8" eReader device?

[Sirtel]

I guess I could manage with a color ereader too, if nothing better is available. I mean, primarily by Kobo, as I prefer Kobo devices to others. For example, if Kobo releases a color Sage, but not a black and white one, I might get it (depending on reviews).

I'd still like a b/w Sage better, of course, but I doubt one will ever be released.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by enuddleyarbl

<snippage of good stuff>

So, from the top 10 manufacturers, no 8" e-readers released after 2023? None with the newest (Carta 1300) panel (which was released in 2023).

And that, my friends, is why I bought myself a second Sage before they went out of stock, and went on to also buy myself a half-price open-box Nook Glowlight 4 Plus.

My gut has been telling me all along that 8" is too niche and is being dropped out of the equation. I'm hanging on to every 7.8" or 8" device I have, because it's my favorite size.

I think manufacturers are downsizing their offerings, and while a shame, I'm gonna roll with the punches in order to keep my eyes comfy. I can, fortunately, still use a 7" reader, but 8" is just so much more immersive.

Naturally, I hope I'm proved wrong. I would be DELIGHTED to be 100% wrong on this.

I think IF Kobo releases another Sage, it will be color e-ink. Which I would probably at least try, just because I don't have a color e-ink reader yet. But my eyes are so blamed fussy, that I have doubts I'd be able to read for long periods on color e-ink without issue.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ArizonaGuy

OK. Here are the same images adjusted for the temperature change from the indoor lights. I am not sure there is much of a difference, but you can let me know.

I have to admit that the photos look more like the screen images than the screenshots did. In particular the Night Mode screenshot seemed darker than when I look at it on the device. The photo does seem to be closer to the reality,

Is the frontlght on? If so, can you do one more set of photos with no frontlight? Thanks.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

No one would mind colored eink if the quality of the screen were the same as that of current black and white devices. It's not, though, and understandably this annoys a lot of eink users.

I would mind, simply because I would be paying extra for a feature I don't want or need.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

I think the popularity of color ereaders is simply because we see in color! So, it stands to reason we also want to read in color.

I don't read in color. The books I read use black text on a white background. The higher the contrast the better.

As for the "popularity" of color eReaders, it's kind of hard to gauge when Kobo doesn't offer the BW version of a Libra (for example). If you want a 7" Kobo eReader you have no choice — it's color or nothing.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I would mind, simply because I would be paying extra for a feature I don't want or need.

Well, you'd mind the price, in that case, not the screen itself. And I'm sure the price would come down in time, if color eink really was good enough to completely replace b/w eink.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by nana77

@DNSB: can you please ask if it can be possible to connect that screen on a Jetson Kit, as the Nvidia Shield Tablet has? It features a good integrated video gpu.
Do you might know how much does it costs, the screen?
Btw, I've came on this while searching: https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/news/poc...k-viva-news-ch , it was meant to be released in 2023.

As far as I know, the driver board handles all the connections from the computer to the display panel. While you could directly access the panel, the driver board does a lot of the heavy lifting from driving the display panel to handling the touch input and frontlight. While the Jetson Kit could likely be used to talk to the driver board, I don't know enough about the Jetson Kit's I/O to be certain.

Going off the owner's memory, the screens cost $562 Cdn. each when 10 were purchased plus the cost of the driver board. They were intended to be used in developing an upgrade to the control panel for a building control system but that project was shelved in favour of using an LCD display so the parts were sold off to the staff at a reduced cost.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by rcentros

As for the "popularity" of color eReaders, it's kind of hard to gauge when Kobo doesn't offer the BW version of a Libra (for example). If you want a 7" Kobo eReader you have no choice — it's color or nothing.

The problem is not so much having devices to compare, since all brands have some e-readers of the same size in BW and Colour (Kobo has a 6" model), but rather knowing the actual sales figures. I don't know them.

I can check Amazon every month to see how many of each are sold, but I don't think that's a reliable parameter (according to the information published in my country last month, the same number of Kobo Clara e-readers were sold in black and white and colour, more PocketBook Verse Pro Color than Verse Pro, and significantly fewer Kindle Colorsoft than Paperwhite, to cite a few comparisons. In other countries, it can vary considerably).

But I don't think it's a question of establishing a competition to see which is better or more popular, much less through sales levels, which are influenced by numerous factors to be taken into account (the Basic Kindle is an e-reader that sells very well, and its popularity does not mean that it is better than others). Colour e-readers are another option that, fortunately for their audience, has become widespread, and I find it difficult to see that changing. The trend is for sales to increase, if only because there are now many more models than before.

[nana77]

@kandwo

Sadly, 8" doesn't seem to be a priority on the Western market. Most models are old and use Carta 1000.

It's odd that Onyx Boox seems to release better products on the Chinese market. And they also recently released Boox Kon-tiki 5 (an 8" reader with Carta 1300 - basically the Nova series without the wacom layer) on the Russian market. As far as I know, the Kon-tiki is very popular over there. As is the Kant - a cheaper version of the Palma, which is what many people have asked for here. But for whatever reason Onyx Boox doesn't seem to want to offer that kind of products themselves.

Maybe the reasons might be different, but I recall that the first Pocketbook within 250dpi (Inkpad 830), after a lighty attempt in Europe's market, went available only in Russian and East ones; and became in EU after those firsts batches (8 months later?). I don't know if it's because, likewise on others products, manufactures needs a minimum request already, that may be not just on the order of thousands.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Well, you'd mind the price, in that case, not the screen itself. And I'm sure the price would come down in time, if color eink really was good enough to completely replace b/w eink.

At this point your argument is hypothetical, since color screens aren't as good as BW ones and they cost more. And, for my usage, they're completely unnecessary.

I speak for myself, not for others. Choice is good, unfortunately I can no longer choose a 7" BW Kobo Libra, which is often claimed to have had the best BW screen ever made.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cellaris

The problem is not so much having devices to compare, since all brands have some e-readers of the same size in BW and Colour (Kobo has a 6" model), but rather knowing the actual sales figures. I don't know them.

I understand. But I was speaking specifically about a 7" Kobo. All the good reviews about the Libra 2's screen had convinced me that was the direction to go (when the time came). And they're are still a lot of people hoping for its return. Apparently Kobo has decided the color screen is "good enough." But I (personally) don't want to compromise and won't do so.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

At this point your argument is hypothetical, since color screens aren't as good as BW ones and they cost more.

So was yours, when you said you'd mind the color even if the quality of color screens was the same as that of the b/w ones.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I understand. But I was speaking specifically about a 7" Kobo. All the good reviews about the Libra 2's screen had convinced me that was the direction to go (when the time came). And they're are still a lot of people hoping for its return. Apparently Kobo has decided the color screen is "good enough." But I (personally) don't want to compromise and won't do so.

There are currently other screens on the market with very good contrast, but they are not Kobo and are not 7" of course. Possibly the screen of the Kobo Libra 2 (in my case, that of its twin brother, the Tolino Vision 6, a device that will not be updated either) is also my favourite. It is so good that sometimes I need to look at something more imperfect to appreciate it again 😉.

[ArizonaGuy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is the frontlght on? If so, can you do one more set of photos with no frontlight? Thanks.

I do most of my reading in a dark room so yes, the front light was on.

Here are photos taken outdoors with decent sunlight and the front light turned all the way down to 0. The white screen is not nearly as bright and when I do read outdoors I keep the front light on. Not all the way up, but still on.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ArizonaGuy

I do most of my reading in a dark room so yes, the front light was on.

Here are photos taken outdoors with decent sunlight and the front light turned all the way down to 0. The white screen is not nearly as bright and when I do read outdoors I keep the front light on. Not all the way up, but still on.

Looks decent enough, to me. Plus, personally I never read outdoors anyway.