Your Favorite 5-inch e-ink ebook reader?

[kacir]

PocketBook 360.
If PocketBook released a new version of PB360 with built-in light (and without the screw-ups that are in new versions of firmware for newer models) I would pay 200 Euro for it without hesitation.
I paid 275 Eur for the original PB360 at the time, and it was one of my best purchases ever.

Like fjtores said, it might have been PocketBook at its best. I do not understand why nobody else (not even PocketBooḱ!) is willing to release a pocket friendly reader with integrated lid.
Also, it had fantastic software with very high number of customization options.

When I was visiting USA two and a half years ago I almost bought Kobo Mini. I liked the pocket size.
I wanted to buy it at Best Buy, but first I wanted to see the software. The display unit kept asking to be connected to the net to be registered, refusing to do anything at all. NO, thank you. I was not willing to buy device that blackmails you register it.

I was looking forward to buying inkPhone but they screwed up badly. Their phones came with IMEI belonging to other manufacturers. I was even thinking about buying it even without phone functionality, but they only sold them for only a week.

Later I was looking at inkCase, but it looks like the Kickstarter campain can't deliver promised features. Besides, inkCase and inkPhone have too small displays.


So I am still looking for a pocketable reader with small dimensions, 5" front lit e-ink screen and a lid that doesn't add to the bulk of the device.
In the meanwhile I got inexpensive 5" Android phone as a "carry everywhere backup pocket reader".

[murg]

Originally Posted by kacir

I wanted to buy it at Best Buy, but first I wanted to see the software. The display unit kept asking to be connected to the net to be registered, refusing to do anything at all. NO, thank you. I was not willing to buy device that blackmails you register it.

The same behaviour kept me from buying a H20 the other day (now that they just started to be available in Australia).

Couldn't get some actual text on the screen to compare to my Glo.

Kobos should come out of the factory able to display some text.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by murg

The same behaviour kept me from buying a H20 the other day (now that they just started to be available in Australia).

Couldn't get some actual text on the screen to compare to my Glo.

Kobos should come out of the factory able to display some text.

Or at least have a demo mode/firmware like Kindle display units do.

I was scoping out Paperwhites at Office Depot recently and the display unit ran an introductory demo you could skip and go to the book listings. There you could open a book and read and do pretty much anything except get into settings.

Made it real easy to see just how good that screen is and, when selling devices that sell on the strength of their text display, it makes sense to let potential buyers scope out the screen.

Alas, they didn't have and Voyages left.

One thing to bear in mind is that some of the more modern 6in models are about as small (and generally lighter) than many of the early five inchers. Between that and the 5-6in phablets, the market for 5in readers is pretty limited.

Which is just too bad.
A 5in Voyage-class reader would be really sweet.

[cathermac]

I have had a Sony 300 and a kobo mini. And my husband has a Sony 350.
Kobo mini wins.

[fjtorres]

Speaking of the PB360 snap-on cover, you'd think that with all the Kindles out there, somebody would think of selling an aftermarket snap-on cover for them. Even if they only captured a tiny fraction of the market they'd be making good coin.

They make some beautiful monogramed ones for the fire tablets but nothing for the eink models.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Speaking of the PB360 snap-on cover, you'd think that with all the Kindles out there, somebody would think of selling an aftermarket snap-on cover for them. Even if they only captured a tiny fraction of the market they'd be making good coin.

They make some beautiful monogramed ones for the fire tablets but nothing for the eink models.

That's a great idea!

I bet there would be a lot of buyers if third-party snap-on covers were made for the Kobo Glo, as well.

I would personally buy one for my Kobo Mini and my PW2, if they could somehow snap on without marring the finish.

Originally Posted by kacir

When I was visiting USA two and a half years ago I almost bought Kobo Mini. I liked the pocket size.

I wanted to buy it at Best Buy, but first I wanted to see the software. The display unit kept asking to be connected to the net to be registered, refusing to do anything at all. NO, thank you. I was not willing to buy device that blackmails you register it.

The display unit being stuck on the registration screen probably says more about the retailer than than Kobo itself. Every retailer I've checked out has had a functional Kobo unit on display so that you could check it out, and Chapters went as far as letting me pop in an SD card so that I could see how well it would handle PDFs.

But I do agree that the "forced" registration is a pain. It means that I cannot use the device before going home to bypass the registration, and even then it is not something that a typical consumer should be willing to go through.

[desert dog]

I have 2 Kobo minis and use both of them. The one in my car keeps me company when I am in line at the bank or post office. The second one rests on my night stand,, good for a few pages before sleep.

They are light, easy to slip into a pocket and the screen is just fine.

What's not to like?

[Hrafn]

My one experience of a 5" was my PB360, though I'm ambivalent about it. It was mostly very-well designed, but the page-turn buttons were simply too large and stiff to be usable. I ended up solely using the d-pad for page-turns (and eventually wearing it out so much that it 'squished' instead of clicked when pressed). If I went back to a 5" (which is unlikely), it'd have to be one with better buttons.

It was a good (and cheap) introduction to hardware eReading, but not I think a long-term solution.

[shanghaichica]

Sony PRS 300.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by desert dog

I have 2 Kobo minis and use both of them. The one in my car keeps me company when I am in line at the bank or post office. The second one rests on my night stand,, good for a few pages before sleep.

They are light, easy to slip into a pocket and the screen is just fine.

What's not to like?

Many people have said they do, indeed, like them.

The two criticisms that I've been able to ferret out seem to be these:

1) No built-in light for those of us who like to read in less-than-ideal conditions.
2) A 'plasticky' sort of feel.

Personally, I only object to criticism #1.

Release one with a light, and my Kobo Glo will get thrown into the trash - so to speak.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by shanghaichica

Sony PRS 300.

Interesting.

So you prefer the PRS300 over the PRS-350?

[cathermac]

Sony 300 is a hard device. With 5 years mine is still alive although I prefer kobo mini. But is a little bit smaller than my new kobo aura...
Aura or Sony 300? Aura of course.

[shanghaichica]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Interesting.

So you prefer the PRS300 over the PRS-350?

I've never used the 350. The 300 was my first e-ink device. It's very well built and reliable.

[WS64]

I still love my Kobo Mini, but since I bought the Kobo Aura I don't use it anymore.
My main reason for a 5" device is that it is small enough to be carried around. All other 6" devices were (at least in a case) a bit too wide for my jackets.
The only reason why I don't use the Mini anymore is the missing light. I really would love a 5" with light!
But since a few months there is something else that I want from an eReader, and that is that it runs Koreader. So it should be a 5" device by Kobo, PocketBook or a Kindle (which for me is out already because of the missing SD slot).