EDITED TO ADD: I've been compiling some little tips on using the PocketBook 360 (nothing too technical, I am after all just a bog standard user!) at my blog site which so far has the following posts:
Key mapping on the PocketBook 360
http://pocketbook-diary.blogspot.com...tbook-360.html
PocketBook 360 screen and FBReader
http://pocketbook-diary.blogspot.com...-fbreader.html
Reading on the PocketBook 360 (general impressions)
http://pocketbook-diary.blogspot.com...tbook-360.html
My PocketBook Christmas Present (general impressions)
http://pocketbook-diary.blogspot.com...s-present.html
I hope to build this up into a useful area for tips and will be adding more info very soon.
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So my PocketBook arrived on Christmas Eve, an early Christmas pressie - thanks MobileRead and PocketBook
It was kind of love at first sight! Although I'm no techie - I've been into gadgets and computers since I was 11 (er many years ago) and I got a ZX Spectrum which was the coolest thing I'd ever had!
STYLE The Ivory 360 PocketBook has a gorgeous pearly sheen finish and is one of the nicest looking readers I've seen. Only minor let-down looks-wise are the 2 large beasty wing buttons which look a wee bit naff. Fab how the cover easily pulls off and clips onto the back while you read.
SIZE Size-wise, it's about double the size of my ipod touch (so double the size of an iphone) and approx the same width as my Sony Reader touch (prs-600) but a good inch or two shorter.
WEIGHT The main thing I noticed was the weight. The PocketBook is so nice and light to hold whereas the Sony Reader feels like a brick in comparison. If you sit and read for hours at a time, weight can be an issue.
READING The PocketBook is very easy to read whether you're left or right-handed as (it's 360 name implies) the screen will rotate on all four sides so the buttons can be on the right, left, top, bottom - however you find it most comfortable to read. Because it's a lightweight and small, it's super easy to hold it in one hand and flick the buttons with your thumb. I have to say that I don't find the sony ereader to be such a comfortable read partly because of the weight but also the button layout.
BUTTONS You can use the large wing buttons for next and back page buttons (they're not great) or use the middle dpad (?) button and press left for back and right for next page. The buttons do make an audible click - it doesn't bother me but I can imagine that it will annoy some people. But even reading paper books is not entirely silent so I don't see that as a deal-breaker. The buttons feel a little stiff to press but I should imagine they will lose this over time.
PERSONALIZE Best thing about the buttons is that they're configurable! Menu | Settings | Key Mapping so you can customize your PocketBook to work most efficiently for you.
SCREEN The screen may be small but the contrast is fantastic - really clear to read. It throws my Sony Touch reader into the shade which I guess is a bit of an unfair comparison being that the Sony is hampered by the addition of the touch screen and therefore you lose some contrast. No reflection on the PocketBook so good to read from all angles but some reflection on the Sony.
TEXT Here's my favourite thing so far. You have a lot of reading options if you open your ebook (I've used epubs so far) in the supplied fbreader. Go to Menu | Books | Select Book then Press AND HOLD on the middle OK button. A mini menu will pop up with Open With - click to the right and select fbreader. When your book is open, click on the OK button again and select the settings icon from the menu. You can change your font, the size of the font, line spacing (get more or less lines per page) and margin size. This basically means you get to set up your screen text to what suits your eyes for reading. You can even install fonts onto the PocketBook.
So so far, so good. Will keep you posted on how I get on and Merry Christmas
