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Old 02-12-2022, 08:35 PM   #53
davidfor
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Posts: 24,905
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidfor View Post
Browsers on e-ink devices are terrible for a number of reasons. The CPU and RAM is low so performance for that reason is terrible. Updating e-ink screens is slow and has issues with ghosting. That means that complicated pages don't work and if there is any sort of animation, it looks terrible. They don't tend to support newer web features. Someone mentioned that the browser on the Kindle hasn't changed since 2007. I don't know if that is true, but, I'd put the browser on the Kobo at least five years behind PC and tablet based browsers.

For a Kobo, a text only page like you example works fairly well. But, scrolling means a lot of flashing as it the text is refreshed.

The other thing for e-ink based dedicated ereaders, is that any internet usage is a very secondary thing. They use the WiFi to sync books and status. But, it happens in the background. There are no notifications from other apps, the home screen shows books, not other apps with notices. Opening the browser takes multiple clicks and it is a deliberate decision to use. Honestly, if you are able to let the internet on an e-ink ereader distract you from reading, then you probably would have been distracted by anything and possibly should reconsider what you are reading.
Hmm, I forgot a paragraph...


My real point is that the WiFi on e-ink devices is restricted enough in it's function that rejecting all devices that have WiFi means that you are a limiting yourself to an extremely small number of devices. Or very old devices. I think it is an artificial limitation. And it is possible you would end up with a device that is bad enough, it might discourage you from reading. Which seems to be exactly the opposite of what is desired.

And when I looked at this again, I remembered that Kobo has an option to turn on parental controls. From memory, this hides the browser, the store (can still sync so that a parent could buy books for the child) and, I think, the games. When you turn it on, you have to set a PIN and enter the PIN again to turn it off. It is still a device with WiFi, but, it adds another step into the process if you want to be distracted.
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