Newbie looking for a decent scanned PDF reader, how about the Boox M96(C)?

[Queso]

Greetings!

I am an avid reader and prefer print books to digital. But with the plethora of old, free books available via Archive.org and Google Books, my bookshelves getting full, and my wife suggesting I might be a hoarder, I'm desperate for a decent way to read PDF e-books without straining my eyes. I'm a computer programmer by trade and spend my days staring hour after hour at LCD screens.

I want an e-reader that (1) uses e-ink and (2) can read (sometimes large, usually less than 200MB) scanned PDF files. My long and arduous search brought me to the Onyx Boox M96 or M96C as the only way to do this -- outside of the Sony Digital Paper which is beyond my pay scale. I want something that I can buy and use, I don't have time to endlessly tweak. I understand these devices are not going to be as polished as the mass produced vending machines of Amazon. That's fine. So long as it's going to be stable and usable long term, even after the stream of firmware updates runs dry.

Are one of these two devices what I'm looking for? I don't need to write on it, all I want to be able to do is transfer PDF files to it (USB? Dropbox?), read them, and delete them. Are there any other devices that can do this better for the price that are e-ink? (If it matters, I use Linux. I don't have Windows or OS X.)

If I buy one of these devices, where do I buy it? I have read that some distributors are better because of the software updates made to them. I live in the United States. Assuming my calculations and coversions are correct, if I buy the M96 via http://ereader-store.de/ (which appears to be a distributor that might be recommended) I will be paying $80 more than if I bought it off amazon.com ($410 vs $330), and that's before paying the shipping. What do you recommend I do?

Would you recommend I get the M96 or the M96C? I don't need to write on it, but maybe the M96 is more "stable" anyway? Is the screen quality of the M96 better because it doesn't have the layer on top to support capacitive touch?

Lastly, should I just wait? Are any better devices slated to be coming out in the next few months that would be worth waiting for, whether from Onyx or another company? Or is it a few years between releases anyway and these Onyx devices are really the only suitable e-readers for my needs?

Thanks for your help.

[Dr. Drib]

I, too, would like to know why someone would willingly (unwillingly?) choose to pay $80 more - and also before shipping.

CORRECTION: Amazon [US] s showing a price of $339, NOT $330.
The difference in cost (before shipping) would therefore be $71, and NOT $80.

[kuskro]

Originally Posted by Queso

Would you recommend I get the M96 or the M96C? I don't need to write on it, but maybe the M96 is more "stable" anyway? Is the screen quality of the M96 better because it doesn't have the layer on top to support capacitive touch?

Lastly, should I just wait? Are any better devices slated to be coming out in the next few months that would be worth waiting for, whether from Onyx or another company? Or is it a few years between releases anyway and these Onyx devices are really the only suitable e-readers for my needs?

Well, it depends on your needs and budget.

During the last 5 years I've bought many ereader (nook, sony, kobo, etc...) because I cannot use backlight devices because of a blue-light allergy I've been suffering. Thereby, from my extended experience I can say that an operational android ereader is a must have and at least from my viewpoint Onyx devices are the only one that cover my expectation.

So, I bought a T68 to be used for travelling and a M96 for reading papers (I'm faculty). Both devices are great if you tweak them (it will take you no more than 30 minutes).

I was skeptical about the stylus screens but after a month using my M96, I was quite happy because I could afford to cover all my demands with different apps from Google Play Store. For internet browsing I use the default android keyboard but for responding email or writing word files I use handwriting thanks to "MyScript Stylus app which is so effective. For zooming I use "Assistive Zoom Pro app" and for rotating the screen I use "Ultimate Rotation Control app". For web browsing I use "Lightning Browser" and "Puffin Web Browser". Also you can use Amazon Kindle, Moon Reader Pro (good epud reader) and ezPDF reader. Spotify is compatible, also.

The capacitive touch screen of our T68 is less precise than a common color back-lighted capacitive touch screen and also less precise than the magnetic stylus screen of our M96. Hence, for hard working or hard reading and annotation I consider that a magnetic stylus screen is a better option, but for leisure is better a M96C or a T68 (the latter is better handling and more comfortable for leisure). The capacitive touch screen of our T68 is darker but the "resolution and refreshing" is more or less the same than the M96.

I tried Booxtor firmwares and for T68 the best update now is 20141014 one and for M96 the 20141013. Both firmwares have to be debloated, you can follow the advices of this thread.

From my point of view www.ereader-store.de is the best seller so far, they enhance their product with better hardware and software.

Best.

[Randy11]

For me http://ereader-store.eu is the best place. But about the price, the Booxtor's version is specfic for the M96

Now with a bigger and more convenient stylus with additional "eraser" function" and 85HZ screen.

For the M96C

Now with more convenient finger controlled multi touch screen and 85HZ screen. 

The reason is for the specific frequenty :

In our Store only - M96 from this batch are equipped with faster 85HZ screens (regular cheaper models have slower 50HZ screens)

For the price, in http://ereader-store.eu, it's 301.59 €, the tax is only for Europe. You could have US taxes however.

[Queso]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

CORRECTION: Amazon [US] s showing a price of $339, NOT $330.
The difference in cost (before shipping) would therefore be $71, and NOT $80.

You're right, I was working from memory. Sorry about that.

Originally Posted by kuskro

I was skeptical about the stylus screens but after a month using my M96, I was quite happy because I could afford to cover all my demands with different apps from Google Play Store.

Very helpful, thank you. If I purchase one of these devices, I will try the apps you've suggested here.

Originally Posted by Randy11

For the price, in http://ereader-store.eu, it's 301.59 €, the tax is only for Europe. You could have US taxes however.

I hadn't considered this -- if the tax doesn't apply to me, that will make it more affordable and competitive with the price of the model being sold on Amazon.

[JimMcLaren]

I have a T68 and use it just as you describe. I have modified this reader less than most I have owned. I doç I have owned. I did put the booxtor firmware on it but not much else. You can read my review on this forum. If you don't want to hack it much I'd get an M96 from him. It costs more but its ready to go out of the box.

[Queso]

Oh, another quick question: I have a Galaxy Nexus, it has Android 4.2.2. My phone was released in November of 2011. Obviously the OS received an update since I got the phone. But why are brand new devices coming out with an OS that was released in 2011?

[kuskro]

Originally Posted by Queso

Oh, another quick question: I have a Galaxy Nexus, it has Android 4.2.2. My phone was released in November of 2011. Obviously the OS received an update since I got the phone. But why are brand new devices coming out with an OS that was released in 2011?

It is due to Onyx devices' hardware limitation. But next March they will update to Android 4.4 kitkat our T68 and M96. Old hardware is supported by Android 4.4.

[Queso]

Would it be worthwhile to wait until March before purchasing a new device then? Or have they promised to also release this to already-released models?

[kuskro]

Originally Posted by Queso

Would it be worthwhile to wait until March before purchasing a new device then? Or have they promised to also release this to already-released models?

I think it is worthy to wait just in case they present new features on their devices, for example a dual screen (capacitive and stylus).

Best.

[Dr. Drib]

Shipping from the ereader .de store MAY be very prohibitive.

I think I recall (and I could be wrong on this), that the price for shipping was outrageously, extremely high.

I'll probably end up ordering something from Amazon, rather than from the ereader .de store.

Does anyone have actual figures on the shipping?

[Randy11]

About the shipping, there is this : http://ereader-store.de/en/content/1-shipping and the FAQ : http://ereader-store.de/modules/loffaq/view.php?cat=4

The best is to use the form contact to ask your question : https://ereader-store.de/en/contact-us. May be they can find a other solution to reduce the cost if the cost it's too high for you.

If you try to buy a device, without go to the end, you can have the real cost of shipping.

[Queso]

Originally Posted by kuskro

I think it is worthy to wait just in case they present new features on their devices, for example a dual screen (capacitive and stylus).

Best.

But wasn't the M96C just released at the end of January? Is it likely that another, newer, updated version/replacement of the M96 will be coming out soon? I'm pretty close to ordering the M96C. But if waiting a couple of months is going to pay off, then I will be content to wait. What makes you think something new is coming out? Thanks.

[kuskro]

Originally Posted by Queso

But wasn't the M96C just released at the end of January? Is it likely that another, newer, updated version/replacement of the M96 will be coming out soon? I'm pretty close to ordering the M96C. But if waiting a couple of months is going to pay off, then I will be content to wait. What makes you think something new is coming out? Thanks.

Only rumors about the possibility of having a capacitive + stylus screen like the Hanvon's ereader. But it can take time and you never know with Onyx.

Best.

[Queso]

For those who have the M96 and the M96C, is the screen on the M96C just as good for reading? I don't mind if there's a slight difference in contrast or yellowing (as mentioned here). I just want to know that it's still a very usable e-reader.

Also, is the resolution sufficient? Is it detailed enough? I like that it has a big screen but I'm concerned the resolution may result in blocky or pixel-like text. Please keep in mind that I'm going to primary use this for scanned PDF e-books like those off archive.org -- I suppose that might make a difference when answering the question. I want the bigger screen so I can view larger, detailed pages all at once without zooming, scrolling, etc. But I'm concerned that small text might not be as readable. Here is an example file to test with : https://archive.org/download/works01...orks01knox.pdf Are the footnotes clearly legible on the M96(C)?

Sorry to keep bugging you all, this is a big investment for me. Thanks for your help!