Derek's Blog Page

Can a libertarian curmudgeon survive in a post 9/11 America? Is it possible to create the perfect meal on a Baby Q grill? Will Elaine finally succumb to her innermost desires? Check out my novels - which I am excerpting to separate blogs as I write them. Just click on my Profile button to access their links.

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Location: Citrus Heights, California

 

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Friday, October 31, 2008

If you're interested in the BeBook, click here.

Yep. Click on the title of this post and get taken to the blog of Ian Christian, where he's got a video clip of a BeBook in action. The more I look at the BeBook, the more interested I am. And the fact that one can use the included firmware or OpenInkpot's software to read ebooks just makes it that much better a buy for people who like to read.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Yes, please buy the BeBook

I've decided my next ebook reader (of those which use the e-ink display technology) will be a BeBook. The BeBook (You can check it out by clicking the title of this post.) is the brand name of the Jinke V3 that is available in the US. It already supports a decent range of ebook formats, but it also can run the OpenInkpot release of the Linux Operating System, as well as the FBReader ebook reading application and the Madshelf ebook library management system. And it can run these latter applications FROM THE SD CARD, which means that you don't have to install OI, FBReader and Madshelf over the built-in firmware. Take out the OI-installed SD card and you're back to the standard BeBook firmware! It's just that simple!

So please, if you're considering a new ebook reader for yourself, family member or friend, either as a Christmas present or for any other reason, click on the title of this post and check out the BeBook!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Amazing what two days make.

Just two days ago I was musing on this blog about the amazing delays I've experienced in getting my Cybook Gen3 fixed. (Note that I'd sent three emails regarding this AFTER sending the unit back on 10/4/08.) This morning I received an email that my Cybook was being replaced.

Given that I've not posted about my problems with Bookeen's service and support since 8/22/08, my paranoia center wonders whether this recent 'attention to service' may have had it's roots in my most recent blog post. Hmmmm...

Anyway, my second Cybook is coming back to me. Now if only I could get the Netronix people to give me an RMA for my EB-100.

Still, I'm seriously considering getting either a Jinke V3/BeBook or a Sony PRS-700BC for my next reader.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Bookeen's service for broken Cybooks.

So I finally got an RMA number assigned to me in early September so that I could send my frozen Cybook Gen3 back to Bookeen for repair. As with many people, I could not actually afford to send it back until October 4th. It is now October 22nd and I have not yet heard from Bookeen - not even notice that they have received my broken unit.

You know, it's bad enough that this is a French company and believes it is appropriate and business-like to shut down the company for the entire month of August (Vacation time, don't you know?) and FAIL to even bother to post a notice on their web page and blog with that information. It's worse that their updates are flakey enough that one cannot know whether a given firmware update will freeze the device in the middle of the update process - requiring the device to be sent in for repair or replacement. But to then not bother to notify the customer that they have received the broken device and are (or are not) repairing it?

Let's just say that my next ebook reader will be a Jinke V3. As I can get one under the BeBook nameplate with a simple credit card purchase, I'll be purchasing one soon. I will then use Open Inkpot (click on the title of this post to go there) to read my mobipocket and ereader ebooks. And I will bid my love affair with the Bookeen Cybook, adieu. Be smart, buy any ebook reader *but* a Cybook.