903 Fast PocketBook 903 Review (in Spanish, use an online translator)

rfog · 01-04-2011, 05:33 PM

My first review after some hours of use:
http://kindleman.blogspot.com/2011/0...presiones.html

The review is in Spanish, but you can use an online translator to translate it, and I will answer here any question about the blog entry.

Next days I will add more blog entries and will notify in this thread too.

rfog · 01-05-2011, 05:40 PM

Added some more content and some clarifications:

http://kindleman.blogspot.com/2011/0...presiones.html

onesome · 01-06-2011, 02:59 AM

As long as I'm still waiting for my device /today is a 10 th day since it has been dispatched/ I can only read other opinions - your review is good and clear enough. I just couldn't get this part of poor translation: "The screen is not Pearl, but also has poor quality". A couple of more words about screen are welcome.

Sirius67 · 01-06-2011, 03:56 AM

Quote:

"La pantalla no es Pearl pero tampoco tiene mala calidad."

The correct translation is "The screen is not Pearl, but it's quality is not bad.

Cheers

onesome · 01-06-2011, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius67

The correct translation is "The screen is not Pearl, but it's quality is not bad.

Cheers

Thanks!

SkyDream · 01-06-2011, 05:16 AM

Yepp, Google translation is very bad for this blog.

rfog · 01-06-2011, 06:29 AM

Google has problems in translate my Spanish because I write some kind of literary Spanish (or cult Spanish). I do not use the traditional and repetitive construction of subject, verb and predicate (with adverb, direct complement, indirect one and so). I should omit a lot of subjects and complements, use subjunctives, and it seems on-line translators are not capable to deal with.

In relation to screen, apart for the fact that is e-ink with all its limitations, it seems like a great quality for sharpness and frame rate when the firmware comes with it.

For example, some web pages have that kind of animation banner that changes image every second or so. That image also keeps changing without any flicker in the device...

Anyway, it is necessary to understand the type of display is not an LCD but it is one of the best I've seen in its class. And I have a dozen such devices.

I think if PocketBook guys are concerned to improve and maintain the firmware, it could be one of the best devices ever (best than Kindles that IMHO are the best)...

The more I use it, more I like it.

However they need to be concerned more in usability and respect some kind of ergonomic rules. For example the dictionary use. It need to work only with a double stylus click over the word to search without any menu activation. Annotation must be the same: If you draw a line near the text, that text must be annotated. The same with zoom. Go to menu and activate zoom. Trace a line or rectangle into the document and zoom to it. This explanation is a mixed behavior between my Kindle 3 and my DR1000, and i think it must be the minimal things that this devices must do. PocketBoor is in the road to a great success, but they need to improve their firmware.

My two cents.

Latinandgreek · 01-06-2011, 07:04 AM

Thank you for your review. My Spanish classes have paid off

I look forward to reading more of your blog entries.

SkyDream · 01-06-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfog

... but they need to improve their firmware.

Looking at the many threads with complaints about bugs or missing functionality i believe that's common sense.

Latinandgreek · 01-06-2011, 08:26 AM

I'm really undecided as to which reader to get for PDFs. I am planning on getting the Sony PRS-950, but I would like a 9.7 inch reader for me and my husband to use. The Kindle DX has a great screen, but I have read that its PDF functionality is very limited. The Pocketbook 903 looks great on paper, but the reviews that I have read of it so far leaves much to be desired. Has anyone here used both devices? What would you suggest? Should I wait for Pocketbook to do some more work on their firmware?

SkyDream · 01-06-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I'm really undecided as to which reader to get for PDFs. I am planning on getting the Sony PRS-950, but I would like a 9.7 inch reader for me and my husband to use. The Kindle DX has a great screen, but I have read that its PDF functionality is very limited. The Pocketbook 903 looks great on paper, but the reviews that I have read of it so far leaves much to be desired. Has anyone here used both devices? What would you suggest? Should I wait for Pocketbook to do some more work on their firmware?

At the time being no 9.7" device would be great for PDF incl. features like dictionary support, annotations and more. If you just want to read PDF and no more than KDXG or PB903 would be fine. Chances are higher with PB903 that it will get a firmware upgrade than with Amazon.

On the other hand if you do not need it right now i would wait a few more months. Reading the many not very positive reviews i would have done that too. 903 need a lot of firmware improvements.

Latinandgreek · 01-06-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDream

At the time being no 9.7" device would be great for PDF incl. features like dictionary support, annotations and more. If you just want to read PDF and no more than KDXG or PB903 would be fine. Chances are higher with PB903 that it will get a firmware upgrade than with Amazon.

On the other hand if you do not need it right now i would wait a few more months. Reading the many not very positive reviews i would have done that too. 903 need a lot of firmware improvements.

If only the Sony line had a 9.7 inch reader... I'd buy it in a heartbeat

paola · 01-06-2011, 08:48 AM

Hi Latinandgreek,

I was in a similar position to you, and will need my reader for a lot of pdfs - I eventually decided to go for the PB903, in spite of all the negative comments. In my case it was because I get the feeling that the average PB user is possibly more demanding than average (after all, the unique selling point of PB devices is their flexibility and the constant software development, as far as I can see), and I read many of the negative comments as having to do with the "missed opportunity" that the new PB models seem to be: great hardware, but with software still very wanting.

Of course, it could be that a proper software never gets properly developed (see frequent complaints re PB302 software that never was), but I am betting on the geeks on this forum to actually do something about it, if PB doesn't, and on their generosity in sharing their acheivements with us computer fools

As far as I can tell, Kindle DX is nowhere near the PB903 capabilities even on silly things, e.g. you would have to convert the non kindle formats in order to read them on your kindle, and in general PB devices can be customised each and every way you want - though the new models are not there yet.

Had I not been in a hurry, I would have waited a little bit longer before ordering the PB903, to see how things pan out - but I wouldn't have committed to another device, as from my (limited) understanding PB903 could really be great.

SkyDream · 01-06-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

If only the Sony line had a 9.7 inch reader... I'd buy it in a heartbeat

Me too...

Zarathustra · 01-06-2011, 09:42 AM

"but I have read that its PDF functionality is very limited. ...... I was in a similar position to you, and will need my reader for a lot of pdfs"

Let me summerize my experience so far:

ebook, epub etc: go for a smaller device than 9.7"
- a 9.7" is great to read but I dislike to move around with such a large device. On the other hand my focus is to read PDFs.

A4 pdf: I enjoy reading pdfs on a large display and the PB 90x is perfect for that

Newspaper PDFs: I still have no opinion

PB903:
(zooming) I miss the flexibility to use the pen for zooming - I find it pretty bad but for A4 PDFs it is still fine

(annotation) You only mentioned reading. If that is your only concern the PB is certainly good enough. However, if you want to do more like annotating - you are in trouble.

Overview:
PDF only 9.7"
Annotating: No better device known to me - I hope for a better software release in future.

01-04-2011, 05:33 PM	#1
rfog Guru Posts: 696 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	Fast PocketBook 903 Review (in Spanish, use an online translator) My first review after some hours of use: http://kindleman.blogspot.com/2011/0...presiones.html The review is in Spanish, but you can use an online translator to translate it, and I will answer here any question about the blog entry. Next days I will add more blog entries and will notify in this thread too.

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01-05-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
rfog Guru Posts: 696 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	Added some more content and some clarifications: http://kindleman.blogspot.com/2011/0...presiones.html

01-06-2011, 02:59 AM	#3
onesome Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bulgaria Device: GalaxyTab 10.1	As long as I'm still waiting for my device /today is a 10 th day since it has been dispatched/ I can only read other opinions - your review is good and clear enough. I just couldn't get this part of poor translation: "The screen is not Pearl, but also has poor quality". A couple of more words about screen are welcome.

01-06-2011, 05:16 AM	#6
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	Yepp, Google translation is very bad for this blog.

01-06-2011, 06:29 AM	#7
rfog Guru Posts: 696 Karma: 2383012 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Schiedam (The Netherlands) Device: Lots of eInk devices and iOS stuff	Google has problems in translate my Spanish because I write some kind of literary Spanish (or cult Spanish). I do not use the traditional and repetitive construction of subject, verb and predicate (with adverb, direct complement, indirect one and so). I should omit a lot of subjects and complements, use subjunctives, and it seems on-line translators are not capable to deal with. In relation to screen, apart for the fact that is e-ink with all its limitations, it seems like a great quality for sharpness and frame rate when the firmware comes with it. For example, some web pages have that kind of animation banner that changes image every second or so. That image also keeps changing without any flicker in the device... Anyway, it is necessary to understand the type of display is not an LCD but it is one of the best I've seen in its class. And I have a dozen such devices. I think if PocketBook guys are concerned to improve and maintain the firmware, it could be one of the best devices ever (best than Kindles that IMHO are the best)... The more I use it, more I like it. However they need to be concerned more in usability and respect some kind of ergonomic rules. For example the dictionary use. It need to work only with a double stylus click over the word to search without any menu activation. Annotation must be the same: If you draw a line near the text, that text must be annotated. The same with zoom. Go to menu and activate zoom. Trace a line or rectangle into the document and zoom to it. This explanation is a mixed behavior between my Kindle 3 and my DR1000, and i think it must be the minimal things that this devices must do. PocketBoor is in the road to a great success, but they need to improve their firmware. My two cents.

01-06-2011, 07:04 AM	#8
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	Thank you for your review. My Spanish classes have paid off I look forward to reading more of your blog entries.

01-06-2011, 08:26 AM	#10
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I'm really undecided as to which reader to get for PDFs. I am planning on getting the Sony PRS-950, but I would like a 9.7 inch reader for me and my husband to use. The Kindle DX has a great screen, but I have read that its PDF functionality is very limited. The Pocketbook 903 looks great on paper, but the reviews that I have read of it so far leaves much to be desired. Has anyone here used both devices? What would you suggest? Should I wait for Pocketbook to do some more work on their firmware?

01-06-2011, 08:48 AM	#13
paola Wizard Posts: 2,840 Karma: 5843878 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura	Hi Latinandgreek, I was in a similar position to you, and will need my reader for a lot of pdfs - I eventually decided to go for the PB903, in spite of all the negative comments. In my case it was because I get the feeling that the average PB user is possibly more demanding than average (after all, the unique selling point of PB devices is their flexibility and the constant software development, as far as I can see), and I read many of the negative comments as having to do with the "missed opportunity" that the new PB models seem to be: great hardware, but with software still very wanting. Of course, it could be that a proper software never gets properly developed (see frequent complaints re PB302 software that never was), but I am betting on the geeks on this forum to actually do something about it, if PB doesn't, and on their generosity in sharing their acheivements with us computer fools As far as I can tell, Kindle DX is nowhere near the PB903 capabilities even on silly things, e.g. you would have to convert the non kindle formats in order to read them on your kindle, and in general PB devices can be customised each and every way you want - though the new models are not there yet. Had I not been in a hurry, I would have waited a little bit longer before ordering the PB903, to see how things pan out - but I wouldn't have committed to another device, as from my (limited) understanding PB903 could really be great.

01-06-2011, 09:42 AM	#15
Zarathustra Member Posts: 17 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Germany / Taiwan Device: PB 903	"but I have read that its PDF functionality is very limited. ...... I was in a similar position to you, and will need my reader for a lot of pdfs" Let me summerize my experience so far: ebook, epub etc: go for a smaller device than 9.7" - a 9.7" is great to read but I dislike to move around with such a large device. On the other hand my focus is to read PDFs. A4 pdf: I enjoy reading pdfs on a large display and the PB 90x is perfect for that Newspaper PDFs: I still have no opinion PB903: (zooming) I miss the flexibility to use the pen for zooming - I find it pretty bad but for A4 PDFs it is still fine (annotation) You only mentioned reading. If that is your only concern the PB is certainly good enough. However, if you want to do more like annotating - you are in trouble. Overview: PDF only 9.7" Annotating: No better device known to me - I hope for a better software release in future.

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