Is Onyx Boox A60 good for web browsing today?

P. F. · 10-13-2015, 01:28 PM

I want to buy a used e-ink reader for the purpose of web browsing. I have the choice to buy:
* Onyx Boox A60 for about $60
* Onyx Boox i62 Espresso for about $90
* Onyx Boox C65 for about $100

My questions:
* Is Onyx Boox A60 usable for web browsing today?
* Is model i62 Espresso better for web browsing than A60 because it has newer software?
* Is C65 with Android better for web browsing than the other two?

I want to minimize the number of websites which are broken, unusable, inaccessible. I also want to minimize the price. If A60 can do the job then I will buy it.

McGonigle · 10-13-2015, 03:20 PM

I had the Bebook branded version of the A60 and would not recommend it for web browsing. In my experience it was a very slow affair, extremely slow in fact, with a very basic browser, and the Wifi kept turning itself off every time you quit the browser.

Jmirko · 10-16-2015, 01:27 AM

I recommend the C65.
I used to own an X60 (same sw as the A60), and it was indeed slow. I don't know the i62, but open Android is more than worth the 10$ price difference. For example, you can install a fast web browser (such as Opera Mini) which is likely to be maintained and improved over time. This is not always the case with the proprietary apps of device manufacturers, who would prefer to sell you a new device.

P. F. · 10-18-2015, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the responses.

I think the problem is not the openness of the platform but rather the size of the platform, the number of programs targetting the platform. Onyx Boox A60 has an open software dev kit but very few developers have bothered to create programs for it.

At the moment the prices for Onyx Boox C65 with Android start from about $110. Back in the $50-$60 price range, apart from Onyx Boox A60 I found I can also buy:
* Amazon Kindle 3
* Amazon Kindle Touch
* Sony PRS-T1
All of these have wi-fi and a web browser. Sony PRS-T1 is interesting because it runs Android under the hood and it can be hacked to run various Android applications including some web browsers. Perhaps this is the most promising device long-term for this price.

10-13-2015, 01:28 PM	#1
P. F. Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 7120 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Poland Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	Is Onyx Boox A60 good for web browsing today? I want to buy a used e-ink reader for the purpose of web browsing. I have the choice to buy: * Onyx Boox A60 for about $60 * Onyx Boox i62 Espresso for about $90 * Onyx Boox C65 for about $100 My questions: * Is Onyx Boox A60 usable for web browsing today? * Is model i62 Espresso better for web browsing than A60 because it has newer software? * Is C65 with Android better for web browsing than the other two? I want to minimize the number of websites which are broken, unusable, inaccessible. I also want to minimize the price. If A60 can do the job then I will buy it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Onyx Boox M96 Web Browser	ayush	Onyx Boox	2	09-07-2014 08:40 PM
Onyx boox i62 or Onyx boox 92M for PDF reading?	tidyboyd	Which one should I buy?	16	04-02-2013 04:19 PM
Onyx Boox A60 for $99	Dulin's Books	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	0	08-25-2011 05:48 PM
ONYX BOOX 1.5.1 A60/X60/X60S(onyx-international.com)	samerghafik	Onyx Boox	4	01-03-2011 01:32 AM
Onyx Boox wierd web page !	erictoma	Onyx Boox	1	12-01-2010 03:05 PM

10-13-2015, 03:20 PM	#2
McGonigle Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 1529376 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Aura One, iPad 2018,	I had the Bebook branded version of the A60 and would not recommend it for web browsing. In my experience it was a very slow affair, extremely slow in fact, with a very basic browser, and the Wifi kept turning itself off every time you quit the browser.

10-16-2015, 01:27 AM	#3
Jmirko Recovered collector Posts: 398 Karma: 1555507 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: see signature	I recommend the C65. I used to own an X60 (same sw as the A60), and it was indeed slow. I don't know the i62, but open Android is more than worth the 10$ price difference. For example, you can install a fast web browser (such as Opera Mini) which is likely to be maintained and improved over time. This is not always the case with the proprietary apps of device manufacturers, who would prefer to sell you a new device.

10-18-2015, 01:51 PM	#4
P. F. Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 7120 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Poland Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	Thanks for the responses. I think the problem is not the openness of the platform but rather the size of the platform, the number of programs targetting the platform. Onyx Boox A60 has an open software dev kit but very few developers have bothered to create programs for it. At the moment the prices for Onyx Boox C65 with Android start from about $110. Back in the $50-$60 price range, apart from Onyx Boox A60 I found I can also buy: * Amazon Kindle 3 * Amazon Kindle Touch * Sony PRS-T1 All of these have wi-fi and a web browser. Sony PRS-T1 is interesting because it runs Android under the hood and it can be hacked to run various Android applications including some web browsers. Perhaps this is the most promising device long-term for this price.