Pocketbook Era - Questions?

[Bookstooge]

I got the PB Era for christmas, as my Oasis is dying (battery only lasts 3-4 days now). I finally opened the box and plugged it in. Went through the "registration". Once it's fully charged, I plan on diving into it and setting it up as my main reader.
So I am sure I will have questions. My first job will be to setup my reading rotation like I have on my kindle. Which consists of either series or books by a single author.

That is all for now. Cheers....

[Frostbite]

I have Era and it is one of my best e-reader devices. You'll love it for sideloading, PocketBook is great with that.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Frostbite

I have Era and it is one of my best e-reader devices. You'll love it for sideloading, PocketBook is great with that.

Has Pocketbook added the ability to adjust the font weight yet?

[Frostbite]

No, but if you change the font to any apart from default, it looks much better. I use Bookerly for all my readers.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Frostbite

No, but if you change the font to any apart from default, it looks much better. I use Bookerly for all my readers.

Bookerly by default needs more weight. A lot of fonts need more weight.

This is the biggest drawback to Pocketbook. Both Kobo and Kindle can adjust font weight.

[Bookstooge]

Originally Posted by Frostbite

No, but if you change the font to any apart from default, it looks much better. I use Bookerly for all my readers.

I like bookerly too.

[Bookstooge]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Bookerly by default needs more weight. A lot of fonts need more weight.

This is the biggest drawback to Pocketbook. Both Kobo and Kindle can adjust font weight.

Oh look, there's a bus. Why don't you step in front of it and tell it that it needs more weight? I'm sure it will be extremely appreciative of your wit, wisdom and personal knowledge on the subject.

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Bookerly by default needs more weight. A lot of fonts need more weight.

This is the biggest drawback to Pocketbook. Both Kobo and Kindle can adjust font weight.

Personal preference really.

If font weight is important, then switching to Koreader fixes that; and on a Pocketbook I'd advise using Koreader anyway (unless your books are DRMd). You can set Koreader as the default app to launch books directly from the Pocketbook's library, so the experience is seamless.

I've configured Koreader to be as minimalist as possible, zero distraction. No page numbers, progress bar, time, battery indicator etc. Just text. I can with a tap quickly bring up (toggle) a toolbar with that info, but by default it's all hidden. I've set the top two corners to toggle dark mode and touch-input. I leave brightness and warmth settings to be controlled by the inbuilt Pocketbook scheduler I have configured to my preference. Simple minimalistic reading bliss.

I've also set Koreader to override an ebook's font (type, size, weight), margins, line spacing, indentation etc. So pretty much any book I read looks the way I like without ever having to edit it in Calibre; as I tend to acquire all my books directly on the device itself it's extremely convenient.

[Frostbite]

I like KOReader as software but I can't get used to it. This is certainly a viable approach. I have never tried to have it as minimalistic as possible. I still have it on PocketBook, but mostly use a built-in software because it is enough for me.

I would use KOReader more if borrowed books from my library could be read there. For them I need to use their software.

I also have Kobo Clara BW and I love their OS and screen, but I can't read borrowed books there at all. So I have a mixture of everything, I read on both devices and use sync only with books I can read on PocketBook.

I know I can use sync in KOReader and install it also on Kobo, but for now, I don't need that for my reading habits. I guess I like to switch devices and adapt to them. If the book is interesting, the device and OS do not matter at all

[Sirtel]

I don't like KOReader for two reasons - no library management to speak of (I tend to keep a lot of books on my devices, so a file browser is not enough) and it's slow with large books, for example multi-volume omnibuses (I have many of those and I do not want to split them up).

As to font weight adjustment, yeah, that's indispensable to me and the main reason I haven't bought a Pocketbook (and won't until they add the feature).

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

...no library management to speak of (I tend to keep a lot of books on my devices, so a file browser is not enough)

With Pocketbooks you can continue to use the inbuilt device library and simply set Koreader as the default reading app, so this isn't an issue. I never have to see or use the Koreader file manager.

Originally Posted by Sirtel

...it's slow with large books, for example multi-volume omnibuses (I have many of those and I do not want to split them up).

I recently read a 7 book omnibus (single epub) without any slowness issues at all. I have copies of all the books separately on my device and would have switched to them if I'd noticed any sluggishness.

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by Frostbite

I like KOReader as software but I can't get used to it.

I felt the same way initially, I found it too complicated... overwhelmingly so.

I was bored on a long train journey and needed a break from reading; learned the menu layout, played around and tweaked the interface, the tinkering became fun. Decided to challenge myself and try using it for a month.

Once I'd configured it to my liking there was just no going back. The reading stats alone are a fantastic feature!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Bookstooge

Oh look, there's a bus. Why don't you step in front of it and tell it that it needs more weight? I'm sure it will be extremely appreciative of your wit, wisdom and personal knowledge on the subject.

I've seen Bookerly on a PW3, PW5, Kobo Aura H2O, and Kobo Libra 2. It's too light without adding weight. So yes, I have seen Bookerly on different eInk devices including some Kindles.

I know it's a personal preference, but my preference is to add weight.

[JSWolf]

For a lot of people, KOReader is not an option. They may not even know about KOReader. Most people buy a Reader to read and they use the software that comes with the Reader.

Some may find it hard to read if the font being used does not have enough weight making the contrast on screen poor.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

I recently read a 7 book omnibus (single epub) without any slowness issues at all. I have copies of all the books separately on my device and would have switched to them if I'd noticed any sluggishness.

Did you search inside the book for a word or a phrase? KOReader was basically unable to search in some omnibuses I tried. Granted, that was several years ago; maybe it has gotten better. If so, I may try it again.