Aaargghhh i can't decide

grimo1re · 09-11-2009, 09:06 PM

I'm tossing up between the Astak 5" Pocket Pro and the PocketBook 360. Or maybe I should go with the Sony Pocket Edition? I like the 8 levels of grey ...or maybe that doesn't make much of a diff? I currently have a Sony PRS 500 and I'd like to have fresh new, little reader that supports ePub. I love the look of the PocketBook 360, it's sweet. The Astak looks great for SD card support and removable battery, that's nice. Not sure what the use of Adobe DE is for me, is that what public libraries offer? My library here in Australia doesn't (yet), so I don't have a great need for that.

Sorry, rambly post. As you can see, I really can't decide...

kennyc · 09-11-2009, 09:08 PM

Well not that it helps much but I was leaning towards getting the Sony 300 as a backup or companion for my Sony 505 until I looked closely at the Astak 5" and chose it....it's due to arrive in a few days.

grimo1re · 09-11-2009, 09:16 PM

What made you decide to pick the Astak?

kennyc · 09-11-2009, 09:21 PM

Features and the impressions on the reviewers. Have you looked at the PP reviews. There were a bunch of links posted. Or just do a google -- that's what I did.

this one in particular:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=1961

grimo1re · 09-11-2009, 09:29 PM

Oh, yes, I've seen all the reviews. It's just made things harder :P

kennyc · 09-11-2009, 09:32 PM

I know what you mean.

GA Russell · 09-11-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimo1re

...SD card support and removable battery...

That's what's important to me, other than the clarity of the screen itself.

DrMoze · 09-12-2009, 01:02 AM

Tough call. I went with a 300 as a more portable addition to my 505. I'm not worried about the battery,, nor do I use memory cards. But the Astak looks pretty nice, and has a good selection of formats. Haven't seen one in person. I do like the 5" screen format--more like the 505/6" screens than an iPhone/pda for reading. You feel like you're reading "pages" rather than small "screens" of text.

One general note--the 300 feels very solid with really good build quality. It is slightly thicker and more rigid than the 505, and has a metal casing.

Kris777 · 09-12-2009, 01:13 AM

What about jetBook? It has 5" screen, SD card slot (up to 32GB), folders and ePub support

grimo1re · 09-12-2009, 01:31 AM

Jetbook isn't e-ink, right?

GA Russell · 09-12-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris777

What about jetBook? It has 5" screen, SD card slot (up to 32GB), folders and ePub support

Kris, I was thinking about a jetBook, but I get the impression that its support in the US isn't very good. Have you found that to be true?

emellaich · 09-12-2009, 03:42 AM

My impression is that the Jetbook doesn't support DRM? Depending on what you read this could be a problem.

Personally, I've chosen the PPro. Its still in the mail, but it appears to me to be a very solid unit and Astak (Jinke) really seems to be listening to customers.

I don't think you can go wrong with Sony, however, the reports from them seem to be very solid.

I would go with Sony for a solid, but basic reader. There are clear limits with expandibility (SD card and Replaceable Battery).

I would go with Astak if I'm interested in more features (formats, replaceable battery, SD card, TTS, and more). The biggest risk with Astak is the interdependencies that exist between its features and formats: there is a chance that the feature you want isn't with the format you prefer.

I'm not so sure about the pocketbook. My experience with Netronix (their manufacturer) is through Bookeen, and I'm not a fan. I've seen frequent restarts and very long startup times when you have a lot of books loaded. To be fair, however, the Bookeen software comes from Bookeen, not Netronix. To the extent that the problems were software problems it they probably don't apply to pocketbook. In this regard, the non-implemented buttons and slow software updates are problems, but they are problems with Bookeen, and not necessarily Pocketbook. However, I probably wouldn't go the pocketbook route until I saw reports about the stability of the pocketbook software.

Finally, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with the Astak PPro. However, if that is your choice make sure you also check out the ecoreader as they provide the same hardware/software and they are located in Australia.

Kris777 · 09-12-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimo1re

Jetbook isn't e-ink, right?

yes, jetBook has TFT Toshiba Matsushita Display
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45593

Kris777 · 09-12-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Kris, I was thinking about a jetBook, but I get the impression that its support in the US isn't very good. Have you found that to be true?

I contacted Ectaco support several times by e-mail and received reply next day. They also have the forum of Ectaco website.

superstitious · 09-12-2009, 09:09 PM

Im here to chime in also about the Pocket Pro. I originally had my mind set on Sony 300 also but after I found this site and keep reading and reading. I found for the same price at $199, Pocket Pro has so much more to offer. I generally dont care much about the mp3 support or the text to speech thing. Like GA Russell, SD card slot and removeable battery is what made me decide to order one. I know there are more and more options available out there so good luck with your decision.

09-11-2009, 09:06 PM	#1
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Aaargghhh i can't decide I'm tossing up between the Astak 5" Pocket Pro and the PocketBook 360. Or maybe I should go with the Sony Pocket Edition? I like the 8 levels of grey ...or maybe that doesn't make much of a diff? I currently have a Sony PRS 500 and I'd like to have fresh new, little reader that supports ePub. I love the look of the PocketBook 360, it's sweet. The Astak looks great for SD card support and removable battery, that's nice. Not sure what the use of Adobe DE is for me, is that what public libraries offer? My library here in Australia doesn't (yet), so I don't have a great need for that. Sorry, rambly post. As you can see, I really can't decide...

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09-11-2009, 09:08 PM	#2
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Well not that it helps much but I was leaning towards getting the Sony 300 as a backup or companion for my Sony 505 until I looked closely at the Astak 5" and chose it....it's due to arrive in a few days.

09-11-2009, 09:16 PM	#3
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	What made you decide to pick the Astak?

09-11-2009, 09:21 PM	#4
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Features and the impressions on the reviewers. Have you looked at the PP reviews. There were a bunch of links posted. Or just do a google -- that's what I did. this one in particular: http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=1961

09-11-2009, 09:29 PM	#5
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Oh, yes, I've seen all the reviews. It's just made things harder :P

09-11-2009, 09:32 PM	#6
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I know what you mean.

09-12-2009, 01:02 AM	#8
DrMoze Booknut Posts: 860 Karma: 2852 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida! Device: Sony Reader 500/505/300/350, Nook Glowlight Plus (6")	Tough call. I went with a 300 as a more portable addition to my 505. I'm not worried about the battery,, nor do I use memory cards. But the Astak looks pretty nice, and has a good selection of formats. Haven't seen one in person. I do like the 5" screen format--more like the 505/6" screens than an iPhone/pda for reading. You feel like you're reading "pages" rather than small "screens" of text. One general note--the 300 feels very solid with really good build quality. It is slightly thicker and more rigid than the 505, and has a metal casing.

09-12-2009, 01:13 AM	#9
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	What about jetBook? It has 5" screen, SD card slot (up to 32GB), folders and ePub support

09-12-2009, 01:31 AM	#10
grimo1re Geekette Posts: 435 Karma: 3335 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NSW, Australia Device: Sony Reader PRS500, PocketBook 360	Jetbook isn't e-ink, right?

09-12-2009, 03:42 AM	#12
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	My impression is that the Jetbook doesn't support DRM? Depending on what you read this could be a problem. Personally, I've chosen the PPro. Its still in the mail, but it appears to me to be a very solid unit and Astak (Jinke) really seems to be listening to customers. I don't think you can go wrong with Sony, however, the reports from them seem to be very solid. I would go with Sony for a solid, but basic reader. There are clear limits with expandibility (SD card and Replaceable Battery). I would go with Astak if I'm interested in more features (formats, replaceable battery, SD card, TTS, and more). The biggest risk with Astak is the interdependencies that exist between its features and formats: there is a chance that the feature you want isn't with the format you prefer. I'm not so sure about the pocketbook. My experience with Netronix (their manufacturer) is through Bookeen, and I'm not a fan. I've seen frequent restarts and very long startup times when you have a lot of books loaded. To be fair, however, the Bookeen software comes from Bookeen, not Netronix. To the extent that the problems were software problems it they probably don't apply to pocketbook. In this regard, the non-implemented buttons and slow software updates are problems, but they are problems with Bookeen, and not necessarily Pocketbook. However, I probably wouldn't go the pocketbook route until I saw reports about the stability of the pocketbook software. Finally, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised with the Astak PPro. However, if that is your choice make sure you also check out the ecoreader as they provide the same hardware/software and they are located in Australia.

09-12-2009, 09:09 PM	#15
superstitious Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 7270 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: K3 wifi	Im here to chime in also about the Pocket Pro. I originally had my mind set on Sony 300 also but after I found this site and keep reading and reading. I found for the same price at $199, Pocket Pro has so much more to offer. I generally dont care much about the mp3 support or the text to speech thing. Like GA Russell, SD card slot and removeable battery is what made me decide to order one. I know there are more and more options available out there so good luck with your decision.

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