Cybook eBook reader
posted Oct 7th 2004 5:10AM
Though not as slick as
Sony's Librie ebook reader (it doesn't use e-ink),
Bookeen's Cybook claims to be the first ebook reader that is totally open-standard, meaning you can use it with any of
your HTML, PDF, PRC, or RTF documents, which we definitely appreciate (especially considering the Librie's weird closed
format ebooks that expire after a certain amount of time). The Cybook runs on Windows CE and comes with a 10-inch color
LCD display, gets 3 to 5 hours of battery power, plays MP3 files, and comes with Pocket versions of both Word and
Excel. And though it comes with a dainty 56k modem,you can add a WiFi card or add Compact Flash memory via its PCMCIA
slots. The catch (why must there always be one?): Bookeen is selling the Cybook for around $750. You could probably
score an older Tablet PC with a lot more to offer for that kind of cash.
That's pretty disappointing. It cuts out 95% of the documents I wanted to read on a device like this. And like the article said, lots of places are selling the Nec Versa tablet pc for around $1000 now and it's a full PC.
Did I miss something? I didn't see anything about PDF on their website but it says here on engadget it does. If it doesn't I better buy me a laptop.(Or nec versa tablet pc)
Start up the Huey Lewisitic 'Back to the Future' soundtrack...
This would have been way cool like in 1997, but in 2004, do be serious. Old Acer Tablet PC's are running in the $500-$700 range. Win CE 3 eBook Readers? No MS Reader LIT files? And no TomeRaider files (my other favorite reference slash eBook format). eBook Devices, pitching to a demographic that doesn't exist. Even in things Tablet PC, eBooking is a dead niche. MS Reader team disbanded, Adobe not venturing that deep. Palm sold off Palm Digital Media. Lots of eBook imprints flatlined. I still use (and create many) eBooks, but as far as the future or any sort of industry, not even close.
It seems expensive for an ebook reader, when you can get a fully functioning laptop for around the same price.
No Lit files? They are my favourite for reading ebooks, so it looks like I'll be still using my pc for the forseeable future.
If ebooks are to seriously become replacements for paper books, then ebook readers need to be cheaper, with multiformats allowed and none of this business of locking books after a certaain amount of time, what's the point in that?
For the price of this, you could buy quite a few mass market paperbacks!
I'm not sure when the price came down, but it is now $399 instead of $700, which to me makes this much more attractive.