MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - PocketBook and Netronix to merge as PocketBook Global

orwell2k · 01-08-2010, 07:27 AM

I've been reading on my PB360 since Xmas and love it. Compact size, ease of use, ultra-fast page turning, and an incredibly good FBReader implementation make it a dream to use.

I prefer FB2 format for most books, and frankly despise ePub, but this little baby actually makes ePub seem almost OK. Add to that the ability to open non-DRM ePubs in FBReader and you have almost all of the advantages of reading FB2, with perhaps a little worse formatting.

Mergers tend to mean compromise to some degree, especially when the companies are offering similar product classes. I would hate to see the excellent PB devices get dragged back down to another level. And I certainly hope the firmware development keeps a significant East Euro (Russian/Ukrainian) group in place, as these guys seems to know how to make good user firmware (first and foremost they support FB2 development, and they seem to do a better job with the rest of the formats as well - the LBook firmware was usually superior on the Hanlin V3 clones).

Here's hoping the commercial benefits don't kill off the great devices PB currently have out there - I'm glad I got my PB360 before this happened! Of course, I am always hopeful of a pleasant surprise...

01-08-2010, 07:27 AM	#17
orwell2k Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 1112 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Euroland Device: PocketBook 360°, BeBook (Hanlin V3), iRex DR1000S, iPad	I've been reading on my PB360 since Xmas and love it. Compact size, ease of use, ultra-fast page turning, and an incredibly good FBReader implementation make it a dream to use. I prefer FB2 format for most books, and frankly despise ePub, but this little baby actually makes ePub seem almost OK. Add to that the ability to open non-DRM ePubs in FBReader and you have almost all of the advantages of reading FB2, with perhaps a little worse formatting. Mergers tend to mean compromise to some degree, especially when the companies are offering similar product classes. I would hate to see the excellent PB devices get dragged back down to another level. And I certainly hope the firmware development keeps a significant East Euro (Russian/Ukrainian) group in place, as these guys seems to know how to make good user firmware (first and foremost they support FB2 development, and they seem to do a better job with the rest of the formats as well - the LBook firmware was usually superior on the Hanlin V3 clones). Here's hoping the commercial benefits don't kill off the great devices PB currently have out there - I'm glad I got my PB360 before this happened! Of course, I am always hopeful of a pleasant surprise...