Three new Boox readers -- Chinese language video

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by CrazyCoder

Not op, but I have a photo of Leaf 2 and Libra 2 with the same settings in KOReader: https://i.imgur.com/eSY3kj8.jpeg.

Contrast is better on Libra 2.

Not sure if the Onyx frameworks affects it in any way. If I increase the contrast in KOReader from 1.0 to 1.5, it becomes comparable: https://i.imgur.com/K4hEhhP.jpeg.

But I think Libra 2 is still better as it has no additional glass layer.

I have Leaf 2 White on order as well to compare the screens.

Another photo with backlight disabled: https://i.imgur.com/GwkuMn2.jpeg.
Onyx screen is whiter, while Kobo screen has better contrast.

Based on your photos, and these ones here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Onyx_Boox/c...r/boox_leaf_2/ - it seems to me that Leaf 2 might have an older generation Carta screen.

I will wait to see pictures of the white version and for Boox to make a statement about what generation they are using before buying.

I'm getting highly annoyed with their shady business practices. I wish some reputable brand would start making Android e-readers and phones, so I wouldn't have to use Hisense and Onyx for that..

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kandwo

Based on your photos, and these ones here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Onyx_Boox/c...r/boox_leaf_2/ - it seems to me that Leaf 2 might have an older generation Carta 1200 screen.

Even if, what bothers you about it?
Carta 1200 is Carta 1200.

[Renate]

Does it have a gravity sensor?
The only way I could deal with buttons on only one side would be if I could switch hands and invert the device. (There are already mechanisms in Android to make the button sense reverse.)

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Are you using the SD card? Is it possible to choose portable/internal use?
For portable: what file systems does it support (not only FATxx, but also exFAT, NTFS, Extx)?

I have an SD card in my Leaf 2. The manual says that it supports cards of up to 512GB. When I set the card up, the only option I am given is portable. That remains the case when I use another launcher to access the full Android Settings list. There is no way to choose internal storage. I can save books to the SD card and point NeoReader or any reading app like Moon to them there. I see no way to install apps on the SD card or to have the apps use the SD card as data storage. (If I rooted my Leaf 2, that could change.)

I haven't yet checked to see what file systems the Leaf 2 supports on the SD card. I'll let you know when I find out. I also don't know whether the SD card would be read as as internal storage if I formatted it, say, as ext2 or ext4.

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by Renate

Does it have a gravity sensor?
The only way I could deal with buttons on only one side would be if I could switch hands and invert the device. (There are already mechanisms in Android to make the button sense reverse.)

From the pull-down Control Center, you can choose Rotate and then turn on auto-rotate. Then you can have the buttons on any side you choose! I assume that this means that the Leaf has a gravity sensor.

You can also choose "rotate manually" and keep a preferred rotation.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I haven't yet checked to see what file systems the Leaf 2 supports on the SD card.

$ cat /proc/filesystems

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Even if, what bothers you about it?
Carta 1200 is Carta 1200.

Sorry, that should have read "older generation Carta screen" without the 1200. Fixed now.

My problem is that I don't know whether it is Carta 1200 at all or the same screen that the Leaf 1 uses.

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by Renate

$ cat /proc/filesystems

Assuming that the options with "nodev" to their left are NOT supported, these are the supported file systems:

ext2
ext3
ext4
vfat
msdos
ntfs
exfat
fuseblk
f2fs

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kandwo

My problem is that I don't know whether it is Carta 1200 at all or the same screen that the Leaf 1 uses.

I have a Boox Leaf 1 and Tolino Vision 6 (7 inch Carta 1200) and only notice a small difference in the inverse display - the background area is a little darker there.
I see Carta 1200 as more of a publicity stunt of no particular value.

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

I have a Boox Leaf 1 and Tolino Vision 6 (7 inch Carta 1200) and only notice a small difference in the inverse display - the background area is a little darker there.
I see Carta 1200 as more of a publicity stunt of no particular value.

To me, both my Libra 2 and Hisense A9 screens are much clearer than my Kindle PW3 and Nova 3. The Libra 2 is the sharpest of the bunch, as it lacks the glass layer on top.

The only screen that tops it is my Kindle Voyage. Weirdly, it seems almost as if the text is on top of the glass layer. You feel even closer to it that on the Libra 2..

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kandwo

The only screen that tops it is my Kindle Voyage. Weirdly, it seems almost as if the text is on top of the glass layer. You feel even closer to it that on the Libra 2..

Well, the Kindle Voyage doesn't have Carta 1200.
So it's not because of that.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Renate

Does it have a gravity sensor?
The only way I could deal with buttons on only one side would be if I could switch hands and invert the device. (There are already mechanisms in Android to make the button sense reverse.)

Why do you want your reader to know when it's no longer laying on the table?

[Renate]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why do you want your reader to know when it's no longer laying on the table?

No reader of mine lies on the table. They all sit at an angle.
Moreover, I don't actually want either buttons or an accelerometer.
(That's my old clicker, since replaced with a custom built one.)

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Well, the Kindle Voyage doesn't have Carta 1200.
So it's not because of that.

No, I know, but the Voyage is an outlier. It's got to do with the microetched glass screen, which no other e-reader utilizes. And even then the blacks aren't as dark as on the Libra 2.

I just don't see any reason not to use Carta 1200 on modern screens.

Why wouldn't you maximize the contrast on a device used for reading? Sharpness and contrast should be the main priority in my opinion. Especially since you don't have to compromise - it's not like maximizing the contrast detracts from the functionality of the reader or anything.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kandwo

No, I know, but the Voyage is an outlier. It's got to do with the microetched glass screen, which no other e-reader utilizes. And even then the blacks aren't as dark as on the Libra 2.

I just don't see any reason not to use Carta 1200 on modern screens.

Why wouldn't you maximize the contrast on a device used for reading? Sharpness and contrast should be the main priority in my opinion. Especially since you don't have to compromise - it's not like maximizing the contrast detracts from the functionality of the reader or anything.

Carta 1200 vs Carta is only a minimal advantage - if other outweighs (e.g. Android, or A2, or SD, or...) then it weighs more.
SD is more important to me, so I ordered the Leaf2, assuming the screen would be no worse than the Leaf1, where I find the edges eg too sharp and any lack of symmetry when holding (landscape) bothers me.