Initially, InkPAD X was positioned by the manufacturer as a niche product designed for a narrow segment of consumers. However, serious interest from buyers forced to reconsider the marketing concept.
Now “ten” is served with the sauce of the flagship model. What is so interesting about it besides the large display?
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Case design and dimensions
In this case, size is key. Most readers are manufactured in 6-inch cases. This allows e-book stores to offer customers products at affordable prices. In addition, the classic diagonal reader is convenient to carry in your pocket. In terms of mobility, it is more attractive than paper books. However, this format imposes certain restrictions: it is inconvenient to view pdf files, comics, documents with tables filled with small fonts, etc.
The problem is partly solved by the purchase of an 8-inch reader, completely – by the purchase of a 10-ki. But with an increase in the diagonal, the reader loses its mobility. You can’t put it in your jacket pocket anymore. But here you have to choose one thing: maximum reading comfort or mobility. We can safely say that PocketBook 1040 InkPAD X is an excellent option for the home, as well as for people involved in narrow fields of activity – for engineers working with drawings, for musicians playing notes, etc.
The manufacturer did everything possible to insure users against breakdowns associated with the fall of the pocketbook:
- The corrugated surface of the case cover provides a secure grip. The device will not slip out of your hands.
- The body is not only made of plastic: it is edged around the perimeter with a strip of magnesium-aluminum alloy – an innovative material that is used in the manufacture of premium laptops , cameras and other expensive digital equipment. The body of the reader is durable, it is problematic to bend it.
- The light weight (300 g) will reduce the impact force if you do drop the Pocketbook on the floor.
- The screen is made using advanced technology, it is not as fragile as in the younger models.
Pocketbook is comfortable to hold in hands, it gives the impression of an expensive item. Dimensions: 249 × 174 × 5 mm.
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10.3-inch screen is the main feature of PocketBook InkPAD X
The large screen significantly expands the scope of the reader. In addition to the features already mentioned, you can read electronic newspapers with multi-page layout. The manufacturer left the resolution the same as for the 7.8-inch pocketbook – 1872×1404.
It was not possible to aim for more due to the lack of higher-pixel options among the 10-inch E-Ink displays. However, even with this resolution, the display pleases with the image quality. No graininess is observed. The pixel density is at a decent level – 226 dpi.
The reader allows you to choose the appropriate backlight: from white to orange. The cold white background invigorates and helps to concentrate. Warm yellow and orange have the opposite effect: it is good to fall asleep under them. The pocketbook has an auto-adjusting backlight. It works as follows: with each passing hour, the background is gaining warmth. If in the morning it is cold white, then in the evening it is warm orange.
Auto-tuning not suitable? Adjust the brightness and color temperature of the backlight for each hour as you like. This can be done in the backlight settings. The color temperature control algorithm was developed by E-Ink. The engineers managed to choose the background options that are comfortable for the eyes, taking into account the economical consumption of the battery.
The screen is called not just E Ink Carta, but E Ink Carta Mobius. The word “mobius” at the end means that the display is not glass, but plastic. With such a coating, the screen has become even more reliable. He, of course, will not withstand a hammer blow, but the very first fall from the table will not be fatal. For people who often carry a pocketbook in a bag, take it to the beach, etc., it makes sense to consider buying a cover.
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Multimedia capabilities
Poktebook supports not only text but also audio formats: MP3, M4B, OGG. You can listen to audiobooks. The reader does not have its own speakers, but it comes with an adapter from Type-C to 3.5 mm audio jack. If you have wired headphones, you can listen to audiobooks immediately after unpacking the reader. And if you have a Bluetooth headset , you won’t need an adapter at all. The reader is able to open audiobooks packed in zip archives. They can be sorted by author, title, date, length.
The next multimedia feature of the PocketBook InkPAD X 1040 model is a standalone music player. Several classical compositions have been recorded in the device’s memory for testing. The reader’s functionality allows you to read to music. Implemented setting the order of playback of tracks. Album covers are displayed in the player, and we have not forgotten about the equalizer.
There are situations when reading is inconvenient or not at all realistic, since hands are busy, for example, driving a car. In such cases, you can use the voice acting of books. This feature is relevant for most of the supported formats, but there are exceptions, for example, DjVu. There are several “announcers” in the pocketbook who sound books in different languages. Russian texts serve two voices by default: Maxim and Tatiana. The quality is similar to Google’s voice acting. Alternative voice packs are available for download.
For audio playback of texts and audiobooks, the speed and pitch are adjusted. In terms of audio capabilities, pocketbooks are difficult to compete with smartphones , but readers are good because they allow you to store and play text and sound files on one device.
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Built-in memory PocketBook InkPAD X
For storing books and other content on board the pocketbook, about 32 GB free. Owners of readers who use InkPAD mainly for reading, without being particularly distracted by audiobooks, have enough of this volume. A library of books without illustrations can exceed 15 thousand copies. If you dilute it with comics and pdf files, the maximum number of copies will be reduced by about a third.
There is another nice bonus – the ability to use the PocketBook Cloud. It provides 2 GB of free storage for text books. The service is connected to readers, which are officially sold in the post-Soviet countries. If you bought a poketbook that was not brought to Ukraine quite legally or was bought in the EU, then there may be problems with access to the branded cloud service, which, however, the manufacturer promises to help solve all those who apply.
Books in PB Cloud can be uploaded from a reader, smartphone or PC. Literature purchased from the official store of the company is automatically placed in the cloud. Many people keep books on the Internet for the sake of synchronization: they can be read on different devices with automatic memorization of the last page. The cost of literature in the store is affordable for ordinary users: bestsellers are often sold for 50-100 UAH.
In the pocketbook, the standard size RAM is 1 GB. Readers, unlike tablets , don’t race for performance. Their functionality is concentrated around a single task – reading, and you don’t need a lot of memory to turn pages and maintain a paper-like display.
Games in the pocketbook are more likely for show, they cannot be called resource-intensive. Hence the conservatism in terms of the amount of RAM and processor power. The main task of the Wi-Fi module is not to read web pages, but to download books. Sites in the browser open quite cheerfully, but delving into the text in this format is not a pleasant task, since the pages are drawn slowly.
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Hardware platform and software
The impressive diagonal of the screen did not require any major software changes . Linux OS still reigns, the manufacturer did not radically change the hardware for Android. Linux, compared to the “green robot”, does not require a 4-core processor. 1-2 cores are enough for him. It is also extremely economical on battery power. In this case, the settings of the pocketbook open without slowdowns.
At the bottom of the main screen there are 3 shortcuts to enter the library, store, settings. The rest of the applications are grouped in the window that opens after tapping on the Application bar icon. Main programs:
- Browser with simple settings. You can browse the web, download files.
- Engineering calculator.
- Scribble is a simple drawing program.
- Gallery is a manager for viewing images.
- Music player.
- Klondike Solitaire, Sudoku, Chess.
- RSS news.
- Dropbox PocketBook is a service that allows you to quickly upload files to the reader from the cloud. Automatic and manual synchronization is available in Dropbox.
- PocketBook Cloud is a similar but more advanced service.
- Books by email – send fiction to a pocketbook by email.
The hardware platform includes: a 2-core processor, 1 GB of RAM and an impressive 32 GB for storing books and other content. There is nothing supernatural, but the standard set of hardware copes without problems with the tasks for which the pocketbook is intended. Thanks to the competent selection of components, the reader practically does not heat up, it economically consumes battery power.
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Autonomous work and battery
The large screen did not become a verdict for autonomy. The manufacturer did not skimp on the battery capacity, equipping the pocketbook with a 2000 mAh battery. It is enough for 15 thousand pages. The maximum operating time without recharging depends not only on the number of books read. The following factors make their contribution: backlighting, activity on the Internet and other factors.
If you read 2-3 hours a day and use Wi-Fi occasionally, the battery will last for about a month. Charging from a PC takes about 4 hours. For the first time, it is advisable to power the battery to its fullest, leaving the pocketbook connected for 8-12 hours. After that, the battery will retain its capacity for as long as possible.
In order for the poketbook to work longer without recharging, the blocking and shutdown times of the reader must be set in the settings. It is also worth protecting it from frost. Readers do not like freezing temperatures; after being in the cold, there may be problems with the screen and battery.
Comparison of batteries demanded in the pocketbook market:
| Model | Battery capacity, mAh | Number of pages without recharging |
| PocketBook X | 2000 | 15,000 |
| PocketBook 740 Color | 2900 | 8000 |
| PocketBook 740 Pro | 1900 | 15,000 |
| PocketBook 628 | 1500 | 8000 |
| PocketBook 606 | 800 | 8000 |
Two patterns can be noted here:
- In recent years, the manufacturer has decided to expand its product range with new models with large diagonals. At the same time, the autonomy of the new configurations is provided by more capacitive batteries. The battery life remains the same.
- There is no direct proportionality between battery capacity and autonomy. This can be clearly seen when comparing two 740th pocketbooks. The color model has a shorter battery life despite a more powerful battery.
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Basic and additional functions
First of all, the pocketbook is designed for reading. The manufacturer has taken care of comfortable page management. With a light touch, you can:
- turn over, scale pages;
- change the brightness of the screen, adjust the color temperature.
At the bottom of the page there is an icon to enter the reading settings. A choice of fonts, line spacing, margins, hyphenation is available. All this variety is relevant if the book is in DOC, FB2, etc. In the case of PDF or DjVu, you can only exercise with the scale. For PDF, there is also a layout mode.
Reading related functions:
- Interaction with friends via social networks and the associated ReadRate service. As you read, you can share quotes, add comments, leave feedback on what you read, etc. Feedback has also been implemented: in the event feed on the pocketbook, the activities of friends in ReadRate are displayed. The ReadRate service helps readers choose new literary works. Tops of books in various directions are published on his website.
- Translation of words. Dictionaries are opened after tap on the central part of the text. More precisely, the reading menu opens, one of the items of which is dictionaries. We select a word – the translation is highlighted. Another way to use the dictionary is to open it through the applications menu and type the word of interest using the on-screen keyboard.
- Notes – functional for an amateur, more often they use it when studying textbooks, technical literature. You can highlight parts of the text with a marker, underline lines, circle formulas, and tick boxes. Did you do something wrong? Use an eraser. The mark is erased, but the text of the book remains.
Additional functions include: listening to audiobooks, voice acting for texts, playing music, playing games.
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Pros and cons of Pocketbook InkPAD X
Of course, the Pocketbook has more strengths:
- Large screen
It is convenient to read texts written in large and small fonts. A plastic coating is used, which is more resistant to mechanical damage than glass. Customizable backlighting. Portrait, landscape orientation. - Competitive price
InkPAD X is more expensive than pocketbooks with diagonals of 6 and 8 inches, but when compared with the “dozens” of ONYX, the savings are significant. - Ergonomic body
Pocketbook is comfortable to hold, it is thin and light. - Availability of Type-C The
balanced connector provides a comfortable wired connection to the PC . - “Omnivorous”
Pocketbook is a record-holder in reading text formats, there are about 20 of them. - Cloud ecosystem,
which provides for the synchronization of books on pocketbooks and devices running on iOS and Android. Bookmarks and notes are also synchronized. - Gorgeous autonomy The
reader can be charged for 30-50 days. - Detailed documentation
Availability of training videos on the official website of the manufacturer. - ReadRate – service
Provides the integration of reading and communication between users.
10 Button and touch control
Several ways to download books to the reader
- By cable, Wi-Fi, electronic.
- Solid build
- Audio capabilities
A couple of disadvantages:
- Lack of a slot for MicroSD cards
If you look at the 740th line of pocketbooks, 2 out of 3 models have such an opportunity. Accordingly, you can store twice as many books. Why the InkPAD X did not integrate a microSD slot is not clear. There is plenty of room on the verge next to Type-C. And this would not greatly affect the price. - Poor ergonomics of buttons
They are narrow and too elongated. Well at least in most cases you can do without them using touch controls.
Overall, the Pocketbook InkPAD X Metallic Gray 1040 is impressive. Reviews and reviews on the Internet confirm the relevance of the model. The reader especially liked those who previously did not have the opportunity to comfortably read small characters on devices with a smaller diagonal: musicians, programmers, engineers.