I'd not heard of this model, and amusingly my first hit (4th in an incognito) for `Boox Palma` is a lengthy reddit-user rant from 2y ago about build quality, sluggish performance, and woeful battery life.
That aside, totally agree on the form factor. My first ebook reader was a pocketbook 360, which came bundled with a rigid cover (would snap onto the back while reading) and a 5" screen, when most ebook readers were around the 6" diagonal.
The size delta was significant as it meant the difference between fitting in a jacket pocket vs needing to carry a bag, and that really changes your likelihood to take it with you / read a book.
I recently went with a Kobo Libra Color to replace my aging 10th gen Kindle. It’s a nice device, and the stock Kobo software is fine. The best part though is how well koreader runs on it (much more seamless than koreader on Kindle).
The killer features of koreader for me are sane PDF scaling/reflowing, the ability to handle large PDFs, and multiple export formats for annotations.
I still don't understand why this needs to run Android. If you're looking for a much simpler and much cheaper device ($70 vs $200-$300) I would recommend the xteink x4.
After lots of hand-wringing and research and trying Kindle & Kobo, I decided to read on my iPad and iPhone. They have accessibility features like low light mode to make it easy on the eyes, I can always read on the go with my phone and they can handle large full color books and PDFs too. The iPad has basically all notifications disabled and no distractions installed so it feels like a reader.
I bought a large format e-reader for the opposite reason - being able to read and study from large format textbooks while on long train journeys or in hotel rooms (or even camping). It handles stuff from arxiv fine too.
I really like my Boox Max, as it means that I can read textbooks at a good size without reflowing. It still holds charge for several weeks at a time after about 7 years
I wish I had it at university instead of 1000+ page hardback calculus textbooks.
I've been using this for a long time- it stays in my pocket/bag most days, and it's so inconspicuous (looks exactly like a phone) that you don't think twice about doing some serious reading in public or on the train
This device is very appealing to me, but I never pulled the trigger due to horror stories about screen cracking issues reported on reddit. (Sometimes the screen just breaks by itself despite sitting on a desk.) Repair is also expensive. This seems a risky purchase.
I use the bigme hibreak pro as my primary device. Its an eink device but also just a full phone. Almost bought the boox palma, but held back because I only really want to carry a single device.
I recently jailbroke my Kindle 6th generation (which still works great!), installed KUAL, made a DeDRMed backup of my library, and installed a custom screensaver. It still works to buy titles off the Amazon store, too.
It's probably the single best electronic device I own. I once dropped it in a pool and it stopped working for a few weeks, but it came back on its own.
Absolutely love my boox palma! Since getting it I’ve read dozens of books, just because it’s so easy to carry. The complaints I’ve read before on Reddit don’t seem to apply to my device which is good.
been so tempted to try one but concerned about long term updates and viability
if it runs android 13, how long will it get updates for? how long until the apps you're using won't be updated?
i'd like my ebook reader to last years without issue
my oasis from 2020 still does all the things i need it to though i'd like to get a good reason to leave the kindle ecosystem but still want to have access to all the books i've purchased to read on eink
i kind of also wonder if other companies, i.e. kobo, will jump into this form factor given the popularity of boox
I read a lot, mostly ebooks, and have an extensive collection of DRM free ebooks. That said, e-ink devices are ridiculously overpriced, seemingly because e-ink tech is patent-encumbered. Fortunately I don't mind reading on LCD and OLED screens, have been doing that for 20 years, originally on PalmOS devices.
I'd love to get a Kobo to run Koreader but not until prices have come down to under $200 for a 8" device. I'm also consideeing the PocketBook Verse, the SD card slot means I could carry my entire 67GB collection with me..
I had a Kindle and quite liked it, but I also have an iPad and when the Kindle died I decided I didn’t need two devices in that form factor even though eink is great for the beach.
I would consider buying another eink device, but only if the price came down a lot. The market is still fairly small for eink, so there hasn’t really been much economy of scale. I just looked it up and apparently eink still costs 5-10x more than LCD to manufacture.
This Boox device would have to be closer to $50 (and not $200) to tempt me to add yet another gadget to my collection.
I really liked my palma but the display broke randomly (not the screen) while in a soft pocket within 3m of getting it. Support was no help. I just won't trust them again
I don't know about everyone else, but I find that I hate having to hold my e-reader. Also some years ago when I had 3 months of recovery time for a back operation I bought a tablet holder, which I have since attached to what is now my reading chair.
You can also now get some really nice magnetic y-shape arms that you rest on a table or surface (or wrap around something) that can hold a light e-reader magnetically without trouble.
23 comments
[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 33.7 ms ] threadThat aside, totally agree on the form factor. My first ebook reader was a pocketbook 360, which came bundled with a rigid cover (would snap onto the back while reading) and a 5" screen, when most ebook readers were around the 6" diagonal.
The size delta was significant as it meant the difference between fitting in a jacket pocket vs needing to carry a bag, and that really changes your likelihood to take it with you / read a book.
The killer features of koreader for me are sane PDF scaling/reflowing, the ability to handle large PDFs, and multiple export formats for annotations.
I really like my Boox Max, as it means that I can read textbooks at a good size without reflowing. It still holds charge for several weeks at a time after about 7 years
I wish I had it at university instead of 1000+ page hardback calculus textbooks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onvSjhubvQ8
It's probably the single best electronic device I own. I once dropped it in a pool and it stopped working for a few weeks, but it came back on its own.
if it runs android 13, how long will it get updates for? how long until the apps you're using won't be updated?
i'd like my ebook reader to last years without issue
my oasis from 2020 still does all the things i need it to though i'd like to get a good reason to leave the kindle ecosystem but still want to have access to all the books i've purchased to read on eink
i kind of also wonder if other companies, i.e. kobo, will jump into this form factor given the popularity of boox
I'd love to get a Kobo to run Koreader but not until prices have come down to under $200 for a 8" device. I'm also consideeing the PocketBook Verse, the SD card slot means I could carry my entire 67GB collection with me..
I would consider buying another eink device, but only if the price came down a lot. The market is still fairly small for eink, so there hasn’t really been much economy of scale. I just looked it up and apparently eink still costs 5-10x more than LCD to manufacture.
This Boox device would have to be closer to $50 (and not $200) to tempt me to add yet another gadget to my collection.
I don't know about everyone else, but I find that I hate having to hold my e-reader. Also some years ago when I had 3 months of recovery time for a back operation I bought a tablet holder, which I have since attached to what is now my reading chair.
You can also now get some really nice magnetic y-shape arms that you rest on a table or surface (or wrap around something) that can hold a light e-reader magnetically without trouble.