Confused about the T68 differences - Perceived and/or real

[Dr. Drib]

I'm considering purchasing the one from Amazon, since it is so much cheaper for me. However, I'm willing to ignore the cost advantage, while a discussion takes place in this thread. (Your responses may change my mind.)

The questions below are serious questions. Here they are:

What is the difference between these two?
Why is there a difference between these two?
Does it make any difference which one of the two I purchase, in regard to actual use?
Is there a perceived (or real) difference between owning one over the other?
Does one have an advantage over the other?
Should I wait while 'issues' are ironed out?
Are there any overlooked concerns not addressed in the questions above?

Thanks in advance to everyone here for their responses.

[JSWolf]

From what I gather, the two versions use different firmware so an update for one won't work on the other. That's what I've been reading on MR.

[HarryT]

Differences appear to be minor in terms of firmware, and both will of course run the same apps. It's not a perfect device, and you won't pick it up and use it right out of the box like you will with a Kindle or a Nook, but having had mine for a week and a half now I'm coming to the conclusion that it's the most flexible eInk device out there. I'd recommend it thoroughly if you've willing to invest a little time and effort to set it up the way you want.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Should I wait while 'issues' are ironed out?

I also want an official reply to this question with regards to Frontlight.

If by 'issues' you mean software related issues, then you may buy the eReader any time. Onyx will release complete builds from time to time.

I am concerned about frontlight. Since frontlight is mostly a hardware feature, I want to know if there any plans or possibility of an improved T68 with dimmer frontlight coming out.


Regarding other points: This whole issue has been discussed many times. I can write my observations or opinion but it will be a very long post.

[HarryT]

The frontlight seems absolutely fine to me. Whether or not someone wants a dimmer setting is purely a matter of personal preference.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The frontlight seems absolutely fine to me. Whether or not someone wants a dimmer setting is purely a matter of personal preference.

That's a relief. Thank You
I am planning to buy one soon, but i am also waiting for i86.

[Purple Lady]

I am sensitive to bright light and mine is OK for me on the lowest setting in a dark room. The second setting is way brighter. I bought at Amazon - is this one of the differences between the two?

I'm curious about the settings menu on the other model. I was looking at the manual and it shows the standard Android settings menu - is this incorrect in the manual or is that another difference? The settings menu I get is completely different.

[HarryT]

The frontlight settings are the same on the two versions.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I am sensitive to bright light and mine is OK for me on the lowest setting in a dark room. The second setting is way brighter. I bought at Amazon - is this one of the differences between the two?

I'm curious about the settings menu on the other model. I was looking at the manual and it shows the standard Android settings menu - is this incorrect in the manual or is that another difference? The settings menu I get is completely different.

Thanks to you also for your views on Frontlight

Regarding device differences: Both the devices are essentially the same. So there shouldn't be any difference in hardware or even in software i.e. the settings menus should be same in both. The difference will be in how frequently they will get updates.

As far as i know Onyx devices are mainly sold through 4 distribution channels:
1) Artatech (based in Poland) - they sell on various Amazon sites also
2) Booxtor in Germany
3) Russia
4) China (Aliexpress, eBay etc)

How the firmware differs:
Devices bought from Booxtor and straight from various Chinese sellers have sort of like vanilla flavor of firmware without any additions.
Artatech gives additional Ivona TTS software.
Russia will have many versions of the same device : with/without touch; with/without audio speaker etc. Their firmware is tailored accordingly.

This is what happened previously when Onyx eReaders had linux firmware:
Booxtor used to provide us with updates very frequently. There used to be weekly patches and then final builds. Artatech used to release final builds only, after a gap of 1 or 2 months. In android terminology, I can say that one distributor is providing us with developer ROM and other is giving us a Stable build.


Edit:
Differences in linux builds were large, I believe that there won't be any differences in Android builds. But i maybe wrong.
I don't wish to favor one distributor over the other, because i may know only one side of the story. So please take my opinions with a pinch of salt and wait for other users' opinions.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Feher

Thanks to you also for your views on Frontlight

Regarding device differences: Both the devices are essentially the same. So there shouldn't be any difference in hardware or even in software i.e. the settings menus should be same in both. The difference will be in how frequently they will get updates.

As far as i know Onyx devices are mainly sold through 4 distribution channels:
1) Artatech (based in Poland) - they sell on various Amazon sites also
2) Booxtor in Germany
3) Russia
4) China (Aliexpress, eBay etc)

How the firmware differs:
Devices bought from Booxtor and straight from various Chinese sellers have sort of like vanilla flavor of firmware without any additions.
Artatech gives additional Ivona TTS software.
Russia will have many versions of the same device : with/without touch; with/without audio speaker etc. Their firmware is tailored accordingly.

This is what happened previously when Onyx eReaders had linux firmware:
Booxtor used to provide us with updates very frequently. There used to be weekly patches and then final builds. Artatech used to release final builds only, after a gap of 1 or 2 months. In android terminology, I can say that one distributor is providing us with developer ROM and other is giving us a Stable build.


Edit:
Differences in linux builds were large, I believe that there won't be any differences in Android builds. But i maybe wrong.
I don't wish to favor one distributor over the other, because i may know only one side of the story. So please take my opinions with a pinch of salt and wait for other users' opinions.

So if the settings menus should look the same, the manual is not correct on that part.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Feher

As far as i know Onyx devices are mainly sold through 4 distribution channels:
1) Artatech (based in Poland) - they sell on various Amazon sites also
2) Booxtor in Germany
3) Russia
4) China (Aliexpress, eBay etc)

5) e-readerweb.nl in the Netherlands, also the international version (most likely the same as Booxtor)

[ST-One]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I'm curious about the settings menu on the other model. I was looking at the manual and it shows the standard Android settings menu - is this incorrect in the manual or is that another difference? The settings menu I get is completely different.

There are actually two settings-menus: the one you access via the home-screen (that's the one tailored for the e-reading), and that other one you access via the "apps"-screen (this is the standard Android menu).

[darryl]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I'm considering purchasing the one from Amazon, since it is so much cheaper for me. However, I'm willing to ignore the cost advantage, while a discussion takes place in this thread. (Your responses may change my mind.)

The questions below are serious questions. Here they are:

What is the difference between these two?
Why is there a difference between these two?
Does it make any difference which one of the two I purchase, in regard to actual use?
Is there a perceived (or real) difference between owning one over the other?
Does one have an advantage over the other?
Should I wait while 'issues' are ironed out?
Are there any overlooked concerns not addressed in the questions above?

Thanks in advance to everyone here for their responses.

1. The Artatech fkrmware is the other "stock"firmware with Ivona TTS replacing Pico including some Polish voices added, and incorporating an application for an ereader store referred to in many posts as "The Polish Store". Also, Artatech call their version the Lynx and apprarently do no allow flashing to stock firmware. Not sure about the other way around. Also not sure what other differences there may be, though I have not seen references to others.

2. Polish based Artatech chose to "enhance" the stock firmware for their own reasons. To some users it is enhanced, to some not.

3. No. Don't use what you don't want. I can't imagine any extra resources used are significant.

4. For real differences know see previous answers. As to perceived, I don't really know but who cares.

5. If you are Polish you might like the Polish Store.

6. There will always be issues. The devices work well now. Just don't expect immediate perfection.

7. Not that I can think of, except for considering whether you really want this device. I think it is good for people who want to play around with their device, avoid lock-in and be able to purchase books from all of the reader "ecosystems" and read them legally on the one device without having to circumvent DRM and change formats. But most people who just want it to work may be better off with their Kindle, Aura etc.

My two cents worth is that if the Lynx on Amazon is much cheaper for you and you want it, buy it. It is also a fully-fledged Android Tablet, (albeit with an EInk display whcih can cause some issues), and most functional problems can be fixed via the Google Read Store or downloaded apk's.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by darryl

I think it is good for people who want to play around with their device, avoid lock-in and be able to purchase books from all of the reader "ecosystems" and read them legally on the one device without having to circumvent DRM and change formats.

It's also good for people who want to be able to manage a large library on the device with Calibre Companion. This is the "killer app" for reading on Android, IMHO.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's also good for people who want to be able to manage a large library on the device with Calibre Companion. This is the "killer app" for reading on Android, IMHO.

Agreed.