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Well may begin a pre-order for the Boox 60 by Onyx so Ill talk about that first.
It supports pdfs as well as just about every other format available but not docs yet- thats coming in the next software release. Its a wacom tablet which means the touch functionality is stylus based.
PDF Reflow and zooming is I think the best I've seen but I haven't used it for anything more technical then my tax returns and my business plan.
Note taking and highlighting is easy- you can select the part you want to highlight then save that and in pdfs you can write notes on the document with the stylus. You cant however take the written notes off the device yet.
Search is really nice- its full text search of every file and annotations. Plus the Boox supports folders so you can sort all of your documents.
There's also WiFi with a webkit browser - I've used in my house out at "coffee shops" and a certain bookseller which offers free WiFi to download books from Google books.
Downsides-
Wacom uses juice faster than other touch techs BUT when you stow the stylus it does turn the wacom off.
You cant' just bring up a keyboard to make notes. There is a keyboard that pops up to search your files or the web or use the dictionary but not to make notes- you have to write with the stylus.
6inch screen- This can be limiting for PDFs and probably 8inch or 10inch would be better but the Reflow and Zooming is really exceptional.
Price- Notice I said at the start "we MAY start a pre-order" thats because its going to be on the High end- $350-$380 depending on how many orders we get. 100 orders would put us into the $370-$380 range but 200 would bring it down to $350
this video shows the functionality quite well
Alternatives of course will be the new one from Irex coming soon that will be available from Best Buy and The Que. The Irex will have close to the same specs wacom/stylus input but with an 8 inch screen and is supposed to retail at $399. I did read it may not have "full screen sribble" at first like the Boox does but would come later as an update. Irex updates are something of a wait historically.
The Que- Well I really believe this thing is going to be the best device out for students and professionals alike and I dont believe it will be $500 as some speculated. It might even be under $400. If it is that'll make the Irex and Boox's kind of moot imho. We'll know in January- Ill be going to CES although I wont make it for the opening day- hopefully I will even have a review unit before then.
I have been talking with them for 4 months now about wanting to be a reseller partner as they have said that B&N wont be the only but they will not commit until after the launch in Jan. I'm really looking forward to it.
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