searching inside books, dictionary lookup, bookmarks, text highlighting and "clipping".

- Pocketbook are much more "proactive" to firmware development than Bookeen. As you know, we had to wait over a year for the current firmware update from Bookeen; Pocketbook are much more responsive to user requests, and are constantly adding new features.

I really do think that the PB360 is the best 5" device currently on the market.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've just noticed you don't have a Pocketbook 360! Serious omission - it's my favourite 5" device. You really should get one .

Coming back to BeBook Neo: I've done "copy & paste", my books all show the filename. Not the metadata. No author's name at all. And the file extension, which I wouldn't want to see (prefer the mode on Cybook Opus, being able to show the file format added to the icon). And the filename "as is"("_" for example).
Is there any workaround you know of?

[HarryT]

I've seen this mentioned on the "mybebook" forum as being something which will be included in the next firmware release.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've seen this mentioned on the "mybebook" forum as being something which will be included in the next firmware release.

Great news, thanks. And I'm quite optimistic, Onyx will be pretty responsive with firmware updates (I guess, those are the ones doing the groundwork and BeBook incorporating it).

[droople]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Criterias: As requested, forgetting about the looks (based on ranking #1), focusing on the features (leaving costs out of the equation). (*)

#15: Sony 700
#14: Cybook Gen3
#13: Kindle DX
#12: Sony 300
#11: iRex 800
#10: Kindle 2
#9: Sony 505
#8: Nook
#7: Sony 600
#6: iRex 1000S
#5: Sony 900
#4: iRex iLiad
#3: BeBook One
#2: Cybook Opus
#1: BeBook Neo

(*) "Look" to me doesn't mean, accepting low display quality of course. "Look" really means just the design (which is difficult, because usually design will be linked to functionality as well).

Just curious, why BeBook Neo is the No1 in features?

Cheers

[rwizard]

mgmueller: Do you think that a cover with corner straps made for the nook would fit the BeBook Neo without it being to loose?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by rwizard

mgmueller: Do you think that a cover with corner straps made for the nook would fit the BeBook Neo without it being to loose?

Just took the measurements. BeBook Neo is about 0.5cm less in width, else it's nearly identical. Should be working.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by droople

Just curious, why BeBook Neo is the No1 in features?

Cheers

BeBook Neo:
- Zoom with the very best features we know from other units: Marking any area with stylus and exploding to full screen, fit to width, fit to height, fit to page, ...
The Sony readers with touchscreen are slightly behind that. They've got zoom and reflow, not the other features. Cybook Opus has got similar zoom functions, but not the zoom/stylus capability.
- Full blown (though very slow) web browser via WiFi. WiFi still is very rare, for whatever mysterious reason (why integrate 3G but no WiFi? Would allow the very same functionality globally. For example, 3G in the US, but still accessing bookstore via WiFi outside US). I only can do the same on nook, but it has to be softrooted for that. To some extent I can do the same on iRex iLiad.
- Nice set of file formats. ePUB, PDF, Mobipocket, PDB. Most readers support less.
- Dictionary. Not the best solution, no dictionary pre-installed. But at least there's an already available solution.
- Advanced WACOM tablet, but in addition fully functional "jog-dial" solution. For example, I don't like, having to use the stylus for changing font size. On BeBook Neo I simply use the inner of the 2 "rings". Pressing up increases and pressing down decreases font size by one. Without using the stylus, I've got the same functionality as Sony 300 for example.

I guess that's pretty much it. But more than the others can do.

Don't get me wrong: Most/best features doesn't necessarily mean best reader.
I wouldn't rank it my top-favorite. I'm too much into "touch and feel" and to me it simply is less appealing than nook or Sony 900.
That's the reason, why I've decided for more than a single reader.

nook, I'd use as my casual reader. It's very ergonomic and efficient.
But I wouldn't surf the web on it or use it for "professional documents".

Sony 900 I absolutely love. I haven't got any problems with the display quality. But of course I openly have to admit, that the WACOM tablets have more contrast and less glare. And the zoom only applies for a single page and then resets, which more or less cripples it useless (the zoom, not the entire reader).

iRex 800 is a mixed package for me. The flipbar for turning pages is great (probably best solution out there). But I don't like using the menus via flipbar, without stylus. But I don't like either, permanently taking the stylus for minor adjustments like changing fontsize. Having no zoom at all for PDF is weak, especially for a unit with touchscreen. I love the B&N PDB support though (DRM, even allows multiple accounts). Having no dictionary is a bit outdated, (again) especially for a unit with touchscreen.

[droople]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

BeBook Neo:
- Zoom with the very best features we know from other units: Marking any area with stylus and exploding to full screen, fit to width, fit to height, fit to page, ...
The Sony readers with touchscreen are slightly behind that. They've got zoom and reflow, not the other features. Cybook Opus has got similar zoom functions, but not the zoom/stylus capability.
- Full blown (though very slow) web browser via WiFi. WiFi still is very rare, for whatever mysterious reason (why integrate 3G but no WiFi? Would allow the very same functionality globally. For example, 3G in the US, but still accessing bookstore via WiF outside US). I only can do the same on nook, but it has to be softrooted for that. To some extent I can do the same on iRex iLiad.
- Nice set of file formats. ePUB, PDF, Mobipocket, PDB. Most readers support less.
- Dictionary. Not the best solution, no dictionary pre-installed. But at least there's an already available solution.
- Advanced WACOM tablet, but in addition fully functional "jog-dial" solution. For example, I don't like, having to use the stylus for changing font size. On BeBook Neo I simply use the inner of the 2 "rings". Pressing up increases and pressing down decreases font size by one. Without using the stylus, I've got the same functionality as Sony 300 for example.

I guess that's pretty much it. But more than the others can do.

Don't get me wrong: Most/best features doesn't necessarily mean best reader.
I wouldn't rank it my top-favorite. I'm too much into "touch and feel" and to me it simply is less appealing than nook or Sony 900.
That's the reason, why I've decided for more than a single reader.

nook, I'd use as my casual reader. It's very ergonomic and efficient.
But I wouldn't surf the web on it or use it for "professional documents".

Sony 900 I absolutely love. I haven't got any problems with the display quality. But of course I openly have to admit, that the WACOM tablets have more contrast and less glare. And the zoom only applies for a single page and then resets, which more or less cripples it useless (the zoom, not the entire reader).

iRex 800 is a mixed package for me. The flipbar for turning pages is great (probably best solution out there). But I don't like using the menus via flipbar, without stylus. But I don't like either, permanently taking the stylus for minor adjustments like changing fontsize. Having no zoom at all for PDF is weak, especially for a unit with touchscreen. I love the B&N PDB support though (DRM, even allows multiple accounts). Having no dictionary is a bit outdated, (again) especially for a unit with touchscreen.

Thank you mgmueller. Quite attractive, but it ask for 569AUD for Oz people

I just bought Nook, and waiting for the shipping from a re-shipper.