Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemurion
The question is how many of those features really add to the reading experience?
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You do not need most of those features, but some people do want some of them.
I personally, for example, can't stand the way Kindle presents the text. I want to set my preferred justification, text height, margins, font, ... none of that is possible with Kindle.
The Kindles can't even do hyphenation and yet they insist on fully justified text and ridiculously wide margins! The result is a typographical atrocity.
I also want to have hierarchical folder structure and other things.
By the time I saw the first Kindle I was spoiled by the way other devices present text and provide configuration options. Perhaps if the Kindle was my first device and I got used the their defaults I would be content with the device like many thousands happy Kindle owners.
The difference with the 4.3 inch phone is that I will not have to lug around a 6" device just in case I have to wait somewhere for 10 minutes and might want to read a few pages. For long reading I will keep at least 5" device. I had PocketBook 360 and I got spoiled by its features and pocketability.
The feature I like about PB Ultra is really thin bezel, physical pageturn buttons on the back of the device and magnets the reader is supposed to have built-in, so you can make your own cover (or have it made for you) without the need to attach it with rubber straps.
All those features will make this device much better pocketable.
Kindle will not give you magnets or threads [for screws] or anything for attaching your custom or luxury or cheapo generic cover, because they want you to pay high price for *their* cover that snaps to the device without rubber bands.
Quote:
Originally Posted by soulfuldog
True but they are behind in terms of screen quality and the frontlight.
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I had the first paperwhite and I sold it with a loss the moment I was able to purchase a front-lit PocketBook. Paperwhite did have better screen, but you had to have them side-to-side to see the difference.
I consider the quality of my front-lit PB 623 screen to be excellent.
We shall see what the new 8 inch device with 1600×1200 pixel is like. Their color device (which I believe used the same screen, but with a color filter) got *very* bad reviews.
I understand that for many people Kindle is good enough, but there should be choice for users that are willing to pay for different features.
I also understand that Amazon did not set out to destroy any e-reader innovation. They simply do their fiduciary duty: they maximize profits for their shareholders. Chasing competition like PocketBook from USA market is just a side effect. On the other hand, you get much cheaper devices if you want something "good enough"