Onyx Boox Kepler series

[Hrafn]

The Russian retailer has just announced an all-black version of the Kepler Pro, as the 'Monte Cristo' for 10 990 rubles (approx US$170). Not in stock yet though.

Addendum: according to the specs it's dual core and runs Android 4.2.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

The Russian retailer has just announced an all-black version of the Kepler Pro, as the 'Monte Cristo' for 10 990 rubles (approx US$170). Not in stock yet though.

Addendum: according to the specs it's dual core and runs Android 4.2.

Looks like the Russian model has half the memory and half the internal storage of the base Kepler Pro. Too much reduced performance to save fifty bucks.

You would have to really love black.

[Hrafn]

I think the colour scheme is preferable to the black & gold, don't mind the reduced internal storage (I tend to prefer to use a microSD card anyway, to keep OS/Apps & data separate), but the reduced memory is probably a deal-killer.

The Russian market tends to be stingy it seems -- they still sell Onyx models there without touchscreen.

I wonder if they'll include the all-black livery as an option for the full K-Pro, when it finally comes out.

[Geenween]

Weren't there 3 models for the Kepler series (Pro, Lite and I-forget)? Maybe that one is the middle model in the series. It also lacks the bluetooth which is the only way the Kepler Pro can still be used as an audio device. The Bouye T63 would be a cheaper option at this point, IMHO.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by Geenween

Weren't there 3 models for the Kepler series (Pro, Lite and I-forget)? Maybe that one is the middle model in the series. It also lacks the bluetooth which is the only way the Kepler Pro can still be used as an audio device. The Bouye T63 would be a cheaper option at this point, IMHO.

It was the K-Pro, K & K-Lite (the latter being 1024x758). But we haven't seen any information on the latter two in quite some time, so we don't know if they still 'exist' as planned models.

The Pro was to be the only one with page-turn buttons, which this product appears to have.

The K & K-Lite were to have the same Android version, CPU & memory as this new product.

Whether this means that this product is a 'revised' K, a down-sized Pro, or just a 'Russian special' (the Russian retailer has long sold O-B products that have no mention or designation on the official O-B site, the latest being their 'Caesar'), would appear to be pure speculation at this stage. Let's just call it the 'Monte Cristo' unless and until O-B HQ actually officially release it as a 'Kepler XXX'.

[Hrafn]

The K-Pro is now available from TMall for ¥1280 (approx US$190). You may have trouble navigating the Chinese-language a/c setup procedure though.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

The K-Pro is now available from TMall for ¥1280 (approx US$190). You may have trouble navigating the Chinese-language a/c setup procedure though.

I wonder if they would set one up before shipping it.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I wonder if they would set one up before shipping it.

I meant setting up a Tmall a/c to buy it. I tried last night, but ended up giving up (the instructions were just too cryptic). If I go this route, I'll use and agent (cheapest I've found to date was around US$20 service fee + international shipping).

Changing the language of the eReader itself shouldn't be too hard.

My main question mark over the TMall version now is whether it comes with the case as part of the price (the Netherlands seller is selling it as an optional extra) -- I've got a question in with O-B on that topic.

ADDENDUM: Onyx has confirmed that the case comes with the TMall package, so i've started the process of ordering one through an agent.

FURTHER ADDENDUM: In a followup email (unfortunately received after I started the agent process), Onyx Boox intimated that they're willing to sell directly to overseas buyers (which presumably would avoid the TMall registration pitfalls. I don't know what payment methods they'd accept however.)

[downeaster59]

Maybe this may interest you: http://www.banggood.com/BOOX-Kepler-...l?rmmds=search

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

Maybe this may interest you: http://www.banggood.com/BOOX-Kepler-...l?rmmds=search

Buying direct from Onyx-Boox would have been US$5 cheaper, for faster shipping (DHL) -- not entirely sure how much Agent will come out to (forgot to factor in a 3% payment-by-Paypal fee, before committing, and stil have to pay fees & international shipping).

But then again, the more sellers available the better.

(As long as the sellers are reliable -- a member recently bought a Boyue T63 through Banggood, and received a T62 instead.)

[downeaster59]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

Buying direct from Onyx-Boox would have been US$5 cheaper, for faster shipping (DHL) -- not entirely sure how much Agent will come out to (forgot to factor in a 3% payment-by-Paypal fee, before committing, and stil have to pay fees & international shipping).

But then again, the more sellers available the better.

(As long as the sellers are reliable -- a member recently bought a Boyue T63 through Banggood, and received a T62 instead.)

That member was me!

I'm waiting to hear back from Banggood on that one. I was leaning toward the T63, but the Kepler Pro isn't out of contention.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

I was leaning toward the T63, but the Kepler Pro isn't out of contention.

Yeh, if the T63 had an official (or even semi-official) English-capable firmware, I'd have favored it (as it's about 2/3 the price for similar hardware). As it stands however, I really don't want the hassle and risk associated with having to hack it myself in the hopes of getting it working.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

I meant setting up a Tmall a/c to buy it. I tried last night, but ended up giving up (the instructions were just too cryptic). If I go this route, I'll use and agent (cheapest I've found to date was around US$20 service fee + international shipping).

Changing the language of the eReader itself shouldn't be too hard.

My main question mark over the TMall version now is whether it comes with the case as part of the price (the Netherlands seller is selling it as an optional extra) -- I've got a question in with O-B on that topic.

ADDENDUM: Onyx has confirmed that the case comes with the TMall package, so i've started the process of ordering one through an agent.

FURTHER ADDENDUM: In a followup email (unfortunately received after I started the agent process), Onyx Boox intimated that they're willing to sell directly to overseas buyers (which presumably would avoid the TMall registration pitfalls. I don't know what payment methods they'd accept however.)

If you find out post it.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by Phogg

If you find out post it.

If I find out what?

• How to change the language? Should be dead simple using Google Translate app on my tablet (via its camera to read & translate the Chinese on the K-Pro's screen).
• What payment types they take? I won't find out unless the agent deal falls through, and I have to try that route instead.

[Hrafn]

Just paid international shipping and fees to my TMall agent on my Kepler Pro. Total cost came to US$220 -- slightly cheaper than buying it directly off Onyx Box, but also rather slower with it.

ADDENDUM: badly-worded information on shipping methods led me to have to re-submit with a more expensive shipping method than originally chosen. Cost is now about the same as buying it direct from Onyx.