Cybook now or Readius later?

[askyn]

First off I live in the US.

my question is should I buy a cybook now ?

Or wait who knows how long for the readius ?

They cybook would cover almost everything id want in a ereader except for the flexible screen.

I REALLY like the compact nature of the Readius and the flex screen which would alieve MUCH of my conserns over delicate screens etc.

so .. if it was going to be your first ereader would you get the cybook now? or wait for the readius?

I understand that the readius will be avilable only over in europe, and wont be released until sept? oct?

Thank you

[DaleDe]

I would suggest you buy an eBookwise 1150 now and a Readius later. this way you can start reading and still wait for your dream.

Dale

[wallcraft]

The Readius is interesting hardware, but we have as yet no idea what content will be available for it. Or rather, which DRM-ridden format it will use and how difficult it will be to get your existing DRM-ed ebooks on the device.

[HarryT]

The Readius only has a QVGA screen; that's really rather poor resolution for a 5" screen. I don't personally think it's going to be that great to read on.

[lordmax]

Hi

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Readius only has a QVGA screen; that's really rather poor resolution for a 5" screen. I don't personally think it's going to be that great to read on.

I must go with HarryT.
The Readius is too much "maybe" for now, CyBook is a really good product now.

Choose the CyBook now.
In a couple of years they're be so many alternatives that now seem scifi. ^___^

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by askyn

so .. if it was going to be your first ereader would you get the cybook now? or wait for the readius?

I would get the Sony now, and wait for the Astak Mentor!

BOb

[JSWolf]

Especially Sony in RED!

[peterbbb]

Buy whatever now. I have a Cybook and it is fine. I'm sure any ebook reader is better than no ebook reader...

[askyn]

Originally Posted by peterbbb

Buy whatever now. I have a Cybook and it is fine. I'm sure any ebook reader is better than no ebook reader...

I agree with that feeling 100% !

ROFL .. its why im tring to decide on a ebook now.

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Readius only has a QVGA screen; that's really rather poor resolution for a 5" screen. I don't personally think it's going to be that great to read on.

Hmm hadnt considered / didnt know that would be a issue. ( again not owning one is why i come here for good advice )

How much lower would that res be compared to the sony / cybook ? would it matter much for straight text? ( ie does the higher res on the other devices only come into play when you want to display graphics / book covers etc? )

I may just hold off and wait a month or two ... it seems that several potentiallly good devices are coming out in the near future.

I dont have enougho extra funds to get one reader now and turn around and get another later on.

This would be a major invest ment that id be keeping for years to come.

Thank you

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by askyn

I agree with that feeling 100% !

ROFL .. its why im tring to decide on a ebook now.



Hmm hadnt considered / didnt know that would be a issue. ( again not owning one is why i come here for good advice )

How much lower would that res be compared to the sony / cybook ? would it matter much for straight text? ( ie does the higher res on the other devices only come into play when you want to display graphics / book covers etc? )

I may just hold off and wait a month or two ... it seems that several potentiallly good devices are coming out in the near future.

I dont have enougho extra funds to get one reader now and turn around and get another later on.

This would be a major invest ment that id be keeping for years to come.

Thank you

Well, the Sony, Jinke (V3), Bookeen and Amazon all have 6" screens w/600x800 pixel resolution. The Readius is only an inch smaller but has *only* 240x320 resolution. I'd say it's going to be "blockier". And considering we've been hearing prices suggested in the $600-$800 range, I'd consider that a QVGA folding display to be far more a 'disadvantage' than having a cell phone built-in would be an 'advantage'. But that's just me.

Derek

[rachaelandrews]

Originally Posted by askyn

I may just hold off and wait a month or two ... it seems that several potentiallly good devices are coming out in the near future.

I dont have enougho extra funds to get one reader now and turn around and get another later on.

This would be a major invest ment that id be keeping for years to come.

Thank you

If I may add my two pennies worth --

The problem here as I see it is as with any technology. There will always ben something "better" in a few months.
If, like me, you have to have the latest gadget that serves your purpose (if it is within my means - which is a desire that has levels, shall we say, for everyone depending on their financial means) you can either
a) keep waiting and never spend your money for fear of the object of your lust being superseded tomorrow
b) buy one and then plan for the next one which is inevitably around the corner
or
c) buy one and kick yourself when the next one comes out.

I'm a b) option sort of person really.

If you are making an investment that you don't plan to upgrade until such time that it either becomes obsolete or dies on it's bum, however, I think testing the water, as you are doing, to see if anything else is about to pop up which would be better suited to your needs is sensible. But unless you have insider info or are clairvoyant, you still could have a surprise in store when the next one comes out. Or if something suddenly becomes obsolete (which is a possibility - though in such cases "suddenly" is usually - but not always - within a timeframe that means your device won't instantly become useful only as a doorstop, thankfully.)
And if you do have insider info, which is a position I have been in on a number of occasions, your need for any particular device right now as opposed to in a few months time may well mean that that info might not do you any good at all.

Bottom line is - there's always going to be something "better" around the corner. This technology lark is all about chances, innit. Short of being psychic you'll never know what's up next.
IMHO - does the device you have in mind now suit your needs as they stand ? If yes, great - buy one and enjoy it ! If not, wait until something comes along that does.
That is, as ever, only my humble opinion.


Rachael

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by askyn

How much lower would that res be compared to the sony / cybook ? would it matter much for straight text? ( ie does the higher res on the other devices only come into play when you want to display graphics / book covers etc? )

The Readius has a linear resolution of 80 dots per inch (dpi) - that's similar to that of an original dot matrix printer; at that resolution you can clearly see all the "dots" which make up each letter.

All the 6" eInk devices on the market have a linear resolution more than double that - 166dpi, so a letter of a given physical size will have more than 4x as many "dots" in it on the eInk screen as on the Readius, and will look much more like printed text.

It doesn't affect what you can read, but it'll mean that the text will look much "smoother".