Onyx Boox 60 - first impressions

Nate the great · 09-18-2009, 12:55 PM

The Boox was announced back in March at CeBit. MobileRead was the first to bring you information on this device, and now we're the first (well, second) to get our hands on it.

I've been wanting to see one of these babies since forever. It finally arrived today. I'm not a good photographer, so I won't be posting unboxing pictures. But that's not a big loss because a Chinese ebook site has already posted a review with several good pictures.

The pictures are here. A Goolge translated version of the site can be found here. I'd recommend that you have both open at the same time because the Google translation drops the pictures. MobRead also posted a copy of the English language user's manual in PDF.

I'm only going to post a few words because I want to get back to using it. The user manual has the technical specs and features. I'm using a pre-release version of the English language firmware, so i don't have all the features listed. For, example, I cannot sketch.

Formats

The listed formats include PDF, RTF TXT, HTML, PDB, CHM, Epub, and Mobi. Both Mobi and Epub work just fine and are quite readable. I'm pretty sure it's using FBReader to display Mobi. (I recognize the bugs.) I think it's using Adobe DE to display Epub. I can see those annoying page numbers on the side of the screen, and image links don't work (this is a common Adobe bug). Adobe is also listed on the About page. I just authorized the Boox under DE.

Part of the reason I'm not sure is that the user manual doesn't actually _say_ that the Boox has DE support. I tried to plug it in to the USB port to see if Adobe DE would notice it. The Boox is not recognize as a USB device by either of my computers. (I did mention that the firmware is pre-release, right? ) This was fixed.

screen refresh speed
I compared the Boox with the Cybook Opus after turning the full refresh off on both devices. The Boox is just barely slower than the Opus. The difference is so small that my eyes could be tricking me. I also noticed that both are displaying the same behavior with widows and orphans, which pretty much confirms that the Boox is using Adobe DE.

Touch screen & menu
It's a Wacom screen, so don't lose the stylus. All menu navigation is through the screen.

Readability
I can't answer this yet, but I do know that I'm going to set aside my Opus (even though the Boox is bigger and heavier) because the Boox has the one feature that the Opus desperately needs: a sleep mode.

Connectivity
I haven't tested the Wifi because my network is buggy. I will come back to this.

Sweetpea · 09-18-2009, 01:01 PM

I liked that thing when I saw it earlier this year. I only am unsure about using a wacom pen. It does have its advantages but also disadvantages...

Where did you buy it?

Nate the great · 09-18-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I liked that thing when I saw it earlier this year. I only am unsure about using a wacom pen. It does have its advantages but also disadvantages...

Where did you buy it?

I didn't. Onyx lent me one to review.

Sweetpea · 09-18-2009, 01:05 PM

Even better

I'll await your full review then!

kacir · 09-18-2009, 02:19 PM

How much does it cost?
Where it can be purchased in EU?

shrimphead · 09-18-2009, 02:24 PM

I've been really looking forward to this one.

Please post a full review soon, with pictures if you can. Even blurry pictures can really saw a lot. Especially about form and how well it fits in the hand.

Thanks.

AnemicOak · 09-18-2009, 02:31 PM

The Manual...
http://www.onyx-international.com/usermanualV1.0.pdf

Manufacturers website...
http://www.onyx-international.com

Couldn't find anything about when it would be released or where to purchase. Did they give you any info on that Nate?

EDIT: Sorry I missed that a manual link had already been posted.

CleverClothe · 09-18-2009, 06:06 PM

Want!!!

Ok, I'll have to see the price first. But still, I have been interested in this since the specs were announced.

Nate the great · 09-18-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

The Manual...
http://www.onyx-international.com/usermanualV1.0.pdf

Manufacturers website...
http://www.onyx-international.com

Couldn't find anything about when it would be released or where to purchase. Did they give you any info on that Nate?

I don't have any information, and I won't say anything definite without asking Onyx first.

ranma · 09-18-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

How much does it cost?
Where it can be purchased in EU?

In the chinese review site, they said the manufacture is aiming to sub $440 price tag.

brecklundin · 09-19-2009, 03:21 AM

pretty sure this is the Onyx 60 at CeBit earlier in the year. Even if not it gives an idea what it will look like and how it will function:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnFfXZ5DT8k
(~6-min runtime)

Jiang · 09-19-2009, 05:34 AM

hi, guys, there is a chinese review poped online twelve days ago, with lots of pics in the 9 pages review, http://www.mobread.com/evaluating/2009538.html , I guess their factory is in China. In the forum of this site, they said it would be available in China in October.

kome17 · 09-19-2009, 06:16 AM

What a cool device, the pdf support and the wifi function is cool for common reader like us. hope there would be someone selling it in Hong Kong soon

Jiang · 09-19-2009, 09:38 AM

more pics: http://cn.engadget.com/photos/onyx-boox-unbox/2301273/

Nate the great · 09-19-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiang

hi, guys, there is a chinese review poped online twelve days ago, with lots of pics in the 9 pages review, http://www.mobread.com/evaluating/2009538.html , I guess their factory is in China. In the forum of this site, they said it would be available in China in October.

Thanks, but I already had a link to that review.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiang

more pics: http://cn.engadget.com/photos/onyx-boox-unbox/2301273/

This is a good find, though.

09-18-2009, 12:55 PM	#1
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Onyx Boox 60 - first impressions The Boox was announced back in March at CeBit. MobileRead was the first to bring you information on this device, and now we're the first (well, second) to get our hands on it. I've been wanting to see one of these babies since forever. It finally arrived today. I'm not a good photographer, so I won't be posting unboxing pictures. But that's not a big loss because a Chinese ebook site has already posted a review with several good pictures. The pictures are here. A Goolge translated version of the site can be found here. I'd recommend that you have both open at the same time because the Google translation drops the pictures. MobRead also posted a copy of the English language user's manual in PDF. I'm only going to post a few words because I want to get back to using it. The user manual has the technical specs and features. I'm using a pre-release version of the English language firmware, so i don't have all the features listed. For, example, I cannot sketch. Formats The listed formats include PDF, RTF TXT, HTML, PDB, CHM, Epub, and Mobi. Both Mobi and Epub work just fine and are quite readable. I'm pretty sure it's using FBReader to display Mobi. (I recognize the bugs.) I think it's using Adobe DE to display Epub. I can see those annoying page numbers on the side of the screen, and image links don't work (this is a common Adobe bug). Adobe is also listed on the About page. I just authorized the Boox under DE. Part of the reason I'm not sure is that the user manual doesn't actually _say_ that the Boox has DE support. I tried to plug it in to the USB port to see if Adobe DE would notice it. The Boox is not recognize as a USB device by either of my computers. (I did mention that the firmware is pre-release, right? ) This was fixed. screen refresh speed I compared the Boox with the Cybook Opus after turning the full refresh off on both devices. The Boox is just barely slower than the Opus. The difference is so small that my eyes could be tricking me. I also noticed that both are displaying the same behavior with widows and orphans, which pretty much confirms that the Boox is using Adobe DE. Touch screen & menu It's a Wacom screen, so don't lose the stylus. All menu navigation is through the screen. Readability I can't answer this yet, but I do know that I'm going to set aside my Opus (even though the Boox is bigger and heavier) because the Boox has the one feature that the Opus desperately needs: a sleep mode. Connectivity I haven't tested the Wifi because my network is buggy. I will come back to this. Last edited by Nate the great; 09-23-2009 at 08:09 AM.

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09-18-2009, 01:01 PM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I liked that thing when I saw it earlier this year. I only am unsure about using a wacom pen. It does have its advantages but also disadvantages... Where did you buy it?

09-18-2009, 01:05 PM	#4
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Even better I'll await your full review then!

09-18-2009, 02:19 PM	#5
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,462 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	How much does it cost? Where it can be purchased in EU?

09-18-2009, 02:24 PM	#6
shrimphead Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kaslo, BC Device: Plastic Logic	I've been really looking forward to this one. Please post a full review soon, with pictures if you can. Even blurry pictures can really saw a lot. Especially about form and how well it fits in the hand. Thanks.

09-18-2009, 02:31 PM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The Manual... http://www.onyx-international.com/usermanualV1.0.pdf Manufacturers website... http://www.onyx-international.com Couldn't find anything about when it would be released or where to purchase. Did they give you any info on that Nate? EDIT: Sorry I missed that a manual link had already been posted.

09-18-2009, 06:06 PM	#8
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	Want!!! Ok, I'll have to see the price first. But still, I have been interested in this since the specs were announced.

09-19-2009, 03:21 AM	#11
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	pretty sure this is the Onyx 60 at CeBit earlier in the year. Even if not it gives an idea what it will look like and how it will function: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnFfXZ5DT8k (~6-min runtime)

09-19-2009, 05:34 AM	#12
Jiang Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 52 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shanghai, China Device: kindle keyboard, kindle HD 8.9	hi, guys, there is a chinese review poped online twelve days ago, with lots of pics in the 9 pages review, http://www.mobread.com/evaluating/2009538.html , I guess their factory is in China. In the forum of this site, they said it would be available in China in October.

09-19-2009, 06:16 AM	#13
kome17 kome Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hong Kong Device: Cybook	What a cool device, the pdf support and the wifi function is cool for common reader like us. hope there would be someone selling it in Hong Kong soon

09-19-2009, 09:38 AM	#14
Jiang Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 52 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shanghai, China Device: kindle keyboard, kindle HD 8.9	more pics: http://cn.engadget.com/photos/onyx-boox-unbox/2301273/

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