Onyx Boox 60 review

[Zetmolm]

Just a tip to increase the contrast:
I created a PDF using the Arial Black font and loaded it on my Onyx Boox. And I can tell you, this font is BLACK.

[italianReader]

I have just received the onyx boox from Klein Nijenhuis.
First of all i want to thanks him...

Moreover I would like to ask the forum two questions about my new device:

- I use mainly pdf and I have noticed that with certain books I can sketch on them I and have zoom options whereas on other file i can't do these things...can you explain me why there is this difference?

- The wifi can work through a proxy?


Thank you for your replies

[MikeOnyx]

Originally Posted by italianReader

- I use mainly pdf and I have noticed that with certain books I can sketch on them I and have zoom options whereas on other file i can't do these things...can you explain me why there is this difference?

You can only sketch when on the smallest font. However, you can zoom on the smallest font and still sketch.

[italianReader]

Originally Posted by MikeOnyx

You can only sketch when on the smallest font. However, you can zoom on the smallest font and still sketch.

You are right, thank you

[tsantsa]

How is the boox refresh compared to the Sony prs 300? I have had a chance to play with that and am considering picking it up if the boox doesn't become available soon. I know I'd be paying a bit more but for the added features I don't think I mind.

[egridou]

Originally Posted by tsantsa

How is the boox refresh compared to the Sony prs 300? I have had a chance to play with that and am considering picking it up if the boox doesn't become available soon. I know I'd be paying a bit more but for the added features I don't think I mind.

It is real fast. I do not remember that the 300 impressed me there. To give you an idea of my experience while reading the boox, you turn the page when you reach half the very last line. Not before because you would miss the last words.

[Dulin's Books]

We have just posted the new price on our website and are including the cover and wall charger for a limited time.

www.dulinsbooks.com

[piglab]

Originally Posted by Zetmolm

Just a tip to increase the contrast:
I created a PDF using the Arial Black font and loaded it on my Onyx Boox. And I can tell you, this font is BLACK.

Thanks a lot for the useful info, Zetmolm. Of course, it is rather difficult o change fonts on all existing pdf articles and books but an important point is that it can be changed via software. Let's hope that Onyx will follow this lead in its customers' desire to increase the fonts' contrast.

Originally Posted by tsantsa

How is the boox refresh compared to the Sony prs 300? I have had a chance to play with that and am considering picking it up if the boox doesn't become available soon. I know I'd be paying a bit more but for the added features I don't think I mind.

Onyx claims that it has the fastest refresh rate on the market (currently). I have experienced Sony PRS600, 505, 900, Kindle2, and Nook and I testify that Boox 60 is the best with the regard to refresh speed and experience (it is not flashy to create headache).

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

We have just posted the new price on our website and are including the cover and wall charger for a limited time.
www.dulinsbooks.com

As a customer of Dulin's Bookstore, I want to admit that it was a very pleasant experience. Thanks, Charlie, for all your good work!

One more thing, my son asked me to check how Boox60 handles two-column pdf text. I could not believe what I saw -- it's simply excellent! After zooming, the columns become virtual sequential pages. I think that Boox60 is the best e-reader to handle pdf texts.

Now, on the Boox's weaknesses that I noticed so far:

1) After being in the standby mode, it jumps 2-3 screens back;
2) Dictionary does not work while browsing webpages through Google;
3) Annotations cannot be moved to a computer so far;
4) I can't create shortcuts to favorite websites;
5) It takes several steps to access Dictionary, Bookmarks, or Annotations (I wish there were easy-access icons or double taping on words or the screen);
6) Indention in the pdf files that is often used to mark big quotes in the text does not work probably because of Boox's perfection in the reflow.

In my judgment, after the problem with Annotation move to a computer is solved and Notes can be typed and also moved easily to a computer, Boox 60 will become the ebook leader for an academic market for scholars, students, writers, and many other professionals.

[Dulin's Books]

Thank you

as for #1 above- Its because it remembers the Page it was on not which part of the page. As you mention it zooms well and handles two columns as sequential pages for reading but it still treats them as 1 page. so page number 2 when zoomed may take 4 page turns to read but it still is only page 2. When you start the Boox from sleep it remembers only Page 2-and starts at the beginning of the page.

[tsantsa]

I see that it ships in April now.

[piglab]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

...as for #1 above- Its because it remembers the Page it was on not which part of the page. As you mention it zooms well and handles two columns as sequential pages for reading but it still treats them as 1 page. so page number 2 when zoomed may take 4 page turns to read but it still is only page 2. When you start the Boox from sleep it remembers only Page 2-and starts at the beginning of the page.

Oh, I see, thanks for explanation. It makes sense to me. I'm glad that Boox is pdf-page-orientated and not screen-oriented as many other ereaders. I'd not sacrifice it for screen-based orientation. Maybe in future, Onyx make some kind of hybrid of page- and screen-orientation but it is NOT a priority for me.

[frozennorth]

I really like what I read so far about Boox except for the way the dictionary works. I do hope they will upgrade the firmware in the near future to make it easier to use. And/or make it easy to use an online dictionary. English is my second language so this is important to me.

[piglab]

There has been another unofficial update of the firmware for Boox60 it is called v1.2.2 20100210 (notice the date!)

http://booxusers.com/viewtopic.php?f...f139436dd3b124

----Quote---
Changelog (in comparison with the previous 1.2.2 version):

1) Support of DjVu.
2) Possibility to refresh the screen using the icon at the bottom of the screen.
3) WiFi driver updated.
4) Touchscreen driver updated.
5) Standard sites in browser replaced by Russian sites.
6) Address bar added to browser.
7) Other fixes.

---end of quote----

It seems that it has some new features but for some reasons it is Russian-oriented. I'm a bit worry that according to early reports, it seems to be less stable in working with pdf files. If somebody decides to do this update, please, let us know if it is true. Also, I have heard that the new update allows to do Notes associated with the text in newly supported DJVU format. I wonder if it is true for pdf.

There are rumors on the Russian Onyx site that the official version of 1.2.2 with even more new features will be released very soon (probably after Chinese New Year).

[piglab]

I just read on a Russian forum dedicated to Boox60 that you can make snapshots of its screen. For that you need to press Vol+ and Vol- at the same time. Boox automatically will create snapshot directory on your SD and put snapshots there. I tried and it works. Cool!

[sagiquarion]

Did I read some where here that the boox will have a working dictionary "soon"?

Also, I saw Dulin's lowered the price and included the case and charger with that price so I'm ordering from him instead of the bebook. I also saw in the description that the standard greyscale is 8 but upgradable to 16. I take that to mean that the latest US firmware has 16 grey-scale?