PB 602 vs. PB 302?? Help me decide!

[v1k1ng1001]

I've been lurking about these forums and I'm very close to pulling the trigger on one of the 6" devices from pocketbook. Here's my dilemma:

I absolutely love the functionality of the touchscreen of the 302, especially since I am going to be primarily working with .pdf files. My primary concern, however, is that the touchscreen will be too glossy.

Since I'm using this as a reader primarily, I'm thinking that I may want to sacrifice the convenience and functionality of the touchscreen and go with the PB 602.

Is this a legitimate concern? Do the new 302 models come with an updated screen? Are there any workarounds?

[Zetmolm]

If you love the touchscreen, and you want a non-glossy one, why not go for the 603?
It's not available yet, though. You'll have to wait a week or two. Or three. Or four. But then you'll have a state-of-the-art device with all the convenience.

[remco1234]

I've got both. the 602 and the 302. I think the 302 is better because it has a touchscreen.
You can still buy it at http://www.ebookreaderdiscounter.com...ite-cover.html.

[v1k1ng1001]

Originally Posted by remco1234

I've got both. the 602 and the 302. I think the 302 is better because it has a touchscreen.
You can still buy it at http://www.ebookreaderdiscounter.com...ite-cover.html.

So you don't think that the glossy screen is too much of an issue? The 302 is certainly a more versatile device.

Thanks for the replies!

[Dulin's Books]

The 302s available now have a Matte screen. It was just the first run/build that had the glossy display.

[krish]

For pdf files, I would definitely recommend touchscreen. But instead of PB302, you shall consider PB603. PB603 has much faster speed and better quality display, both these features are advantages for pdf files.

[tvpupsik]

v1k1ng1001, if you are in the USA (and I believe you are ), we have a holiday sale for PB302 - just $199.99

As Dulin mentioned they come with factory pre-attached matte foil and don't have that glare issue that was observed on the first units.

[v1k1ng1001]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

The 302s available now have a Matte screen. It was just the first run/build that had the glossy display.

Originally Posted by tvpupsik

v1k1ng1001, if you are in the USA (and I believe you are ), we have a holiday sale for PB302 - just $199.99

As Dulin mentioned they come with factory pre-attached matte foil and don't have that glare issue that was observed on the first units.

That is good to hear! The sale is awesome because the 302 was originally out of my price range. I think I may just pull the trigger on the 302 after all!!! Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by krish

For pdf files, I would definitely recommend touchscreen. But instead of PB302, you shall consider PB603. PB603 has much faster speed and better quality display, both these features are advantages for pdf files.

Well I'm sort of asking for this as my Xmas present so if the 603 is not available soon I'm not sure if I want to wait until after the holiday sale but I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!

[tvpupsik]

Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001

That is good to hear! The sale is awesome because the 302 was originally out of my price range. I think I may just pull the trigger on the 302 after all!!! Thanks for the info!

You are very welcome

Originally Posted by v1k1ng1001

Well I'm sort of asking for this as my Xmas present so if the 603 is not available soon I'm not sure if I want to wait until after the holiday sale but I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!

Based on the information from PocketBook USA headquarters we will hardly have 603 before March and this way it can be a present only for next year Xmas

[adbosch]

PB302 is hardly supported anymore and does not do what it is said to do (e.g. Internet). Whatever you do, do not buy the 302! It is PB's headache machine and they are trying to ignore it as much as possible. As for the other models, I don't really know. Firmware is not 'final' for any of the PB product line. And as they never finalised it for the 302 who knows if they will ever finish the firmware for the other newer models?
A touch screen because of pdf-files? Don't think e-ink can compare to computer touchscreens. It will not allow smooth scrolling with your finger. It simply isn't up to it. Not on a Pocketbook reader, nor on any other e-ink device.

[joepie]

Originally Posted by adbosch

PB302 is hardly supported anymore and does not do what it is said to do (e.g. Internet). Whatever you do, do not buy the 302! It is PB's headache machine and they are trying to ignore it as much as possible. As for the other models, I don't really know. Firmware is not 'final' for any of the PB product line. And as they never finalised it for the 302 who knows if they will ever finish the firmware for the other newer models?
A touch screen because of pdf-files? Don't think e-ink can compare to computer touchscreens. It will not allow smooth scrolling with your finger. It simply isn't up to it. Not on a Pocketbook reader, nor on any other e-ink device.

I'm sorry to disagree most fervently with you. My experience is quite opposite to yours. My PB302 is running just fine and the current firmware is very stable. That said, I don't use it to surf the internet.

Appearently Pocketbook is working on a new firmware, which will be released for the 302 in Januari, but I wouldn't care if it were to be February or March as it runs as I expect and I'm very, very happy with it. I don't think this model is ignored at all by the manufacturer.

I do agree with you on the scrolling, e.g. for full screen pdf-files. 6" is just too small a screen to effectively show an A4 pdf. The screen is just too slow to scroll smoothly.
I will buy a larger ereader in future to read pdf's, but I like the small form factor of the 302 for reading in bed.

Also the extreme long battery life of the PB 302 is a huge bonus for me. I've been using it for a over half a year and I'm on a 4 times a year charging schedule . Each charge has lasted me at least 3 months.

[paola]

Originally Posted by tvpupsik

Based on the information from PocketBook USA headquarters we will hardly have 603 before March and this way it can be a present only for next year Xmas

ouch, is this a US thing only? Because stores in Europe are happily taking pre-orders, promising delivery in a couple of weeks

[adbosch]

Joepie, you don't surf the internet for a very good reason: it does not work. You can't receive decent RSS, because it just does not work. The definitive firmware was due LAST SUMMER not next year! The writing app was said to be almost finished months ago and still is not out. Etc., etc.
I agree that the latest firmware is quite stable for reading purposes. That's not a selling point, but the very very least a buyer might expect from a reading device. At this point we are all applauding firmwares that do not crash on a daily basis. But that's not the way things should be.
The notorious silence of Pocketbook on this forum in each topic that raises this question is deafening.

I'm glad you are enthousiastic about your multi-function device that can only read epubs. But I would certainly not buy one again and do think V1k1ng1001 had perhaps better look elsewhere.

[vishcompany]

I also have a 302 and am not satisfied with it.
I can confirm the points adbosch wrote in his posts and would like to add, that even the reading experience is inferior compared to the (much older) Gen3 due to two facts:
- The screen is rather dark grey because of the touch foil on top of the screen
- If you read with the FBreader software (only epub can be read also on the AdobeViewer) you won't get proper breaks. A Line break and a paragraph look just the same. And this does make the reading quite tedious at times.

Otherwise, yes, the battery is great, it's a fun machine with a lot of potential, which gets neglected as PB is putting all the energy and resources into the new devices (which I can understand).

[joepie]

@adbosch

Joepie, you don't surf the internet for a very good reason: it does not work. You can't receive decent RSS, because it just does not work.

I wouldn't surf the internet or RSS on the 302 even if it did work, because I prefer to do that on a desktop PC. I have no use for internet on the reader. I can appreciate your problem, but I just don't have the same issue. Nor do I want a writer app for it.

I can fully imagine that you are dissatisfied with the reader, but I'd like to let other ppl know that there are also satisfied customers. V1k1ing1001 didn't mention the need for either surfing or RSS, so the 302 may be a suitable reader for him/her.

@vishcompany
The PB302 is the only reader that I have. I don't have other machines to compare it to. However, I don't perceive it to be either too dark to read, or too glossy. I do have to angle the reader a bit sometimes when a direct light shines on it, but I find it easy to shift the light for the screen to be comfortably ledgible. I read reviews that said the screen was up to the standards when it was launched. It is agreed that the Wacom screens are brighter, but those need a special pen to use the touch screen. I wouldn't like that at all. That's why I skip the newest generation - including the 603 and 903 - and will wait for Pearl screens to show up in six months.

From what I understand, there is an older machine (PB360) that has crashing problems which PB means to solve by the new firmware. I'm just happy that I don't really need it. If newer firmware will be produced sometime next year, I'll welcome it in the hope it will speed up some things a bit. The slowness of AdobeViewer, especially at the end of a large book, is sometimes a bit of a hinder, though I don't really mind.