|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
12-10-2008, 12:52 PM | #16 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
We must agree to differ . Personally I don't want to have to mess around with format conversion. I just want to download a book and read it.
|
12-10-2008, 12:55 PM | #17 |
creator of calibre
Posts: 43,860
Karma: 22666666
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
Device: Various
|
|
Advert | |
|
12-10-2008, 01:42 PM | #18 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,452
Karma: 7185064
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Linköpng, Sweden
Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW
|
Quote:
I really cannot see how you can say that 40s boot time it so long that you changed your device but that 25s is not noticeable. The book I always carry with me is for reading whenever an opportunity appear. Then you cannot wait 25s to read a couple of minutes. It is silly and irritating. |
|
12-10-2008, 01:46 PM | #19 |
Gadget Geek
Posts: 2,324
Karma: 22221
Join Date: Aug 2007
Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)
|
I guess it's a matter of whether the OP minds doing the conversion before reading the book. I have a Kindle so I get .mobi and .azw books that I can read right away. Every so often I convert a bunch of them at once for archive. When I want to be reading I can be doing so right away. It doesn't matter where I am and if I have conversion software with me. It's a small distinction but it may be relevant to the OP, I suppose.
Of course, since I usually download my books over the EVDO connection as I want them, I'm more likely to be getting my books while away from my house. If I had a Sony or a Cybook, I would probably be downloading them to my home computer where the conversion would only add a minute or two to the process. |
12-10-2008, 10:34 PM | #20 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 25
Karma: 258
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Dell Axim x51v, Bookeen CyBook Gen 3, Sony PRS-T1
|
I must admit, Harry, my first reaction to your initial post was a groan; having finally settled on a reader, only to have another one thrown into the mix. I am now, however, very glad that you did!
pilotbob is right, I was misinterpreting the reviewer's complaints that when you restart the machine it takes you back to the library, as opposed to where you were last reading. This is not, however, a problem for me. So I went to Dymocks in the city this morning and took a look at the CyBook in person, and I must admit, I'm impressed. I didn't find it to be cheap or flimsy as some reviewers have suggested, and was also surprised (despite all the photos I've seen) at just how small it is. I was also impressed at how light it is. Unfortunately the dictionary they had installed was only a demo version, and so essentially useless, but I have at least seen how it is supposed to work and find it quite usable. Also, having encountered three unknown words in the p-book I was reading on the bus, I'm more convinced than ever that it's something that I could really use. I was also quite impressed with the font size options, and found the navigation of books and the library both perfectly intuitive and not at all the hassle that I'd been imagining. I do think I would find the boot-up time quite frustrating, especially on those occasions when I only have a few minutes to read, but I think I would get around it by starting it in the morning, leaving it on during the day, only shutting it down at night or when I know I won't be reading for some time (when I'm working, for instance). It is definitely more expensive - including 3-5 day shipping from B&H, the PRS 505 comes to $336.75USD, which at today's exchange rate is $513AUD. The CyBook, at Dymocks is $599AUD, + $49.95AUD for a case - almost $150 more. Buying direct from Bookeen, with shipping, is a little cheaper, at 282 Euro, or $562AUD, and that's not including a case, and also having to wait for them to be in stock again & shipping. I think I'm willing to pay the extra for the instant gratification after waiting so long! The one downside I did notice was a curious, slight vertiginous sensation while reading. It's quite hard to describe, but I think it came from the cognitive dissonance of my brain expecting the display to flicker like every other screen it's ever seen, and thus being unsettled by how static it is. Sort of like stepping off a rocking boat onto the shore, I suppose. I assume this will pass fairly quickly. Has anyone else ever experienced this? kovidgoyal is right about my desire to not be trapped with a DRM'd format, however, given that I can convert MobiPocket books, I have no issue with them - I think I would buy them, and load them on my device, whilst also keeping format-shifted open copies as a backup for the future. Not much different to buying them, converting them, then putting them on my e-book reader, really. In the end, I do think the features offered by the CyBook outweigh the additional cost. Plus, my mother has offered to help pay for it as my birthday present, so hopefully in a few day's time I will be able to report that I am a happy e-book reader. Thankyou all so much for your help and insight, I really appreciate it. |
Advert | |
|
12-10-2008, 11:01 PM | #21 |
Loves2Design <3
Posts: 103
Karma: 108
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: in my own dreamworld somewhere in Virginia
Device: Sony PRS-505, Ipad, Kindle DX
|
i felt the as i, Podius when i start reading this thread... the same since the main e-reader i was looking at was the Sony PRS-505, but i was happy you did make a comment about the CyBook i want to know i get the best e-reader for me. So now i have to a more in depth study of the CyBook compared to the PRS-505.
|
12-12-2008, 05:36 AM | #22 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
Because the battery life of the iLiad was so short, I had to turn it off at the end of every reading session. I don't do that with the Gen3 - if I put it down for half an hour while I'm having my dinner I leave it switched on. What I always do, though, is to switch it off when I know that I've finished reading, and I don't find the boot time to be inconvenient when I next start reading - I just press the power switch as I get the machine out of my bag, and by the time I've settled down comfortably in my chair to read, it's all ready and waiting for me. |
|
12-12-2008, 05:50 PM | #23 | |
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
|
Quote:
|
|
12-12-2008, 07:41 PM | #24 |
Guru
Posts: 860
Karma: 4380
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Almada, Portugal
Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note
|
I just turn off my Cybook when I decide I will not be reading for some time - old habits I think.
But, when in the mood to read again, I normally like to do it comfort, at least if I can… like in old times when reading a pBook (for me the last time that happened was still in the last century, and this is literally)… so… first I turn on the Cybook, rest comfortably - sitting in the correct position, finding the good source of light, etc. - and when I’m ready to begin, the Cybook is powered on a ready to let me begin my reading! BTW: I checked the power on time today, and it’s 25 seconds - hey! just sitting takes 25 seconds! If I need to stop in the middle of a reading session - answering the phone, fixing a drink, you name it, - I just let the reader on (it’s configured to turn off after 30 minutes), do what I need to do, and back to reading I am. |
12-12-2008, 08:37 PM | #25 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,452
Karma: 7185064
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Linköpng, Sweden
Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW
|
|
12-12-2008, 08:42 PM | #26 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,452
Karma: 7185064
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Linköpng, Sweden
Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW
|
Quote:
And the Cybook with 300 items on it has a boot time of 40-50 seconds. |
|
12-12-2008, 09:33 PM | #27 | |
Addict
Posts: 352
Karma: 572
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Melbourne
Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9
|
Quote:
As for the BeBook not being able to read a range of formats, this is simply misinformation. With the latest firmware release, mobipocket is now extremely usable although I have no idea about dictionary support with it as it is not a feature I use or am likely to. RTF on the BeBook is a very well supported format. Others can be a bit it and miss, however I fully expect that these will become much better supported with time. While there has been a lot of negativity about the December 5 firmware release, on the machines it did work on, the upgrade was very very good. I have both the Cybook and the Bebook and once my Bebook returns from being repaired (it stopped reading SD cards) I will be giving the CyBook to my daughter and returning to use of the Bebook as I prefer the ergonomics of the Bebook as well as the fact that I can read my library of RTF format books. Karen |
|
12-13-2008, 09:35 AM | #28 |
Guru
Posts: 860
Karma: 4380
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Almada, Portugal
Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note
|
tompe
I do not doubt about the boot up time you report. I myself have today 31 documents on my first wave Cybook (64 MByte one), and I think I have had never more then 40 - never needed to have more. So with these settings I get 25 seconds. Would say still that, getting comfortable to read and using the Cybook as I state in the post above, I do not see 45 seconds as a problem, the main library list will be open and the eBook I’m currently reading selected and ready for me to begin. |
12-14-2008, 11:16 PM | #29 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 25
Karma: 258
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Dell Axim x51v, Bookeen CyBook Gen 3, Sony PRS-T1
|
Hi sianon, I'm in Sydney; I believe the only Dymocks store that carries the Cybook is the one on George St, in the city. However, you can also order online from their website and have it delivered. The cover they had on it was pretty nice, leather (or pleather, possibly), slightly different to the ones I've seen in photos on the forums here, but it seemed quite well made, and featured a magnet to keep it closed when not in use.
You're probably right about the BeBook improving with time, but as it stands, I really like the CyBook's features (I'd like it more, admittedly, if it had RTF support), but I do like the font size options, the dictionary lookup (so far as I've read, the BeBook doesn't support that yet), and the aesthetics, as well. Anyhow, it looks like I should be getting it for Christmas now, I'll be sure to post my thoughts on it after a few week's use. |
12-15-2008, 01:13 AM | #30 |
Groupie
Posts: 168
Karma: 1010000
Join Date: Jul 2008
Device: PRS505
|
Have you thought about ordering it from Canada?
Not sure if it's possible, but they are less then 320$ here, and our dollar is closer to yours. I was in the same boat as you, and in the end I went with the Sony. Originally I bought it because of the price, it was cheaper here, although that doesn't apply for you, and as much as I would like dictionary support, I would buy the sony even if they were the same price now. four reasons I prefer the sony. 1. BUTTONS. The slow refresh rate means that it takes forever to get anywhere, having tons of buttons speeds up book selection and navigation a large amount. Especially for early adoption of technology since new tech is usually slow, lots of buttons are good Being able to use either the buttons on the lower left or middle right are nice. 2. Caliber. This is probably the most important part of the sony reader. absolutely and without question, the sony library was terrible. The virtually nonstop updates, a clear and efficient interface(even if the really good functions are easy to miss for ages). Oh yeah, and the fact that it is the computer equivalent to a garberator, throw anything in and out it comes nice and ready to read nothing else will do the job for organizing and converting to one format if you're working with piles of formats and so on from all the free authors around. 3. See #2. 4. The metal chassis, it looks slick and survives well. |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Thinking of buying a used 505 | artemisblossom | Sony Reader | 4 | 08-02-2009 08:31 PM |
New Member - advice on PRS-505 | chaznsc | Sony Reader | 9 | 07-06-2009 05:31 PM |
Thinking about buying PRS-505: two questions | sfan | Sony Reader | 6 | 09-01-2008 07:27 PM |
Thanks for the advice: Love my PRS-505 | D1ffuse | Sony Reader | 19 | 08-13-2008 05:03 PM |
Bought a PRS-505, but thinking of sending it back. Help? | micomicon | Which one should I buy? | 43 | 12-23-2007 05:37 PM |