Onyx T68 - Is it right for you

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Gosh mg, these posts sure are costing you a fortune...

Writing the last few ones on a public poolside on iPad without much alternatives

[aceflor]

Dude, at a public pool, there should be some alternative. At least one

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Dude, at a public pool, there should be some alternative. At least one

I'm with my 11 year old niece.
The family eavesdropping connection is working surprisingly well.
Before I'm even home, my sister in law will know. And her mother. And my wife. And...
So, mobileread is all I dare...

[aceflor]

Yeah, we are good like that.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, not at all. Let's look at the figures more carefully. On my T68 I have 4275 books, occupying 3.67GB of storage. That's an average of 900k per book. The typical ebook is a lot smaller than that - around 400k or so. The average is pushed up by a small number of large books, such as the 12 book "Flashman" omnibus, which is 6MB in size. The ePub and Mobi versions of the books are pretty much the same size.

I've just been scrolling through my library on Kobo Aura HD.
A few examples:
Make Room! Make Room! = Kobo ePUB = 6.3MB
Steve Jobs = Kobo ePUB = 21.0MB
Shogun = Kobo ePUB = 10.1MB
Under the Dome = Kobo ePUB = 9.2MB
The Next 100 Years = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
Incognito = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
My Secret History = Kobo ePUB = 7.5MB
When sorting by size, 43 of 73 pages (with 6 books each) show titles >2.0MB.
Only the first 5 of 73 pages with books contain travel companions, comics and other files in the range of 100MB. Those enormous files I'm not downloading on readers anyway (color).
The other 68 pages are "normal" literature, business, entertainment and so on.
Obviously those 3MB to 10MB books kill my storage. No idea, why they are so huge. All original purchases from Kobo. And I guess it will be similar for B&N and Amazon...

[darryl]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I've just been scrolling through my library on Kobo Aura HD.
A few examples:
Make Room! Make Room! = Kobo ePUB = 6.3MB
Steve Jobs = Kobo ePUB = 21.0MB
Shogun = Kobo ePUB = 10.1MB
Under the Dome = Kobo ePUB = 9.2MB
The Next 100 Years = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
Incognito = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
My Secret History = Kobo ePUB = 7.5MB
When sorting by size, 43 of 73 pages (with 6 books each) show titles >2.0MB.
Only the first 5 of 73 pages with books contain travel companions, comics and other files in the range of 100MB. Those enormous files I'm not downloading on readers anyway (color).
The other 68 pages are "normal" literature, business, entertainment and so on.
Obviously those 3MB to 10MB books kill my storage. No idea, why they are so huge. All original purchases from Kobo. And I guess it will be similar for B&N and Amazon...

These file sizes seem a little over the top for straight epubs and for most other formats. For instance, Under the Dome as an epub is 973 kb. I wonder what is taking up the rest of the space?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by darryl

These file sizes seem a little over the top for straight epubs and for most other formats. For instance, Under the Dome as an epub is 973 kb. I wonder what is taking up the rest of the space?

I would say embedded fonts and the cover. Kobo usually have a high resolution cover in their books. And if there are any embedded fonts, they can take a lot of space.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'd forgotten all about that! That was years ago - it's still going strong?

Yep, it's still getting a lot of TLC

Originally Posted by mgmueller

But at some stage I simply stopped bothering about inconsistencies in author's name and such things. I went straight to reading and didn't care much about the library structure and the likes.

Problem is, if something like author's name is not right, I might never be able to find the book in the first place.

So, if I actually re-purchase maybe 20 books per year, that's not such a big savings potential.

That would depend on where you buy them... If an average ebook is somewhere between 10 and 20 euro, you're looking at 200 to 400 euro savings. In my book, that's a lot of money!

Of course, if I would consider my entire library, it would be a different potential.
But I don't have problems, to switch reading devices.
Book #1 I might read on Paperwhite 2, book #2 on Aura HD and book #3 on GlowLight.
When doing so, my expenses aren't hundreds of books, but 2 additional readers...

Well, your situation is a bit unusual. Most people have one device, maybe two or even three (e-ink, phone, tablet). But not three different kinds of e-ink...

Originally Posted by davidfor

I would say embedded fonts and the cover. Kobo usually have a high resolution cover in their books. And if there are any embedded fonts, they can take a lot of space.

Hmm, my custom created epub of Shogun is 1.3Mb, with embedded fonts and a high resolution cover... The mobipocket is 1.6Mb and the PDF is 4.1Mb (all come from the same source which is 2.8Mb)

It seems that Kobo is doing something weird with its books...

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

...my custom created epub of Shogun is 1.3Mb, with embedded fonts and a high resolution cover... The mobipocket is 1.6Mb and the PDF is 4.1Mb (all come from the same source which is 2.8Mb)

It seems that Kobo is doing something weird with its books...

On Kobo, I can check the file sizes in list view. So it was easiest to start with Kobo.
But I've got a similar situation on Kindle and Nook. I'm not downloading the storage-killers such as travel companions or comic strips. But the rest -"normal" text books- on average still is about 2MB per book!
On Paperwhite 2, with its 2GB, I can fit about 700 books only.
On Nook I've still got storage left, but the average per file still is strangely high.
I'll check the file sizes of Nook and Paperhwite later on the PC.

On all readers I don't have any side loaded content. 100% native files, bought directly from the respective bookstores.

Because of those significant file sizes, I find the internal storage of all readers too limited.
I'm not a fan of splitting my library between internal storage and SD card. And most readers don't even have an SD slot!
I'd simply prefer, having 4GB of internal storage. Like in the past with the "old" Kindles. If I can order an 8GB SD stick for € 7: What would be the uplift in production costs respectively sales price for another 2GB? This really shouldn't be any issue anymore nowadays...

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

...That would depend on where you buy them... If an average ebook is somewhere between 10 and 20 euro, you're looking at 200 to 400 euro savings. In my book, that's a lot of money!...

I'm a bit messy.
I'm not differentiating much between my costs (business, business related, hobby, household, ...), I mainly see the total amount.
I buy most of my books while on the road. Often enough around 1am, in bed when wanting to read for an hour or two before going to sleep.
My average trip is 2 to 3 days and I spend around € 150 to € 300 per trip (train, hotel, dinner, ...).
Whether I spend, let's say, € 220 or € 230 because of (maybe unnecessarily) having bought a book I won't even notice. Not because I'm too arrogant to value € 10. But simply because, while on a trip, lots of small bills pile up: € 10 for a taxi, € 12 for breakfast in the hotel and so on.
If I would consider my trips and other expenses mainly under the aspect of cost savings, I'd have to focus on decisions like "restaurant vs. fastfood?" or "taxi vs. electric tram" and such.
And quite honestly: I barely ever take the electric tram, for example. I find it bothersome, to find my way in an unfamiliar city, when having to watch my schedule.
Some would consider the potential savings, when planning a bit more carefully or taking a bit more time. I consider the increase in quality of life, not bothering about the € 10 a taxi may be more expensive than the electric tram, but on the other hand maybe getting more relaxed to my meeting.
I consider it an enormous value, not to assess such topics under cost aspects, but under the aspects of fun and value I receive.
Yes, the purchase of € 10 for a book might have been unnecessary, I may have had it somewhere in another file format already. But still I've got 8 hours of reading out of it. I've still got the equivalent value.
Same is true for "restaurant vs. fast food" or "taxi vs. electric tram".

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I've just been scrolling through my library on Kobo Aura HD.
A few examples:
Make Room! Make Room! = Kobo ePUB = 6.3MB
Steve Jobs = Kobo ePUB = 21.0MB
Shogun = Kobo ePUB = 10.1MB
Under the Dome = Kobo ePUB = 9.2MB
The Next 100 Years = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
Incognito = Kobo ePUB = 8.6MB
My Secret History = Kobo ePUB = 7.5MB
When sorting by size, 43 of 73 pages (with 6 books each) show titles >2.0MB.
Only the first 5 of 73 pages with books contain travel companions, comics and other files in the range of 100MB. Those enormous files I'm not downloading on readers anyway (color).
The other 68 pages are "normal" literature, business, entertainment and so on.
Obviously those 3MB to 10MB books kill my storage. No idea, why they are so huge. All original purchases from Kobo. And I guess it will be similar for B&N and Amazon...

I've just checked on my Nook GlowLight.
I can't see the file sizes.
But only 244 of my books show, the rest (travel companions, comics = color) obviously is "tablet only".
Those 244 books take 0.95GB, so on average about 4MB per book.
All original purchases, no side loaded content.

[aceflor]

So, I really do not want to digress , but basically I like the T68. A lot.

I have been using the Calibre Companion for some months now and it works really well on the T68 in combination with the various apps.

Now, the T68 is not your basic Kindle, and you cannot expect to have it doing everything you want immediately out of the box. But if you are, like me an some of us here, happy to invest some time (let's not go into the definition of time-money-value-chocolate again please) and have some knowledge of Android, then the T68 is a nifty reader. Don't get me wrong, its reader functions are good, and you can use it as is without having to do anything, but with the added apps here and there it is almost brilliant.

Almost because I believe there is room for improvement in terms of FW (the screen sensitivity still could be improved a bit, and the basic library function could be so much better if it showed shelves) and the design, although much better then the Aura HD, is a tad "Duh". I would love to see another version using a stylus, but I am a stylus freak anyway.

I am now considering to M96 or not to M96 (that would be used professionnally though) in addition to the T68, which is definitely a keeper.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Now, the T68 is not your basic Kindle, and you cannot expect to have it doing everything you want immediately out of the box. But if you are, like me an some of us here, happy to invest some time (let's not go into the definition of time-money-value-chocolate again please) and have some knowledge of Android, then the T68 is a nifty reader. Don't get me wrong, its reader functions are good, and you can use it as is without having to do anything, but with the added apps here and there it is almost brilliant.

Yes, I share your views on this 100%. You need to put in a bit of effort, but it more than repays the time invested in doing so.

[rhari79]

surprising, the T68 does not come with even one preloaded book.
out of the box, its really bare.
Screen is a little darker, compared to NST/KPW-1 and does seem to have a yellow tint when light is on. Just like a slightly old book. Not disturbing at all.

fairly good responses to touch etc., Doing an ota update now.
Sometimes it shutdown auto when idle for long periods. At this time, if connected to a computer, the usb drive disconnects. This could be damaging sometimes.

Next I will load the MR version of complete sherlock holmes!
and then must hunt for a case. Pity my ebay india seller did not have the booxter version.
In all, no complaints. Device works pretty well. Good competition to the biggies.
oh..and also must try to sell the kpw..

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by FinancialWar

I don't care about Store haha, Harry know why, he banned me a week...

If the Sony have a good PDF capability, then I might it get. T68 is out of my budget.

On ANY 6" eInk Reader, PDF is not going to be good. So don't get a T3 to read PDF. Just don't waste your money. On the T68, PDf will be better, but not great.