My Cybook wants a little brother

Holden · 02-15-2011, 04:18 PM

I have a Cybook 3 generation and lots of ebooks.
I live in Italy and a friend of mine is going to New York. I was thinking of buying a Kindle 3, as the price is tempting.
Somebody told me that you will be asked some personal information when you buy a kindle, but this is not clear for me, What is it for? for downloading from Amazon?
Second question: Kindle and Cybook use the same files? mobi, isn't it?
Third Question: What about the screen resolution? Is it better to read than my Cybook?
Fourth question: Can you buy it at Barnes and Nobles? If not, which is the best place where I can send my friend to buy it?

(I might have found all the answer in the other threads, but there are so many that I got lost

ProfCrash · 02-16-2011, 09:54 AM

I know nothing about the Cybook so it is hard to answer specific questions.

A Kindle will be able to read any non-DRMed Mobi books that you have. If you have bought books that are DRMed and readable on the Cybook, they will not be readable on the Kindle. If you are comfortable with the legal, ethical, and technical issues you can strip the DRM and put the books from your Cybook on a Kindle.

The K3 and Sony have the Pearl Screen which is the best e-ink screen currently available. I would guess that the screen is better then the Cybook.

If you want to use the wireless capabilities and collections you will have to register your Kindle with Amazon. It is painless. Essentially you create an Amazon account which gives them your name and address. You have to give them a credit card number if you want to buy books directly from your Kindle.

Kindles are not sold at Barnes and Nobles. You can buy a Kindle at Staples, Best Buy, and Target.

Holden · 02-16-2011, 03:53 PM

Thank you, you've been very useful

JSWolf · 02-16-2011, 04:03 PM

If you get a nice 650, then the Gen 3 can be the little brother. Also, you can put on an ePub firmware on the Gen3 and they will both be compatible. The 650 uses the same Pearl screen as the K3. Once you get used to the touch interface, you'll find buttons a bit harder to use.

pdurrant · 02-16-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holden

Third Question: What about the screen resolution? Is it better to read than my Cybook?

Both are 600x800 pixel 6" diagonal E-Ink screens. But the Kindle 3 has a later version of the E-Ink screen that has blacker blacks than the CyBook. It's a better screen.

Note that it would be a big brother to your CyBook - taller, wider, thicker and heavier.

Holden · 02-16-2011, 05:26 PM

I might consider to have twins...

Rizla · 02-16-2011, 07:35 PM

The Cybook supports Epub, the Kindle does not. It uses the inferior Mobi format. You can use Calibre to convert / downgrade your epubs to Mobi.

Apparently you can add new firmware to the K3 in order to read epubs. I think it's legal, but it's probably a bit techy to do.

The K3 screen is superior to the Cybook screen, but there isn't that much in it. Nice price though.

Holden · 02-18-2011, 08:54 AM

But, still I have a question:
What are they going to ask me at the moment of purchasing. It should be something regardind wi-fi and amazon. As I am not buying it myself, I just need to provide correct information.

HarryT · 02-18-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

The K3 screen is superior to the Cybook screen, but there isn't that much in it.

As a former Cybook Gen3 owner, and a current Kindle 3 owner, I really can't agree with you. There's a heck of a lot in it. The contrast of the "Pearl" screen of the K3 is quite dramatically better than that of the Gen3's earlier screen.

EowynCarter · 02-18-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Kindle and Cybook use the same files? mobi, isn't it?

Gen 3 have two firmware, 1.6, that read mobi, and 2.1 that read ePub.

Note that mobi drm link the books to devices. So, drmed books will not be readable on your new device. You will need to de-drm.

Quote:

What are they going to ask me at the moment of purchasing. It should be something regarding wi-fi and amazon. As I am not buying it myself, I just need to provide correct information.

The usual I would say, name, billing address, e-mail address.
Mind the billing address, and geo-restictions....

Quote:

The K3 and Sony have the Pearl Screen which is the best e-ink screen currently available. I would guess that the screen is better then the Cybook.

pearl is better, but that don't make the other screens un-readable

If you mean to read in Italian, I would definitively not get a kindle. Get a sony or a cybook. If not well....

elizilla · 02-19-2011, 12:06 PM

When you order a Kindle from Amazon, they ask you whether it's a gift. If you say it is a gift, they don't ask you anything; they just leave it to the buyer to authorize the device later. If it's not a gift, then they send it to you pre-authorized for the account you bought it from.

I would imagine that if you buy a Kindle from a bricks-and-mortar store like Target or Staples, they do them all as if they were gifts - the store isn't going to have geeks on staff to take it out of the box and set it up for you.

Holden · 02-27-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

As a former Cybook Gen3 owner, and a current Kindle 3 owner, I really can't agree with you. There's a heck of a lot in it. The contrast of the "Pearl" screen of the K3 is quite dramatically better than that of the Gen3's earlier screen.

Oh, Harry, I must be missing something. I remember you were the stongest defender of Cybook uber alles and now I find you on the other side...
Thank you all, I 'll buy the kindle 3 as I read mostly in English and it is a cheap device, but i will also go for a Sony one day or another. But I will always love my old Cybook.

HarryT · 03-02-2011, 08:11 AM

The Gen3 was an excellent reader in its day, Holden, and I enjoyed reading on mine for a long time. But things have moved on, and I think that Bookeen have been rather overtaken by other companies, unfortunately. There are now a number of better devices on the market.

02-15-2011, 04:18 PM	#1
Holden Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: cybook, kindle3	My Cybook wants a little brother I have a Cybook 3 generation and lots of ebooks. I live in Italy and a friend of mine is going to New York. I was thinking of buying a Kindle 3, as the price is tempting. Somebody told me that you will be asked some personal information when you buy a kindle, but this is not clear for me, What is it for? for downloading from Amazon? Second question: Kindle and Cybook use the same files? mobi, isn't it? Third Question: What about the screen resolution? Is it better to read than my Cybook? Fourth question: Can you buy it at Barnes and Nobles? If not, which is the best place where I can send my friend to buy it? (I might have found all the answer in the other threads, but there are so many that I got lost

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02-16-2011, 09:54 AM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I know nothing about the Cybook so it is hard to answer specific questions. A Kindle will be able to read any non-DRMed Mobi books that you have. If you have bought books that are DRMed and readable on the Cybook, they will not be readable on the Kindle. If you are comfortable with the legal, ethical, and technical issues you can strip the DRM and put the books from your Cybook on a Kindle. The K3 and Sony have the Pearl Screen which is the best e-ink screen currently available. I would guess that the screen is better then the Cybook. If you want to use the wireless capabilities and collections you will have to register your Kindle with Amazon. It is painless. Essentially you create an Amazon account which gives them your name and address. You have to give them a credit card number if you want to buy books directly from your Kindle. Kindles are not sold at Barnes and Nobles. You can buy a Kindle at Staples, Best Buy, and Target.

02-16-2011, 03:53 PM	#3
Holden Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: cybook, kindle3	Thank you, you've been very useful

02-16-2011, 04:03 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you get a nice 650, then the Gen 3 can be the little brother. Also, you can put on an ePub firmware on the Gen3 and they will both be compatible. The 650 uses the same Pearl screen as the K3. Once you get used to the touch interface, you'll find buttons a bit harder to use.

02-16-2011, 05:26 PM	#6
Holden Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: cybook, kindle3	I might consider to have twins...

02-16-2011, 07:35 PM	#7
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	The Cybook supports Epub, the Kindle does not. It uses the inferior Mobi format. You can use Calibre to convert / downgrade your epubs to Mobi. Apparently you can add new firmware to the K3 in order to read epubs. I think it's legal, but it's probably a bit techy to do. The K3 screen is superior to the Cybook screen, but there isn't that much in it. Nice price though.

02-18-2011, 08:54 AM	#8
Holden Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: cybook, kindle3	But, still I have a question: What are they going to ask me at the moment of purchasing. It should be something regardind wi-fi and amazon. As I am not buying it myself, I just need to provide correct information.

02-19-2011, 12:06 PM	#11
elizilla Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 610286 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Aura One, Sony PRS 650, Sony PRS 350	When you order a Kindle from Amazon, they ask you whether it's a gift. If you say it is a gift, they don't ask you anything; they just leave it to the buyer to authorize the device later. If it's not a gift, then they send it to you pre-authorized for the account you bought it from. I would imagine that if you buy a Kindle from a bricks-and-mortar store like Target or Staples, they do them all as if they were gifts - the store isn't going to have geeks on staff to take it out of the box and set it up for you.

03-02-2011, 08:11 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	The Gen3 was an excellent reader in its day, Holden, and I enjoyed reading on mine for a long time. But things have moved on, and I think that Bookeen have been rather overtaken by other companies, unfortunately. There are now a number of better devices on the market.

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