opinions please......don't hold back:)

lisadawn · 04-16-2010, 07:59 AM

I am going to buy a secong reader. I have the original kindle and have always loved it.....well recently i have come to the conclusion that it is a bit restrictive. I would like a reader that I can pretty much purchase books from wherever and have it able to read the format. I have it narrowed down to the pocketbook 360, sony prs 300, or aluratek libre.......PLEASE help me decide!!! I am one of those people that research everything to death and second guess my choices constantly!

charleski · 04-16-2010, 08:09 AM

If you can find a Sony 505, snap it up. The screen is the same as the 300's, but a bit bigger, and it's been thoroughly hacked so you can replace the firmware with one that allows a lot of customisation (look at the thread on the PRS+ customiser).

If there were just one reader that had software which would do full justification with hyphenation, then that would be an immediate first choice. Unfortunately none of them do - you'd think any manufacturer looking to differentiate their product would pick up on this (big hint to any of them reading this).

omk3 · 04-16-2010, 08:15 AM

I can't recommend the pocketbook 360 highly enough. I recently got one for my mother to replace her dead cybook. She loves it, and if I could justify another reader for myself I would certainly get one for me too. It's the most customizable reader I have ever seen, and it is supported by a very active and friendly community.

kacir · 04-16-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

If there were just one reader that had software which would do full justification with hyphenation, then that would be an immediate first choice. Unfortunately none of them do

PocketBook does.
If you load third-party version of FBReader you can even fine-tune hyphenation. You can tell the reader what is the minimum length of word that can be hyphenated. You can set any justification, you can set page margins, line spacing and much more. You can even set how much the space between words can be compressed when the device does full justification with hyphenation. Oh ... and PocketBook knows hyphenation rules for various languages.

It still isn't LaTeX quality or InDesign quality typography(*), but it is pretty good. And if you DO require typographically perfect document you can make custom pdf file in LaTex or InDesign or whatever, formatted exactly for the size of your screen, with whatever fancy features you wish (ligatures, typographical color evenness, hanging capitals at the beginning of chapter, handmade illuminations, you name it).

(*) still no widows and orphans control, it does not evaluate justification of line in relation to n lines above or below to avoid rivers.

lisadawn · 04-16-2010, 08:38 AM

I was actually going to buy a 505 from a member of another forum but it didn't pan out.
I will look on ebay and see whats there.

Dusty · 04-16-2010, 08:58 AM

I can only tell you what I have and why.

All I wanted was to be able to read multi format novels anywhere and everywhere. I have a netbook for color magazines and PDF textbooks.

I prefer reading softcover books. I wanted something very portable and light.

As soon as I picked up the Sony 300 and played with it I knew I had found my base comparison model. If anything could beat it I would buy it. After two months of shopping around I went back to the Sony and snapped it up.
It does what it does to perfection. No bells and whistles, simply an excellent clear, portable reader.

I will upgrade when eInk comes in color, no Ipad for me. My Acer netbook serves my needs.

Logseman · 04-16-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

I would like a reader that I can pretty much purchase books from wherever and have it able to read the format.

That statement should orient your decision to the PB 360. It is more expensive, but it swallows everything. EPUB, DRM-less Mobi, PDF (surprisingly well for its 5 inches), FB2 (this one is read even if it is compressed in ZIP), HTML, DJVU, you name it. God, it even reads TIFF and PNG image files.

And except for the PDF files, which are read fine but with no frills, the third party mod for the reading software allows you to finetune everything, as kacir has detailed.

I might strike as a fanboy, but the PB360 deserves it.

lisadawn · 04-16-2010, 02:18 PM

I am kinda leaning towards the PB 360....I simply like how it looks on top of everything else. Decisions!!!

tofubean · 04-17-2010, 01:59 AM

Have you considered using one of the kindle hacks to read books from other formats?

Ea · 04-17-2010, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omk3

I can't recommend the pocketbook 360 highly enough. I recently got one for my mother to replace her dead cybook. She loves it, and if I could justify another reader for myself I would certainly get one for me too. It's the most customizable reader I have ever seen, and it is supported by a very active and friendly community.

Seconded. It really is the most versatile, and it's easy to use. It's very light (lighter than the Sony) and the integrated snap-on cover solution is ideal for a small device you can take anywhere.

ChrisC333 · 04-18-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisadawn

I am going to buy a second reader. I have the original kindle and have always loved it.....well recently i have come to the conclusion that it is a bit restrictive.

Frankly, pretty much all the readers I've looked at seem fairly restrictive and a bit on the primitive side, compared to the range and freedom of a regular computer. But things generally seem to be changing very rapidly now - not just with the hardware but also with with the software, the book formats, and the whole selling/protecting models.

My criteria for buying anything right now includes assuming that whatever I purchase might have quite a short time in the sun before it in turns looks a tad obsolete. Not an easy thing to second guess. But you did say "don't hold back..." so maybe that's another thing to consider - how long will you need to use something before you feel that you've got value for money, can justify replacing it again, or whatever?

Good luck with the choice.

richman · 04-18-2010, 12:32 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcRna...eature=related

30 second comparision of 360 and 505.
I didn't like the clicking sound on the 360, the 505 was quiet in comparision. The 505 is metal, the 360 looked plastic.

Greg Anos · 04-18-2010, 09:01 AM

I use a Hanlin 6 inch reader. It's a bit industrial in appearance, but it'll read just about anything, and has a choice of firmware - the company's or openinkpot...

Ea · 04-18-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcRna...eature=related

30 second comparision of 360 and 505.
I didn't like the clicking sound on the 360, the 505 was quiet in comparision. The 505 is metal, the 360 looked plastic.

Yes, but the PB360 is almost half the weight and it doesn't suck the warmth from your fingers like the Sony 505 (that might be a plus in a warm climate

)

HarryT · 04-18-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Yes, but the PB360 is almost half the weight and it doesn't suck the warmth from your fingers like the Sony 505 (that might be a plus in a warm climate

)

Not to mention the fact that the Pocketbook offers many, many more features, such as an enormously better ePub viewer, full folder support, dictionary lookup, text highlighting, and much more.

04-16-2010, 07:59 AM	#1
lisadawn Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: original kindle,k3,sony 530,classic nook(sold), nc(sold)nook touch	opinions please......don't hold back:) I am going to buy a secong reader. I have the original kindle and have always loved it.....well recently i have come to the conclusion that it is a bit restrictive. I would like a reader that I can pretty much purchase books from wherever and have it able to read the format. I have it narrowed down to the pocketbook 360, sony prs 300, or aluratek libre.......PLEASE help me decide!!! I am one of those people that research everything to death and second guess my choices constantly!

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04-16-2010, 08:09 AM	#2
charleski Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 1281258 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505	If you can find a Sony 505, snap it up. The screen is the same as the 300's, but a bit bigger, and it's been thoroughly hacked so you can replace the firmware with one that allows a lot of customisation (look at the thread on the PRS+ customiser). If there were just one reader that had software which would do full justification with hyphenation, then that would be an immediate first choice. Unfortunately none of them do - you'd think any manufacturer looking to differentiate their product would pick up on this (big hint to any of them reading this).

04-16-2010, 08:15 AM	#3
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	I can't recommend the pocketbook 360 highly enough. I recently got one for my mother to replace her dead cybook. She loves it, and if I could justify another reader for myself I would certainly get one for me too. It's the most customizable reader I have ever seen, and it is supported by a very active and friendly community.

04-16-2010, 08:38 AM	#5
lisadawn Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: original kindle,k3,sony 530,classic nook(sold), nc(sold)nook touch	I was actually going to buy a 505 from a member of another forum but it didn't pan out. I will look on ebay and see whats there.

04-16-2010, 08:58 AM	#6
Dusty Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 500076 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canada Device: sony 300, T1	I can only tell you what I have and why. All I wanted was to be able to read multi format novels anywhere and everywhere. I have a netbook for color magazines and PDF textbooks. I prefer reading softcover books. I wanted something very portable and light. As soon as I picked up the Sony 300 and played with it I knew I had found my base comparison model. If anything could beat it I would buy it. After two months of shopping around I went back to the Sony and snapped it up. It does what it does to perfection. No bells and whistles, simply an excellent clear, portable reader. I will upgrade when eInk comes in color, no Ipad for me. My Acer netbook serves my needs.

04-16-2010, 02:18 PM	#8
lisadawn Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: original kindle,k3,sony 530,classic nook(sold), nc(sold)nook touch	I am kinda leaning towards the PB 360....I simply like how it looks on top of everything else. Decisions!!!

04-17-2010, 01:59 AM	#9
tofubean Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 64 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: K3, iPad, PW	Have you considered using one of the kindle hacks to read books from other formats?

04-18-2010, 12:32 AM	#12
richman Addict Posts: 269 Karma: 58 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: sony prs-505 BLUE,itouch,netbook	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcRna...eature=related 30 second comparision of 360 and 505. I didn't like the clicking sound on the 360, the 505 was quiet in comparision. The 505 is metal, the 360 looked plastic.

04-18-2010, 09:01 AM	#13
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,546 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	I use a Hanlin 6 inch reader. It's a bit industrial in appearance, but it'll read just about anything, and has a choice of firmware - the company's or openinkpot...