Should I get an Onyx?

TortoiseAvenger · 01-08-2020, 12:51 PM

Anyone have any opinions on the Onyx Monte Cristo 4? Or Onyx readers generally? Can't find many reviews, at least not in English. I've heard that Onyx doesn't provide the best device support, so I'm not sure if I should try it.

I'm attracted to the flush screen, metal body, and clean design.

ottischwenk · 01-08-2020, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortoiseAvenger

Anyone have any opinions on the Onyx Monte Cristo 4? Or Onyx readers generally? Can't find many reviews, at least not in English. I've heard that Onyx doesn't provide the best device support, so I'm not sure if I should try it.

I'm attracted to the flush screen, metal body, and clean design.

I would not buy it. It is only Android 4.4, only 1 GB Ram, a somewhat more modern processor, but in the old Kepler case.
There are probably better and more modern ones like Poke Pro.

MachinaCarnis · 01-08-2020, 04:24 PM

The screen is very good, having android is a great plus, Design is really clean, got a Boox Nova Pro (Android 6), I spend around 1 hour a day on it and really enjoy it. Compared to non android devices, I would say that the weak points are the slowness to switch on (will take 20 seconds) and less autonomy, but this is really acceptable compared to the freedom provided by the tablet with android market. The notes app is really nice and the screen is really responsive. It gives the feeling to draw on paper.

TortoiseAvenger · 01-08-2020, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the responses. Probably not looking to take notes or have any need for a stylus

downeaster59 · 01-08-2020, 07:25 PM

What size screen are you looking for? If you like the six inch display, the Poke Pro would work well. I have the Nova (not the Pro version). It has a 7.8 inch screen. Onyx has come a long way since I bought my first device from them some years ago. Their native NeoReader app is pretty good overall, and handles most eBook formats. It also handles pdfs very well. Since this is an Android device, you can install third party reader apps if you prefer. Moon Reader, Librera and KOReader all work very well. The Kindle and Nook apps also work well. Onyx gives you options to optimize your apps for E-Ink if you need to tweak them. Battery life is acceptable, but not quite as good as, say, a Paperwhite. Overall, I am very pleased with it. If you like a 7.8 inch display, I can easily recommend the Nova.

Lparsons21 · 01-08-2020, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortoiseAvenger

Thanks for the responses. Probably not looking to take notes or have any need for a stylus

There is a Nova non-Pro that doesn’t come with a stylus or do notes, but it cost the same or more at the few places I found that even had it. The Nova Pro is an excellent Android 7.8” tablet and if you don’t want to use the stylus you can always pitch it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

downeaster59 · 01-08-2020, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lparsons21

There is a Nova non-Pro that doesn’t come with a stylus or do notes, but it cost the same or more at the few places I found that even had it. The Nova Pro is an excellent Android 7.8” tablet and if you don’t want to use the stylus you can always pitch it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

If that's the case, then Onyx is either in the process of eliminating the plain Nova or they are about to introduce a new version.

Hrafn · 01-08-2020, 08:41 PM

I own a MC4, and find it good. I like the flush bezel (which is much easier to keep clean than previous indented-bezel models). I would question whether the Kepler-style case is "old" in comparison to the Poke Pro (which appears to be somewhat of a throwback to pre-Kepler stylings).

Yes, the MC4 has half the memory and storage of the Poke Pro (but the latter doesn't matter much with an external card slot). It also has only Android 4.4 compared to 6. This hardware/software combination is however perfectly adequate for e-Reading (the software for which tends to be fairly permissive on Android version, and fairly low in footprint), for which the responses are virtually instantaneous. If you're wanting to be more adventurous in your apps, it might not be the Reader for you (but then again, more adventurous apps probably would benefit from the color display of a tablet).

ottischwenk · 01-09-2020, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hrafn

I own a MC4, and find it good. I like the flush bezel (which is much easier to keep clean than previous indented-bezel models). I would question whether the Kepler-style case is "old" in comparison to the Poke Pro (which appears to be somewhat of a throwback to pre-Kepler stylings).

Kepler is an old device! and the sensors left and right are totally crazy.
And Im not sure if Google Play Store is working -this is essential for some apps.

01-08-2020, 12:51 PM	#1
TortoiseAvenger Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2020 Device: Kobo	Should I get an Onyx? Anyone have any opinions on the Onyx Monte Cristo 4? Or Onyx readers generally? Can't find many reviews, at least not in English. I've heard that Onyx doesn't provide the best device support, so I'm not sure if I should try it. I'm attracted to the flush screen, metal body, and clean design.

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01-08-2020, 04:24 PM	#3
MachinaCarnis Member Posts: 18 Karma: 597252 Join Date: Dec 2019 Device: Boox Nova Pro	The screen is very good, having android is a great plus, Design is really clean, got a Boox Nova Pro (Android 6), I spend around 1 hour a day on it and really enjoy it. Compared to non android devices, I would say that the weak points are the slowness to switch on (will take 20 seconds) and less autonomy, but this is really acceptable compared to the freedom provided by the tablet with android market. The notes app is really nice and the screen is really responsive. It gives the feeling to draw on paper.

01-08-2020, 04:42 PM	#4
TortoiseAvenger Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2020 Device: Kobo	Thanks for the responses. Probably not looking to take notes or have any need for a stylus

01-08-2020, 07:25 PM	#5
downeaster59 Wizard Posts: 1,251 Karma: 2957301 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Rochester, NY Device: Boox Go 10.3, Kobo Libra 2	What size screen are you looking for? If you like the six inch display, the Poke Pro would work well. I have the Nova (not the Pro version). It has a 7.8 inch screen. Onyx has come a long way since I bought my first device from them some years ago. Their native NeoReader app is pretty good overall, and handles most eBook formats. It also handles pdfs very well. Since this is an Android device, you can install third party reader apps if you prefer. Moon Reader, Librera and KOReader all work very well. The Kindle and Nook apps also work well. Onyx gives you options to optimize your apps for E-Ink if you need to tweak them. Battery life is acceptable, but not quite as good as, say, a Paperwhite. Overall, I am very pleased with it. If you like a 7.8 inch display, I can easily recommend the Nova.

01-08-2020, 08:41 PM	#8
Hrafn Fanatic Posts: 520 Karma: 846170 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Zealand Device: Onyx Boox Poke 5, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e 10.5	I own a MC4, and find it good. I like the flush bezel (which is much easier to keep clean than previous indented-bezel models). I would question whether the Kepler-style case is "old" in comparison to the Poke Pro (which appears to be somewhat of a throwback to pre-Kepler stylings). Yes, the MC4 has half the memory and storage of the Poke Pro (but the latter doesn't matter much with an external card slot). It also has only Android 4.4 compared to 6. This hardware/software combination is however perfectly adequate for e-Reading (the software for which tends to be fairly permissive on Android version, and fairly low in footprint), for which the responses are virtually instantaneous. If you're wanting to be more adventurous in your apps, it might not be the Reader for you (but then again, more adventurous apps probably would benefit from the color display of a tablet).

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