Nook Color vs. Pocketbook IQ

[Latinandgreek]

Here's a Nook Color review from the same site:

http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-color.html

[davebalme]

I've got a 360 which is a year old and have been considering buying an IQ since they were first advertised through the forum. But.... some of the postings both pre & post release have made me stop and consider the machine very carefully. Don't get me wrong I think on the whole that Pocketbook readers are fantastic pieces of kit (I use my 360 more than my Ipad) but in general it hasn't had the immediate "wow" that the 360 generated, and I'm a little dubious about a reader that seems to need an instant software update. I will buy one eventually but my advice would be if you can, to wait a month or two until the dust has settled. For the price whether it be $ or Euro I don't think it can be beaten.

[mouso]

OP here. Thanks all!
I'm leaning towards the pocketbook but will first go to B&N and play with the Nook Color. I do like the idea of the PB being an open platform.
Decisions, decisions...

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by mouso

OP here. Thanks all!
I'm leaning towards the pocketbook but will first go to B&N and play with the Nook Color. I do like the idea of the PB being an open platform.
Decisions, decisions...

I'm sure that you will be happy with your gift to yourself, whatever you buy! I'd love to hear your impressions of the Nook Color after you've tested it a bit.

[Latinandgreek]

I always feel so strange typing Color and not Colour, like I'm going to get a big red X on my homework!

[boswd]

Originally Posted by mouso

OP here. Thanks all!
I'm leaning towards the pocketbook but will first go to B&N and play with the Nook Color. I do like the idea of the PB being an open platform.
Decisions, decisions...

there is some things you should take into consideration. After market support, does the Android Marketplace support the Pocketbook? Will there be updates in the future or do you get what you have and that's the end of it.

The nook color does support epub so you aren't locked into just buying from BN, which is fantastic ebook store in it's own right.

Remeber it's not just about saving a $100 there is a reason that is only a $150.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by mouso

Currently I read on my iTouch and I do a lot of reading in the dark, so I do want an LCD reader.
The most important requirement is that the new reader be able to download library ebooks from Overdrive (Adobe DRM, yes?), and as far as I know my ipod can't. I am tired of paying for books!

To sidestep your question and address just this bit...
You can now read Overdrive libraries books on your iPod Touch with a free app called Bluefire Reader, it was updated two weeks ago to support the time-limited DRM that Overdrive requires.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by boswd

there is some things you should take into consideration. After market support, does the Android Marketplace support the Pocketbook? Will there be updates in the future or do you get what you have and that's the end of it.

The nook color does support epub so you aren't locked into just buying from BN, which is fantastic ebook store in it's own right.

Remeber it's not just about saving a $100 there is a reason that is only a $150.

Android Marketplace supports no tablet or reader so its no discriminator here.

Neither is generic Adobe Adept support as both offer it.
On the other hand, the IQ allows Kindle and Kobo access.

Future support?
Pocketbook offers a two year warranty and their track record is actually better than B&N. They even offer out-of-warranty repairs.

The back-end issues are a wash.
(Pocketbook isn't up for sale or dragging the overhead of a fading chain of bookstores.)

Realistically, the only discriminators here are features, hardware, and pricing and neither is a one-size-fits-all clearcut winner. No product is.
Both products are worthy buys depending on your needs.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Android Marketplace supports no tablet or reader so its no discriminator here.

Neither is generic Adobe Adept support as both offer it.
On the other hand, the IQ allows Kindle and Kobo access.

Future support?
Pocketbook offers a two year warranty and their track record is actually better than B&N. They even offer out-of-warranty repairs.

The back-end issues are a wash.
(Pocketbook isn't up for sale or dragging the overhead of a fading chain of bookstores.)

Realistically, the only discriminators here are features, hardware, and pricing and neither is a one-size-fits-all clearcut winner. No product is.
Both products are worthy buys depending on your needs.

Well said.

[katzki]

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...05#post1229705

Yeah... We may expect the Anroid 2.2 upgrade to happen sooner.

[mouso]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

To sidestep your question and address just this bit...
You can now read Overdrive libraries books on your iPod Touch with a free app called Bluefire Reader, it was updated two weeks ago to support the time-limited DRM that Overdrive requires.

Really? I am off to check that out right away, thanks!

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Noah98

The Pocketbook IQ looks like it will be a decent reader, but after my experience with the Pandigital Novel and the Velocity Cruz Reader (both have similar hardware) I would try one out first.

The main issues are: touchscreen, resolution, and processor.

Resistive touchscreens can be frustrating, and screen response issues will definitely hinder your enjoyment. The nook color had a very nice capacitive, multitouch screen.

The resolution on the Pocketbook is 800 x 600, which isn't bad until you compare it to the nook color's 1024 x 600 ips screen. To me, if you are going to get an lcd reader, you want the best possible screen. The Samsung Galaxy Tab, ipad, and nook color all have superior screens which makes reading much better. The nook color also has really nice pixel density.
(snipped)

Oddly enough, it's the screen that is really pulling me toward the Pocketbook IQ. All those extra pixels on the Nook Color don't do anything for me if they're just showing blank space above and below the page.

So-called "widescreen" resolutions provide minimal benefits in portrait orientation, especially when you're looking at fixed aspect ratio page. In cases like that, all that matters is the smaller dimension - and the Nook Color's narrower screen will actually provide less effective real estate for viewing comics and PDFs.

Higher resolution only matters if it's "usable" resolution.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Higher resolution only matters if it's "usable" resolution.

Yes, the aspect ratio matters.
The IQ is 3x4, 600x800 and the NookColor is 9x16, 600x1024. Horizontal resolution is the same but the width is narrower.

I've long been surprised that nobody has tried using 16x10 LCD panels in tablets; that would be the closest fit to actual paper aspect ratios and minimize letterboxing for video use, compared to 4x3 panels.

[Noah98]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Oddly enough, it's the screen that is really pulling me toward the Pocketbook IQ. All those extra pixels on the Nook Color don't do anything for me if they're just showing blank space above and below the page.

So-called "widescreen" resolutions provide minimal benefits in portrait orientation, especially when you're looking at fixed aspect ratio page. In cases like that, all that matters is the smaller dimension - and the Nook Color's narrower screen will actually provide less effective real estate for viewing comics and PDFs.

Higher resolution only matters if it's "usable" resolution.

No doubt. I much prefer the 4x3 screen. I'm surprised that more companies are not following apple's lead.

In the nook color's defense, from my personal experience, the clarity of the screen and the text readability blows away devices like the Pandigital Novel and Velocity Cruz. I do wish the screen of the nook color had the 4 x 3 aspect ratio though.

[varelov]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

I always feel so strange typing Color and not Colour, like I'm going to get a big red X on my homework!

As a non-native english speaker that learned the British version first, I struggle with "colour" and "potatoe" etc. every day...
Happy birthday mouso and have fun with whichever iPad-for-the-poor-guy you choose. Not that iPad is short of its own failings, but I choose to wait and see which tablet wins before actually buying one. I tried the nook Colour the other day and the YouTube video I tried to watch was served by the said device in the form of Lego squares. Just now I read on the website that LatinaandGreek linked to, that the new nook doesn't support Flash. So much of the high hopes.
Hey, anybody in for a tablet with a front- facing camera?