Cybook E-Book Tablet finally ready for the market

Alexander Turcic · 10-05-2004, 12:13 PM

Several months ago I reported about a preview of the Cybook e-book reader hardware that was available for order. Now you can order the final version (USA, Germany).

Let me tell you first what I like about the Cybook: support of multiple e-book formats. No matter whether you are dealing with DRM-protected Mobipocket, MicroBook, Boo Reader, HTML, TXT, Winword RTF, PTab XLS - the Cybook supports it. If only Sony had listened to the market and done the same for the Librie, I bet, it would have been as popular as Apple's iPod is today.

What do I not like about the Cybook? The price. 734.90 Euro or USD $744 is just "a bit" too much for what I would be willing to spend on a dedicated e-book reader.

macrotor · 10-05-2004, 12:56 PM

<sigh> It reads ebooks. The screen is not THAT big. Why does it cost as much as a laptop?

Dang it, I'd love to see Palm put out a double-size Hi-Res+ version of the Tungsten|E for those with lesser eyesight that want to use a planner, play a couple games, and read eBooks. Make it 320x320 (or even 320x480), but large-pixel. That's all. Call it the Zire eReader.

Ah well.

Zire · 10-05-2004, 01:10 PM

Too expensive for something that you can read books on. I already have an ebook reader. It's my zire71 change the font/size in isilo and its wonderful.

Alexander Turcic · 10-05-2004, 02:00 PM

For the Librie (or its display technology) I would have been willing to pay a high price (perhaps not $744, but still it would have been worth something to me). Why oh why did Sony screw it up so badly

Brad · 10-05-2004, 05:01 PM

The price is very high.

The price is about half way between a top of the line PDA and a Tablet PC, yet it really has the power of neither.

Much better idea than the Sony Libre, I must applaud Cybook for trying to overcome the ebook format compatability issues and making the whole ebook reader hardware and software issues seamless.

But what we really need is a sub $75 mult-format (Win., Mac, Linux compatible) ebook hardware reader not a $750 ebook reader.

ignatz · 10-05-2004, 05:11 PM

It's pretty heavy too: 1 kg (2.2 lbs). That's a lot to carry around. Not quite as portable as I'd like.

Quote:

But what we really need is a sub $75 mult-format (Win., Mac, Linux compatible) ebook hardware reader not a $750 ebook reader.

Brad, you're spot on. The way to really get the tech out there would be to offer truly affordable models that do nothing but ebooks. Wonder how long before we see such a thing?

Bob Russell · 10-05-2004, 05:39 PM

I agree Brad. That's a good idea. Maybe a simple change in packaging, a slightly bigger screen, and a new ebook-based launcher (or customized form of an existing launcher) and it would be a great product. You could even include a CD or DVD with large portions of the Gutenburg ebook collection, and a trial subscription to Audible. Not sure how many people are willing to spend $s on it, though. Maybe put big fonts, bit buttons and market to older folks to help them read even when the eyes are fading a bit? In a few years, I look forward to continually increasing the font sizes myself!

Francesco · 10-05-2004, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Rechargeable Li-Ion (6900 mAh) (3 to 5 h of autonomy)

3 to 5 hours is too short for autonomy. And you thought the T3 had bad batteries! But if this monstrous battery is not enough, then nothing will be!
Anyway I think it's healthy to have new devices with different capabilities in the market.

Colin Dunstan · 10-07-2004, 05:44 AM

The Cybook runs on CE 3.0. Isn't this a discontinued OS?

Brad · 10-07-2004, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morpheus

The Cybook runs on CE 3.0. Isn't this a discontinued OS?

That is what I thought too. I thought it was all going PPC?

cbarnett · 10-07-2004, 08:11 PM

I hear it's only got a 66MHz processor in it as well.... not good if you want to run something like MS Reader, or do much searching, scrolling or image viewing (speaking from experience herer).

It's a good idea, but doomed to fail with those specs and pricing.

Craig.

10-05-2004, 12:13 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Cybook E-Book Tablet finally ready for the market Several months ago I reported about a preview of the Cybook e-book reader hardware that was available for order. Now you can order the final version (USA, Germany). Let me tell you first what I like about the Cybook: support of multiple e-book formats. No matter whether you are dealing with DRM-protected Mobipocket, MicroBook, Boo Reader, HTML, TXT, Winword RTF, PTab XLS - the Cybook supports it. If only Sony had listened to the market and done the same for the Librie, I bet, it would have been as popular as Apple's iPod is today. What do I not like about the Cybook? The price. 734.90 Euro or USD $744 is just "a bit" too much for what I would be willing to spend on a dedicated e-book reader.

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10-05-2004, 12:56 PM	#2
macrotor Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 2418 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fremont, CA, USA Device: Tungsten\|C with Nokia6200	<sigh> It reads ebooks. The screen is not THAT big. Why does it cost as much as a laptop? Dang it, I'd love to see Palm put out a double-size Hi-Res+ version of the Tungsten\|E for those with lesser eyesight that want to use a planner, play a couple games, and read eBooks. Make it 320x320 (or even 320x480), but large-pixel. That's all. Call it the Zire eReader. Ah well.

10-05-2004, 01:10 PM	#3
Zire Fanatic Posts: 522 Karma: 14050 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Astoria, NY Device: Zire 71	Too expensive for something that you can read books on. I already have an ebook reader. It's my zire71 change the font/size in isilo and its wonderful.

10-05-2004, 02:00 PM	#4
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	For the Librie (or its display technology) I would have been willing to pay a high price (perhaps not $744, but still it would have been worth something to me). Why oh why did Sony screw it up so badly

10-05-2004, 05:01 PM	#5
Brad Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 201 Join Date: Sep 2004 Device: Cybook Gen3 / EB1150 /iPhone	The price is very high. The price is about half way between a top of the line PDA and a Tablet PC, yet it really has the power of neither. Much better idea than the Sony Libre, I must applaud Cybook for trying to overcome the ebook format compatability issues and making the whole ebook reader hardware and software issues seamless. But what we really need is a sub $75 mult-format (Win., Mac, Linux compatible) ebook hardware reader not a $750 ebook reader.

10-05-2004, 05:39 PM	#7
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I agree Brad. That's a good idea. Maybe a simple change in packaging, a slightly bigger screen, and a new ebook-based launcher (or customized form of an existing launcher) and it would be a great product. You could even include a CD or DVD with large portions of the Gutenburg ebook collection, and a trial subscription to Audible. Not sure how many people are willing to spend $s on it, though. Maybe put big fonts, bit buttons and market to older folks to help them read even when the eyes are fading a bit? In a few years, I look forward to continually increasing the font sizes myself!

10-07-2004, 05:44 AM	#9
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	The Cybook runs on CE 3.0. Isn't this a discontinued OS?

10-07-2004, 08:11 PM	#11
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I hear it's only got a 66MHz processor in it as well.... not good if you want to run something like MS Reader, or do much searching, scrolling or image viewing (speaking from experience herer). It's a good idea, but doomed to fail with those specs and pricing. Craig.

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