Looking for an e ink tablet for my dyslexic kid

jmwking · 03-31-2017, 08:25 PM

My HS daughter is dyslexic, and really wants a 7" e ink tablet, but not just an e-reader. She wants a full Android experience - or as much as you can do with e ink. She want's it primarily for school work; she knows it won't do youtube, et al.

From what I've seen bouncing around the internet, you guys have the collected wisdom when it comes to e ink devices! (If there are other sites I've missed, please let me know...)

The main features she really wants - and sufficiently robust web browsing could answer them:

Bluetooth for external kybd.

Access to Google Classroom (without enrolling the device into the local school system; could be that robust web browser).

Access to Google Apps (drive, docs, slides, sheets, hangouts), with most features supported.

Support for the Google Play for other apps that might work with e ink.

I'm reasonably tech savvy (but mostly an iOS guy), so if there's a jailbreak solution, I could go with that.

Thanks for any suggestions!

-jk

Barbara1955 · 03-31-2017, 11:27 PM

Don't get a Fire from Amazon they Don't do Google! Galaxy Tabs do Google... but I don't know much about them.....

Cinisajoy · 03-31-2017, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Don't get a Fire from Amazon they Don't do Google! Galaxy Tabs do Google... but I don't know much about them.....

She said e-ink. A Fire is not e-ink.
Neither is a Galaxy.

Cinisajoy · 03-31-2017, 11:36 PM

Let me look around but if I remember right, the Onyx is an e-ink tablet.

AnemicOak · 04-01-2017, 12:04 AM

Onyx is the biggest. They run an older version of Android, but do have the Play store. No idea about Google Classroom stuff. Keep in mind that other than as a reader these devices likely don't perform all that well. They don't run anything like state of the art hardware and aren't simply a modern Android tablet (like a Galaxy or ZenPad with a different type of screen).

Onyx is currently available mainly in Europe, but they do now have a US distributor who has stores in Brooklyn & Long Island NY (https://onyxboox.com/buy). They say online ordering is coming...
https://onyxboox.com/news/44266

We have an Onyx Boox section of the forums here where a person can probably get more informed answers from folks who actually have one...
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=220

There are a few other brands, but I know even less about them.

Barbara1955 · 04-01-2017, 03:05 AM

Cindy Title says E-Ink Discription is Tablets!

Maybe the Poster Needs to clarify which she is looking for.

stumped · 04-01-2017, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Don't get a Fire from Amazon they Don't do Google! Galaxy Tabs do Google... but I don't know much about them.....

actually the current Fire tablets do, after 5 minutes of sideloading google services via easy to find instructions.

but as has been said already they are not e-ink so maybe not suitable.

but OP also is asking for " the full android experience" which to me means colour screens, videos, games app stores... not e-ink

and google hangouts is a text messaging + video link thing which also needs a sim card ?
"Hangouts bring conversations to life with photos, emoji, and even group video calls for free. Connect with friends across computers, Android, and Apple devices."

i don't think it's possible to get an e-ink " tablet" which can also operate like a mobile phone for social interactions

Cinisajoy · 04-01-2017, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Cindy Title says E-Ink Discription is Tablets!

Maybe the Poster Needs to clarify which she is looking for.

I think e-ink tablet is a very good description. How much clearer can it get?

They do make tablets with e-ink.

jmwking · 04-01-2017, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Yes, we're looking for an e ink tablet - though the size can be negotiated, she's certainly looking at the smaller end.

As to the "complete Android experience" - it's with the full understanding that it's an e ink device. In other words, we're not looking for a sandboxed device such as a kindle, but are aware of the shortcomings of e ink.

She's also let me know that the google classroom is a lesser priority to just basic google docs/hangouts/etc.

thanks again!

-jk

Cinisajoy · 04-01-2017, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmwking

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Yes, we're looking for an e ink tablet - though the size can be negotiated, she's certainly looking at the smaller end.

As to the "complete Android experience" - it's with the full understanding that it's an e ink device. In other words, we're not looking for a sandboxed device such as a kindle, but are aware of the shortcomings of e ink.

She's also let me know that the google classroom is a lesser priority to just basic google docs/hangouts/etc.

thanks again!

-jk

For basic google and hangouts, she will more than likely need a color tablet. Is there some reason she wanted e-ink?

jmwking · 04-01-2017, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

For basic google and hangouts, she will more than likely need a color tablet. Is there some reason she wanted e-ink?

She's dyslexic and finds e ink much more readable than conventional backlit lcd screens.

-jk

patrik · 04-01-2017, 01:31 PM

She wants what many of us do. She can try one of the e-ink devices running Android (like Onyx) but the truth is that e-ink devices are focused on battery length, and that means cpu are very, very low on the performance side. And the screen refresh is low. Therefore do not expect anything near a traditional tablet performance.

Unless your wealthy enough to take a huge gamble, please have her test, and test, and test, in a store before deciding.

Cinisajoy · 04-01-2017, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmwking

She's dyslexic and finds e ink much more readable than conventional backlit lcd screens.

-jk

Many of us find e-ink much better for reading. Let me try something. BRB.
Could not access Google docs on my kindle 5.

AnemicOak · 04-01-2017, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Could not access Google docs on my kindle 5.

Not surprising, the Kindle's browser is pretty limited. The Onyx devices should be able to access the stuff okay I would think, but I'd check with some folks in the Onyx forum to be sure.

fgdas · 04-01-2017, 02:47 PM

Unfortunately at the moment there is no device with E Ink display with full Android experience.
At the moment ereaders have old hardware only supporting Android 4, but majority of the apps available in Play Store would be developed or updated for Android 6 or 7.
Most of the apps are struggling.
Current devices are running on single core i.MX6 chip. Hopefully this summer we will see new devices with dual core i.MX7 and newer Android.

03-31-2017, 08:25 PM	#1
jmwking Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: none yet	Looking for an e ink tablet for my dyslexic kid My HS daughter is dyslexic, and really wants a 7" e ink tablet, but not just an e-reader. She wants a full Android experience - or as much as you can do with e ink. She want's it primarily for school work; she knows it won't do youtube, et al. From what I've seen bouncing around the internet, you guys have the collected wisdom when it comes to e ink devices! (If there are other sites I've missed, please let me know...) The main features she really wants - and sufficiently robust web browsing could answer them: Bluetooth for external kybd. Access to Google Classroom (without enrolling the device into the local school system; could be that robust web browser). Access to Google Apps (drive, docs, slides, sheets, hangouts), with most features supported. Support for the Google Play for other apps that might work with e ink. I'm reasonably tech savvy (but mostly an iOS guy), so if there's a jailbreak solution, I could go with that. Thanks for any suggestions! -jk Last edited by jmwking; 03-31-2017 at 08:30 PM.

04-01-2017, 12:04 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Onyx is the biggest. They run an older version of Android, but do have the Play store. No idea about Google Classroom stuff. Keep in mind that other than as a reader these devices likely don't perform all that well. They don't run anything like state of the art hardware and aren't simply a modern Android tablet (like a Galaxy or ZenPad with a different type of screen). Onyx is currently available mainly in Europe, but they do now have a US distributor who has stores in Brooklyn & Long Island NY (https://onyxboox.com/buy). They say online ordering is coming... https://onyxboox.com/news/44266 We have an Onyx Boox section of the forums here where a person can probably get more informed answers from folks who actually have one... https://www.mobileread.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=220 There are a few other brands, but I know even less about them. Last edited by AnemicOak; 04-01-2017 at 12:07 AM.

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03-31-2017, 11:27 PM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Don't get a Fire from Amazon they Don't do Google! Galaxy Tabs do Google... but I don't know much about them.....

03-31-2017, 11:36 PM	#4
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Let me look around but if I remember right, the Onyx is an e-ink tablet.

04-01-2017, 03:05 AM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Cindy Title says E-Ink Discription is Tablets! Maybe the Poster Needs to clarify which she is looking for.

04-01-2017, 11:51 AM	#9
jmwking Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: none yet	Thanks for the replies, everyone. Yes, we're looking for an e ink tablet - though the size can be negotiated, she's certainly looking at the smaller end. As to the "complete Android experience" - it's with the full understanding that it's an e ink device. In other words, we're not looking for a sandboxed device such as a kindle, but are aware of the shortcomings of e ink. She's also let me know that the google classroom is a lesser priority to just basic google docs/hangouts/etc. thanks again! -jk

04-01-2017, 01:31 PM	#12
patrik Guru Posts: 682 Karma: 4568205 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Forma	She wants what many of us do. She can try one of the e-ink devices running Android (like Onyx) but the truth is that e-ink devices are focused on battery length, and that means cpu are very, very low on the performance side. And the screen refresh is low. Therefore do not expect anything near a traditional tablet performance. Unless your wealthy enough to take a huge gamble, please have her test, and test, and test, in a store before deciding.

04-01-2017, 02:47 PM	#15
fgdas Addict Posts: 346 Karma: 1240117 Join Date: May 2014 Device: 13inch	Unfortunately at the moment there is no device with E Ink display with full Android experience. At the moment ereaders have old hardware only supporting Android 4, but majority of the apps available in Play Store would be developed or updated for Android 6 or 7. Most of the apps are struggling. Current devices are running on single core i.MX6 chip. Hopefully this summer we will see new devices with dual core i.MX7 and newer Android.

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