Fiction reader

pox67 · 08-08-2008, 06:07 AM

Hi All, I am glad I found this site!

I have wanted an ereading device for a long time but each time I investigate them they are not quite there. I started transforming and formatting ebooks into text files to read on a Cowon D2 with a 2.4" screen. This proved that I liked it but was too small to enjoy. I made it through a couple of books though.

Now I think it is time to step up to a real one.

I want a good screen (so Vizplex) and will be reading almost exclusively fiction and the occasional PDF (computer game manual mostly).

I will be getting most eBooks through Dymocks in Australia I think and their range of formats is like this:
http://dymocks.com.au/ProductDetails...=Endeca.297839

The readers I have narrowed it down to are the Sony PRS-505, Hanlin V3 and the Cybook Gen3. I think the Sony would win hands down but it doesn't have the Mobipocket format and I am not sure if it would be great to read just PDFs - that is why I am here.

I also wouldn't mind a dictionary on it.

So any recommendations would be great, also if I have missed a reader that you think would be good feel free to mention it.

HarryT · 08-08-2008, 06:10 AM

I have a CyBook Gen3 and am extremely happy with it. The MobiPocket format maximises your choice of eBooks stores to buy from, and dictionary lookup (which the Sony doesn't have) works extremely well. Thoroughly recommended.

lordmax · 08-08-2008, 06:25 AM

Hi

Quote:

Originally Posted by pox67

The readers I have narrowed it down to are the Sony PRS-505, Hanlin V3 and the Cybook Gen3. I think the Sony would win hands down but it doesn't have the Mobipocket format and I am not sure if it would be great to read just PDFs - that is why I am here.

For me the CyBook is the best.
It has dictionary and mobipocket and pdf is good enough.
Sony isn't good for me but is a personal thinking not tecnical.
Hanlin is good but CyBook is better.

You like to write notes?
If yes go on iLiad.

pox67 · 08-08-2008, 07:40 AM

Cheers for the replies.

Well that is 2 votes for the Cybook.

The big problem with that one is getting one in Australia. Our dollar is pretty good against the US at the moment so ordering from there would be the best I think. Unless there is a reasonable Australian distributor...

igorsk · 08-08-2008, 07:58 AM

Sony Reader is great for fiction and with Calibre converting from open formats is not an issue. PDF books from Dymocks should be readable on Reader with tge latest firmware update though there are cheaper options available (e.g. Fictionwise or BooksOnBoard can be cheaper; LIT files are easily convertible with a little work).

wallcraft · 08-08-2008, 09:46 AM

Of the three formats that Dymocks supports:

a) Adobe Reader format (PDF) is readable on the Sony, but the reader won't reflow over the original page breaks, which some have found annoying, and in a few ebooks the standard font size is set too small for the Sony's 3 font sizes to handle. This format really is "secure" at present, so you can't read these ebooks using anything except Adobe software.

b) MobiPocket is readable on the Cybook, and either is or will soon be readable on the Hanlin. The DRM can be cracked, and once DRM-free they can be read on the Hanlin for sure and on the Sony after conversion by Calibre.

c) The MS LIT format is not directly readable on any of the Readers, but is the most widely recommended format for those who want to be format independent. Its DRM is easily cracked and it is a better "archive" format than MOBI. Conversion to other formats is very easy.

pox67 · 08-08-2008, 09:11 PM

Thanks again for the responses.

At the moment I think I'll go with the Sony. That way I can read protected Adobe files and also convert from any other formats to read on the PRS-505.

Also there is a special in the US for the PRS-505 for $250. That means I can have it chipped to Australia for $330 or so Australian. That is WAY cheaper than the other 2 options.

Having said that I would probably still go with the Cybook Gen3 but it will be about $600 at least to get one in Australia. I don't want it that much more than the Sony.

pox67 · 08-10-2008, 12:29 AM

Damn, it seems Fry's won't ship the Sony PRS-505 to Australia. Some kind of export restriction

Are there US shops that will ship this to Australia?

FizzyWater · 08-10-2008, 02:07 AM

I think the Sony is your best bet right now, if PDF is your desired format. As mentioned about, the LIT files can be cracked, if that's something you're willing/able to do.

I had a Sony 500 and "upgraded" to the Cybook. After only a week of using it, I went and upgraded to the Sony 505. The Cybook is gathering dust (and will eventually be put on eBay, if I can't find a family member who wants it).

I didn't like the extra space between each line of the book. I hated how unresponsive the button was to anything but heavy pressure. I really liked the ability to use my own fonts and choose from more than just 3 font sizes. I missed the admittedly small benefit of having more than one font on the Sony (or even eBookwise) books. (While Mobipocket on my PC will show serif AND non-serif fonts in the same book, books displayed on the PocketPC or Cybook only display in one font).

Of course, now I'm eyeing the Astak readers because they're planning to release a model with eReader format, which is my preferred format (for reading DRM'd books). However, the 6-inch model is using the same casing as the Cybook. So unless I decide to go with the 5-inch model (not sure I want to go smaller) or the 9-inch model (but that won't fit in my purse!), I'll probably - quite happily - stick with my Sony 505.

HarryT · 08-10-2008, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I had a Sony 500 and "upgraded" to the Cybook. After only a week of using it, I went and upgraded to the Sony 505. The Cybook is gathering dust (and will eventually be put on eBay, if I can't find a family member who wants it).

I didn't like the extra space between each line of the book.

The interline spacing (technically called the "leading") is defined by the font. You can upload your own fonts to the Gen3. Why didn't you simply choose a different font which had a smaller leading?

Quote:

I hated how unresponsive the button was to anything but heavy pressure.

That's been fixed with current Gen3s; I agree - it was an issue with the 64MB models.

pox67 · 08-10-2008, 07:24 AM

Again thanks for the responses.

It seems that it will not really be my choice in this matter but more what I can get in Australia.

No online or retail stores will ship a PRS-505 to Australia as it is a restricted export.

The Cybook Gen3 is too expensive to get from Europe and again the US stores will not ship to Australia.

Then there are the Hanlin/Bebook style ones that I can order for Australia but they are more expensive and I prefer the PRS-505 or Cybook.

I think what I will do now is try getting the PRS-505 off ebay. I hate ebay so this is a last resort.
So the new question is:
Is there anything to look out for on the Sony PRS-505 on ebay? For example are there different versions like the Cybook has a 64 and 512mb version?

JSWolf · 08-10-2008, 07:42 AM

You can purchase a 505 from B&H in the USA. They do ship international.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ital_Book.html

montsnmags · 08-10-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pox67

No online or retail stores will ship a PRS-505 to Australia as it is a restricted export.

Even B&H in America?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

I understand at least a couple of MobileRead people in Oz have bought through B&H, and B&H are generally highly recommended (by fellow photographers in Australia).

Quote:

The Cybook Gen3 is too expensive to get from Europe and again the US stores will not ship to Australia.

I think I saw an MobileRead member who sells a range of devices in Oz (including the Iliad and the Cybook Gen 3). I'll have to go have a look for you.

As for Dymocks...why?

I have bought ebooks from a publisher's UK store (Clive James' Cultural Amnesia - DRM-free and highly recommended by myself) and Mobipocket. I'd have no qualms buying from BooksonBoard or Fictionwise, based on comments made on MobileRead. I'll admit a bias here - I'd rather punch myself in the face until unconscious than again deal with what to me is a feeble-minded, apathetic, blithering sack of incompetent cluelessness that calls itself "Dymocks" (long, multiple stories, sorry). However, even putting that aside, is there any reason you're limiting yourself to a single, Australian ebook seller?

Cheers,
Marc

montsnmags · 08-10-2008, 07:52 AM

Ahh, here it is, someone in Melbourne (calling themselves "cbell"):

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...lia#post231692

You can see a link at the bottom of the post too. This is it:

http://www.dadirect.com/

I have no real awareness of them, so don't consider this a "recommendation", but it might be another path to follow.

Cheers,
Marc

pox67 · 08-10-2008, 08:10 AM

JSWolf, montsnmags - thanks! All my searches didn't turn that place up. Looks good and the shipping is reasonable.

montsnmags, no reason for Dymocks especially. I was looking at buying a book there mid last week and found that the eBook version was less than half the price. Then the search to find something to read it on brings me here.
I have no special tie to Dymocks and have actually done a bunch of looking around and found better deals now.

08-08-2008, 06:07 AM	#1
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	Fiction reader Hi All, I am glad I found this site! I have wanted an ereading device for a long time but each time I investigate them they are not quite there. I started transforming and formatting ebooks into text files to read on a Cowon D2 with a 2.4" screen. This proved that I liked it but was too small to enjoy. I made it through a couple of books though. Now I think it is time to step up to a real one. I want a good screen (so Vizplex) and will be reading almost exclusively fiction and the occasional PDF (computer game manual mostly). I will be getting most eBooks through Dymocks in Australia I think and their range of formats is like this: http://dymocks.com.au/ProductDetails...=Endeca.297839 The readers I have narrowed it down to are the Sony PRS-505, Hanlin V3 and the Cybook Gen3. I think the Sony would win hands down but it doesn't have the Mobipocket format and I am not sure if it would be great to read just PDFs - that is why I am here. I also wouldn't mind a dictionary on it. So any recommendations would be great, also if I have missed a reader that you think would be good feel free to mention it.

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08-08-2008, 06:10 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I have a CyBook Gen3 and am extremely happy with it. The MobiPocket format maximises your choice of eBooks stores to buy from, and dictionary lookup (which the Sony doesn't have) works extremely well. Thoroughly recommended.

08-08-2008, 07:40 AM	#4
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	Cheers for the replies. Well that is 2 votes for the Cybook. The big problem with that one is getting one in Australia. Our dollar is pretty good against the US at the moment so ordering from there would be the best I think. Unless there is a reasonable Australian distributor...

08-08-2008, 07:58 AM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Sony Reader is great for fiction and with Calibre converting from open formats is not an issue. PDF books from Dymocks should be readable on Reader with tge latest firmware update though there are cheaper options available (e.g. Fictionwise or BooksOnBoard can be cheaper; LIT files are easily convertible with a little work).

08-08-2008, 09:46 AM	#6
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Of the three formats that Dymocks supports: a) Adobe Reader format (PDF) is readable on the Sony, but the reader won't reflow over the original page breaks, which some have found annoying, and in a few ebooks the standard font size is set too small for the Sony's 3 font sizes to handle. This format really is "secure" at present, so you can't read these ebooks using anything except Adobe software. b) MobiPocket is readable on the Cybook, and either is or will soon be readable on the Hanlin. The DRM can be cracked, and once DRM-free they can be read on the Hanlin for sure and on the Sony after conversion by Calibre. c) The MS LIT format is not directly readable on any of the Readers, but is the most widely recommended format for those who want to be format independent. Its DRM is easily cracked and it is a better "archive" format than MOBI. Conversion to other formats is very easy.

08-08-2008, 09:11 PM	#7
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	Thanks again for the responses. At the moment I think I'll go with the Sony. That way I can read protected Adobe files and also convert from any other formats to read on the PRS-505. Also there is a special in the US for the PRS-505 for $250. That means I can have it chipped to Australia for $330 or so Australian. That is WAY cheaper than the other 2 options. Having said that I would probably still go with the Cybook Gen3 but it will be about $600 at least to get one in Australia. I don't want it that much more than the Sony.

08-10-2008, 12:29 AM	#8
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	Damn, it seems Fry's won't ship the Sony PRS-505 to Australia. Some kind of export restriction Are there US shops that will ship this to Australia?

08-10-2008, 02:07 AM	#9
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I think the Sony is your best bet right now, if PDF is your desired format. As mentioned about, the LIT files can be cracked, if that's something you're willing/able to do. I had a Sony 500 and "upgraded" to the Cybook. After only a week of using it, I went and upgraded to the Sony 505. The Cybook is gathering dust (and will eventually be put on eBay, if I can't find a family member who wants it). I didn't like the extra space between each line of the book. I hated how unresponsive the button was to anything but heavy pressure. I really liked the ability to use my own fonts and choose from more than just 3 font sizes. I missed the admittedly small benefit of having more than one font on the Sony (or even eBookwise) books. (While Mobipocket on my PC will show serif AND non-serif fonts in the same book, books displayed on the PocketPC or Cybook only display in one font). Of course, now I'm eyeing the Astak readers because they're planning to release a model with eReader format, which is my preferred format (for reading DRM'd books). However, the 6-inch model is using the same casing as the Cybook. So unless I decide to go with the 5-inch model (not sure I want to go smaller) or the 9-inch model (but that won't fit in my purse!), I'll probably - quite happily - stick with my Sony 505.

08-10-2008, 07:24 AM	#11
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	Again thanks for the responses. It seems that it will not really be my choice in this matter but more what I can get in Australia. No online or retail stores will ship a PRS-505 to Australia as it is a restricted export. The Cybook Gen3 is too expensive to get from Europe and again the US stores will not ship to Australia. Then there are the Hanlin/Bebook style ones that I can order for Australia but they are more expensive and I prefer the PRS-505 or Cybook. I think what I will do now is try getting the PRS-505 off ebay. I hate ebay so this is a last resort. So the new question is: Is there anything to look out for on the Sony PRS-505 on ebay? For example are there different versions like the Cybook has a 64 and 512mb version?

08-10-2008, 07:42 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,621 Karma: 145864263 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You can purchase a 505 from B&H in the USA. They do ship international. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ital_Book.html

08-10-2008, 07:52 AM	#14
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	Ahh, here it is, someone in Melbourne (calling themselves "cbell"): https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...lia#post231692 You can see a link at the bottom of the post too. This is it: http://www.dadirect.com/ I have no real awareness of them, so don't consider this a "recommendation", but it might be another path to follow. Cheers, Marc

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08-10-2008, 08:10 AM	#15
pox67 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS-505 (stolen), Bebook	JSWolf, montsnmags - thanks! All my searches didn't turn that place up. Looks good and the shipping is reasonable. montsnmags, no reason for Dymocks especially. I was looking at buying a book there mid last week and found that the eBook version was less than half the price. Then the search to find something to read it on brings me here. I have no special tie to Dymocks and have actually done a bunch of looking around and found better deals now.