Considering HD3, moving from Kindle... should I?

[twowheels]

I currently have a Kindle PW1, and have been using a Kindle since shortly after the K3 (keyboard) was released.

I've been wanting an eBook reader with with adjustable color temp for a while, but the Oasis is overpriced and too big (I want the pocketable 6" size). I recently discovered the beautiful copper colored Pocketbook HD3 and it seems to check off all of my requirements, but I wonder if I'm overlooking something.

I'm in the US, so I would have to have it shipped, but with Tradeinn, it looks possible to get it for about half the price of an Oasis in about 3 weeks.

I have Amazon Prime, so I would be losing the Prime Lending library, but 1) I almost never use it, and 2) there are ways to deal with that (including just keeping my Kindle PW or reclaiming my K3 from my son who never uses it)

I do not use device to device progress syncing (I just read something different on each device), I do not often buy books from Amazon (I convert them myself, and even if I do in the future, there are ways around that too), I seldom turn on the wifi (though Dropbox sync looks interesting), I do not use goodreads. Basically, I don't take much advantage of the Amazon ecosystem. I also don't care too much about margin, line spacing, font spacing, etc... as long as there's a good enough default font and settings, I'm happy -- that said, I don't want really bad typesetting either.

It looks like the reviews for the PBHD3 are almost universally positive, but a few things caught my attention.

1. I saw something saying that you MUST use ADE to side-load books. Is that true, or can I just copy them into a folder like on the Kindle? (my current workflow is to use kindle creator or ebook-convert at the terminal, and then copy the book in)
2. I saw something about the device going into a FULL sleep after a few hours, and taking a lot longer to turn on. Is that true?
3. How good is the periodical support? I do read a journal every month that I download in epub format and convert to Kindle format, and it uses the periodical format.
4. I seldom use this, but how does the PDF support compare?
5. It seems like maybe the HD3 doesn't have a metal back plate behind the screen, making it more fragile. True?
6. I can't seem to confirm, but it looks like the HD3 uses a glass substrate rather than plastic (a big PRO in my mind, I can see the difference on the Kindle). Is that true?
7. I saw one description that seemed to indicate that it uses IR for the touch interface. True? Again, big PRO in my mind, the fewer layers between me and the eink, the better.
8. Does it have a hall effect (magnet) sensor to turn on/off when the cover is opened closed?

So, is it worth getting one of these shipped from overseas?

Thanks!

[Lykke]

Quick answer to nr. 1: Books that are not copy protected you can just drag and drop on to the file system. That goes for all the formats the device supports.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Lykke

Quick answer to nr. 1: Books that are not copy protected you can just drag and drop on to the file system. That goes for all the formats the device supports.

Thanks. That was my biggest stopping point so far.

[rcentros]

I just own a Russian (non-WiFi) version of the Basic Lux (PB615) so can't answer all your questions.

1. Only books I've used (so far) on the 615 are ones I've side-loaded (DRM free).
2. The 615 does go into full sleep mode (it can be set up to 60 minutes before it does that). It takes about 12 seconds to come back to life. (This is on a slower CPU than the HD3 has. Also firmware 6.x is now available for the HD3, this may have changed from 5.x, I don't know. 5.x is also still available for the HD 3.) EDIT: I like the idea of Adobe ADE built right on the device, it means you can borrow books from Overdrive directly and also buy Adobe DRM ePubs directly from bookstores, without having to have ADE on your computer.)
3. Don't use these. (Sorry)
4. Don't use it. (Sorry)
5. Don't know. It's very light (155 g) so that may be true.
6. Don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure you're right.
7. No, not IR, multi-sensor capacitive touch. (Sorry.)
8. Yes, it supports sleep covers.

You can read in a full screen (no header or footer), it will load custom fonts and there are 24 graduations in font size.

Here's a link to the HD3's home page (PocketBook just recently changed their website)...

https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/catalog/...ch-hd-3-copper

In addition to Tech Inn, you can buy the HD3 at Grooves.Land for U.S. delivery... (the price there includes shipping, but I think it's still bit more expensive)...

https://www.grooves-inc.com/pocketbo...er&utm_medium=

GoodEReader also sells PocketBooks in the U.S.

https://goodereader.com/blog/product/pocketbook-touch-3

I think this is the most expensive choice, however (when you add in the $20 shipping).

Good luck. I thinking of getting one of these, but first I need to sell off some of my other eReaders (if I ever get around to it).

[twowheels]

Thanks rcentros, especially for the vendor pointers! I didn't realize that good e-reader had an online store, I just thought that they did somewhat vanilla review videos. Nice to have confirmation on the sleep covers, that's another "must have" for me.

[slkissinger]

Rcentros said everything and more than I would have, so I’ll just agree... and then mention that I’m In U.S. I got my touch hd3 via good ereader, and yeah it took several weeks for shipping, but it is a nice 6” reader. I side load everything via Calibre, and I came from amazon for years, too. Mostly now I use kobo, but the pocketbook is good too.

I just powered up the touch hd3, which did get v6 over wireless a few days ago, and it was only about 3-4 seconds til it turned on for me.

My opinion...if you won’t miss the amazon store and will side load anyway, you’ll love the pocketbook touch hd3, esp. over a pw3 gen 1.

[Kleki]

Originally Posted by Lykke

Quick answer to nr. 1: Books that are not copy protected you can just drag and drop on to the file system. That goes for all the formats the device supports.

For Adobe DRMed books you can set up Adobe ID on the Touch. Then it is enough to drop the acms file you downloaded from your shop into the Touch's folder (USB or Dropbox). The reader will then get the epub file with the actual book via Wifi.

[voorstad]

You can even download DRM epubs directly from your online public library (www.onlinebibliotheek.nl) in the browser of the Pocketbook, and open them. This is a great option, as you do not need to carry a laptop with you for this....

[twowheels]

Nice, thanks everybody. The HD 3 is looking more and more promising with these answers and other research I've been doing, better than a 7" Kindle.

Now I'm just wondering if it'll be extra trouble shipping from one of the over-seas vendors given the current global difficulties. I guess I'm in no rush, I've had my Kindle for 7 years now, but once I place an order I'll be anxious to play with it.

[Peztis]

I have a HD 3 with the beautiful copper design.

1, I use Calibre and downloaded book without the ADE. It was when I borrowed books from the library that it was needed.

2, Power off automatically settings 10, 20, 30 and 60 min. I counted and it took my e-reader 6-7 seconds to come to the place where I were in the book. That is an option, you can also opt to always open to the main view. I am not sure about this but I think it also depends on the book you are currently reading how quickly it starts.

3-7, Sorry, do not use/know.

8, I have a cover from Fintie and when I close the lid it goes to sleep mode and if I open the lid within 10 minutes (depending on the power settings, see No 2) the e-reader activates.

One more aspect is that when I received my e-reader there were some bugs and I received help very quickly from the support team. There is one bug now (it jumps back one or two pages when started) but it is supposed to be fixed with the coming update. I also had some suggestions/wishes and they have been forwarded to the developing team. It might not happen but the support was very good.

[twowheels]

Muchas gracias, Peztis! :-)

[hobnail]

I would also consider a Kobo. Easy to order/get from Kobo in Canada or you can order it online from Walmart and pick it up there.

There's a thread in this Pocketbook forum about the screen being easy to crack/break, apparently from flexing.

There's also a problem where it doesn't correctly display the series; I have many books that are part of series and only a small handful show up in the series page on the Pocketbook. On the Kobo the series works perfectly. With both I side load my books using Calibre.

I have a Kobo Forma and love how it feels/fits in my hand. I also like its page turn buttons; I tend to use both the buttons and tapping the screen. With the Pocketbook there are four buttons, but they're at the bottom of the screen and I don't use it enough to have memorized which is which and they aren't clearly marked just embossed.

On the downside for the Kobo, its page turn buttons don't have a firm clean click. Neither does the power button and I feel like I'm pressing it too hard, but I've turned off sleeping so that's solved, sort of. Some models also have a problem where there's a narrow brighter band of light along the right by the buttons. I have my brightness down to 3 or so which gets rid of that. But the user interface and usability of the Kobo is far superior to the Kindle and I've never regretted switching.

[JSWolf]

With Kobo, there's no reason to worry about the buttons as you can easily ignore them and just use the touch screen to turn the page.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by hobnail

I would also consider a Kobo. Easy to order/get from Kobo in Canada or you can order it online from Walmart and pick it up there.

Thanks for the input. I have been giving some consideration to the Kobo devices as well. My biggest hesitation is a lack of a 6" device that has all of the premium features. It seems like most companies consider 6" devices to be budget, and 7" devices to be premium, which is unfortunate.

There's a thread in this Pocketbook forum about the screen being easy to crack/break, apparently from flexing.

Yes, that's one of my major concerns. I do occasionally stick my device in my back jean pocket while paying at a register or something. I don't walk around like that, but it probably is a bit higher risk. That said, I always use a case, which is actually one of my other issues with the PB, there seem to be fewer cases available, especially easily accessible in the US. BTW, this is another reason for wanting a premium 6" device, I want it to fit in my rear jean pocket or cargo shorts pocket.

There's also a problem where it doesn't correctly display the series; I have many books that are part of series and only a small handful show up in the series page on the Pocketbook. On the Kobo the series works perfectly. With both I side load my books using Calibre.

Thanks, though I seldom keep more than 2 or 3 books on my device at a time, I keep them on Google Drive and just copy them on when I'm ready to read them. I don't use the Calibre UI either, I just convert at the terminal and copy -- I'm a terminal/shell type of user, have been since before GUIs were commonplace.

I have a Kobo Forma and love how it feels/fits in my hand. I also like its page turn buttons; I tend to use both the buttons and tapping the screen. With the Pocketbook there are four buttons, but they're at the bottom of the screen and I don't use it enough to have memorized which is which and they aren't clearly marked just embossed.

I would like easily accessible page turn buttons, but also don't really miss them from my K3 days, so I could go either way here.

On the downside for the Kobo, its page turn buttons don't have a firm clean click. Neither does the power button and I feel like I'm pressing it too hard, but I've turned off sleeping so that's solved, sort of.

I don't even know what the power button feels like on my Kindle, I've always just relied on the sleep cover.

Some models also have a problem where there's a narrow brighter band of light along the right by the buttons. I have my brightness down to 3 or so which gets rid of that. But the user interface and usability of the Kobo is far superior to the Kindle and I've never regretted switching.

I don't care too much about UI, I set it and forget it. I still use my Kindle on list mode w/o covers, and I tend to set a font and not change it very often, but that's good to know. My reason for wanting to update isn't so much software, but for the newer screen and lighting technologies.

One thing that I really liked about PB over the others is that you can adjust the lighting and color temp w/o having to open a menu, just swipe along an edge. Seems so obvious, no idea why nobody else does that. I also like that PB has a next-page zone on the left size of the screen too since I frequently shift between right and left-handed hold.

[Tarana]

For me, the loss of the wiki option, particularly when reading historical fiction would be unacceptable to me. Other than that, if sideloading isn't a problem and you have a good instant dictionary, I don't see any problems.