Aaargghhh i can't decide - Page 2

brecklundin · 09-12-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimo1re

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...

Based on the ergonomics alone the PocketBook 360 hands down. It gets the best design gold from me and I never handled one. Yeah, to me it is The Design for a reader device.

Of course either device has ZERO track record for reliability or support. Of course those who swallowed the Astak Kool Aid will dispute that but of course they who bow down to Astak here will get Jiffy Service, they offer a direct pipeline to the world by posting their kudos here. Let's see where the devices shake out over time.

I am waiting for the more fully featured 360 promised soon. I want the wireless service, wifi at minimum. But you know the best feature to me on the device, after the design, and that is the solid cover that just flips off and can be attached to the back while reading or using the device.

I really believe that PocketBook has a winner here and their road map is right on...it seems they are planning a more robust system and have far better developers than other companies. Look what they have done with the same hardware that others still struggle with...

That all said, I also thing the Astak is not a bad device, it has some nice reviews and I have not read a bad review...yet...and has nice potential. But to me the ergs of the Astak line are mundane/trivial at best and poor at worst...the same can be said for any of the Jinke/Hanlin re-badged clones...

I have yet to see and handle the Sony 300 but I like it as well. The thing Sony has going for it is the brand...then again, that can also be a neg as well as Sony is known to just orphan devices w/o warning and when Sony orphans a device it is dead as last year. I don't see the Sony having much better ergs than the Astak 5" reader. Astak has a few more features though.

As of now though if I was going to buy a reader, as I mentioned, the PocketBook 360 wins for me...BUT...I would check into the service procedure if you buy direct as currently there is no active US reseller, according to the last vid review by Charbax https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55723

Also, somewhere around here is a rep from PocketBook answering questions. Someone is sure to have a link.

Suddenly it is sort of nice to see all of the options, even if a number of them are simply re-badged clones.

DrMoze · 09-12-2009, 10:53 PM

The Astak looks slick, but it also looks right-handed-only. The Sony 300 can flip pages with either hand/thumb at bottom center. I use either hand at times for holding my 300, so this really matters to me.

pilotbob · 09-12-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

I am waiting for the more fully featured 360 promised soon. I want the wireless service, wifi at minimum. But you know the best feature to me on the device, after the design, and that is the solid cover that just flips off and can be attached to the back while reading or using the device.

I'm not sure what information you are talking about. But, the 360 isn't coming in a "more full featured" version. They do have a Pocketbook 302 coming. It is a 6inch device with a touch screen and the wifi, bluetooth, 3g, etc.

If I am wrong, please point me to the information you have that there will be a version of the 360 with 3G or WiFi?

BOb

GA Russell · 09-12-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

The Astak looks slick, but it also looks right-handed-only.

Interesting that you should say that, Moze, because to me the forward and back buttons on the left make the Pocket Pro more of a lefty's device. I suppose right handers use the wheel on the upper right side to change pages, because using the 9 and 0 buttons doesn't look that convenient to me.

davidspitzer · 09-13-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

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.

i am fascinated why if you had a 505 you would not get a 300 as a backup as all the books could be shared seamlessly

LDBoblo · 09-13-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidspitzer

i am fascinated why if you had a 505 you would not get a 300 as a backup as all the books could be shared seamlessly

300 has no memory card slot, and its epub viewing is as awful as the 505's.

Pocketbook 360 would have impressed me more if it weren't so chubby and wide, and didn't use e-ink. It's perhaps a step in the right direction, but it's not a particularly good solution. Like the JetBook, it took one critical flawed element of other ebook readers and improved it halfway.

HarryT · 09-13-2009, 04:16 AM

The ePub support on the Astak isn't great either; no hyperlinks, and very limited font size options. The best ePub support currently available is that on the CyBook Opus - a device that I'd thoroughly recommend.

LDBoblo · 09-13-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The ePub support on the Astak isn't great either; no hyperlinks, and very limited font size options. The best ePub support currently available is that on the CyBook Opus - a device that I'd thoroughly recommend.

If I bothered with epub I think I'd get the Opus too.

kacir · 09-13-2009, 06:07 AM

Use Google Translate and read this page:
http://www.the-ebook.org/rus/?p=1643

I think that thanks to the software and also a good hardware layout the PocketBook 360° is the most versatile device.
It features goodies like on-screen keyboard, note taking, even calculator and game of chess. PocketBook firmware is traditionally very, very good, as you can see in previous models (301)

It does hyphenation of text. The review specifically says that there is very uniform "typographical grey" on fully justified page. This is something other readers lack very much.
For some formats, like FB2 or TXT you can set LOTS of options, like font type, justification, margin width, (possibly line distance).
For PDF format the device does reflow.
The review also tells us the device uses Epson controller.

The price seems to be substantially higher, but this is European price. If you import Astak device to Europe, you have to add about 20% VAT plus transport cost plus very traditional "Everybody screws Europeans, so why shouldn't we?" "negative rebate". As a result, you usually get 1Eur = 1USD price.

kennyc · 09-13-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidspitzer

i am fascinated why if you had a 505 you would not get a 300 as a backup as all the books could be shared seamlessly

There shouldn't be any problem sharing with another reader that supports even more formats.

and it has more features -- particularly the SD slot.

kennyc · 09-13-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The ePub support on the Astak isn't great either; no hyperlinks, and very limited font size options. The best ePub support currently available is that on the CyBook Opus - a device that I'd thoroughly recommend.

Harry what specifics are better? Links? Images? Dictionary? Annotations?

DrMoze · 09-13-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

There shouldn't be any problem sharing with another reader that supports even more formats.

and it has more features -- particularly the SD slot.

Is a memory card slot really that important? I've had 3 ebook devices with heavy use over the past almost-3 years. Never once needed or used a memory card. And I carry around well over a hundred novels with me at any time. Plenty of variety. Internal memory was always ample, even on the smaller Sony 500. There are lots of considerations with an ebook device, but I don't think a memory card slot ranks high on the list, in general. Pretty much any device has ample memory to store months' worth of reading.

AnemicOak · 09-13-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

Is a memory card slot really that important?

It's not imperative, but it's a nice option IMO. Ideally I'd like a reader that I can store all my books on in an organized fashion. So far I haven't had that, although the Opus I just returned looked to be a possibility and I'm hopeful the Pocket Pro arriving Thursday will be too.

For the readers I've owned so far, the 505 and K2, it's not important at all to have a memory card IMO. The K2 because it has a huge amount of memory that I'll never fill unless Amazon gives us a way to organize things (also with the K2's web connection I can store all my books on a web server and access then any time). The 505 because every time I tried using a memory card (or having more than 48-49 collections) I had more problems with the device than I wanted to deal with.

kennyc · 09-13-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

Is a memory card slot really that important? ...

Is for me. Wait, didn't I say that?

superstitious · 09-13-2009, 12:58 PM

I dont know about anyone else but the SD card slot is high on my priority list only because I plan to keep my device for quite a while. I probably will never read all the books I have any time soon so I guess having the option for more books anytime is great. 300 books might be enough for some but if you collect them over time then having the SD card will be convenient. Plus it's easier for me to transfer books. But really for the same price between the Pocket Pro and the 300, shouldnt you go with something that pack more features? (even though I might never use it but its good to have on hands in case I need it) Also, the Pocket Pro has been shipped just end of August and there are already new firmwares available and will be another coming soon (Monday I think). How about that?

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09-12-2009, 10:53 PM	#17
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")	The Astak looks slick, but it also looks right-handed-only. The Sony 300 can flip pages with either hand/thumb at bottom center. I use either hand at times for holding my 300, so this really matters to me.

09-13-2009, 04:16 AM	#22
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The ePub support on the Astak isn't great either; no hyperlinks, and very limited font size options. The best ePub support currently available is that on the CyBook Opus - a device that I'd thoroughly recommend.

09-13-2009, 06:07 AM	#24
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,463 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	Use Google Translate and read this page: http://www.the-ebook.org/rus/?p=1643 I think that thanks to the software and also a good hardware layout the PocketBook 360° is the most versatile device. It features goodies like on-screen keyboard, note taking, even calculator and game of chess. PocketBook firmware is traditionally very, very good, as you can see in previous models (301) It does hyphenation of text. The review specifically says that there is very uniform "typographical grey" on fully justified page. This is something other readers lack very much. For some formats, like FB2 or TXT you can set LOTS of options, like font type, justification, margin width, (possibly line distance). For PDF format the device does reflow. The review also tells us the device uses Epson controller. The price seems to be substantially higher, but this is European price. If you import Astak device to Europe, you have to add about 20% VAT plus transport cost plus very traditional "Everybody screws Europeans, so why shouldn't we?" "negative rebate". As a result, you usually get 1Eur = 1USD price.

09-13-2009, 12:58 PM	#30
superstitious Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 7270 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: K3 wifi	I dont know about anyone else but the SD card slot is high on my priority list only because I plan to keep my device for quite a while. I probably will never read all the books I have any time soon so I guess having the option for more books anytime is great. 300 books might be enough for some but if you collect them over time then having the SD card will be convenient. Plus it's easier for me to transfer books. But really for the same price between the Pocket Pro and the 300, shouldnt you go with something that pack more features? (even though I might never use it but its good to have on hands in case I need it) Also, the Pocket Pro has been shipped just end of August and there are already new firmwares available and will be another coming soon (Monday I think). How about that?