My view of the Pocketbook 360

[Logseman]

I wrote a report in Spanish and German, and I think it won't harm to bring it here in the language of Milton.

Personal opinion:

I'll start describing my views on the Pocketbook itself, and later on I'll come to other aspects which do not strictly belong to the device, such as customer support and the PC companion program.

Let me be clear. The Pocketbook is a real pleasure of a reading device. A short loading time (11 seconds) and quick, easy handling do the trick. The folder system is totally flexible, since the user can create as many folders as desired, which will be recognised by the PB flawlessly. Searching inside folders is supported as well.

The books themselves load in short times, and turning pages ist almost unperceptible... though this is not trye of PDF files, which take more time and are harder to read (even if the Reflow mode helps a lot). It can be left aside though, as issues with PDF files, which are not optimized for reading in eReaders, are common among all of them.

Astoundingly great contrast, almost as good as real paper. Readability guaranteed even without great light sources, though of course it's impossible to use it at night. However there are small lamps and LEDs which fit the device very well.

In the task of reading itself, the ease of use of dictionaries, which aside of being easy to summon and use can be installed simply by dragging files to a folder. The same applies to fonts: the font collection can be expanded endlessly if the user simply drags files to the specific folder. Bookmarks are available, as well as the possibility to put a book in Favorites, and write notes (except for PDF).

Aside of the normal function of saving the position of the last page read on a file, the Pocketbook features the ability of saving the last 2 files which have been opened and showing them in the main menu. That amounts for an even easier handling: opening the device and coming back to read the last book that one was reading takes less than 20 seconds. I call that comfortable.

Each and every key and button is configurable, including the on/off button. You can have a welcome logo and, most curiously, a logo for when the device is off. Such an idea is a nice and original quirk that has no influence on the battery life (as displaying a static image doesn't consume battery in e-Ink screens). The battery itself, it must be noted, is very easy to substitute when the moment has come.

All this doesn't mean that the device is flawless. The RSS reader is, at the moment, very unusable, and it has no support for Spanish signs itself. It's unusable for a Spaniard at the moment. Aside of that, the key lock mode, though easily accessible (just press the on/off button) doesn't make up for a real standby feature. And in such a device which features no touchscreen or physical keyboard, a note function is hard to use and completely unnecessary

Anyways, in spite of this flaws, which come in secondary appliances, the Pocketbook is a magnificient reading device. Aside of that, one can have faith in further improvements due to the open-source nature of the software, which allows for improvements with more ease.

Around the Pocketbook 360

After I have given my impressions about the device itself, I'd like to state my ideas about the side-parts, the environment of the device. I'll focus on three parts: the companion PC program, the support and service and the open-source concept.

I'll start with the bad news. The companion program, Pocketnews, is simply trash. It's clear that no effort was given into it (you can't minimise it, FCOL!) and that the management and acquisition of books has been entrusted to other sources, such as Calibre.
Theoretically the software allows the ability to download books from the main source, pocketbook.com.ua... which, being a company from Ukraine, has its page in Ukranian. I don't want to be rude, but Ukranian is not a language well-represented in Spain (though there is a surprisingly growing amount of Ukranians here, but that's something else). Efforts should be put on improving that, in my opinion.

I must say that the customer support and technical troubleshooting has been fantastic. Any doubt was cleared, sometimes before I even had to ask it. However, such service has been given in the context of this forum. In Spain we're usually more "traditional" and the customer support and troubleshooting is preferredly done in brick and mortar shops, though they may not know anything at all about the device anyway.

Last but not least, I'd like to give my take on the double-edged sword of open-source concepts. If I recall correctly, the Pocketbook was "designed" in a specialised forum, and experienced users gave their feedback. The strong firmware, the reading-oriented design and small details like the two last books showing on the main menu are proof of the advantages of such a design concept. However, things in Spain are different. The market is still small, and many potential customers have the means, but little experience in internet at all, let aside in e-books. Many potentially buyers of the Pocketbook will have it as their first EReader ever. These buyers, for example, could assume that e-Books are a one-sided concept, and compare a Reader with 5'' with one of 9'', not seeing that they are meant for different concepts and are therefore compatible.

Why such a digression? Becaue the Pocketbook contains no help for the uninitiated. No help function inside the device, and the instruction booklets both in paper and online are poor. It must be stressed that Spaniards, like myself, are mainly beginning to see the concept of eBooks. Strong efforts should be done in this area if it is to succeed. I personally am quite enthusiastic with my PB360, enough as to shoot up a Spanish translation of the firmware when I saw it wasn't present. However, there are not many customers like me in Spain, I can say.

My view is that the Pocketbook is a very strong eBook reader, whose main ability is allowing the reader to enjoy his books flawlessly. It has certain software shortcomins, which will be fixed hopefully through open-source and the strong competition out there. Personally, from the readers that I've had in hand, which are the Sonys PRS-700 and -300 and the Cybook Gen3, the Pocketbook 360 has been the best experience for me.

[kacir]

You keep saying, that from the main menu there are two most recently opened books available. That is true. There is also possibility to map the on/off button to bring up the list of 10 most recently read books.

There is *another* way of accessing the list of the most recently read books without "blocking" the mapping of the on/off key.
Go to the
http://bookfast.org/category/pocketbook/themes
I know, I know ... You like Ukrainian and Russian languages but you would prefer something more ... aehm ... comprehensible, so here you go:
http://translate.google.com/translat...&sl=auto&tl=en
and download some themes. I personally use RedUser2 theme, but you should try all of them.
Most of those themes have much smaller icons than the default factory theme and use the space for the list of most recently read books.
You install the themes by dropping them in \system\themes directory on your PocketBook

Even your Spanish translation is going to work inside those themes.

And when you are at bookfast.org do not forget to have a look at other interesting stuff, like games and applications for PocketBook.

[Logseman]

Thanks for the material, I'm downloading almost everything!

I knew that there are other themes available, actually I downloaded some of them yesterday. However, I haven't put them to work since all of them since I've seen they include the... music function, which is not present in the PB360. It's quite dumb to see the music option in a device with no reproduction ability xD I'll try and make my own theme and see what it's like.

And for review purposes, I deliberately tried to put myself in the position of my mother. She has the PRS-700, bought some time ago, and she's absolutely tech-unsavvy. She's still happy with it, because it's well readable and big enough, and the navigation and adjustments are easy. However, what she did not like is that the file management was poor, and she couldn't keep track of the files which actually were in the device, as the versions of the software she uses feature a quite strange "import to program" feature. I should talk to her about Calibre, she's going to like it...

I've seen my translation working on the themes, too. I'm now working on translating fbreader, aside of one novel and two manga... I seem to know how to overload myself with work

[sassanik]

I have to say having purchased several ebook readers that it seems the lack of documentation is common. I am also of the opinion that in general it seems that the manufactors expect you to have a certain level of computer skill.

Both Cool-er and Pocketbook have short manuals, though tons of info on the internet about the devices and all the options that are out there.

Amy

[Terisa de morgan]

Do you have an Spanish translation? Because I've given in temptation and I've bought a pocketbook

[Logseman]

In fact, this English version is a translation of the Spanish text ^^

I'll spoilertag it, as it is a bit large.

Spoiler:

Opinión personal:

Empezaré hablando por el Pocketbook en sí mismo, y luego me referiré a lo que no se refiere al aparato en sí (atención al cliente, programa companion del PC, soporte técnico, etc.).
El Pocketbook 360, para leer, es una delicia. Tarda poco en cargar al encenderse (11 segundos de reloj) y la navegación por los menúes es muy sencilla. El sistema de carpetas es totalmente flexible: desde su ordenador el usuario puede crear cuantas carpetas y subcarpetas estime conveniente, y el Pocketbook las reconocerá y permitirá navegar por ellas sin problemas, además de que se pueden hacer búsquedas dentro de cada carpeta. Los libros tardan muy poco en cargar, y el pasado de páginas apenas se nota en la mayoría de formatos. Los PDF, por su parte, muestran más dificultad de lectura (aunque el modo Reflow ayuda mucho) y cargan de forma más lenta, problemas comunes al resto de lectores por culpa del diseño del formato PDF, que no está no adaptado a los eReader sino a los folios de papel DIN-A4.

El contraste es muy bueno, casi como el del papel real. No hay problema alguno en leer incluso con la luz bastante baja. Obviamente, dado que no está retroiluminada, de noche es imposible a menos que se incorpore alguna lámpara o luz LED (hay algunos modelos que le sientan muy bien).

En la lectura en sí misma destaca la facilidad para usar los diccionarios, además de que se puedan instalar más de los que hay simplemente arrastrándolos a un directorio. Hay muchos tamaños de texto para elegir, y se puede instalar las fuentes que el usuario desee de la misma forma que los diccionarios (arrastrándolas al directorio correspondiente). El aparato permite marcar libros como favoritos y ya leídos, y anotar dentro de los libros (esto no se puede en PDF). Además de guardar la posición de cada uno de los libros, los dos últimos libros abiertos aparecen en el menú principal como un acceso directo, lo cual alivia bastante la navegación (abres el cacharro y ya tienes el libro abierto y dispuesto).

Por otro lado, todas las teclas son configurables, incluso la de encendido, para mayor comodidad del usuario. La pantalla de bienvenida, e incluso la pantalla de apagado, pueden configurarse para adoptar imágenes. Lo de poder poner una imagen que salte al apagar el Pocketbook es francamente curioso, además de que no consume batería. El consumo sólo sucede en los procesos internos, al usar el acelerómetro y al pasar páginas al leer: la exhibición de una imagen (o un texto, por ejemplo la última página que estabas leyendo) estática no afecta a la batería de un dispositivo de tinta electrónica. Batería que, por cierto, es reemplazable por el usuario sin mayor problema.

Esto no quiere decir que el aparato sea perfecto. Hay cosas que podrían mejorarse. El lector RSS incorporado está prácticamente en pañales, y es inservible a día de hoy para leer varios blogs, o blogs en español. El Pocketbook tiene un modo de bloqueo de teclado fácil de usar (tocar el botón de apagado brevemente), pero eso no sustituye a un auténtico modo standby. El sistema de notas es infernal, por mucho que sea prácticamente el chocolate del loro en un sistema no táctil. Podrían habérselo ahorrado, la verdad.

Sin embargo, a pesar de esos defectos en cuestiones secundarias, el Pocketbook es un lector de libros increíble. Por otro lado, gracias a que el proyecto es open-source, cualquier usuario con conocimientos (y a veces sin ellos) puede ponerse a mejorar el sistema.

Alrededor del Pocketbook 360:

Una vez he descrito el aparato en sí, me gustaría dar un poco de relevancia a lo que rodea al Pocketbook 360. Por ejemplo, el servicio técnico, el concepto open-source y el programa acompañante en el PC.

Aquí vamos a empezar con lo malo. El programa acompañante, PocketNews, con el que se supone que te descargas los feeds RSS y se supone que podrías comprar los libros, sencillamente está mal concebido. Parece que no se han tomado en serio la posibilidad de abrir una tienda virtual propia y lo han dejado todo en manos de terceros. Que encomienden al usuario a una página ucraniana (la compañía Pocketbook lo es) no es serio si estás en Europa central u occidental, por mucho que en efecto sea la página de la empresa, y te puedas bajar libros de ahí.

El servicio técnico y la atención al cliente que yo he recibido (siempre hablo personalmente en estos casos porque, aunque desearía poder hacerlo, no puedo generalizar) han sido maravillosos. Cuantas dudas me han surgido han sido resueltas... Sin embargo, ha sido en el contexto de un foro especializado en ebooks con representantes de la empresa en ellos. No sé hasta qué punto un usuario español va a meterse en un foro de internet especializado antes de comprar: en España somos más clásicos en ese sentido, y la asesoría la buscaríamos en una tienda física (aunque luego resulte que no sepan nada).

Last but not least, he de mencionar el doble filo del open-source. El Pocketbook ha sido, más o menos, “concebido” en un foro especializado, recibiendo feedback de potenciales compradores que probablemente ya poseían un eBook reader dedicado o usaban un aparato exclusivamente para ello. El excelente firmware, el diseño enfocado a la lectura como prioridad total, y detalles como lo de salvar los últimos libros leídos en el menú principal son detalles que miman a los usuarios... a usuarios que ya han tenido un eBook y que buscan otro (y también a los nuevos, conste). El asunto es que en España el mercado sigue siendo reducido, y se compone en muchos casos de compradores con cierto poder adquisitivo, pero sin gran experiencia en Internet. Compradores que además consideran el eBook como un todo uniforme, sin que, por ejemplo, puedan considerar que un lector de cinco pulgadas tiene usos diferentes a uno de 11 pulgadas y que pueden ser cohabitar.

¿Por qué he me he ido un poco por las ramas hablando del cliente español inexperto? Por la falta de ayuda que el Pocketbook tiene para un usuario así al comienzo. No hay un fichero de ayuda en ningún sitio que el usuario pueda consultar, el manual de papel es muy pobre, los manuales de uso no son muy detallados. Ese aspecto me parece poco cuidado, y deberían tenerlo en cuenta. Yo personalmente estoy entusiasmado con el aparato, lo suficiente como para ponerme a traducir el firmware por mi cuenta al ver que no estaba en español. Dudo que muchos usuarios españoles más hicieran eso.

De todas formas, ya concluyendo, estamos ante un excelente aparato para leer, que es para lo que se supone que uno quiere un eReader. Tiene determinadas carencias de software que el open-source y la competencia feroz deberían subsanar, pero de los que yo he probado personalmente (he probado dos Sonys, el PRS-700 y el PRS-600, y el Cybook Gen3) es el que mejor impresión me ha dado.

[Terisa de morgan]

I was talking about Spanish FW translation, sorry The message I've understood more or less but I have a doubt. It looks like a main feature you have a link to the two last books you have read. When my Cybook (both) starts up, the first screen is the bookshelf, but the cursor is over the las book I've read. Doesn't it work the same here?

[Logseman]

From what I've seen, if you close the device while reading a book, you get to the folder where that book is, and the cursor is indeed over that book. So, the answer is a "yes". However, you can additionally configure it so that you can directly load the last page you were reading before shutting off the device.
What I said of the main menu is meant for when, for example, you go to the main menu to change some adjustment like the language of the keyboard or something like that, then you don't need to go back to the folder, but the file is just in the main menu, waiting for you to reopen it.

The Spanish firmware translation is in this thread. I've erased every other file as not to confuse myself or any potential downloader. I'm sorry to have put it in the german forum, but it's the one which has a dedicated thread .

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

When my Cybook (both) starts up, the first screen is the bookshelf, but the cursor is over the las book I've read. Doesn't it work the same here?

When you go to the main menu before switching off the PocketBook, you are in the main menu when you switch it on. In the main menu there are last two read books (or more if you install different theme). The boot takes 11 seconds regardless of the number of books you have on the device.

If you are reading a book and you press (and hold) the off button, the PocketBook switches off. When you switch it on, you are back on the page you were last reading. This takes 11 seconds plus the time needed to open the book. For most books the total start-up time is about 21 seconds from switched off device to the moment you can read the book.

You can, of course, configure PocketBook whether you want to go to the last read book or always to the main menu. You can configure almost anything.

[anabelee]

Logseman, it will be great that your spanish review could be posted at spanish forums, What do you think? There are not reviews (or almost, I did not find it) for this reader, all the information I've found is in english or ukrainian, russian...
Anyway, I'm planning to make a small review when I'll buy one.

[Logseman]

Originally Posted by anabelee

Logseman, it will be great that your spanish review could be posted at spanish forums, What do you think? There are not reviews (or almost, I did not find it) for this reader, all the information I've found is in english or ukrainian, russian...
Anyway, I'm planning to make a small review when I'll buy one.

I would not mind posting my reviews elsewhere, but are there actually big Spanish forums about the thing of eBooks? I've been in a general book forum, but it seems deader than dead.

Aside of the reviews, I think it could be good if we could coordinate a bit as in making translations for the material. Maybe so we could boost the finding of a Pocketbook seller in Spain

[anabelee]

I agree,

What do you think about this forum:
Terisa knows it better than me, but I can say that they helped me when I started with my reader and knew nothing about ebooks, formats and so.
They have sub forums for various readers, but not for pocketbook, sincerely I don't met anyone that had one until I got here.

[Terisa de morgan]

anabelee is right. That forum is very, very good (I think I've been in both of them for the same time). It's very alive, indeed, they're making a lot of FW modifications for Papyre, which it's the most popular reader in Spain. And no, I've been looking around a bit and I've found no information about Pocketbook. But yes, I think you can find there people very interested in FW modification.

[Terisa de morgan]

Thank you about the info. I have another couple of doubts, if I look at my Opus and I would like to know if somebody can answer them:

1. Do the cover show in the bookshelf?
2. Can you see the book metadata, mainly description and tags?
3. You say you can mark a book as read. Does it show at the bookshelf?

As you see, I have a lot of questions (I suppose I'll be able to answer them in a month more or less, but...)

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

I have another couple of doubts, if I look at my Opus and I would like to know if somebody can answer them:

1. Do the cover show in the bookshelf?
2. Can you see the book metadata, mainly description and tags?
3. You say you can mark a book as read. Does it show at the bookshelf?

1. Yes it does, if you select thumbnail view and if the cover is done the right way.
2. Yes you can. You can choose to see filenames or metadata. Metadata must be done the right way. If the name and author is set properly you see it in the bookshelf. I do not know about tags
3. You can mark the book as "not yet opened", "being read" and "finished". You see all books and I am not aware about option that would let you see only one kind. A small icon next to book shows state. You can set the book to any state using context menu. There is another icon that shows whether the book is in memory or on card.