My Cybook Reading Device: Product Review

Last year I bought the Cybook reading device (ebook reader) and was really impressed with it. Just recently, I bought the Wi-Fi Compact Flash Card and the NE2000 Ethernet Card to go with it.

My first impressions:
I was very excited when I first received my Cybook. But it took me quite a while to figure out that I needed to install the battery before it would work. I was even more surprised at the simple design of the device and the look of the battery. I wondered at the lack of a written manual but later discovered that the manual was stored in the ebook device itself. The "brand" Cybook (on the front center lower frame) was not too obvious either. I felt comfortable holding the ebook device because it was not as heavy as a notebook computer.

What I like about Cybook:

• I really like the virtual keyboard! I could type on it just like any ordinary keyboard or use the stylus to tap out the letters. I could hide it when I do not need it.
• I read .pdf files a lot and it is comfortable to read them from Cybook. In my job, I need to bring along catalogues of products and since they are available in .pdf format, all I need is my Cybook and not big folders (which are cumbersome)!
  
• Being able to read ebooks which come in different formats means I have more choice in my reading material.
  
• The Boo Reader Vision offers a pleasant alternative to those who have difficulty reading small prints because it renders text at a larger size and in black and white which provides good contrast. I would recommend this to kids as well as they could read at quite a distance away from the screen and still be able to see the texts clearly.
  
• Even though I use Cybook more as an ebook reader, I discovered that the Pocket Word and Spreadsheet program comes in handy when I need to take down minutes and do some calculations.
  
• After the ebook device was Wi-Fi enabled, I was able to surf the internet easily. However, I tend to just use it sparingly and set my favorites to point to ebook sites. Since my kids also use the Cybook, I bookmark kid's ebook sites too!
  
• Nobody I knew has ever seen a Cybook and I believe the gadget shops at my place (in Hong Kong) have never seen one too! I may be one of the very few people in my country who own one and everytime I use it in a public place, I get inquisitive looks from others. It feels special.
  
• The screen is big enough and the backlighting can be adjusted. In the past, I used to read from my Jornada 720 and it was not as comfortable.
  
• The operation of this device is quite intuitive because there are only a few buttons to use.
  

More sharing tomorrow ..... (to be continued)