Seeking most recent info on the best e ink device with keyboard for writing

[RealAnise]

Hey all,
So I've looked through the forums, and a lot of people have asked something like this question in the past-- but I can't find anything that covered this EXACT question more recently than a year ago. Basically, here it is:

I need a portable e-ink device that connects to a bluetooth keyboard and allows for writing and saving documents. It would also need to be able to pull up other documents for comparison. It would be great to be able to save docs to the cloud, but if I have to do without that, I can. There just needs to be some way to get the docs off the reader. It has to be, HAS TO BE e-ink for medical reasons. I have genetic vision problems and it is just not good for me to be staring at an LCD screen all the time... I need to save that time for applications that can't be used in any other way, like graphic design and video editing.

The ideal would be an e-ink laptop (but that doesn't exist as far as I know.) Freewrite seems ridiculously expensive for what is, especially with such a small screen. If I have to spend that much, it really seems like it should be possible to get more functionality for the money. I've heard that this is at least possible with an Onyx, but again, all the info seems to be at least a year out of date. Things change fast!

Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? All would be greatly appreciated!

[ars]

Originally Posted by RealAnise

Hey all,
So I've looked through the forums, and a lot of people have asked something like this question in the past-- but I can't find anything that covered this EXACT question more recently than a year ago. Basically, here it is:

I need a portable e-ink device that connects to a bluetooth keyboard and allows for writing and saving documents. It would also need to be able to pull up other documents for comparison. It would be great to be able to save docs to the cloud, but if I have to do without that, I can. There just needs to be some way to get the docs off the reader. It has to be, HAS TO BE e-ink for medical reasons. I have genetic vision problems and it is just not good for me to be staring at an LCD screen all the time... I need to save that time for applications that can't be used in any other way, like graphic design and video editing.

The ideal would be an e-ink laptop (but that doesn't exist as far as I know.) Freewrite seems ridiculously expensive for what is, especially with such a small screen. If I have to spend that much, it really seems like it should be possible to get more functionality for the money. I've heard that this is at least possible with an Onyx, but again, all the info seems to be at least a year out of date. Things change fast!

Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? All would be greatly appreciated!

There are plenty of e-book-readers featuring Bluetooth (most of them Android based), but make sure to try out different sizes and decide on one (6', 6,8', 7.8', 9.4' and 10.x' might be the most available sizes). I'm not an expert, but I'ld recommend an Android-based device if you want to sync your docs via cloud services. Additionally, and that's really important, make sure your device is supporting the Bluetooth version your keyboard uses, both on hard- and software side. For instance, an Onyx Boox Kepler Pro has Bluetooth 4.0, but it's Android version (4.0.x) doesn't support Bluetooth 4.0 (Low Energy) - BLE support was first introduced in 2013 with Android 4.3.

You can check out Onyx readers for the Western market here. Other options might be:
Boyue Likebook Plus (in China 'Paper', rebranded as Icarus XL HD) with Android 4.2.2 and BT 4.0 LE - 7.8' Carta with Frontlight
Some other Boyue devices, see here (CN).

Additionally, I would suggest you a case similar to the Surface ones with integrated keyboard, for mobility reasons. Or if typing feeling is important, you might want a mechanical keyboard, but you'll know it best.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by RealAnise

I need a portable e-ink device that connects to a bluetooth keyboard and allows for writing and saving documents.
...
Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? All would be greatly appreciated!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCnPMKvXWas
Onyx Boox Max 2 can work as a monitor.
Just connect it to a cheap, second-hand laptop, or Raspberry Pi.

https://the-digital-reader.com/2018/...monitor-video/

https://the-digital-reader.com/2015/...lphasmart-neo/
It has old-fashioned black and white LCD without backlight

https://the-digital-reader.com/2018/05/17/126602/

Get an old PDA. I had Cassiopeia A2 with a very old LCD screen - very similar to ones you see on cheap digital watches or calculators. No backlight, no flickering.

[mobama]

Originally Posted by RealAnise

The ideal would be an e-ink laptop (but that doesn't exist as far as I know.)

Some options that I personally would consider in this department, roughly in the order of preference:

- Paperlike 13.3" monitor, a $900 bargain right now https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...egogo-for-900/
- Onyx Boox Max2 as a monitor. It has a 13.3" screen and an HDMI port to do the monitor function out of the box
- Max2 or any other BT-capable Onyx coupled with a BT keyboard. Very sad that Onyxes don't operate easily with wired keyboards.
- Tweak and hack any other eink device to operate as a secondary monitor.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by kacir

Get an old PDA. I had Cassiopeia A2 with a very old LCD screen - very similar to ones you see on cheap digital watches or calculators. No backlight, no flickering.

If reflective LCD is acceptable and the main purpose is just distraction-free writing, or if anyone else reading along has those needs, consider an old Alphasmart. The built-in keyboard is terrific, and unlike eink readers they are near-indestructible.

[Marinolino]

Originally Posted by kacir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCnPMKvXWas
Onyx Boox Max 2 can work as a monitor.
Just connect it to a cheap, second-hand laptop, or Raspberry Pi.

...

And to make it resemble eink laptop in the usage, we can simply use rubber bands to affix it to the laptop's monitor, like this guy last year using 13.3" Boox Max, or any other similar method e.g. by using some suitable adhesive tape.

https://youtu.be/KUO-nt6WlvA?t=191