Revision as of 20:02, 8 January 2012

A word in advance about e-ink readers

An e-ink device is for reading eBooks in natural and bright lightning conditions!

It is not and should not be a

Tablet PC
Organiser
Email checker
Web-Browsing device
Multimedia device for playing music, whatching photos, ...

It mainly is for reading TEXT, taking notes, navigation with table of contents, searching text documents ...

Why? In a time, when "multitasking" is the no. one buss word it is time to have a device for only one purpose: just reading! I don't want to deal with other tasks, when reading a book. I want to leave my page open and don't think about an empty battery. I want to lay it aside, reopen it later like a book - fast, uncomplicated and without worrying.

Devices with e-ink technology have limitations, but its biggest advantages are:

reading in natural and bright light conditions
no refresh rate of the display (flickering)
very (!) long battery life (weeks of reading possible)

For all of those, that like a multi purpose device, please buy a tablet PC!

The development is on the way, things change rapidly from month to month. So don't bother if your e-reader is an old fashion model tomorrow ;)

PocketBook Pro 912

--Apos 03:41, 7 January 2012 (CET)

Pocketbook 10 with USB cable

The device

A description of the device that I bought I already made in this thread (in German language) at mobileread) and here more actual. A Youtube video you can find here. The hardware specifications you can find on Pocketbook Int. website.

I like the Pocketbook e-ink device (there are others!) of the 9xx-series because of its excellent hardware quality, the big screen, it's intuitive handling through the hardware buttons and touchscreen. But unlike on other devices you can use either one or both input types, you will not be forced to use one (imagine you are on the road an loose the stylus). The device automatically switches for right hand or left hand usage, portrait or landscape usage, the hardware buttons alter. Very intuitive.

But the most important thing is: the Linux based firmware is completely open source. Surely it it possible to hack even a Kindle, but all Pocketbooks make it easy to add software and compile it on your own. Without any restrictions, despite the one that you need the skills to do so ;) The software might be better on other devices, but this is a matter of time. Development cycles for hardware are short term (speaking in years) and I like to use my device more than 2 years in terms thinking of electronic waste! At times when others throw away their KiXXX-device, because there is no way to fix a serious software bug, I will find a way to fix it within the open source community. I know what I am talking about, working with Linux and using IBM/Lenovo hardware (which are not the nicest ones when it comes to design, but you can always repair them easily).

The disadvantages are (at time of writing: 1/2012):

high price (around 300+ €)
slower hardware (533 MHz, 256RAM)
the display is not "state of the art" (type Vizplex, not one of the never Pearl displays)

But I can honestly say: it suffices my needs completely.

Anyway: you need enough light (which is essential) and a good e-document (large enough fonts, best sans serif). But that is something you always should be aware of when reading - take care of your eyes! The vizplex-desplay is not really like "paper", it tends to appear a little bit grayish - so to say - when there is not enough light. You cannot compare the contrast with a good TFT computer display!

You always need good lightning conditions to read with an e-ink device

There is always a reason to look abroad for something "better" and there is always challenge. What will restrict us now will be resolved in the future.

After a couple of weeks now of extensive usage I can say that reading documents on an e-ink device is really much more relaxed, than reading on a computer monitor. What I like most is, that I am reading in natural light conditions, the more light the better. An e-ink device - at least at time of writing this - is nothing for sitting in a café inside with shimmering light. But reading outside, even in the sun, or at home with a good reading lamp - that's a lot of fun.

What really makes me happy is: I am carrying around all my literature and I don't have to worry about power consumption (however: if one does not use the wireless LAN or Bluetooth function extensively). You can read about 7000 page-turns, that lasts if you are reading 2 hours a day for about 4 weeks. Shall be understood not using bluetooth, wireless lan, TTS or the mp3 player!

Unfortunately there are some drawbacks, especially when it you want to read PDF-files (see the article Ebook Conversion. You need at least an 10'' e-ink (which are the biggest ones at the time of writing) to be able to read them. I am talking about A4-size books, most of the time you need to crop them or you have to read them in landscape mode, half a side by half a side which forces you to switch pages more frequently and is not good page layout for natural reading.

I am looking forward when 14'' or 15'' devices will come to the market at real book size. With weight under 400 grams, good display resolutions and fast hardware. Until then, we have to deal with the high prices, slower hardware. But as always with new technologies, we have to live with this compromises for a certain amount of time.

The cover

To make it short: is from Tuff-Luv.

I applied an DIY bookend for better reading in landscape mode.

The Software

Most actual informations about firmware updates, software, bugs, features and news about the Pocketbook device can be found

Fbreader software

Tried the fbreader180. The features are really good, but the integration with the PocketBook 912 Pro is disappointing:

No TTS
No Notes

So I stay with the stock, but a little buggy fbreader and will wait until it becomes more mature.

Picture gallery

Tuff-Luv leather cover with "book stand
Pocketbook 912 within the cover
Stylus holder and special buttons on the right side (top: on/off, side: speaker control, magnification)
External connections (micro usb and earphone plug), very good and loud stereo speakers, SD-card slot, power led, reset switch

Videos

Short intro

This video shows some features of the reader. The quality is not that good, due to the use of an old digital camera. If you like to sponsor me a new one: feel free ;) By the way, this is my first Youtube video ever made and uploaded ;)

DIY bookend with Velcro stripes

Warning: trying to remove applied Velcro stripes can damage your cover!

Think before you glue!

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 [[Category:Document Management]]
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