Xiaomi launches the InkPalm 5 mini e-reader for 599 yuan (~$91)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by koboy

while people keep buying the latest low spec Kindles and Kobos they will keep making them.

best wishes koboy

The worst mainstream Reader available now is the Kindle Basic. It was obsolete before it was released.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by twowheels

EDIT: And I just remembered the fact that Xiaomi has been accused of being a bit of a backdoor for a particular foreign government... so, there's that big red flag -- hmmm...

Of courses, protectionism and xenophobia played no part in those accusations, raised as they were by a government that has never engaged in unethical or illegal surveillance of its own or other countries' citizens.

[kyteflyer]

I want one. Unlike many, I prefer a smaller reader, even 6” is larger than I want. I currently read on my phone, this would save those batteries.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

I want one. Unlike many, I prefer a smaller reader, even 6” is larger than I want. I currently read on my phone, this would save those batteries.

It is a very portable size. If it were open enough, I might even get one to install KOReader on and sync with my Libra, letting me take an e-ink reader with me places I'd rather not take my Libra.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by rowe

If this will run in English I’ll buy it to replace my Hisense A5. Smaller, lighter and looks to be a better screen.

Although I would prefer the size of this device, I will stick with my Hisense A5. It has a much larger battery and much more RAM. It also has a more recent version of Android and offers expandable memory.

As for the screen, the A5 apparently has 278ppi while the Xiaomi has 284 ppi. Not a huge difference.

For me the benefits of the A5 far outweigh its larger size and heavier weight.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Question Mark

Although I would prefer the size of this device, I will stick with my Hisense A5. It has a much larger battery and much more RAM. It also has a more recent version of Android and offers expandable memory.

As for the screen, the A5 apparently has 278ppi while the Xiaomi has 284 ppi. Not a huge difference.

For me the benefits of the A5 far outweigh its larger size and heavier weight.

The A5 doesn't have a lit screen, and especially color-temp adjustment, does it? For me, that's a must-have feature.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Of courses, protectionism and xenophobia played no part in those accusations, raised as they were by a government that has never engaged in unethical or illegal surveillance of its own or other countries' citizens.

While this is evidence of nothing, I was reading about concerns regarding their networking equipment on technical forums long before the US government made a statement about it.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by twowheels

While this is evidence of nothing, I was reading about concerns regarding their networking equipment on technical forums long before the US government made a statement about it.

Oh sure, I don't TRUST Xiaomi at all, despite having used their products for several years now. I've never accessed their "Mi Account" or cloud backup features, for example. My point is simply that the brouhaha is very much "pot, meet kettle". EVERYBODY spies, the only choice we have is, who do we let spy on our stuff - Beijing, Fort Meade, Cupertino or Mountain View. Or, most likely, some combination thereof.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by twowheels

EDIT: And I just remembered the fact that Xiaomi has been accused of being a bit of a backdoor for a particular foreign government... so, there's that big red flag -- hmmm...

That doesn't bother me as much as access to some of the Western intelligence services.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by twowheels

While this is evidence of nothing, I was reading about concerns regarding their networking equipment on technical forums long before the US government made a statement about it.

Cisco backdoors for USA TLAs.

US government statements about non-American brands are more Politics than facts. Or sometimes they block gear that they can't put their backdoors on.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The worst mainstream Reader available now is the Kindle Basic. It was obsolete before it was released.

Absolutely. A terrible buy, with or without adverts.

[Question Mark]

Originally Posted by twowheels

The A5 doesn't have a lit screen, and especially color-temp adjustment, does it? For me, that's a must-have feature.

The A5 does indeed have a front lit screen. That is something which I would absolutely want in a modern ereader.

However, the light on the A5 is not colour temperature adjustable. That is not as important for me. Other features like battery size and expandable memory are much more important to me.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by twowheels

...I'd really like a more portable reader, though would prefer a slightly more square aspect ratio...

Yeah, for me it's a bit too phone like. I prefer the 3:4 ratio most other readers use.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned the glass screen. It could help with clarity, though watch out if you drop it. (I know, now the word 'substrate' will surface.)

Anyway, it's not for me, but it does look pretty neat.

[Calenorn]

I hope this thing sells like crazy. Then maybe Kobo will see that there's a market for a modern Mini.

[tomsem]

A 4:3 5” device with even 1024x768 would appeal to me more.

I’m skeptical that a reading app such as Kindle or Kobo would run without issues on this. The color themes are not designed with monochrome displays in mind, and depending on Android version, it might need to be an older version.

The low end Kindle is perfectly fine. Text seems a bit clearer to me than Paperwhite 4, ironically. It’s a bit lighter and smaller, and more comfortable to hold. And it now has 8GB for the same price as before. No Dark Mode, otherwise CPU speed and RAM is the same as the others, it is of the latest and greatest Kindle generation (10th). I suppose the sneering is that it’s only 800x600 (167 PPI), but it has its place.