Tempted... (or kindle vs pocketbook, vs sony)

omk3 · 09-25-2010, 12:26 PM

I currently have a prs-600 and though I do love many of its features, I get increasingly frustrated by some aspects of it - yes the screen clarity is one of them, also the inability to load more dictionaries (I like reading in different languages) and the proper lack of international font support (always having to embed fonts in my greek epubs is a nuisance). The new prs-650 seems to solve the screen problem, and includes more dictionaries, but it still doesn't let you add your own, I believe. What if I'm not interested in the specific languages it offers?

I wanted my next ebook reader to be a pocketbook. I bought the pocketbook 360 for my mother, and I love its cuteness, but most of all its customizability. Fonts, directories, dictionaries, startup screens, skins, everything can be user defined. I absolutely love that, and don't understand why other devices don't let the user more freedom.

But. The pocketbook is still rather expensive, even if it's not the latest model any more, and out came the new kindle, alluringly cheap. I didn't want a kindle, because I didn't really want a wireless connection, with all the privacy compromises it brings. But then... But then the Kindle store seems to be the best in range and price, and the kindle offers the ability to load more dictionaries, if I understand correctly, and browse the internet (I keep wanting wikipedia access more and more while I'm reading). (I'm perfectly aware that I'm contradicting myself about wireless connectivity, by the way)

So, what do you think? Will I be disappointed if I go for the kindle instead of the pocketbook in terms of freedom? Can I really load my own dictionaries? Does it read greek? How about japanese? How about loading my own fonts? What are the things I can do with a pocketbook but not with a kindle, or vice versa?

And lastly, though it's been done to death, is it okay to load drm-liberated files on the kindle, or are its contents checked by the mothership? Please don't start about tinfoil hats, it's an honest concern.

Thanks for any insight.

HarryT · 09-25-2010, 02:58 PM

Yes, you really can add your own dictionaries.
It will definitely read Greek; I'm 90% sure it does Japanese and Chinese too.
I believe you can add your own font via a simple "hack", but I've never done it.
You can load any DRM-free Mobi book and no, Amazon don't care what you're reading.

The main thing you'll perhaps miss from the Pocketbook is folder support. The Kindle supports "collections", which are really tags, but not proper folders.

I have both a PB360 and a Kindle 3; I think the Kindle 3 is much the better reader.

fjtorres · 09-25-2010, 09:59 PM

Basically it comes down to the books.
The PB360 is a very enjoyable reader to own, but if the Amazon ebookstore is going to get all your business anyway, the K3 is probably a better fit for *your* needs. Both the Pocketbook and Kindle are very good readers and the advantages of the PB firmware are probably offset by the K3 screen and price.

omk3 · 09-28-2010, 02:49 PM

Thanks for your answers.

@HarryT: What makes you say that the kindle is the better reader? Is it more stable? Is the screen better? What is it that makes it better in your opinion?

@fjtorres: Where I get my books is not really an issue, as long as I can get rid of the DRM. It's mostly price, and screen quality that make me think of the kindle instead of the pocketbook, but I'm really not sure.

I'm really torn here. I can't understand why all readers other than the pocketbook ones seem to want to limit your choices. Why would kindle need to be hacked so that you can add fonts or screensavers? Why would sony not give you the option to load your own dictionaries? (or read in your own language?)

So, still undecided. I'll probably just wait a little more and see. Hopefully the pocketbook price will drop a little more, or it will be updated with a pearl screen?

Logseman · 10-01-2010, 04:01 PM

The new PB models won't have a Pearl screen, since Amazon and Sony have the exclusive for them. However, I'm really dying to see information on prices, particularly for the bigger models.

09-25-2010, 12:26 PM	#1
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	Tempted... (or kindle vs pocketbook, vs sony) I currently have a prs-600 and though I do love many of its features, I get increasingly frustrated by some aspects of it - yes the screen clarity is one of them, also the inability to load more dictionaries (I like reading in different languages) and the proper lack of international font support (always having to embed fonts in my greek epubs is a nuisance). The new prs-650 seems to solve the screen problem, and includes more dictionaries, but it still doesn't let you add your own, I believe. What if I'm not interested in the specific languages it offers? I wanted my next ebook reader to be a pocketbook. I bought the pocketbook 360 for my mother, and I love its cuteness, but most of all its customizability. Fonts, directories, dictionaries, startup screens, skins, everything can be user defined. I absolutely love that, and don't understand why other devices don't let the user more freedom. But. The pocketbook is still rather expensive, even if it's not the latest model any more, and out came the new kindle, alluringly cheap. I didn't want a kindle, because I didn't really want a wireless connection, with all the privacy compromises it brings. But then... But then the Kindle store seems to be the best in range and price, and the kindle offers the ability to load more dictionaries, if I understand correctly, and browse the internet (I keep wanting wikipedia access more and more while I'm reading). (I'm perfectly aware that I'm contradicting myself about wireless connectivity, by the way) So, what do you think? Will I be disappointed if I go for the kindle instead of the pocketbook in terms of freedom? Can I really load my own dictionaries? Does it read greek? How about japanese? How about loading my own fonts? What are the things I can do with a pocketbook but not with a kindle, or vice versa? And lastly, though it's been done to death, is it okay to load drm-liberated files on the kindle, or are its contents checked by the mothership? Please don't start about tinfoil hats, it's an honest concern. Thanks for any insight.

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09-25-2010, 02:58 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, you really can add your own dictionaries. It will definitely read Greek; I'm 90% sure it does Japanese and Chinese too. I believe you can add your own font via a simple "hack", but I've never done it. You can load any DRM-free Mobi book and no, Amazon don't care what you're reading. The main thing you'll perhaps miss from the Pocketbook is folder support. The Kindle supports "collections", which are really tags, but not proper folders. I have both a PB360 and a Kindle 3; I think the Kindle 3 is much the better reader.

09-25-2010, 09:59 PM	#3
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Basically it comes down to the books. The PB360 is a very enjoyable reader to own, but if the Amazon ebookstore is going to get all your business anyway, the K3 is probably a better fit for your needs. Both the Pocketbook and Kindle are very good readers and the advantages of the PB firmware are probably offset by the K3 screen and price.

09-28-2010, 02:49 PM	#4
omk3 Wizard Posts: 1,454 Karma: 37243 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Europe Device: pocketbook 360, kindle 4	Thanks for your answers. @HarryT: What makes you say that the kindle is the better reader? Is it more stable? Is the screen better? What is it that makes it better in your opinion? @fjtorres: Where I get my books is not really an issue, as long as I can get rid of the DRM. It's mostly price, and screen quality that make me think of the kindle instead of the pocketbook, but I'm really not sure. I'm really torn here. I can't understand why all readers other than the pocketbook ones seem to want to limit your choices. Why would kindle need to be hacked so that you can add fonts or screensavers? Why would sony not give you the option to load your own dictionaries? (or read in your own language?) So, still undecided. I'll probably just wait a little more and see. Hopefully the pocketbook price will drop a little more, or it will be updated with a pearl screen?

10-01-2010, 04:01 PM	#5
Logseman Orisa Posts: 1,999 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	The new PB models won't have a Pearl screen, since Amazon and Sony have the exclusive for them. However, I'm really dying to see information on prices, particularly for the bigger models.

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