Opus Review: Got a new Opus!

lovelyloey · 02-22-2010, 09:40 PM

My Cybook Opus arrived yesterday and here I shall do a short review of it.

Is it just me or are the buttons hard to press? I have long nails, especially on my thumb because I type using my fingernail on my Samsung Omnia 2 touchscreen. So due to my long nail, I cannot press the centre button on my Opus. Furthermore, all the buttons require a fair bit of pressure to press; this does not make reading effortless on the Opus.

And because the buttons are such b**ch to press, reading PDF is impossible. Even PDF books loaned from my city elibrary. Zoom in too much, I have to scroll around, and the buttons just ain't helping. I think I will stick to ePub format (but a lot of my library's ebooks are in PDF!)

I am happy with the screen; compared to Sony PRS600, it is a lot less reflective and works very well with my Ikea bedside lamp; tilt it to the right angle and it is paper-like.

I like the cover it came with; it is commendable that hard boards are in place in the cover so it protects the screen from pin pressure. I also like how lightweight this device is! Easy to hold and carry around.

elmargol · 02-23-2010, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovelyloey

Is it just me or are the buttons hard to press?

I had the same problem. The buttonts get softer after some time.

GeoffC · 02-24-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovelyloey

My Cybook Opus arrived yesterday and here I shall do a short review of it.

Is it just me or are the buttons hard to press? I have long nails, especially on my thumb because I type using my fingernail on my Samsung Omnia 2 touchscreen. So due to my long nail, I cannot press the centre button on my Opus. Furthermore, all the buttons require a fair bit of pressure to press; this does not make reading effortless on the Opus.

And because the buttons are such b**ch to press, reading PDF is impossible. Even PDF books loaned from my city elibrary. Zoom in too much, I have to scroll around, and the buttons just ain't helping. I think I will stick to ePub format (but a lot of my library's ebooks are in PDF!)

I am happy with the screen; compared to Sony PRS600, it is a lot less reflective and works very well with my Ikea bedside lamp; tilt it to the right angle and it is paper-like.

I like the cover it came with; it is commendable that hard boards are in place in the cover so it protects the screen from pin pressure. I also like how lightweight this device is! Easy to hold and carry around.

Seems to me that you may benefit from using a sewing thimble .....

(just a thought).....

TheJohnNewton · 03-16-2010, 03:12 PM

I realize this is an older thread but I just played with an Opus for the first time last weekend. My initial reaction was that it's a great little ereader. Then I tired pressing the buttons. Yikes, those buttons suck. If they do get softer over time there is hope.

One thing I couldn't tell in the store, does it support ADE? I assume so if you're using library books.

Crusader · 03-16-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton

I realize this is an older thread but I just played with an Opus for the first time last weekend. My initial reaction was that it's a great little ereader. Then I tired pressing the buttons. Yikes, those buttons suck. If they do get softer over time there is hope.

One thing I couldn't tell in the store, does it support ADE? I assume so if you're using library books.

Yes, it supports ADE. The buttons do soften somewhat, but I still prefer to use the buttons on the direction pad for page turns. Just feels more comfortable for me.

Logseman · 03-17-2010, 06:29 AM

I guess that they make the buttons purposely tough as they soften in time. If they installed them "just fine" from the start, the use would end up making them too loose.

Vesper · 03-17-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logseman

I guess that they make the buttons purposely tough as they soften in time. If they installed them "just fine" from the start, the use would end up making them too loose.

I have Cybook from February 2008 and button is still damn hard to press. Don't count too much on buttons getting much better. You might find certain angles that let you use somewhat less force, like I did, but that's all.

DrS

Logseman · 03-17-2010, 10:06 AM

Personally, when you've played with a Sega MegaDrive (Genesis for the US friends) and you've touched that D-Pad of theirs... no button can resist. My brother and I really suffered sometimes while playing, for the buttons were so rough that they hurt our fingers. Then again, neither of us would lose on Samurai Shodown for the world, so we bore the pain and kept fighting xD

Polydwarf · 03-18-2010, 06:20 PM

I'll second/third/fourth/whatever on the button thing.

I just got an opus a couple of weeks ago, and have noticed the stiff buttons. However, I rotated the screen so that the two "side" buttons are at the top of the device, and the d-pad is on the right, and then turned the accelerometer off.

This lets me read in a sitting position with the ball of my right thumb on the d-pad, and I can easily roll my thumb a little to click the page-forward button on the d-pad.

When I'm reading in bed, I tend to read while laying on my side, so I put the opus in my right hand with my fingers curled over the top of the device; my index finger then rests on the page-forward button. In that position, with the heel of my palm already against the back of the reader, it's not a big deal to crunch my index finger a little to press the long thin button.

I am right handed, though, so ymmv. I also don't have long fingernails, and my hands aren't massive bear-hands.

02-22-2010, 09:40 PM	#1
lovelyloey Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Singapore Device: Sony PRS 600	Review: Got a new Opus! My Cybook Opus arrived yesterday and here I shall do a short review of it. Is it just me or are the buttons hard to press? I have long nails, especially on my thumb because I type using my fingernail on my Samsung Omnia 2 touchscreen. So due to my long nail, I cannot press the centre button on my Opus. Furthermore, all the buttons require a fair bit of pressure to press; this does not make reading effortless on the Opus. And because the buttons are such b**ch to press, reading PDF is impossible. Even PDF books loaned from my city elibrary. Zoom in too much, I have to scroll around, and the buttons just ain't helping. I think I will stick to ePub format (but a lot of my library's ebooks are in PDF!) I am happy with the screen; compared to Sony PRS600, it is a lot less reflective and works very well with my Ikea bedside lamp; tilt it to the right angle and it is paper-like. I like the cover it came with; it is commendable that hard boards are in place in the cover so it protects the screen from pin pressure. I also like how lightweight this device is! Easy to hold and carry around.

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03-16-2010, 03:12 PM	#4
TheJohnNewton Addict Posts: 256 Karma: 144599 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Boox Nova 2	I realize this is an older thread but I just played with an Opus for the first time last weekend. My initial reaction was that it's a great little ereader. Then I tired pressing the buttons. Yikes, those buttons suck. If they do get softer over time there is hope. One thing I couldn't tell in the store, does it support ADE? I assume so if you're using library books.

03-17-2010, 06:29 AM	#6
Logseman Orisa Posts: 1,999 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	I guess that they make the buttons purposely tough as they soften in time. If they installed them "just fine" from the start, the use would end up making them too loose.

03-17-2010, 10:06 AM	#8
Logseman Orisa Posts: 1,999 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	Personally, when you've played with a Sega MegaDrive (Genesis for the US friends) and you've touched that D-Pad of theirs... no button can resist. My brother and I really suffered sometimes while playing, for the buttons were so rough that they hurt our fingers. Then again, neither of us would lose on Samurai Shodown for the world, so we bore the pain and kept fighting xD

03-18-2010, 06:20 PM	#9
Polydwarf Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: SmartQ V7, Cybook Opus	I'll second/third/fourth/whatever on the button thing. I just got an opus a couple of weeks ago, and have noticed the stiff buttons. However, I rotated the screen so that the two "side" buttons are at the top of the device, and the d-pad is on the right, and then turned the accelerometer off. This lets me read in a sitting position with the ball of my right thumb on the d-pad, and I can easily roll my thumb a little to click the page-forward button on the d-pad. When I'm reading in bed, I tend to read while laying on my side, so I put the opus in my right hand with my fingers curled over the top of the device; my index finger then rests on the page-forward button. In that position, with the heel of my palm already against the back of the reader, it's not a big deal to crunch my index finger a little to press the long thin button. I am right handed, though, so ymmv. I also don't have long fingernails, and my hands aren't massive bear-hands.

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