Pocketbook eBook Reader Review

The Pocketbook eBook reader is one of the two types of eBook readers available in the market. Many may wonder why readers like this are a bit expensive. Amazon’s releases, which fall under the other type, are on the cheaper side, which may be attributed to the devices being optimized for a particular format (DRM). Because of this, users are pretty much left with no other choice but to buy eBooks from big companies such as this, which is where they make much of their profits. On the other hand, the Pocketbook eBook reader, which is produced by a rather smaller firm, and other similar products mainly gain profit from selling their devices. However, to compensate for this, users could read from a wider variety of formats.

On a positive note, the Pocketbook eBook reader is relatively light and navigating through it is a breeze. Plus, you would not have to worry much about the battery life. However, while the control pad and button layout are good, the button for turning pages could have been larger and better-positioned.

Keyboard, wireless, built-in eBook store, and touchscreen are not available in the Pocketbook eBook reader. Also, many eBook readers in the market offer these features but are priced in the same way or cheaper than this one. Still, it is quite worth the price due to its flexibility and versatility.

This eBook reader is very lightweight, considering that it features a 6-inch screen. It weighs about half of the Nook and the Kindle. The Pocketbook eBook reader is available in green, grey, black, and pink. Because the navigation button is placed on the right side, left-handed users may be a bit inconvenient. Four buttons are positioned on the screen’s left edge. Navigation is simple and intuitive. The physical buttons are very responsive and menus could easily be browsed upon.

In terms of readability, the 6-inch e-ink display has 16 level gray scales with a 600×800 resolution. No backlight is available, and reading through daylight does not pose much of a problem. There are 20 buttons options offering over 30 commands to choose. Holding the buttons for a certain time accesses an additional function.

The biggest advantage of the Pocketbook eBook reader among its competitors is the number of formats it could read. Several apps are used for reading different eBook formats. The device utilizes the open source application FBReader, which supports the file formats TXT, RTF, FB2, FB2.zip, PRC, DJVU, DOC, CHM, HTML, TCR, and EPUB. For PDF and EPUB eBooks having DRM-encryption, Adobe Reader is used. Contrary to Kindle or Nook, no online book library is available for the Pocketbook eBook reader, although reading non-DRM books is possible.

eBook reading is not the only thing you could do with the device, though. The eBook reader features Calendar, Notes, RSS News, and games such as Chess and Sudoku. There is the developer’s kit terminal emulator built for those with the knack for developing their own applications.

As with the performance, the Pocketbook eBook reader is fast when it comes to turning pages, starting up, and loading books. The battery holds 1000 mAh utilizing polymer technology. Its back compartment housing the battery is enclosed with a screw that could be replaced by the user. The battery lasts for up to 8000 refreshes or page turns. Memory can be expanded in as much as 32GB with a slot for SD/SDHC card.

Related eBook Reader articles: