Canadian wanting ebook... which one?

jessTay · 05-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Hey everyone!

For the last little while I've been researching eBook readers, getting overly excited, etc. I saw the Amazon Kindle and liked the look of it much more than the Sony Reader, mostly because of the ease of getting books on the device and also because when searching books I would be interested in, Amazon had better eBooks for cheaper.

Then I found out Amazon won't ship or sell outside of the U.S., and that we couldn't get the wifi here either.

I researched the Cybook by Bookeen, and it seemed pretty good... only 350 CAN, which is as much as the Sony Reader here. I would be able to get the Sony Reader for Best Buy though. If I had the Cybook shipped to me it would be 420 for the eBook reader, shipping, and cover, which is close to what the Sony Reader would be with tax if I ordered online and got the cover or even with tax with the cover from Best Buy.

I also noticed the iLiad. Would I be able to get that here? It seems a lot heavier than the Cybook, which is already half the weight of the Sony Reader. I like the ability to work with a stylus though. How much do those run? Would I be able to get the wifi or hook up to the internet with it in Canada?

Sony eBooks just seem so much more expensive, and I'd be looking for specific titles (i'm an English university student) and hoping to get them for cheaper.

I'm leaning towards the Cybook.
I'd appreciate any help or suggestions, in particular from Canadians who have bought any of these products!
Thanks!
Jess

notsure · 05-13-2009, 12:00 PM

What if the Sony was cheaper than what you saw at BestBuy or from the Sony Store?

http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/produ....php?pid=55522

Cheers.

P.S. I have a Sony PRS 505 and LOVE IT so I may biased.

jessTay · 05-13-2009, 12:08 PM

Wow that is a lot cheaper and I am a poor student :P
and it comes with the cover.

Since you've had experience with the Sony Reader,

does it disply images and jpegs well or at least as well as the others?
Also I would be reading a fair number of PDFs on whichever reader I purchase since I often have to read articles for school in PDF format.

Is sony compatible with MobiPocket? Because I found a great selection on there... I'd want to be saving money by getting eBooks as well as have an easy and fun device to read on the bus. Does it feel really heavy?

thanks for the link!
Jess

notsure · 05-13-2009, 12:20 PM

I've got limited experience with the 505 since I've only had it fore about 4 books or 3 weeks. :-)

It came pre-installed with 3 images - I'm not sure which format but they did look very nice. I've never seen another reader (save the kindle ads which we can't use) so I cannot campare it to anything.

I have yet to read a PDF on it so I can't speak to that. I know the library here does make books available via PDF so I may one day look at that.

If you use Calibre, most formats should be compatible (convert and load onto 505). I think some formats may require that you strip the DRM though before you can do that.

It is NOT heavy at all. The cover with the light (which I purchased separately) does make it a little heavier than without but it's still very comfortable to use.

Cheers.

toomanybooks · 05-13-2009, 12:44 PM

Sony will read pdfs but it is geared towards novels in pdf format. Some academic pdfs will not display well. Download the Sony software and try to view a pdf in their emulator. That is how your pdfs will look on the reader.

jessTay · 05-13-2009, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the info! If I decide to get a Sony Reader, I'll definately download the software to see what they'll look like. The articles are usually only text and don't have diagrams or anything.

Can anyone tell me how the cybook measures up?

grooks · 05-13-2009, 01:31 PM

The Cybook doesn't reflow the text like the Sony but Cybook does have a zoom feature. You may want to search the forum a little to see if you can find an explanation of how zoom works.

One thing that has not been mentioned about the Sony is when reading pdfs, if you don't like the way the text reflows when enlarging the text size, you can change the text to landscape mode. This will change the pdf to fit the screen width but break each page into a top page and bottom page. Move between top and bottom by hitting the page forward back buttons. Again, check the forums and someone may have a picture of how this looks.

grooks · 05-13-2009, 01:34 PM

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=45896&page=2

See post #17 on page 2

jessTay · 05-13-2009, 07:53 PM

i was talking about it to my parents and I realized how much I have my heart set on the Cybook. Any Cybook users able to address any of my questions?

yvanleterrible · 05-13-2009, 09:04 PM

The cheapest you can get is the iPod touch.

Justy · 05-14-2009, 12:56 AM

As a Canadian who purchased a Cybook back in 2007 I can say it's a great device.

The Mobipocket support is great and I love the dictionary lookup from within the eBook. Most of my reading is fiction in Mobipocket format with some simple PDF children's eBooks. As long as the images are simple and render well to black/white they look fine on the Cybook, it is not good for graphs or complicated charts though.

If cost is an issue, you may want to consider the BeBook. It also supports DRM-Mobipocket and comes with a case.

If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask, there are some very knowledgeable people in this group.

ladyjane · 05-14-2009, 08:05 AM

I live in Canada also and the proud owner of the sony 505 and love it..Purchased it at the Sony store here where I live..Still not sure why they hire ppl that have NO idea how something works.Oh well . But what ever you buy I'm sure your going to love it..

HarryT · 05-14-2009, 09:13 AM

I've had a CyBook since they first appeared, and am extremely happy with it. It has the best MobiPocket support of any eInk device on the market, although its PDF support is rather "lacking".

If you want to read MobiPocket books, I'd recommend it thoroughly.

jessTay · 05-14-2009, 10:35 AM

how is the PDF support lacking? I heard it was pretty good.

I'd mostly be using to read novels required for school or books i'm interested in reading but too nervous to buy in hardcover (I like hardcover books more).

I was hoping to have a device that I could read some articles on, as we often have to read articles for school and I'll either have to read them on my screen until my eyes hurt or I feel sick, or print them out and waste 25 pages of paper and ink.

You can still read them, right? I don't really care about them looking perfect, just readable since it would be a one time read for school.

I'm thinking I'm going to get a Cybook. I'm so excited I can hardly sleep

Justy · 05-14-2009, 01:06 PM

For PDF files, I would recommend using Mobipocket Creator to convert them to Mobipocket files. This creates very readable eBooks for most PDF files. If the PDF has more than 1 column or tables then the result is less good. If your PDF files are primarily text with a few pictures this conversion should work well for you.

You can open a PDF file on the Cybook without converting it but the fonts will be very small as most are created with a letter size page in mind. The Cybook has a good 'zoom' feature which makes the PDF readable but you may have to scroll sideways as well as have multiple screen 'pages' per PDF page. There are tools available which can crop the blank margins and give you a smaller page size which fits better on the small screen but I have not been motivated to try them out.

05-13-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
jessTay Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Greater Toronto Area, ON, CANADA Device: Kindle 2! YAY	hmm Wow that is a lot cheaper and I am a poor student :P and it comes with the cover. Since you've had experience with the Sony Reader, does it disply images and jpegs well or at least as well as the others? Also I would be reading a fair number of PDFs on whichever reader I purchase since I often have to read articles for school in PDF format. Is sony compatible with MobiPocket? Because I found a great selection on there... I'd want to be saving money by getting eBooks as well as have an easy and fun device to read on the bus. Does it feel really heavy? thanks for the link! Jess

05-13-2009, 12:53 PM	#6
jessTay Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Greater Toronto Area, ON, CANADA Device: Kindle 2! YAY	pdf and cybook Thanks for the info! If I decide to get a Sony Reader, I'll definately download the software to see what they'll look like. The articles are usually only text and don't have diagrams or anything. Can anyone tell me how the cybook measures up?

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05-13-2009, 11:39 AM	#1
jessTay Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Greater Toronto Area, ON, CANADA Device: Kindle 2! YAY	Canadian wanting ebook... which one? Hey everyone! For the last little while I've been researching eBook readers, getting overly excited, etc. I saw the Amazon Kindle and liked the look of it much more than the Sony Reader, mostly because of the ease of getting books on the device and also because when searching books I would be interested in, Amazon had better eBooks for cheaper. Then I found out Amazon won't ship or sell outside of the U.S., and that we couldn't get the wifi here either. I researched the Cybook by Bookeen, and it seemed pretty good... only 350 CAN, which is as much as the Sony Reader here. I would be able to get the Sony Reader for Best Buy though. If I had the Cybook shipped to me it would be 420 for the eBook reader, shipping, and cover, which is close to what the Sony Reader would be with tax if I ordered online and got the cover or even with tax with the cover from Best Buy. I also noticed the iLiad. Would I be able to get that here? It seems a lot heavier than the Cybook, which is already half the weight of the Sony Reader. I like the ability to work with a stylus though. How much do those run? Would I be able to get the wifi or hook up to the internet with it in Canada? Sony eBooks just seem so much more expensive, and I'd be looking for specific titles (i'm an English university student) and hoping to get them for cheaper. I'm leaning towards the Cybook. I'd appreciate any help or suggestions, in particular from Canadians who have bought any of these products! Thanks! Jess

05-13-2009, 12:00 PM	#2
notsure Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-350	What if the Sony was cheaper than what you saw at BestBuy or from the Sony Store? http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/produ....php?pid=55522 Cheers. P.S. I have a Sony PRS 505 and LOVE IT so I may biased.

05-13-2009, 12:20 PM	#4
notsure Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-350	I've got limited experience with the 505 since I've only had it fore about 4 books or 3 weeks. :-) It came pre-installed with 3 images - I'm not sure which format but they did look very nice. I've never seen another reader (save the kindle ads which we can't use) so I cannot campare it to anything. I have yet to read a PDF on it so I can't speak to that. I know the library here does make books available via PDF so I may one day look at that. If you use Calibre, most formats should be compatible (convert and load onto 505). I think some formats may require that you strip the DRM though before you can do that. It is NOT heavy at all. The cover with the light (which I purchased separately) does make it a little heavier than without but it's still very comfortable to use. Cheers.

05-13-2009, 12:44 PM	#5
toomanybooks Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 1039424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Ipad, Ipod Touch, KIndle Fire	Sony will read pdfs but it is geared towards novels in pdf format. Some academic pdfs will not display well. Download the Sony software and try to view a pdf in their emulator. That is how your pdfs will look on the reader.

05-13-2009, 01:31 PM	#7
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	The Cybook doesn't reflow the text like the Sony but Cybook does have a zoom feature. You may want to search the forum a little to see if you can find an explanation of how zoom works. One thing that has not been mentioned about the Sony is when reading pdfs, if you don't like the way the text reflows when enlarging the text size, you can change the text to landscape mode. This will change the pdf to fit the screen width but break each page into a top page and bottom page. Move between top and bottom by hitting the page forward back buttons. Again, check the forums and someone may have a picture of how this looks.

05-13-2009, 01:34 PM	#8
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...t=45896&page=2 See post #17 on page 2

05-13-2009, 07:53 PM	#9
jessTay Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Greater Toronto Area, ON, CANADA Device: Kindle 2! YAY	i was talking about it to my parents and I realized how much I have my heart set on the Cybook. Any Cybook users able to address any of my questions?

05-13-2009, 09:04 PM	#10
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	The cheapest you can get is the iPod touch.

05-14-2009, 12:56 AM	#11
Justy Fanatic Posts: 547 Karma: 27509 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada Device: Nexus 7, Sony Xperia z3 tablet, Kobo Glo, Boyue T63	As a Canadian who purchased a Cybook back in 2007 I can say it's a great device. The Mobipocket support is great and I love the dictionary lookup from within the eBook. Most of my reading is fiction in Mobipocket format with some simple PDF children's eBooks. As long as the images are simple and render well to black/white they look fine on the Cybook, it is not good for graphs or complicated charts though. If cost is an issue, you may want to consider the BeBook. It also supports DRM-Mobipocket and comes with a case. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask, there are some very knowledgeable people in this group.

05-14-2009, 08:05 AM	#12
ladyjane I hate to clean Posts: 125 Karma: 1155 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Burlington, ontario Device: Sony PRS-505, Acer NetBook	I live in Canada also and the proud owner of the sony 505 and love it..Purchased it at the Sony store here where I live..Still not sure why they hire ppl that have NO idea how something works.Oh well . But what ever you buy I'm sure your going to love it..

05-14-2009, 09:13 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I've had a CyBook since they first appeared, and am extremely happy with it. It has the best MobiPocket support of any eInk device on the market, although its PDF support is rather "lacking". If you want to read MobiPocket books, I'd recommend it thoroughly.

05-14-2009, 10:35 AM	#14
jessTay Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 28 Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Greater Toronto Area, ON, CANADA Device: Kindle 2! YAY	how is the PDF support lacking? I heard it was pretty good. I'd mostly be using to read novels required for school or books i'm interested in reading but too nervous to buy in hardcover (I like hardcover books more). I was hoping to have a device that I could read some articles on, as we often have to read articles for school and I'll either have to read them on my screen until my eyes hurt or I feel sick, or print them out and waste 25 pages of paper and ink. You can still read them, right? I don't really care about them looking perfect, just readable since it would be a one time read for school. I'm thinking I'm going to get a Cybook. I'm so excited I can hardly sleep

05-14-2009, 01:06 PM	#15
Justy Fanatic Posts: 547 Karma: 27509 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver Area, BC, Canada Device: Nexus 7, Sony Xperia z3 tablet, Kobo Glo, Boyue T63	For PDF files, I would recommend using Mobipocket Creator to convert them to Mobipocket files. This creates very readable eBooks for most PDF files. If the PDF has more than 1 column or tables then the result is less good. If your PDF files are primarily text with a few pictures this conversion should work well for you. You can open a PDF file on the Cybook without converting it but the fonts will be very small as most are created with a letter size page in mind. The Cybook has a good 'zoom' feature which makes the PDF readable but you may have to scroll sideways as well as have multiple screen 'pages' per PDF page. There are tools available which can crop the blank margins and give you a smaller page size which fits better on the small screen but I have not been motivated to try them out.