It really is a shame that my e-reader doesn't have an SD slot

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tompe

And this design might actually be good if all fonts do not render properly for all sizes.

If a given font does not render well at a size that's readable, then there is something wrong with that font and it should be replaced with a font that works. Plain and simple.

But changing the number in that Java file did change the font sizes and even allowed more font sizes to be had. Yes, the numbers are fixed. That's the problem. There are too few numbers by default and too large a gap between the numbers. A better UI where there are more numbers and more in between numbers is what's wanted. Amazon doesn't care or this would have been done a long time ago.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If a given font does not render well at a size that's readable, then there is something wrong with that font and it should be replaced with a font that works. Plain and simple.

Well, bitmapped fonts are not possible to just scale.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by kacir

Well, there are a few, such as Onyx Boox ... oh wait ... that one is also made in China. Just like any other e-ink reader out there, including Kindle, Kobo and even non-e-ink stuff, such as iPads and other fringe models of no-name electronics.

Onyx only makes ereaders and a phone. Not a tablet. Their readers come close, but they're not tablets. Besides that, Onyx isn't a well known brand either. Please read my post.

I already replied this, but here it is again:
There's a big difference between just "Made in China" and "designed and made in China." Made in China means that it was designed somewhere else and assembled in China to some specifications.

Things that are designed and made in China usually do have sub par design, lacking quality, and overall just aren't worth the money. Onyx is a bit better than the unknown manufacturers, but they still fall victim to bad quality control. Reviews both here and else where confirm this. Heck, the unknown Boyue T62 is considered better than Onyx's T68.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Shades

Onyx only makes ereaders and a phone. Not a tablet.

You're wrong: the T68 is a generic Android tablet. The fact that it has an eInk screen doesn't change that,

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Shades

Onyx only makes ereaders and a phone. Not a tablet. Their readers come close, but they're not tablets.

HarryT is right. Once a device has construction of generic tablet, including touchscreen, buttons (home, back, menu, even pageturns), plus full Android 4.4, plus full Google Play store access, it IS a tablet.

Originally Posted by Shades

Besides that, Onyx isn't a well known brand either. Please read my post.

I have read your post, but I do not see a definition of a "well known brand". Could you please be more specific?
What *is* a well known brand?
Is is something that an average Mobileread member knows, or something that is recognized by 51% of owners of e-ink devices, or is is something recognized by my mom (which would disqualify 100% of manufacturers - she only recognizes my reader but wouldn't be able to name brand)
UPDATE:
if Samsung announced a new e-ink reader tomorrow - that nobody has ever heard about - not even rumor mills, would it be a "well known brand" reader the day after that?
What about Apple or Google? (my mom might have heard about Apple. I am not sure about Google ;-) )

[eschwartz]

A tablet is something branded by Apple or Samsung, duh.

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You're wrong: the T68 is a generic Android tablet. The fact that it has an eInk screen doesn't change that,

Exactly, imagine an old computer that has now an LCD monitor instead of the old CRT one. It still remains the same.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

Well, bitmapped fonts are not possible to just scale.

But the Kindle doesn't use bitmapped fonts.

As I said in an earlier message in this thread, Kindle font sizes are not absolute, but are scale factors applied to the base font of the book, so even though the Kindle only has a limited number of font sizes, it still has to have the ability to render any font at any size, because the base font of any particular book can be any size.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by kacir

HarryT is right. Once a device has construction of generic tablet, including touchscreen, buttons (home, back, menu, even pageturns), plus full Android 4.4, plus full Google Play store access, it IS a tablet.

Touché.
Still it is classified as an ereader for the most part and having 512mb of ram running Android 4.0 is a bit of a problem. Unless it's been updated to 4.4, 512mb is low. (4.4+ has been optimized to run on low spec hardware.)

I have read your post, but I do not see a definition of a "well known brand". Could you please be more specific?
What *is* a well known brand?
Is is something that an average Mobileread member knows, or something that is recognized by 51% of owners of e-ink devices, or is is something recognized by my mom (which would disqualify 100% of manufacturers - she only recognizes my reader but wouldn't be able to name brand)
UPDATE:
if Samsung announced a new e-ink reader tomorrow - that nobody has ever heard about - not even rumor mills, would it be a "well known brand" reader the day after that?
What about Apple or Google? (my mom might have heard about Apple. I am not sure about Google ;-) )

Brand name known to a select group doesn't quite qualify as well known. Well known brands are those like Sony, Samsung, Hitachi, Toshiba, Motorola, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, etc. Established brands that your average Joe would know (or has heard of) and associate with some level of quality. I am not talking about just a brand of reader, I'm talking of an electronics manufacturer in general. Neither names, Onyx nor Boyue, inspire any sort of confidence in a buyer.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Shades

Touché.
Still it is classified as an ereader for the most part and having 512mb of ram running Android 4.0 is a bit of a problem. Unless it's been updated to 4.4, 512mb is low. (4.4+ has been optimized to run on low spec hardware.)


Brand name known to a select group doesn't quite qualify as well known. Well known brands are those like Sony, Samsung, Hitachi, Toshiba, Motorola, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, etc. Established brands that your average Joe would know (or has heard of) and associate with some level of quality. I am not talking about just a brand of reader, I'm talking of an electronics manufacturer in general. Neither names, Onyx nor Boyue, inspire any sort of confidence in a buyer.

But a recommendation from someone trusted enough is sometimes good enough for a person to buy an unknown brand.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But a recommendation from someone trusted enough is sometimes good enough for a person to buy an unknown brand.

Yes and so is buying from an unknown brand a second time because you've had their stuff before. You have an expectation of quality (you heard good things about it or you enjoyed your previous experience.)

But for a buyer without a recommendation or previous experience, it's a different story.

Whenever I buy things from unknown manufacturers, I just start with low expectations and hope it surprises me by being better.

Anyway, this is really getting off topic...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Shades

Yes and so is buying from an unknown brand a second time because you've had their stuff before. You have an expectation of quality (you heard good things about it or you enjoyed your previous experience.)

But for a buyer without a recommendation or previous experience, it's a different story.

That's why we have the "Which One Should I Buy?" forum, so that people can get advice from other MR members with practical experience of using the devices they're interested in.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's why we have the "Which One Should I Buy?" forum, so that people can get advice from other MR members with practical experience of using the devices they're interested in.

Yes, but for a buyer that doesn't frequent forums like these? I found this forum after I got my first ereader, I doubt I'm the only one. :P

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Shades

Yes, but for a buyer that doesn't frequent forums like these? I found this forum after I got my first ereader, I doubt I'm the only one. :P

It is nice to know the pros and cons of various devices be it a Reader or a tablet from people who have used them or know enough about them.

Like the H2O cover thread. I made my choice after reading about the various covers. It can be hard to pick something based on just specifications and pictures.

[Fiat_Lux]

Originally Posted by Shades

Established brands that your average Joe would know (or has heard of) and associate with some level of quality.

Realize that brands of yesterday that were well known for quality, are, as oft as not, today, available for anybody to slap that label on, if they are willing to fork up the appropriate amount of cash.