So which one would you keep

tommy still · 02-03-2008, 07:00 AM

Still looking at eBook readers, I am waiting for the rumoured UK launch of the Sony PRS 505 in April. Its either going to be the Sony or a Cybook Gen 3. What I wanted to know was, out of those of you that own both those devices which reader would you keep if you had to get rid of one ?

JSWolf · 02-03-2008, 07:23 AM

I do like the Sony reader 505. Libprs500 and Book Designer both work quite nicely to convert content.

HarryT · 02-03-2008, 09:01 AM

As a former Sony owner, and a current CyBook owner I am very happy with my choice. Not only is there a greater range of content legally available for the CyBook, but it also has significantly more features than the Sony - dictionary support, the ability to load your own fonts onto it, the ability to view any book using any font at any size, etc.

JSWolf · 02-12-2008, 03:42 PM

What we really need is a device that takes the best of the 505 and Gen3 and adds in what is missing from both and gives us one really superduper device.

edsohsmith · 02-16-2008, 02:46 AM

If drm'd mobipocket content and dictionary support are important to you the Cybook. If form factor (looks, button placement) and breadth / ease of conversion tools are more important to you, then the Sony.

HarryT · 02-16-2008, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edsohsmith

If drm'd mobipocket content and dictionary support are important to you the Cybook. If form factor (looks, button placement) and breadth / ease of conversion tools are more important to you, then the Sony.

There are some excellent conversion tools available for the CyBook. Can you elaborate about in what way you feel that the Sony ones are better? What formats can be converted to the Sony that can't be converted to the Gen3?

JSWolf · 02-16-2008, 06:48 AM

Well, we now have the first version of Mobi2lrf.

HarryT · 02-16-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Well, we now have the first version of Mobi2lrf.

That's true, but it's not really a benefit of the Sony over the CyBook, is it? After all, the CyBook can use the Mobi file directly!

Also, are there that many DRM-free Mobi files around that aren't available for the Sony?

Dave Berk · 02-18-2008, 06:49 AM

Dictionary support would have swung it for me, if not for reading day after day on Cybook subforum about faulty cybooks and bad customer service. I'm waiting for Bookeen to iron out their problems then I will buy one. Though the way it seems to be going it will probably be Cybook Gen4.

HarryT · 02-18-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple dave

Dictionary support would have swung it for me, if not for reading day after day on Cybook subforum about faulty cybooks and bad customer service. I'm waiting for Bookeen to iron out their problems then I will buy one. Though the way it seems to be going it will probably be Cybook Gen4.

Don't forget, though, that it's always the minority with problems who (naturally) are vocal. Bookeen are shipping 2000-3000 Gen3's a month. How many faulty machines have we heard about here? A handful? It's unfortunate for the people who have them; that's obviously true, but I don't think that one can generalise and say that the Gen3 has any reliability issues beyond the norm.

Poor customer service appears to be the norm for small companies, regretably, and even the big boys such as Sony seem to fall down in that department on fairly frequent occasions. Yes, it certainly needs to be improved!

I'd recommend the Gen3 to you without hesitation, Dave.

ProfJulie · 02-18-2008, 10:03 AM

I've only read of a few truly faulty Gen3s. Most of the questions I see have to do with buggy software and there are ways to work around that stuff.

I am very satisfied with my Gen3 and have no regrets.

Dave Berk · 02-18-2008, 02:34 PM

Thanks, HarryT, ProfJulie.
Just one last question. I remember reading that the support for links in html files is only for links in the same page, and that links to other pages don't work. Is that correct?
What I mean is, I have a few books I converted to html. Now I usualy put each chapter in a seperate html file and creat a Table of Content in another file. Will I be able to read such a book in the Cybook?

DDHarriman · 02-18-2008, 06:00 PM

Hi

No: as html files, each file is as “a document” for the Cybook, so just internal “jumps” (inside the file ones).

What you can do is generate a Mobipocket file with Mobipocket Creator from all your html files, and then create a TOC with all the navigation you need.
Once more, one file with internal “jumps”.

Best regards,

HarryT · 02-19-2008, 02:41 AM

Yes, with Mobi Creator this is very easy to do.

Lexicon · 02-19-2008, 07:39 AM

I've only used the Sony 505 so I can't really comment on the Gen3. One thing I will say is that the 505 feels really solid, it has that 'well-engineered' quality you'd expect from expensive Sony products. I feel this is important in a portable device that will, in most cases, receive a lot of use.

One of the things that put me off buying a Gen3 (other than the higher price) is the plastic body, I'm not sure how well this will stand up to years of wear and tear.

02-03-2008, 07:00 AM	#1
tommy still Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 139 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bridgend, South Wales Device: iPhone and Sony PRS 505	So which one would you keep Still looking at eBook readers, I am waiting for the rumoured UK launch of the Sony PRS 505 in April. Its either going to be the Sony or a Cybook Gen 3. What I wanted to know was, out of those of you that own both those devices which reader would you keep if you had to get rid of one ?

02-03-2008, 07:23 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I do like the Sony reader 505. Libprs500 and Book Designer both work quite nicely to convert content.

02-03-2008, 09:01 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	As a former Sony owner, and a current CyBook owner I am very happy with my choice. Not only is there a greater range of content legally available for the CyBook, but it also has significantly more features than the Sony - dictionary support, the ability to load your own fonts onto it, the ability to view any book using any font at any size, etc.

02-12-2008, 03:42 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What we really need is a device that takes the best of the 505 and Gen3 and adds in what is missing from both and gives us one really superduper device.

02-16-2008, 02:46 AM	#5
edsohsmith Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 11 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony PRS 505 (soon)	If drm'd mobipocket content and dictionary support are important to you the Cybook. If form factor (looks, button placement) and breadth / ease of conversion tools are more important to you, then the Sony.

02-16-2008, 06:48 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Well, we now have the first version of Mobi2lrf.

02-18-2008, 06:49 AM	#9
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	Dictionary support would have swung it for me, if not for reading day after day on Cybook subforum about faulty cybooks and bad customer service. I'm waiting for Bookeen to iron out their problems then I will buy one. Though the way it seems to be going it will probably be Cybook Gen4.

02-18-2008, 10:03 AM	#11
ProfJulie Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 890 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA Device: whatever	I've only read of a few truly faulty Gen3s. Most of the questions I see have to do with buggy software and there are ways to work around that stuff. I am very satisfied with my Gen3 and have no regrets.

02-18-2008, 02:34 PM	#12
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	Thanks, HarryT, ProfJulie. Just one last question. I remember reading that the support for links in html files is only for links in the same page, and that links to other pages don't work. Is that correct? What I mean is, I have a few books I converted to html. Now I usualy put each chapter in a seperate html file and creat a Table of Content in another file. Will I be able to read such a book in the Cybook?

02-18-2008, 06:00 PM	#13
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi No: as html files, each file is as “a document” for the Cybook, so just internal “jumps” (inside the file ones). What you can do is generate a Mobipocket file with Mobipocket Creator from all your html files, and then create a TOC with all the navigation you need. Once more, one file with internal “jumps”. Best regards,

02-19-2008, 02:41 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, with Mobi Creator this is very easy to do.

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02-19-2008, 07:39 AM	#15
Lexicon Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 542 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505	I've only used the Sony 505 so I can't really comment on the Gen3. One thing I will say is that the 505 feels really solid, it has that 'well-engineered' quality you'd expect from expensive Sony products. I feel this is important in a portable device that will, in most cases, receive a lot of use. One of the things that put me off buying a Gen3 (other than the higher price) is the plastic body, I'm not sure how well this will stand up to years of wear and tear.