Onyx Boox 60 review

[Seabound]

Onyx Boox folks, the onyxboox.com and dulinsbooks.com websites indicate that Boox will be shipping on April 2. Will those Boox have the latest (at the time of shipping) firmware version installed?

Edited to add: Looks like you have a very good product.

[Dulin's Books]

Yes, they will have the latest firmware available which will include the Scribd application http://www.scribd.com/

[Seabound]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

Yes, they will have the latest firmware available which will include the Scribd application http://www.scribd.com/

Thank you for the info! Now if April 2 can be here sooner. And good thing Onyx didn't choose April 1.

[nitrocuadam]

Does the dictionary show the meaning at the bottom of the screen?

Or does it open a new page?

Thank you

[ac4lt]

Originally Posted by nitrocuadam

Does the dictionary show the meaning at the bottom of the screen?

Or does it open a new page?

Thank you

It pops up a dialog on top of the page. It doesn't open a new page.

[nitrocuadam]

But does it block the text we are reading?Is it bothersome?

[ac4lt]

Originally Posted by nitrocuadam

But does it block the text we are reading?Is it bothersome?

It seems to try to position itself so that the word being looked up is still visible. It is kind of clunky though. In the current firmware I'm not too keen on the dictionary UI. It's sluggish and flashes a lot. But, with the right dictionary installed at least it does work.

I'm hopeful that they will improve it in subsequent releases.

[nitrocuadam]

Thank you very much

I really would like to buy Sony Prs-600 because of its dictionary capabilities but due to the glare issues I will buy onyx and that's why I am really interested with the dictionary


Thanks

[egridou]

Originally Posted by italianReader

Can you put a link to the wordnet dictionary? I'm used to the Oxford one but unfortunately it doesn't work flawless...

Here is a link to find all necessary info.
http://booxusers.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6

And regarding Nitrocuadam question: "We just click on the word we don't know and the meaning shows up like in prs-600?", it is not exactly as simple as that: You have to open the menu, click on Tools, and click again on Dictionary. It opens an embedded window and then you highlight the word by clicking one time on it. 4 clicks!... That's a lot. If you want to check a word that is hidden by the window, you can click on any word near this window and it will position itself at the opposite (up or down) side.

From my experience you only have access to the one page you are reading to check a word. You have to close the embedded window to turn the page. If you want to look for a word on this next page, then you have to do it all over the same. Do others confirm this?

So it is far from being as direct as with the 600. A shortcut would be very welcome here, dear Onyx people!

[tommik]

Originally Posted by egridou

From my experience you only have access to the one page you are reading to check a word. You have to close the embedded window to turn the page. If you want to look for a word on this next page, then you have to do it all over the same. Do others confirm this?

If you want to look for a word on next pages it is a little bit easier than on the first page. In this case you need only 3 clicks - Menu, Dictionary, Word (option Tools is saved so you don't have to choose it again).

[piglab]

Here is my wish list for Boox 60 firmware updates:

1) Export annotations and notes to a computer (very important!);
2) Typed notes that can be attached to annotations and bookmark (very important!);
3) Icons for the dictionary and annotations for easy access (or double tapping on a word for the dictionary function like in Sony PRS900) (very important!);
4) Lookup function for dictionary (very important! especially for non-English languages);
5) Dictionary work with webpages (very important!);
6) Black fonts rather than gray in pdfs, other formats and webpages (very important!);
7) More stable work of dictionaries (very important!);
8) Support of the LIT format (very important);

9) Text-to-speech in multiple languages (a plus!);
10) Ability to write emails (a plus!);
11) Export and import web browser favorites to a computer (a plus);
12) Ability to create shortcuts along with Google, Onyx, Adobe site page (a plus);
13) Calendar and todo list that can be synchronized wirelessly with Outlook (a plus);
14) Support for 16 greyscale (a plus);
15) 360 degree screen rotation (a plus);
16) Internet tethering via a computer or mobile phone (a plus);
17) Handwriting recognition in multiple languages (a plus);
18) Support for diverse formats of MP3s (a plus);

19) Wireless synchronization of books with a computer (and iPhone) (it can wait);
20) Keep the original indentation for quotes in pdf texts (minor);
21) Not jumping to the beginning of page but remembering the screen (minor).

Do you have other things to add?

PS Can somebody pass this wish list (and other suggestions) to Onyx's designers or let me know how to do that, please?
PPS A few days ago, IREX DR800SG became available at BestBuy to order (in US) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/IREX+-+D...ustomerreviews . After reviewing it specifications http://www.mobiletechreview.com/gadg...EX-DR800SG.htm, I came to a conclusion that Boox 60 fits better my reading needs.

[MikeOnyx]

Originally Posted by piglab

Here is my wish list for Boox 60 firmware updates:

1) Export annotations and notes to a computer (very important!);
2) Typed notes that can be attached to annotations and bookmark (very important!);
3) Icons for the dictionary and annotations for easy access (or double tapping on a word for the dictionary function like in Sony PRS900) (very important!);
4) Lookup function for dictionary (very important! especially for non-English languages);
5) Dictionary work with webpages (very important!);
6) Black fonts rather than gray in pdfs, other formats and webpages (very important!);
7) More stable work of dictionaries (very important!);
8) Support of the LIT format (very important);

9) Text-to-speech in multiple languages (a plus!);
10) Ability to write emails (a plus!);
11) Export and import web browser favorites to a computer (a plus);
12) Ability to create shortcuts along with Google, Onyx, Adobe site page (a plus);
13) Calendar and todo list that can be synchronized wirelessly with Outlook (a plus);
14) Support for 16 greyscale (a plus);
15) 360 degree screen rotation (a plus);
16) Internet tethering via a computer or mobile phone (a plus);
17) Handwriting recognition in multiple languages (a plus);
18) Support for diverse formats of MP3s (a plus);

19) Wireless synchronization of books with a computer (and iPhone) (it can wait);
20) Keep the original indentation for quotes in pdf texts (minor);
21) Not jumping to the beginning of page but remembering the screen (minor).

Do you have other things to add?

PS Can somebody pass this wish list (and other suggestions) to Onyx's designers or let me know how to do that, please?
PPS A few days ago, IREX DR800SG became available at BestBuy to order (in US) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/IREX+-+D...ustomerreviews . After reviewing it specifications http://www.mobiletechreview.com/gadg...EX-DR800SG.htm, I came to a conclusion that Boox 60 fits better my reading needs.

Noted and this will be forwarded to the Onyx engineering team.

[MikeOnyx]

Originally Posted by Seabound

Onyx Boox folks, the onyxboox.com and dulinsbooks.com websites indicate that Boox will be shipping on April 2. Will those Boox have the latest (at the time of shipping) firmware version installed?

Edited to add: Looks like you have a very good product.

Don't be surprised if it ships one to two weeks sooner.

[Ereaders-Ebooks]

Hi Folks!
As per 25 february 2010 the new eBook reader with WiFi ONYX BOOX 60 is already being sold online in U.S. by ebook reader web store. The price is $375 including leather case, USB cable and AC/DC adapter ( battery charger ).

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by piglab

8) Support of the LIT format (very important);

There is a work-around to get LIT working with FBReader (as on the Onyx). The trick is to use ConvertLIT to convert (explode) the LIT to an OEB, and then open the .oeb file with FBReader. This can be done with a script, and the script can be configured to only do this once per LIT ebook. For example: if subdirectory .ebook does not exist, explode ebook.lit to a new subdirectory .ebook, and then (either way) open FBReader on .ebook/*.oeb.

This approach was used successfully on the iLiad, see Convert Lit compiled for the iLiad. If Onyx were to do this, they would have to disable the "downconvert" (DRM circumvention) capability of ConvertLIT. If this was implemented by an anonymous individual it could in principle include downconvert and so handle DRMed LITs. There are some LIT ebooks that ConvertLIT does not work with (Calibre is better), but in those cases an off-line conversion to ePub via Calibre is always an option.