Introducing the Cybook Orizon

[dedo]

Originally Posted by Godzil

This video is really old. I doubt this is representative of the real Orizon..

Right. The video I made has become obsolete, I removed it.

[Polyglot27]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

shame ... about the prc/mobi

but if they can get the embedded dict working

I see embedded dictionaries more important than having Wi-fi and bluetooth support on an ebook reader. The free Webster dictionary I now have on the Cybook Gen3 is of limited use because it will not recognise a noun if it is in the plural or a verb if it is in the past tense. There is also no way to type it in yourself if the automatic search does not work.
In this respect, the Sony PRS-650 has implemented their embedded dictionaries with great success. The Oxford French-English dictionary has only a problem with words preceded by an apostrophe like "l'occasion" for example. But even here, bringing up the keyboard with one tap allows me to erase the "l'" from the word and find "occasion".
For those who read in several European languages, the latest Sonys would seem to be the best choice.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Polyglot27

I see embedded dictionaries more important than having Wi-fi and bluetooth support on an ebook reader. The free Webster dictionary I now have on the Cybook Gen3 is of limited use because it will not recognise a noun if it is in the plural or a verb if it is in the past tense. There is also no way to type it in yourself if the automatic search does not work.
In this respect, the Sony PRS-650 has implemented their embedded dictionaries with great success. The Oxford French-English dictionary has only a problem with words preceded by an apostrophe like "l'occasion" for example. But even here, bringing up the keyboard with one tap allows me to erase the "l'" from the word and find "occasion".
For those who read in several European languages, the latest Sonys would seem to be the best choice.

Perhaps as it is free the scope of the dictionary is limited. I rarely encounter problems using word-search with my Chambers and a Thesaurus...

[rebl]

I see display quality and file format support the most important qualities for an ebook reader.
I am about to get a Cybook Orizon following some shopping adventures - initially ordered a different product, but it had some problems and after 2 days of using it I'm gonna return it. Currently it's out of stock or discontinued and I have the option to "upgrade" to an Orizon free of charge, or the take my money back; the Orizon is 50% more expensive so apparently this is a good deal.
The problem is that my first ereader had eInk Vizplex display, no touch screen (I'm not a big adept anyway) and better file support. I was happy with it. Now I am having doubts - is Orizon really an upgrade? Can someone comment on display contrast? I've seen somewhere a comparative review and the conclusion was that Siplex was worse. Is it really that bad compared with Vizplex?
Regarding firmware and file support:
Does anyone know if RTF support could be added by a future firmware upgrade?
What about DOC and PPT?
What about CHM and DJVU?
Maybe the firmware can be edited by the end-useres?

Many thanks in advance for any feedback on this.

Edit: one more question - I would higly appreciate if somebody could confirm or infirm if Orizon has proper ISO-8859-2 and Unicode support.

[EowynCarter]

is Orizon really an upgrade? Can someone comment on display contrast? I've seen somewhere a comparative review and the conclusion was that Siplex was worse. Is it really that bad compared with Vizplex?

Quite OK. At first the blacker screen annoyed me, but that went away quickly. I planned to use the orizon at home, and the opus in the train, i finally went using the orizon all the time. Touch screen is a comfort, unless you want to remove some dust on it and accidentally turn the page.

Regarding firmware and file support:
Does anyone know if RTF support could be added by a future firmware upgrade?
What about DOC and PPT?
What about CHM and DJVU?

I don't remember bookeen mentioning these. Most likely not.

Maybe the firmware can be edited by the end-useres?

Nope.

Edit: one more question - I would higly appreciate if somebody could confirm or infirm if Orizon has proper ISO-8859-2 and Unicode support.

Yes for ISO-8859-1 and UTF-8. Not sure about ISO-8859-2 (Which one is that ?), but that would work.

[rebl]

Thanks Eowyn. I might give it a try then.
Is the build quality all right?

Any information about font support (especially for eastern europe)?

[EowynCarter]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by rebl

Thanks Eowyn. I might give it a try then.
Is the build quality all right?

Yeap, pretty fine device.

Any information about font support (especially for eastern europe)?

Think some people said it works. But I never tried it. You can add fonts manually.

[rebl]

ISO-8859-2 is latin-2 (for eastern europe). But if the fonts cand be added manually then I suppose it should work (if the file is properly coded, of course).

Too bad about RTF. Half of my books are in RTF wile the other half in PDF - which I understand is not very usable without reflow.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by rebl

ISO-8859-2 is latin-2 (for eastern europe). But if the fonts cand be added manually then I suppose it should work (if the file is properly coded, of course).

Too bad about RTF. Half of my books are in RTF wile the other half in PDF - which I understand is not very usable without reflow.

For pdf, i found tactile was some help. Though it's still far from convenient.

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by rebl

ISO-8859-2 is latin-2 (for eastern europe). But if the fonts cand be added manually then I suppose it should work (if the file is properly coded, of course).

Too bad about RTF. Half of my books are in RTF wile the other half in PDF - which I understand is not very usable without reflow.

You could try exporting your RTF files to HTML. I'm sure most word processing programs will do that, but I'm not sure how clean the result will be. I don't have an Orizon but the Opus and Gen3 display simple html with no problem (not if there are links to images though).

I agree though that it's a shame Bookeen devices don't support RTF.

[Godzil]

Your right, RTF is a so simple format

[rebl]

How do you people think Cybook Orizon compares to a rebranded Oaxis?

http://www.myoaxis.com/601_gallery.html
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/OAXIS_EB-601

As I said earlier, I have the chance of getting the Orizon as a replacement for my rebranded Oaxis (becaue by "mistake" it was delivered a little used - possibly it was a demo unit), even if the Orizon it's 50% more expensive.
On the other hand, a lot of the specifications do not look so good for Orizon, including the display contrast.
The Orizon should/could have a better build quality (I've seen a lot of reviews mentioning the Oaxis' build is very... chinish - in the bad way). Oh, and the multitouch which I don't feel I would need very much, and the wifi which is fine but not a must (I have it on my phone anyway).
On the other hand the Oaxis has better file suport, better display, mp3 player (not needed either).


rebranded, "little used" Oaxis // brand new Orizon

i feel i'm going crazy and go shopping for a kindle (by the way, in my country Kindle Wifi is CHEAPER than Orizon )

[EowynCarter]

I have to say i don't know the Oaxis at all. The screen is some LG screen screen I haven't heard of either, so I can't say how good or bad it is compared to sPix.

Supporting lots of format is one thing, supporting them well an other.

[Godzil]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

I have to say i don't know the Oaxis at all. The screen is some LG screen screen I haven't heard of either, so I can't say how good or bad it is compared to sPix.

Supporting lots of format is one thing, supporting them well an other.

And it's looks like it doesn't be able to eat correctly DRMed format, only unDRM format

[rebl]

the version of Oaxis I have (EB-601) supports unDRM-ed .mobi and adobe DRM / ADEPT

sorry if this turns to be kinda' off-topic

more on topic - does anyone know by chance a retail shop where I could see (and touch ) an Orizon in Milan?