Cybook Gen3 Power Management

Cybook Gen3 has outstanding power management. The device is equipped with 1000mAh battery and solid state eInk display, but the technology isn't all. The clever power management is important too.

During eBook reading session (without mp3 listening) the Cybook Gen3 works in two modes - normal mode and sleep mode.

Normal mode uses full power of it's 200MHz processor to quickly display next page. Then you have to read new page, so Cybook could switch to sleep mode when processor need virtually next to nothing power (battery could power sleeping Cybook for about a week). When you click 'next page', Cybook wakes up from sleep, switch to normal (speedy) power mode, display another new page and goes to sleep again.

Using this technique the Cybook is able to save lot of energy and allow it's extraordinary 8000 page flips per on fully charged battery.

There is another power mode - the off mode. When you finish reading, you simply turn Cybook off. When in off mode, the device battery can support memory for about a year.

Cybook Gen3 Packages

The Cybook Gen3 comes in two flavors - Cybook model CYBGEN310BS for 350€ and Cybook DeLuxe model CYBGEN310BD for 450€.

Cybook model CYBGEN310BS is the basic eBook reader which should serve as eBook reading device. If you are serious about reading, you can buy Cybook DeLuxe model CYBGEN310BD with brown (chocolate) leather case, earphones, 2GB SD card, external USB 700mA charger and spare 1000mAh battery. The accessories are sold separately too, so one can buy just USB charger or battery.

The external charger should charge empty battery in about 90 minutes (1000mAh / 700mA is little more than 1.4h which is about 85 minutes so adding some energy to produce heat we have about 90 minutes charge cycle).

I'm curious about spare battery as it's possible to change battery only using a small screwdriver. So it's probably not meant to switch it instantly when main battery goes off.

The Cybook Gen3 DeLuxe package is worth 143.75€. I would like to buy only leather case which looks nice, 2GB card for my whole collection of eBooks and maybe the USB charger because my computer is not in the room where I usually read books. My selection package is worth 88.85€.

As I read about 300 to 600 paper pages per month (it's up to 2000 eBook pages per month) I don't expect to kill built in battery soon so I won't buy spare battery. I also want pure eBook reader so earphones are useless for me.

Cybook Gen3 Specifications

Cybook Gen3 is a new generation eBook reader. It's using new and revolutionary eInk technology for displaying data. High resolution eInk display can be seen easily in direct sun and can be read at virtually any angle.

eInk is extremely power-efficient solid state display - the battery is used only to clear display or change displayed information. During reading process the Cybook Gen3 is mainly in sleep mode, waking up only to display next page.

As the Cybook Gen3 need battery only to change pages, the battery life is simply amazing. The following comparison information is from official Bookeen page:

Casual reader: 80 pages/day ~ 100 days (3 months)
Average reader: 160 pages/day ~ 50 days (1-2 months)
Heavy reader: 320 pages/day ~ 25 days (3 weeks)

Happy reading!