What to look for when choosing a reader - operating systems and hardware
Earlier, we talked about reader screens - E Ink technology, form factor and substrate. Today let's talk about the "stuffing" - the battery, memory, and OS.
Image: D. Lee Peffer II / CC BY
It affects the functions that the reader has, and, accordingly, the user experience. Consider the OS available for readers - Linux and Android.
')
Linux
This OS was actively used until 2014. Devices on Linux produced the company Icarus, even such gadgets were presented in the lineup ONYX BOOX - for example, Capitan Nemo .
Over time, most manufacturers have transferred their devices to Android (we will discuss this OS further), but Linux-based readers have not left the market. Today it can be found in Kobo Forma and Kindle Oasis .
Pros: There is an opinion that the readers on Linux have a higher speed and autonomy, compared with readers on other operating systems. Someone even says that the reader on Linux "lives" as much as the modern Android readers with a much larger battery.
Cons: Readers use a redesigned version of Linux. Sometimes it is impossible or not so easy to install third-party applications on them. Devices on Linux have significantly less functionality. In particular, they have fewer settings for text and footers when reading and fewer tap-zones.
Also, for example, the Kindle does not have support for the file structure. At the same time, the device reads only strictly defined formats of electronic books (for example, unique AZW3). Yes, there are a large number of converters in the network, however, this complicates the process of writing books to the device for those who do not want to buy them at Amazon. Books downloaded from an authorized store are protected by DRM, so transferring them to another device also causes some difficulties .
Android
According to Michael Kozlowski, the author of the Good e-Reader blog (Michael Kozlowski), the massive transition to Android in 2014 was one of the most important events in the history of electronic readers. This OS has opened more opportunities for application development and customization. Android devices are in the Nook, Boyue, Sony line. Under the control of this OS, all ONYX BOOX readers are released - including Caesar 3, Darwin 6 and Monte Cristo 4 .
Pictured : ONYX BOOX Monte Cristo 4
Pros: The main advantage is customization. Users note the ability to customize sleep mode and save power. Even Android readers support all applications that are available for this OS. For example, reference books, dictionaries, a browser and document editing software will not be superfluous on the reader.
Cons: According to Michael Kozlowski, most manufacturers release the reader on Android versions 4.04 and 4.4. This imposes certain restrictions on the number of applications that can be used, and affects the performance of the device as a whole.
It is also believed that Android discharges the battery of the gadget faster than other operating systems. However, it is worth noting here that when determining the “lifetime” it is important to consider the hardware platform and power saving modes supported by the reader processor. For example, with batteries of the same capacity, the new ONYX BOOX Darwin 5 and 6 models in sleep mode consume about four times less current than the predecessor models of Darwin 3 and 4. Therefore, in some cases, Android readers show good battery life .
Alternative OS
Android and custom versions of Linux - the most famous, but not the only operating system for readers. For example, some time ago readers on Windows CE - Ectaco JetBook Color were released. And last year at the HOPE XII conference, a group of developers told that they were starting to create an open OS, fread.ink, based on the Debian distribution.
Already have the first stable version, but it does not support Wi-Fi and a number of other functions. In the future, this OS will be free, and the user will not be limited to any e-book formats. But until its full implementation, it’s still far and unclear how often updates will be released.
According to the Good e-Reader for 2018, most manufacturers supply their new products with quad-core processors and RAM for one or two gigabytes. However, there are more powerful gadgets, such as the Wisky EeWrite " on board " 10-core processor.
Productive stuffing allows the device to better deal with demanding book formats like PDF, as well as faster launch applications and process queries to dictionaries. But for the speed of work you have to pay extra. The same Wisky EeWrite will cost at least 25 thousand rubles. But in general, less powerful devices, for example from our Darwin line, will be enough to read fiction. The price of these readers is within 13 thousand rubles.
Pictured : ONYX BOOX Darwin 5
From this parameter depends on the amount of available books and multimedia files.
Expandable memory
Such gadgets have a slot for MicroSD or MicroSDHC. These readers are suitable for those who keep a large amount of literature or work with "heavy" documents - diagrams and drawings.
Pros: The main advantage is that you can buy several cards and store a huge library on them. To upload books, you do not need to connect the reader to the computer with a cable, just remove the SD card and use the adapter.
Cons: Files on the SD card are often damaged , which can lead to loss of documents or a collection of books.
Non-expandable memory
Suitable for those who do not plan to use the reader as a "portable library" and keeps only readable books on the device on the device.
Pros: The lack of slots for SD-cards reduces the cost of readers. In the entire history of Kindle, only one gadget with expandable memory was seen - the very first one. This is one of the reasons for the relatively low cost of Amazon gadgets . Although it is obvious that in this case we are more likely talking about the company's rate on its own cloud ecosystem.
Minuses: It will not be possible to store a large number of PDF-files on such readers - the place will end very quickly. But reader manufacturers are increasingly offering cloud storage for their devices. Among such companies are Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
It determines the "vitality" of the device and how comfortable it will be to use, for example, on long journeys.
Battery
Obviously, the main parameter of the battery is its capacity. It determines how often the reader has to be charged. Two popular "form factors" of batteries on the reader market are 1500 mAh and 3000 mAh. The first type will “ live ” on one charge for several weeks. It is usually put in small devices. An example would be the Kobo Aura model with a 6-inch screen, which is currently discontinued.
A more powerful battery of 3000 mAh increases the cost of the reader, but extends the battery life to a month. It should be noted that the time of “life” on one charge (and, accordingly, the number of pages that can be read in time) strongly depends on the conditions of use (including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth).
Batteries
One of the first such devices was the jetBook Mini reader, powered by four AAA batteries. The gadget “stood” ninety hours of reading and could lie for two years in standby mode. Another example is the Beagle reader, which was developed in the German startup Txtr (we mentioned it last time ). The manufacturer claimed that the device could “live” on new batteries for a whole year. Today, these gadgets are rare.
The advantages of batteries include the fact that in which case you will not have to sit at the outlet waiting for the battery to charge. The obvious disadvantages include the need to buy these same batteries.
It is believed that Linux-readers are less demanding of resources. Android, in turn, has more functionality. To compare the most popular models for other parameters, we have prepared a small table:
We carry out a special promotion in the ONYX BOOX e-books shop . From February 22 to March 8, you can exchange a paper book for a 10% discount when you buy any ONYX BOOX reader from stock ( more about devices ).
Image: D. Lee Peffer II / CC BY
operating system
It affects the functions that the reader has, and, accordingly, the user experience. Consider the OS available for readers - Linux and Android.
')
Linux
This OS was actively used until 2014. Devices on Linux produced the company Icarus, even such gadgets were presented in the lineup ONYX BOOX - for example, Capitan Nemo .
Over time, most manufacturers have transferred their devices to Android (we will discuss this OS further), but Linux-based readers have not left the market. Today it can be found in Kobo Forma and Kindle Oasis .
Pros: There is an opinion that the readers on Linux have a higher speed and autonomy, compared with readers on other operating systems. Someone even says that the reader on Linux "lives" as much as the modern Android readers with a much larger battery.
Cons: Readers use a redesigned version of Linux. Sometimes it is impossible or not so easy to install third-party applications on them. Devices on Linux have significantly less functionality. In particular, they have fewer settings for text and footers when reading and fewer tap-zones.
Also, for example, the Kindle does not have support for the file structure. At the same time, the device reads only strictly defined formats of electronic books (for example, unique AZW3). Yes, there are a large number of converters in the network, however, this complicates the process of writing books to the device for those who do not want to buy them at Amazon. Books downloaded from an authorized store are protected by DRM, so transferring them to another device also causes some difficulties .
Android
According to Michael Kozlowski, the author of the Good e-Reader blog (Michael Kozlowski), the massive transition to Android in 2014 was one of the most important events in the history of electronic readers. This OS has opened more opportunities for application development and customization. Android devices are in the Nook, Boyue, Sony line. Under the control of this OS, all ONYX BOOX readers are released - including Caesar 3, Darwin 6 and Monte Cristo 4 .
Pictured : ONYX BOOX Monte Cristo 4
Pros: The main advantage is customization. Users note the ability to customize sleep mode and save power. Even Android readers support all applications that are available for this OS. For example, reference books, dictionaries, a browser and document editing software will not be superfluous on the reader.
Cons: According to Michael Kozlowski, most manufacturers release the reader on Android versions 4.04 and 4.4. This imposes certain restrictions on the number of applications that can be used, and affects the performance of the device as a whole.
It is also believed that Android discharges the battery of the gadget faster than other operating systems. However, it is worth noting here that when determining the “lifetime” it is important to consider the hardware platform and power saving modes supported by the reader processor. For example, with batteries of the same capacity, the new ONYX BOOX Darwin 5 and 6 models in sleep mode consume about four times less current than the predecessor models of Darwin 3 and 4. Therefore, in some cases, Android readers show good battery life .
Alternative OS
Android and custom versions of Linux - the most famous, but not the only operating system for readers. For example, some time ago readers on Windows CE - Ectaco JetBook Color were released. And last year at the HOPE XII conference, a group of developers told that they were starting to create an open OS, fread.ink, based on the Debian distribution.
Already have the first stable version, but it does not support Wi-Fi and a number of other functions. In the future, this OS will be free, and the user will not be limited to any e-book formats. But until its full implementation, it’s still far and unclear how often updates will be released.
Processors and RAM
According to the Good e-Reader for 2018, most manufacturers supply their new products with quad-core processors and RAM for one or two gigabytes. However, there are more powerful gadgets, such as the Wisky EeWrite " on board " 10-core processor.
Productive stuffing allows the device to better deal with demanding book formats like PDF, as well as faster launch applications and process queries to dictionaries. But for the speed of work you have to pay extra. The same Wisky EeWrite will cost at least 25 thousand rubles. But in general, less powerful devices, for example from our Darwin line, will be enough to read fiction. The price of these readers is within 13 thousand rubles.
Pictured : ONYX BOOX Darwin 5
Memory
From this parameter depends on the amount of available books and multimedia files.
Expandable memory
Such gadgets have a slot for MicroSD or MicroSDHC. These readers are suitable for those who keep a large amount of literature or work with "heavy" documents - diagrams and drawings.
Pros: The main advantage is that you can buy several cards and store a huge library on them. To upload books, you do not need to connect the reader to the computer with a cable, just remove the SD card and use the adapter.
Cons: Files on the SD card are often damaged , which can lead to loss of documents or a collection of books.
Non-expandable memory
Suitable for those who do not plan to use the reader as a "portable library" and keeps only readable books on the device on the device.
Pros: The lack of slots for SD-cards reduces the cost of readers. In the entire history of Kindle, only one gadget with expandable memory was seen - the very first one. This is one of the reasons for the relatively low cost of Amazon gadgets . Although it is obvious that in this case we are more likely talking about the company's rate on its own cloud ecosystem.
Minuses: It will not be possible to store a large number of PDF-files on such readers - the place will end very quickly. But reader manufacturers are increasingly offering cloud storage for their devices. Among such companies are Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Battery
It determines the "vitality" of the device and how comfortable it will be to use, for example, on long journeys.
Battery
Obviously, the main parameter of the battery is its capacity. It determines how often the reader has to be charged. Two popular "form factors" of batteries on the reader market are 1500 mAh and 3000 mAh. The first type will “ live ” on one charge for several weeks. It is usually put in small devices. An example would be the Kobo Aura model with a 6-inch screen, which is currently discontinued.
A more powerful battery of 3000 mAh increases the cost of the reader, but extends the battery life to a month. It should be noted that the time of “life” on one charge (and, accordingly, the number of pages that can be read in time) strongly depends on the conditions of use (including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth).
Batteries
One of the first such devices was the jetBook Mini reader, powered by four AAA batteries. The gadget “stood” ninety hours of reading and could lie for two years in standby mode. Another example is the Beagle reader, which was developed in the German startup Txtr (we mentioned it last time ). The manufacturer claimed that the device could “live” on new batteries for a whole year. Today, these gadgets are rare.
The advantages of batteries include the fact that in which case you will not have to sit at the outlet waiting for the battery to charge. The obvious disadvantages include the need to buy these same batteries.
Briefly summarize
It is believed that Linux-readers are less demanding of resources. Android, in turn, has more functionality. To compare the most popular models for other parameters, we have prepared a small table:
| Caesar 3 | Darwin 5 | Darwin 6 | Kindle paperwhite 4 | Kobo clara hd | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4-core, 1.2 GHz | 4-core, 1.2 GHz | 4-core, 1.2 GHz | 4-core, 1.2 GHz | 1-core, 1 GHz | 1-core, 1 GHz |
| Ram | 512 MB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Memory | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Sd card | there is | there is | there is | there is | not | not |
| Battery, mAh | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 1500 | 1500 |
| Sizes, mm | ||||||
| Weight, g | 182 | 182 | 182 | 205 | 182 | 166 |
| Display | 6 " | 6 " | 6 " | 6 " | 6 " | 6 " |
| Resolution | 758 × 1024 | 758 × 1024 | 1072 × 1448 | 1072 × 1448 | 1072 × 1448 | 1072 × 1448 |
| OS | Android | Android | Android | Android | Linux | Linux |
| price, rub. | 7,990 | 10 190 | 12,290 | 13,490 | 10,000 | 12,990 |
We carry out a special promotion in the ONYX BOOX e-books shop . From February 22 to March 8, you can exchange a paper book for a 10% discount when you buy any ONYX BOOX reader from stock ( more about devices ).
Our reviews of readers:
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/441490/
All Articles