Onyx Boox i86

[Feher]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

http://www.onyx-international.com.cn...-39-51/229-i86 -- translates as:

Thanks!

I am happy that there is going to be a ML version. Even the official specifications confirm it
http://www.onyx-international.com/in.../boox-i-series


Previous reports had suggested that front-light wasn't very even. I hope they have improved it in the meantime.

[Hrafn]

I think that rogue sales are an inevitable result of frustration at the lengthy delay between the announcement of the existence of the i86 and any (still awaited) official sales. We also have a couple of other models (the i67 and D67) that have released specs, but no hint of sales.

When I bought my i62HD, Onyx-Boox was at the forefront of introduction of HD screens, and not long thereafter the introduction of frontlights (the Firefly) and Android (the i63). Since then, it seems to have become increasingly tentative, both with what new technologies it adopts (all the more glaring given the relative dearth of new technologies to start with), and with actually bringing itself to release new models.

[Addendum: I've also found evidence of another unreleased model, the i65]

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

I think that rogue sales are an inevitable result of frustration at the lengthy delay between the announcement of the existence of the i86 and any (still awaited) official sales. We also have a couple of other models (the i67 and D67) that have released specs, but no hint of sales.

When I bought my i62HD, Onyx-Boox was at the forefront of introduction of HD screens, and not long thereafter the introduction of frontlights (the Firefly) and Android (the i63). Since then, it seems to have become increasingly tentative, both with what new technologies it adopts (all the more glaring given the relative dearth of new technologies to start with), and with actually bringing itself to release new models.

Yep. I've been trying to buy one for going on 5 months now, so i jumped at the chance to buy the one on Amazon.

[Nate the great]

Okay, I've literally only been home for a couple hours, so I haven't had a chance to play with it much.

But I did get one (this wasn't a scam). It came in an unlabeled retail box. The device does have Google Play (I haven't had a chance to log in to my account). The language was set to Chinese, but I switched to English.

The general build quality is good. It's a little bigger, thicker, and lighter than my InkPad.

I've got a bunch of things to catch up on, so that's all I have so far.

[Fauver]

Could you please make and post some pictures?

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Fauver

Could you please make and post some pictures?

With manga

[antithesis]

How's the touchscreen on it?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by antithesis

How's the touchscreen on it?

The touchscreen works okay.

I've had some time to play with it today, and this is most definitely not a finished product.

The software is very slow. The interface feels like it was designed for a 6" screen. There isn't enough storage for apps (I ran out of space after only 6 or 7). In fact, I think much of the space is being reported mistakenly as filled with apps.

A number of apps won't install (so far: RepliGo, Dropbox).

But on the plus side there is Google Play. But that's about the only plus so far.

[Hrafn]

One of the features that raised my curiosity towards this model is that it appears to break Onyx's trend of moving away from IR touchscreens, towards capacitive ones in recent models (e.g. T68, M96C, C67/AG2, C65). It will be interesting to see how the i86's touchscreen stacks up.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

One of the features that raised my curiosity towards this model is that it appears to break Onyx's trend of moving away from IR touchscreens, towards capacitive ones in recent models (e.g. T68, M96C, C67/AG2, C65). It will be interesting to see how the i86's touchscreen stacks up.

I only have the T68 to compare it with, so i can't really say.

[Kast]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I only have the T68 to compare it with, so i can't really say.

How's the screen contrast and general quality?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Kast

How's the screen contrast and general quality?

It's okay:
http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/0...droid-ereader/

[Phogg]

So once again we have hardware that is only semi-usable (unless Booxtor develops functional firmware) which can only be had from dubious Ebay vendors?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Phogg

So once again we have hardware that is only semi-usable (unless Booxtor develops functional firmware) which can only be had from dubious Ebay vendors?

Pretty much.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by Phogg

So once again we have hardware that is only semi-usable (unless Booxtor develops functional firmware) which can only be had from dubious Ebay vendors?

Admittedly in this case, it is a product that they have not released yet (at least outside China). This means that we cannot blame Onyx for its "semi-usable" state, but also that Booxter probably cannot help us (as he would only deal with official releases).

A larger concern is that, after languishing for so long in pre-release, that the product is still in such an obviously-unfinished state. (I just checked, and this thread was actually started just over a year ago, with the announcement of the i86 -- which is a ridiculously long time to spend in pre-release.) This seems to imply that Onyx is regressing rather than improving on their ability to finalise/fine-tune/'polish' a product.

Which may mean that I should be looking at a Boyue T62+, or a heavily-rooted/modded Kobo Alyssum, rather than to some upcoming Onyx Boox, for my next eReader.