Poke2 is here!

[Pajamaman]

Is there a guide to rooting onyx android 6?

[Dr. Drib]

OK, how does one pronounce the word Poke?

1) Is it like 'pokey' - you know, very slow, dull, dim-witted?

2) Or is it like 'poke' - you know, to poke out one's eyeball? Or like an obscene gut poking out of a T-shirt 3 sizes too small?

Totally unrelated to the above: Why are these devices so expensive? I would like to try one, but not at $160 + dollars.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Why are these devices so expensive?

Expensive?
Ebook readers are not produced in such large series as smarphoes and tablets.
Eink has a monopoly on the screen and the products are expensive.
Boyue-Likebook and Onyx-Boox do not have a bookshop with which they can cross-finance their devices, such as Amazon, Kobo or Tolino.

[SleepWithMachine]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

2) Or is it like 'poke' - you know, to poke out one's eyeball?

you prefer reading horror thrillers, right?

I think it has a vulgar meaning, definitely because the price is so terrible

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Expensive?
Ebook readers are not produced in such large series as smarphoes and tablets.
Eink has a monopoly on the screen and the products are expensive.
Boyue-Likebook and Onyx-Boox do not have a bookshop with which they can cross-finance their devices, such as Amazon, Kobo or Tolino.

I mean specifically why is the Poke device so expensive. I've been buying ebook readers since the second Kindle (over $300) and many other devices before the Kindle. I've used many, many ebook readers in my time with E-ink.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by SleepWithMachine

you prefer reading horror thrillers, right?

I think it has a vulgar meaning, definitely because the price is so terrible

I'd almost forgotten the sexual connotations associated with that word, but now that I think about it the memories come flooding back through the mists of time...


Horror thrillers - but, of course!

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I mean specifically why is the Poke device so expensive. I've been buying ebook readers since the second Kindle (over $300) and many other devices before the Kindle. I've used many, many ebook readers in my time with E-ink.

The Poke is $50 more than the Clara HD.

The Poke has 32 GB storage. The Clara 8 GB.
The Poke has a 2.0GHz Quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM. Not sure of the Carta specs, but I bet the Poke kicks its ass.

Haven't done the Kindle comparison, but it doesn't even have a comfort light

And then there is the extra functionality and flexibility available on open Android 9.

So the $50 extra is a actually a good deal, but only if you need the extra power and functionality of the Poke 2. Depends what you want it for. Personally, I'd go for the larger Nova in order to profit from the functionality. It is only $40 more than the Kobo Forma.

One strike against the Onyx devices. IMO the screens are not as clear for reading as the Nook Glowlight 3 that I have, and I presume the Kobo and the Amazon version. If all you're doing is reading epubs, etc, I wouldn't bother with the Onyx.

[AnimalOfArt]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I mean specifically why is the Poke device so expensive.

I cannot really tell you the definitive reason, because the 6 inch predecessors (Poke Pro after Poke after Kepler Pro) were in the same price range at the beginning of each product life cycle, but as for the Poke2, it is the first truly 6inch eink tablet.

It has an octacore processor with 2 GHZ, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. It runs an eink specialized open Android 9.0 software, which can be used in 4 different modes, which lets you decide in "grayscales" whether you want to have a rather "slow" clearing screen for reading books or have a fast and ghosting experience while browsing the internet. You can customize you app experience individually, by selecting which app should start in which mode and when it should refresh (after 0,1,2,3 ... clicks).

Of course, the main purpose of this device is reading, but you could watch youtube videos fairly nice, if you really wanted to.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by AnimalOfArt

I cannot really tell you the definitive reason, because the 6 inch predecessors (Poke Pro after Poke after Kepler Pro) were in the same price range at the beginning of each product life cycle, but as for the Poke2, it is the first truly 6inch eink tablet.

It has an octacore processor with 2 GHZ, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. It runs an eink specialized open Android 9.0 software, which can be used in 4 different modes, which lets you decide in "grayscales" whether you want to have a rather "slow" clearing screen for reading books or have a fast and ghosting experience while browsing the internet. You can customize you app experience individually, by selecting which app should start in which mode and when it should refresh (after 0,1,2,3 ... clicks).

Of course, the main purpose of this device is reading, but you could watch youtube videos fairly nice, if you really wanted to.

I also have the Kepler Pro and even with it YouTube is in A2 mode.
And my Poke Pro also has firmware version 2.3 with X-Mode.
But you are right - they are expensive compared to other 6 inch devices, but they are also much better equipped.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by AnimalOfArt

I cannot really tell you the definitive reason, because the 6 inch predecessors (Poke Pro after Poke after Kepler Pro) were in the same price range at the beginning of each product life cycle, but as for the Poke2, it is the first truly 6inch eink tablet.

It has an octacore processor with 2 GHZ, 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. It runs an eink specialized open Android 9.0 software, which can be used in 4 different modes, which lets you decide in "grayscales" whether you want to have a rather "slow" clearing screen for reading books or have a fast and ghosting experience while browsing the internet. You can customize you app experience individually, by selecting which app should start in which mode and when it should refresh (after 0,1,2,3 ... clicks).

Of course, the main purpose of this device is reading, but you could watch youtube videos fairly nice, if you really wanted to.

Is there actually a market for a "truly 6inch eink tablet", with the extra processing power of an octacore?

I don't mind spending a bit extra for a premium eReader, but I'd be paying the extra money for the build quality and slim design not for any extra power or non-eReading display modes. I most certainly don't want to web-browse or watch videos on it -- I don't even do that on the two octacore color tablets I already have (that's what my desktop & 27" monitor are for).

[AnimalOfArt]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

Is there actually a market for a "truly 6inch eink tablet", with the extra processing power of an octacore?

I don't mind spending a bit extra for a premium eReader, but I'd be paying the extra money for the build quality and slim design not for any extra power or non-eReading display modes. I most certainly don't want to web-browse or watch videos on it -- I don't even do that on the two octacore color tablets I already have (that's what my desktop & 27" monitor are for).

As I already wrote, it is an eink tablet where it's main purpose is reading. I would not watch videos on it either, but I would consider browsing for some information on it from time to time. Besides that you could install all the reading apps you want for ebooks. You could use different book stores like Kindle, Kobo, etc, without converting your books. You would also have the possibilty to use subscription services like Scribd or read articles in Pocket or any RSS-Feed app. Besides that you could use comic apps like Comic Time Viewer or Comic Trim to read your black and white comics panel by panel. All that is the purpose of an eink tablet and if everything runs smoothly, there is definitely a market for this.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by AnimalOfArt

Besides that you could install all the reading apps you want for ebooks. You could use different book stores like Kindle, Kobo, etc, without converting your books. You would also have the possibilty to use subscription services like Scribd or read articles in Pocket or any RSS-Feed app. Besides that you could use comic apps like Comic Time Viewer or Comic Trim to read your black and white comics panel by panel. All that is the purpose of an eink tablet and if everything runs smoothly, there is definitely a market for this.

I doubt if many would have more than one favorite eReading app. Speaking for myself, I avoid DRM-based services (hence my avatar). And I already have a 10' color tablet for my comics. I use exactly two apps: my preferred eReading app, and a WiFi syncing app.

But more importantly, do any of the apps you list require an octacore, for what seems to be reading text and/or b&w images? It seems unlikely that these tasks would be CPU-intensive.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

I doubt if many would have more than one favorite eReading app. Speaking for myself, I avoid DRM-based services (hence my avatar). And I already have a 10' color tablet for my comics. I use exactly two apps: my preferred eReading app, and a WiFi syncing app.

But more importantly, do any of the apps you list require an octacore, for what seems to be reading text and/or b&w images? It seems unlikely that these tasks would be CPU-intensive.

Where does it say that you only have to use such a device for reading books?
I use my Poke Pro in my car as a glare-free navigation system.
Software: Sygic, GPS via Bluetooth, audio output via car radio.
I installed Osmand+ on my Poke2, GPS / Glonass data comes from my Unihertz Atom (mini rugged smartphone) via WiFi. And if I am interested in something, then I also have the Internet with me.
But I also use the Poke2 as a reader.
The map tracking works smoothly with both devices.

[RT Wolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Totally unrelated to the above: Why are these devices so expensive? I would like to try one, but not at $160 + dollars.

Good question! I was wondering the same thing.

Since there are competitors, which are (hopefully) not colluding, the prices should not be inflated by a monopoly/duopoly/oligopoly position.

As others pointed out, it's not that these things are expensive, but that other options are cheap. Economies of scale allow mainstream products (tablets, smartphones, kindle/kobo) to be cheaper than niche products like a franken-tablet. If they started selling more units, they should get cheaper, so tell everyone you know about them lol

Putting aside the economics, you have to figure out if it's worth it for you. TBH these are _terrible_ value for me. For the ~$330 CAD I paid for my Poke2, I could have bought a Clara HD _and_ a decent android/chromeOS tablet. But I specifically wanted a franken-tablet running android with an e-ink display, so it made sense for me to shell out the cash compared to my income.

I also rationalized it in terms of how many books they cost—about the same as 20 books. Considering I'll drop $15-20 on a book without thinking, spending more on a device that'll save me money in the long-run makes sense (if you squint real hard).

Also, my vice and coping mechanism seems to be online shopping in These Unprecedented Times.

[kndlewis]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

I also rationalized it in terms of how many books they cost—about the same as 20 books. Considering I'll drop $15-20 on a book without thinking, spending more on a device that'll save me money in the long-run makes sense (if you squint real hard).

So now if you 'borrow' 20 books from the local library ebook collection, you'll break even