When the 301 was released last year, it was apparent that, while it read texts just fine, it was quickly becoming outdated. For instance, it has only 8 grayscales while the Kindle, Nook, and Sony boast of 16 grayscales. 

Now, Netronix is re-fitting/ updating the Pocketbook 301 in the form of a new entry called Pocketbook 601 Revo. The upcoming device offers enhanced design and new pieces on the inside. Can the 601 Revo bring about the revolution that its name suggests?

Features – Hardware and Software

First off the list of things Netronix improved on is the speed of the device. Netronix achieves this by switching platforms. The new processor called Freescale proves to be superior than the Samsung 400MHz processor used in Pocketbook 301. A demonstration of the Pocketbook 901 at the Computex Trade Show shows an impressive page turn rate of less than a second. There are also no flashes between page turns.

Grayscale might also have been enhanced, as comic graphics look as sharp as texts.

Netronix is also adding in WiFi to enable users to download books wirelessly.

On the other hand, the Pocketbook 901 Revo retains several features of the 301 eReader. It offers the pleasingly simplistic, minimalist design the Pocketbook 301 is known for. The 601 Revo is also mostly space. There are only 4 buttons on the left side and two on the right side, a 4-directional pad that acts like a joystick, and a power button on top. There’s also a microSD card, a USB port, and a headphone port.

What Netronix has added is a circular design on the back cover of the 901. This is to enhance traction and prevent slippage. The device comes in a hip lime green/ light blue color.  

The Bottom Line

The Pocketbook 601 is still a reading-focused eReader, but beneath the simple design is an impressively solid and very fast device. If you’re tired of eReaders with poor page turn speed, the Pocketbook 601 has been announced to hit retail stores this year.

Most eReaders prefer to stick to the 6-inch design as price of large screen eReaders tend to put them beyond reach of mass consumers. Netronix hopes to change all of that with their fifth addition to the Pocketbook eReader line. Called the Pocketbook 901, the 9.7-inch reader will come with an estimated price tag of $350, hip design, and student-friendly features like dictionary, calculator, side notes, and hyperlinks.

Netronix has had its hits (the Pocketbook 360) and misses (the Pocketbook 301). Does the Pocketbook 901 has what it takes to replicate the success of the 360 and win the hearts of the education market?

Features – Hardware and Software

Instead of glass, the screen display wafer of the Pocketbook 901 is made of plastic. Thus, despite its big size (24.02 x 18.07 x 1.1 cm), the device is still lightweight. At 350 grams, the 901 eReader is 150 grams lighter than the Amazon Kindle DX. This makes also the 901 the ideal traveling companion for students; the device adds minimal weight to the everyday things that students carry to school.

The plastic screen is also flexible and shock-resistant. Students can put in their backpack without worrying about cracking, scratching, or bending the screen.  

On the right side of the screen are colored buttons, adding cool factor to an otherwise bland, stark white chassis. The buttons are for navigating the menu, turning pages, and increasing and decreasing font size. One button serves as enter key.

Unlike the Kindle DX, the Pocketbook 901 has no keyboard or touchscreen. A 4-directional pad and buttons the right side of the screen are used to navigate your library or in-book. The 901 offers a number of reading mode options: portrait /landscape and full page continuous display / two-column display.

The Pocketbook eReader supports 16 shades of gray and display resolution of 825 x 1200 pixels. This would make texts as sharp as paper prints. Netronix has also announced that the device will support impressive array of file formats including BMP, FB2, PNG, EPUB and DJVU.  Battery life is 8 to 10 thousand pages on a single charge. No word on storage capacity yet, but there’s an SD card slot for expanding built-in storage.

The Bottom Line

Light and durable, the Pocketbook 360 is the ideal reading companion for students (or anyone) who want a no-frills and affordable large-screened eReader. The device is rumored to be released this year.  

Falling for Appearances

Minimalistic design and sleek looks of the device definitely attract attention; sized 7.5” x 5.1”, PocketBook 302 is slightly larger than an average Stephen King’s pulp edition, and as thin as a pencil. There is no problem with ergonomics whatsoever – the e-reader doesn’t slip out of one’s hands after several hours of reading and weighs mere 10 ounces (280 g). Basic navigation buttons are intuitively arranged, and thus user-friendly; even a person who is very remotely familiar with high-tech devices could learn how to handle PocketBook 302 by simply trying it out.
EInk display soothes one’s eyes and works perfectly in different lighting conditions; there is no backlight, but as the “filed testing” has proved, PocketBook 302 doesn’t need excessive illumination. To the contrary – when confronted with a powerful lighting source, the screen tends to glare mercilessly. This is a common problem of all electronic reading devices, easily solved by repositioning it (or by somewhat adjusting the emitter of light). The good news is that is order to enjoy crispy and clear quality of text, one doesn’t need to look for especially bright spot. PocketBook 302 boasts the common 800×600 pixels screen resolution, ideal for 6’’ display. Even though its grayscale format was never intended for pictures, it supports the most popular formats of images.
Touch screen eliminates the need for physical keyboard; virtual pad provides is quite sufficient, enabling to enter data by applying the stylus or even one’s fingers. It would be expedient to spend some seconds calibrating the screen’s sensitivity, though, as it seems slow-reacting at first sight. Another catchy feature is automatic display orientation, fitting the pages to screen right after it is rotated.
Those concerned with matters of cleaning the device shouldn’t worry: protective film takes care of possible prints, dust and scratches – whatever the conditions, the device’s display remains intact. Matt finish of the e-readers body ensures it doesn’t become too smudgy; additionally, PocketBook 302 comes supplied by leather-bound cover, making it easier to take care of any dirt or excessive touching.

Connectivity and Communication

PocketBook 302 has five plugs to use – one for microSD memory card, two for USB connections, one for headphones and another one for charging the device. The last two look pretty much alike, only the plug for charging is situated on the side of the device.
Should the built-in 1 GB memory seem insufficient, there is an opportunity to expand the available space with a memory card – up to 32 GB. The very idea of how much e-books can fit in the device is formidably tempting.
The e-reader supports Bluetooth and wireless communication, opening a whole world of opportunities – from surfing the Web with the help of a mini-browser to downloading the hottest news and subscribing to one’s favorite media via RSS. Supporting the twelve most popular e-book formats, PocketBook 302 will never make its owner lurk in vain hope of finding some specific file extension. Being integrated into the Web with the help of wireless feature, it becomes a self-sufficient online library for news, media and all kinds of e-books.

Long-Lasting Reading and Extra Features

At the beginning, “several hours of reading” were mentioned – and this is no exaggeration, but rather a heavy under-estimation. The e-reader’s powerful battery and energy-saving work can last as long as 16 000 pages, which is quite impressive.
Audio player, organizer, calendar and various games are unnecessary yet pleasant additional features that make one’s experience with the device more complementary. On the other hand, Notes, Dictionary, RSS-feed and a mini-browser are most useful applications and will prove invaluable for travelers and business people alike, as well as for ordinary users.

Personal Impressions
As it was mentioned, I found the device quite comfortable to handle and easy to use. Intuitive navigation, ergonomic design, EInk display and lots of features – all this contributes to enjoyable experience of usage. Touch screen tends to glare at times and reflect the surroundings, which is annoying, but can easily be cured by re-positioning the e-reader. There is also an issue with calibrating the display sensors, but it can be solved in no time. All in all, my impressions are rather favorable, because in the light of its many advantages, there are no substantial downsides to PocketBook 302. Those, which exist, however, pose no epic problem.

Bottom Line
Undoubtedly, PocketBook 302 is a qualitative product that will hopefully prove a worthy rival to more famous brands. As the more advanced devices are beginning to enter the market, it is still an attractive and affordable option form nay users out there who could use something functional, ergonomic and long-lasting.

With Pocketbook 360 putting a complete spin on the way we access content, reading is now also going the green way. The 360 measures 5 inches only, but this compact and attractive-looking device does not only save forests, it makes convenient reading, too, that it makes you wish you have turned away from your traditional reading habits sooner. 


Features – Hardware and Software

The Pocketbook 360 is the second in the line of ereaders developed by the joint Taiwaneese-Ukrainian company called Pocketbook Global. As you would expect from a company dedicated to perfecting the ereading experience, the new Pocketbook 360 is lighter and more compact than the earlier 301.  Reading experience is even more pleasurable with its high resolution e-ink screen display. With 16 grayscales, you can’t almost tell its difference from real paper – the 360, after all, is designed to approximate traditional reading experience. And while other e-readers like the Sony 505 suffer from flash effect, the 360 offers smooth, flash-less turning of pages.

What separates the 360 from other ereading devices on the market is its G-sensor or accelerometer, a technology that allows the screen to auto-tilt the screen display based on the device’s orientation. 

Integrated FBReader lets users choose and download any format they prefer including PDF and ePUB.

No long wait with the 360; with little books stored in its internal memory, the device starts in under 21 seconds. Fast processor makes page turning is a breeze, while power-frugal screen display lets users read for weeks as one full charge powers 8000 pages.

The Bottom line 

The Pocketbook 360, with the convenience and savings it offers to its readers while being light on earth, makes the paperless world an attractive alternative to the paper world. Surely it doesn’t hurt that the $239.99 ereader is a fashionable-looking device, too!