BeBook Review - really a great device... - Page 8

JSWolf · 11-14-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's not the role of moderators to keep threads "on topic". That would be an impossible task. Threads do "drift" - that's life.

If the threads drift too far off topic, it is the job of the moderators to steer it back on course.

HarryT · 11-15-2008, 05:12 AM

Only on "important" threads like "sticky" threads, Jon. We just let other threads "drift" because they fall out of view in a few days or weeks.

Dr. Drib · 11-20-2008, 10:39 AM

WANTED: A PHOTO SHOWING THE "formatting is not great, but workable" IN LIT FORMAT" alluded to in the first post of this thread.

I want an e-ink Reader that will read - actually read in .lit format - without conversions.

An uploaded photo will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Don

AlfonsVH · 11-20-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

WANTED: A PHOTO SHOWING THE "formatting is not great, but workable" IN LIT FORMAT" alluded to in the first post of this thread.

I want an e-ink Reader that will read - actually read in .lit format - without conversions.

An uploaded photo will be greatly appreciated.

Here you go...

LIT certainly is useable, but the pageturns take more time than most other file formats.

Sorry for the crappy pics, but the screen of my camera broke, so I have to focus by trial and error

But well, you get the idea I guess.

tsgreer · 11-20-2008, 01:01 PM

Don, I can try to do that for you tonight or tomorrow. But I can tell you that "not great, but workable" is almost accurate. For my tastes though, it's not even workable. You can't change fonts. and when it comes to size, the font size can only go between two sizes: Pretty Small and Too Big.

To clarify, you open a .lit file and it's "just a tad too small" text with wide margins. So you, push the little text size button and bam! The text gets big and the orientation defaults to horizontal, so you have to turn the device sideways to read it. No other choices offered.

Actually I got it mainly for being able to drag and drop the .lit files and read without conversion. But the technology is still too immature and I don't read .lit files on it at all because of the poor options so far.

But of course, what I judge to be too small and too big is my opinion. But it's very irritating that on the large size it switches the orientation.

I'm off tomorrow, so I'll take and post pics. I guess I could do a mini-review and compare it with pics to my Kindle and my Sony, but I've never done a review before and I'm afraid!

tsgreer · 11-20-2008, 01:03 PM

Or never mind because while I was writing my reply, AlfonsVH, was kind enough to post pics.

wallcraft · 11-20-2008, 01:38 PM

Why is it that the BeBook does not have a screenshot (copy of the screen bitmap as an image) utility? The only EInk devices that do are the iLiad and the Kindle, and the iLiad one (fbshot) should be easy to port to the BeBook.

Photo's of the screen have their place, since it is easier to tell if the device is for you from photos, but for existing owners of EInk reading devices a screenshot is much more informative about issues like formatting. The screenshot will typically appear larger on your PC screen (since it is always 600x800 pixels) but this is easy to allow for.

For examples, see (Kindle) Font Sizes and (Iliad) Mobipocket Font Switcher. Note that these are showing two implementations of the Java-based MobiPocket Reader (on the Kindle and on the iLiad), the same underlying MOBI reader as on the BeBook. Another area where screenshots are very useful is image optimization, see Kindle Automatically Doubles Image Sizes.

All general purpose devices seem to come with a screenshot capability, see for example Hey you iPhone & Touch Readers! Post Some Pics!. All the "pics" are screenshots.

tompe · 11-20-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsgreer

To clarify, you open a .lit file and it's "just a tad too small" text with wide margins. So you, push the little text size button and bam! The text gets big and the orientation defaults to horizontal, so you have to turn the device sideways to read it. No other choices offered.

Does that holds for all lit files? I have noticed when converting lit files that the quality of the formatting vary and usually depends on the origin of the file...

If you extract the html file and test it on the Bebook will you have the same problem?

johanm · 11-20-2008, 01:54 PM

I am looking for an ebook reader and given the price and availability in Europe: I found only 2 candidates: the iPod Touch and the Hanlin/BeBook/iBook v3. The iPod is really nice (drool) and has lots of features but is not an ebook reader in the sense of having the experience of reading a book, less strain on the eyes, power consumption and reading in daylight on a sunny day. But since I cannot get my hands on a ebook reader to test it, I have some serious questions whether the Hanlin/BeBook/iBook v3 ebook reader is going to meet my expectations:
1. I have ebooks in pdf and chm format ranging from 1 MB to 150 MB (99% of them is smaller than 50 MB though). What size of ebooks can the ebook reader handle ?
2. Is the table of contents in pdf and chm documents available and usable ?
3. Can the ebook reader handle text on a colored background having only 4 shades of gray ?
4. I am subscribed to computer emagazines (pdf): they come with lots of colored pictures and photos (mostly commercial and of no real value to me) but are they readable/viewable ?

Thanks

Johan

tsgreer · 11-20-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Does that holds for all lit files? I have noticed when converting lit files that the quality of the formatting vary and usually depends on the origin of the file...

If you extract the html file and test it on the Bebook will you have the same problem?

That's a good point. I don't know. I know that every .lit file (maybe 15 or so) I have thrown at it, end up looking exactly the same on screen.

Slite · 11-21-2008, 02:40 AM

.LIT is having problems on the BeBook at the moment, especially true for Baen Books in .LIT format. There seems to be something about the formating in them that causes the Bebook to lock up, crash or jump back to the "bookshelf" at random intervals.

This has been pointed out to the Bebook developers, but currently there is no solution for this. It seems to be related to .LIT's with pictures in them. But noone seems to really know exactly what causes this.

HarryT · 11-21-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slite

.LIT is having problems on the BeBook at the moment, especially true for Baen Books in .LIT format. There seems to be something about the formating in them that causes the Bebook to lock up, crash or jump back to the "bookshelf" at random intervals.

This has been pointed out to the Bebook developers, but currently there is no solution for this. It seems to be related to .LIT's with pictures in them. But noone seems to really know exactly what causes this.

It's perhaps worth noting that DRM-free LIT can be extremely easily converted to Mobipocket format by using "ConvertLIT" to "explode" the LIT to its open eBook (OEB) source, and then MobiPocket Creator to convert the OEB to Mobi.

Slite · 11-21-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's perhaps worth noting that DRM-free LIT can be extremely easily converted to Mobipocket format by using "ConvertLIT" to "explode" the LIT to its open eBook (OEB) source, and then MobiPocket Creator to convert the OEB to Mobi.

Oh, I didn't know that, thanks for the tip. But considering that I'm less than happy with the current BeBook support for Mobi... well, it's a choice between the plague or cholera really

I wish they would just fix the issues with either mobi or ms-reader and I would be a happy camper.

sheygetz · 11-21-2008, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

...DRM-free LIT can be extremely easily converted to Mobipocket ...

And do you keep all formatting with that? I mean font, paragraph indents, links from contents to chapters etc. ?

Hendrik

HarryT · 11-21-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheygetz

And do you keep all formatting with that? I mean font, paragraph indents, links from contents to chapters etc. ?

Hendrik

Yes. Both LIT and Mobi are based on the Open eBook (OEB) standard, so nothing at all is lost in the conversion.

11-20-2008, 01:03 PM	#111
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	Or never mind because while I was writing my reply, AlfonsVH, was kind enough to post pics. Last edited by tsgreer; 11-20-2008 at 01:07 PM.

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11-15-2008, 05:12 AM	#107
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Only on "important" threads like "sticky" threads, Jon. We just let other threads "drift" because they fall out of view in a few days or weeks.

11-20-2008, 10:39 AM	#108
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,043 Karma: 56751447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	WANTED: A PHOTO SHOWING THE "formatting is not great, but workable" IN LIT FORMAT" alluded to in the first post of this thread. I want an e-ink Reader that will read - actually read in .lit format - without conversions. An uploaded photo will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Don

11-20-2008, 01:01 PM	#110
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	Don, I can try to do that for you tonight or tomorrow. But I can tell you that "not great, but workable" is almost accurate. For my tastes though, it's not even workable. You can't change fonts. and when it comes to size, the font size can only go between two sizes: Pretty Small and Too Big. To clarify, you open a .lit file and it's "just a tad too small" text with wide margins. So you, push the little text size button and bam! The text gets big and the orientation defaults to horizontal, so you have to turn the device sideways to read it. No other choices offered. Actually I got it mainly for being able to drag and drop the .lit files and read without conversion. But the technology is still too immature and I don't read .lit files on it at all because of the poor options so far. But of course, what I judge to be too small and too big is my opinion. But it's very irritating that on the large size it switches the orientation. I'm off tomorrow, so I'll take and post pics. I guess I could do a mini-review and compare it with pics to my Kindle and my Sony, but I've never done a review before and I'm afraid!

11-20-2008, 01:38 PM	#112
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Why is it that the BeBook does not have a screenshot (copy of the screen bitmap as an image) utility? The only EInk devices that do are the iLiad and the Kindle, and the iLiad one (fbshot) should be easy to port to the BeBook. Photo's of the screen have their place, since it is easier to tell if the device is for you from photos, but for existing owners of EInk reading devices a screenshot is much more informative about issues like formatting. The screenshot will typically appear larger on your PC screen (since it is always 600x800 pixels) but this is easy to allow for. For examples, see (Kindle) Font Sizes and (Iliad) Mobipocket Font Switcher. Note that these are showing two implementations of the Java-based MobiPocket Reader (on the Kindle and on the iLiad), the same underlying MOBI reader as on the BeBook. Another area where screenshots are very useful is image optimization, see Kindle Automatically Doubles Image Sizes. All general purpose devices seem to come with a screenshot capability, see for example Hey you iPhone & Touch Readers! Post Some Pics!. All the "pics" are screenshots.

11-20-2008, 01:54 PM	#114
johanm Member Posts: 18 Karma: 26 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Belgium Device: BeBook (Hanlin v3) and iPod Touch	I am looking for an ebook reader and given the price and availability in Europe: I found only 2 candidates: the iPod Touch and the Hanlin/BeBook/iBook v3. The iPod is really nice (drool) and has lots of features but is not an ebook reader in the sense of having the experience of reading a book, less strain on the eyes, power consumption and reading in daylight on a sunny day. But since I cannot get my hands on a ebook reader to test it, I have some serious questions whether the Hanlin/BeBook/iBook v3 ebook reader is going to meet my expectations: 1. I have ebooks in pdf and chm format ranging from 1 MB to 150 MB (99% of them is smaller than 50 MB though). What size of ebooks can the ebook reader handle ? 2. Is the table of contents in pdf and chm documents available and usable ? 3. Can the ebook reader handle text on a colored background having only 4 shades of gray ? 4. I am subscribed to computer emagazines (pdf): they come with lots of colored pictures and photos (mostly commercial and of no real value to me) but are they readable/viewable ? Thanks Johan

11-21-2008, 02:40 AM	#116
Slite Icanhasdonuts? Posts: 2,837 Karma: 532407 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mölnbo, Sweden Device: Kobo Aura 2nd edition, Kobo Clara HD	.LIT is having problems on the BeBook at the moment, especially true for Baen Books in .LIT format. There seems to be something about the formating in them that causes the Bebook to lock up, crash or jump back to the "bookshelf" at random intervals. This has been pointed out to the Bebook developers, but currently there is no solution for this. It seems to be related to .LIT's with pictures in them. But noone seems to really know exactly what causes this.

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