Bookeen: Opus e-reader is safe in your pocket if you’re careful
ActuaLitté wonders if the little five-inch Opus e-reader is safe to carry in your pocket—following the damage to a test unit’s E Ink display.
Yes, says Bookeen, just so you’re careful. The words “Pocket Friendly” even appear on the home page of the Bookeen site. Summing up the company’s position, Michael Dehan there has emailed TeleRead:
“1) The device can remain in one’s pocket (loose or tight) as long as one doesn’t sit on it or sustain a shock.
“2) We provide a protection sleeve by default in the box to protect the device while transported in a bag or purse.”
Michael cites videos of crash tests here and here (I had trouble watching them because of an apparent YouTube problem). He would like Bookeen to inspect ActuaLitté’s test unit to see what happened.
Michael’s note to us follows in full, and, without taking sides here, we most appreciate his prompt response to our questions:
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Hello David,
I doubt seriously from the information released by Actualitte which can be summarized by “Cybook Opus screen breaks while carried in a pocket”
If you really think about it, it doesn’t even make sense.
The main reasons are
1) we have been cautious and achieved several crash tests during our development (please find videos in the following links)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvLj6A0u8c0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLOPtLHPztc
2) During my vacations, I have personally used the Cybook Opus in many conditions (on the beach, near a swimming pool, in the plane). I have carried it along with me in my notebook bag during 2 weeks. And the device works perfectly well.
To summarize Bookeen position:
1) The device can remain in one’s pocket (loose or tight) as long as one doesn’t sit on it or sustain a shock.
2) We provide a protection sleeve by default in the box to protect the device while transported in a bag or purse.
We wait to receive the unit from Actualitte to understand clearly what happens.
Regards,
Michael
August 17th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I don’t mind adding that I’ve had a Cybook Gen 3 since December 2007 and it’s been my experience that Bookeen either ignores their customers, or lies. I have seen them publicly flat out deny problems with their product that I have told them about and in one case, have a scan of my Cybook proving the problem to be real.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
MediaCurves.com just conducted a study with 306 viewers of a video comparing Amazon’s e-books and Barnes & Noble’s eReader. The results showed the majority (63%) of viewers preferred Amazon’s e-books. The study also revealed that while only 10% of respondents currently use an electronic device for reading, 42% of respondents reported that they are likely to purchase an electronic device in the next 6 months. For more in-depth results, please visit http://bit.ly/sMTqu.
Thanks,
Ben