Kobo Glo vs Cybooks vs others? Can't decide...

[avamk]

I have a Calibre ebook collection on my MacBook Pro running Mac OS X 10.6.8, but don't have a physical e-reader device, and I'd like to get one as soon as possible!

I did some research online and in the MobileRead wiki, and the Kobo Glo and Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight caught my attention because: (1) they are light (this is very important to me), (2) can be read at night, (3) supports ePub which is the format all my ebooks are in, and (4) are touch capable.

Does anyone have experience with these devices? I am looking for something that is very easy on the eyes even in the dark.

There are also a few things that I couldn't resolve from my preliminary research:

(1) Do these devices have mandantory online activation and registration? I strongly prefer something that does not require signing up for an account and activating it online.

(2) I know the Kobo syncs with Calibre, but what about the Cybooks? And even if they sync, do they do it well/reliably?

(3) I also prefer free (as in freedom) and open source operating systems for my devices. I realise that may be unrealistic for an e-reader at this time, but are there e-readers that are relatively more freedom friendly or I can install another OS in it?

Even though I mentioned the Kobo Glo and Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight, I'd love to learn about other devices that also meet my requirements stated above. Again, light and eye-friendly are important, too.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[robko]

Originally Posted by avamk

There are also a few things that I couldn't resolve from my preliminary research:

(1) Do these devices have mandantory online activation and registration? I strongly prefer something that does not require signing up for an account and activating it online.

Kobo will require online registration BUT there is a (relatively) simple hack (changing some values in the database) that will allow you to use it without registering.

[avamk]

Originally Posted by robko

Kobo will require online registration BUT there is a (relatively) simple hack (changing some values in the database) that will allow you to use it without registering.

Thanks that's good to know! Is there a link to instructions on how to do that? My initial web search did not find anything...

Any other advice regarding any part (or all) of my original post would be appreciated! Thanks.

[AnemicOak]

AFAIK the Cybook would have no registration requirements, at least older ones didn't. The one thing I learned with Bookeen is make sure you're okay with the current feature set as is and don't count on or buy based on anything they say might come in a future update.


What kind of organization for books do you want? The Kobo uses "shelves" which are basically single level tags. Someone will have to confirm on the newer Cybook, but previous Cybook's have had a full directory "folder" structure available.

[avamk]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

AFAIK the Cybook would have no registration requirements, at least older ones didn't. The one thing I learned with Bookeen is make sure you're okay with the current feature set as is and don't count on or buy based on anything they say might come in a future update.

That's good to know, and thanks for the advice. I will certainly base my decision on features available right now, not in the future.

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

What kind of organization for books do you want? The Kobo uses "shelves" which are basically single level tags. Someone will have to confirm on the newer Cybook, but previous Cybook's have had a full directory "folder" structure available.

I didn't know this at all! The Cybook's organisation sounds more flexible to me and more appealing. So of the two I am leaning towards a Cybook.
Any thoughts on other e-readers and/or the things I mentioned in the original post?
Thanks again!

[avamk]

Originally Posted by robko

Kobo will require online registration BUT there is a (relatively) simple hack (changing some values in the database) that will allow you to use it without registering.

I have been looking more closely at the Kobo Glo and the CyBook HD Frontlight, and I actually like the Kobo better now.
However, a sticking point is that Kobo readers require online registration and activation by default.
It is great to know that there is a way to modify the database to skip registration, but I'd like to confirm a few things:

(1) Is the simple hack the one described here? Is so, would it work on a Kobo Glow as well?

(2) Can the firmware still be updated after this hack? Is so, how?

(3) I understand that new fonts can be installed in a Kobo reader. Would I be able to install fonts for non-English languages? Specifically, I am interested in Japanese and Traditional Chinese fonts. Would they "just work"?

Thanks!!