603 Pocketbook 603 typing and text searching

[omoplata]

I'm waiting for the US release of Pocketbook 603. But I'm not sure if it's exactly what I want. Maybe a Pocketbook 302 would suite me better. I chose Pocketbook because of pdf and djvu support.

In the review videos I've seen of the PB902 and PB602, the on screen keyboard used for typing the search words works like this. The alphabet of the keyboard is divided to several segments (five as I remember). Once you choose one of those your choice narrows down to a smaller set and you carry on until you can choose one letter or number. This seems to be the fastest way possible to type in a device like the PB902/PB602 which has no touch screen or off screen keyboard. Does PB903/PB603 use the same kind of keyboard?

I want the PB603 because I think the touch screen will make interaction faster. But it's not going to be that fast if it uses the same kind of keyboard.

What about the PB302? Can I search within books (djvu and pdf) ? Will I be able to just tap once the individual keys on the on screen keyboard to type?

[paola]

Originally Posted by omoplata

I want the PB603 because I think the touch screen will make interaction faster. But it's not going to be that fast if it uses the same kind of keyboard.

I have a 903, but i guess the only difference with 603 is size - with the 903 I only see a regular keyboard, and so far I have had no problems with the dictionary search

[omoplata]

Originally Posted by paolamanzini

with the 903 I only see a regular keyboard

Thanks for the answer paolamanzini. Does a regular keyboard mean you only need to tap once on a letter to type it?

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by omoplata

Thanks for the answer paolamanzini. Does a regular keyboard mean you only need to tap once on a letter to type it?

Yes, only once.

[omoplata]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Yes, only once.

Great! Thanks.

[wongdong]

Originally Posted by omoplata

Great! Thanks.

Be aware that text input into 903/603 is very slow. i estimate the maximum keypresses to 2 per second. so if you expect a speed that equals handy touchscreens, you'll be disappointed.

[omoplata]

Originally Posted by wongdong

Be aware that text input into 903/603 is very slow. i estimate the maximum keypresses to 2 per second. so if you expect a speed that equals handy touchscreens, you'll be disappointed.

Oh, well. I guess it is the best that can be done with e-ink readers at this time. I don't want a tablet because I want to be able to read outside in the sunlight.

[LoneTech]

It's not the best that can be done. Aside from the fact that the current keyboard is useless without the stylus, the reason it's so slow is that it keeps flashing the keys you press! If they just stopped doing that, the text could appear much faster. It's obvious from the fact that you can tap much faster than it shows. This could be improved with a firmware update.

[omoplata]

Originally Posted by LoneTech

the reason it's so slow is that it keeps flashing the keys you press! If they just stopped doing that, the text could appear much faster. It's obvious from the fact that you can tap much faster than it shows. This could be improved with a firmware update.

I really hope they would do that. That would improve things a lot. I'm going to post in the 'requested features' tread.