This is v. helpful. I've also been ready to switch to a non-Kindle device, likely a Boox offering, once my current Oasis kicks off. So far the battery's holding on, but it's only a matter of time. (Tangent: I *really* wish that e-readers, all of them, had user replaceable batteries. Not hot-swappable, just replaceable with straightforward tools (which are NOT heat guns). It's so annoying that such focused devices are so lifespan limited by the stupid battery tech.)
That aside, the Go Color 7 does look super interesting. The Palma had been on my radar, but not this. AH, and looks like the case is magnetic. Love it. A case is essential for tossing in a bag, but it's nice to be able to set it aside easily when reading.
I really, really hate the trend of not being able to replace batteries for electronics in general :/ I know that there are other reasons to upgrade a phone or a laptop every few years, but I resent it every time a battery dies and that's all that's wrong.
I'm pretty sure the internal x-ray prompt for Reader is live for all users -- if you can't access it on 5.17.1 or after a hard refresh of your browser, shoot me an in-app bug report and I'll handle take a look at the diagnostics wearing my 'official' hat.
It's "internal x-ray (character, place, term)" but it only shows up if you invoke Ghostreader when the highlight is one word. If you're seeing "Term Lookup" I'm pretty sure that's a slightly out of date prompt, but should get roughly the same behavior yeah.
Ha! It's like you wrote this article specifically for me. I have a limited edition centipede press copy of enders game behind me on the shelf and I ordered my Go 7 last week. Sounds like I made the right choice!
I had a similar eureka moment when I travelled with my remarkable2 last month that had been gathering dust for nearly a year. A forced stint away revitalized my desire to read. Realized I missed this feeling but struggled without the backlight for night and less than pocketable form factor, the go 7 seemed like the perfect set of features for me too. The only thing I quibbled on is if I care enough about color to trade the clarity of the palma and the ghosting.
What swayed me to the go instead of the palma though was actually those very buttons you mentioned. I didn't want to have to keep my thumb out of view when reading in bed at an askew angle.
I will never buy another e-reader without buttons that are easy to rest my thumb on. I've learned my lesson 😂
Re: the limited edition Enders Game ... I'm not much of a collector, but I'm really glad I held onto all of my Rick Brandt Science Adventure first editions. They're ancient now, but I loved them and my son is just about old enough to actually get something out of them.
Well me neither on collecting, in fact: in cards own words he was a playwright first and writes in a style that is best experienced read. The audiobook version read by Stefan Ridniki is the definitive version of the Story, but the books (specifically enders shadow and xenocide) hit me hard. I read the latter while planning a funeral and the themes resonated at the right time. So it is the only collectable book I own. The rest is still things like the old print of Harry Potter (my first ever book, my gran read it to me), hitchhikers big green book and the Calvin and Hobbes collection etc.
I try to favour an anti-library but I keep about 15 books I love just so I can hand them to people I meet that seem like the'd get something out of them.
I think firestarter or do Android dream of electric sheep was the last one I thrust at someone
Hi - like others on the thread I've purchased my Boox (in my case a Boox Go Color 7). I love it - so thanks for the recommendation. Just wondering if you have a 'hints/tips' document where you collect up bits you've found. I'm particularly interested in whether the metal stand you got for your Palma work for your Go Color 7 and whether you can still do this with your Color 7 'I've got a nifty widget that displays my highlighted quotes even when the device is asleep'?
As far as I know, the (readwise community) widget only works on the Palma, because it's closer to stock Android. The metal stand probably would work for my Go Color, but I generally use my little elephant stand when I want to prop it up, since it's got a different form factor than the Palma and is easier to hold onto.
I have a Tab Ultra (not colour) I use for writing and reading - mostly using Reader. But I hadn't really discovered the powers of Ghostreader -- thanks! Loved the tour of devices.
I travel with my kindle and use it for reading at night because it's smaller and the case feels more resistant to damage/protective than the cover for my TU. But ..ahem...the battery is going. Do you find the Go Colour 7 feels more resistent to damage? Can you really "throw it" in your bag without worrying about screen cracks?
The Boox Go comes with a case, tho I don't bother to use it. I haven't had it long enough to say whether it will hold up to rough beating -- I suspect it will be fine for my as long as my son doesn't decide to throw it down the stairs or something. He hasn't broken the iPad yet tho and I worry more about that since it's bigger and feels more fragile.
I don't generally have trouble with screens cracking on my devices, even with my (android) phone it's only ever happened once, and that when I fumbled it in a truly spectacular way on hard tile.
Thanks! I've never broken a screen, but I always have some impact-resistant frame around it. Maybe I can look for something similar that will fit the Go 7. 🤞
This newsletter comes exactly at the right time, as I was looking for a replacement of my almost 10 year old Kindle Paperwhite. I'm also using Readwise quite a bit and it's one of the biggest features I'm missing on Kindle right now.
I was not aware of the existence of epaper Android tablets, so this opens a whole new world for me. I'll definitely check out Boox' catalog (and if they are sold in Europe or at least shipped to).
I'm also curious to learn your "internal X-ray" prompt for readwise. Do you mind sharing it?
Android e-ink devices are awesome, I hope you find one you like!
Also, I'm pretty sure the internal x-ray prompt for Ghostreader is live for all users -- if you can't access it on Reader 5.17.1 or after a hard refresh of your browser, shoot me an in-app bug report and I'll take a look at the diagnostics wearing my 'official' hat.
The last time I tried it, I needed to do a lot of fiddling to get the page turning to work right, but I don't read many Kindle exclusive books these days. Part of the advantage of the Boox to me is (as with Obsidian) avoiding feeling locked in to a specific app or ecosystem.
Lots of books are DRM free -- all scifi and fantasy from Tor and Baen, for example. It's also not that hard to strip DRM from books and convert files using an app like Calibre. There are lots of places to get books other than Amazon -- publisher's websites, places like Standard Ebooks.
What are some of the hard words in "Ender's Game"? I read it when I was 8 and don't remember the vocab being difficult aside from "hegemon(y)". Flipping thru it quickly now I also see "polemarch", but otherwise the language looks pretty approachable (of course I only looked at a small percentage of pages). EDIT: I just looked back and see you mentioned "peripatetic", which I would definitely have just glossed over as a kid.
I've come close to buying a Palma a few times. I'm using a Nova Air C at the moment, but the Palma size seems to lend itself to reading in cafes etc. when I'm cycling.
Do you know how much of a step up the Go is from the Air C?
The 10.3 is a great size for writing, that totally makes sense. What kind of stuff do you write? Back when I was still teaching I had an AP student who swore by the nebo app and her notes were always GORGEOUS and organized, but I haven't had to take those sorts of notes in so long... mostly I just write directly into the Substack editor these days 🙈
Thank you for this article. Since I read it, I have purchased my Boox, and I absolutely love it
I'm glad it's working out for you 😁 read anything good lately?
This is v. helpful. I've also been ready to switch to a non-Kindle device, likely a Boox offering, once my current Oasis kicks off. So far the battery's holding on, but it's only a matter of time. (Tangent: I *really* wish that e-readers, all of them, had user replaceable batteries. Not hot-swappable, just replaceable with straightforward tools (which are NOT heat guns). It's so annoying that such focused devices are so lifespan limited by the stupid battery tech.)
That aside, the Go Color 7 does look super interesting. The Palma had been on my radar, but not this. AH, and looks like the case is magnetic. Love it. A case is essential for tossing in a bag, but it's nice to be able to set it aside easily when reading.
I really, really hate the trend of not being able to replace batteries for electronics in general :/ I know that there are other reasons to upgrade a phone or a laptop every few years, but I resent it every time a battery dies and that's all that's wrong.
This was extremely convincing as someone already drowning in e-readers.
Can you share your internal X-ray prompt for Reader? I need to start reading my epubs there (I already pipe my newsletters in, but no books yet).
I'm pretty sure the internal x-ray prompt for Reader is live for all users -- if you can't access it on 5.17.1 or after a hard refresh of your browser, shoot me an in-app bug report and I'll handle take a look at the diagnostics wearing my 'official' hat.
This may be a silly question, but what is it called? I see Term Lookup which seems to be doing this?
It's "internal x-ray (character, place, term)" but it only shows up if you invoke Ghostreader when the highlight is one word. If you're seeing "Term Lookup" I'm pretty sure that's a slightly out of date prompt, but should get roughly the same behavior yeah.
Ha! It's like you wrote this article specifically for me. I have a limited edition centipede press copy of enders game behind me on the shelf and I ordered my Go 7 last week. Sounds like I made the right choice!
I had a similar eureka moment when I travelled with my remarkable2 last month that had been gathering dust for nearly a year. A forced stint away revitalized my desire to read. Realized I missed this feeling but struggled without the backlight for night and less than pocketable form factor, the go 7 seemed like the perfect set of features for me too. The only thing I quibbled on is if I care enough about color to trade the clarity of the palma and the ghosting.
What swayed me to the go instead of the palma though was actually those very buttons you mentioned. I didn't want to have to keep my thumb out of view when reading in bed at an askew angle.
I will never buy another e-reader without buttons that are easy to rest my thumb on. I've learned my lesson 😂
Re: the limited edition Enders Game ... I'm not much of a collector, but I'm really glad I held onto all of my Rick Brandt Science Adventure first editions. They're ancient now, but I loved them and my son is just about old enough to actually get something out of them.
Well me neither on collecting, in fact: in cards own words he was a playwright first and writes in a style that is best experienced read. The audiobook version read by Stefan Ridniki is the definitive version of the Story, but the books (specifically enders shadow and xenocide) hit me hard. I read the latter while planning a funeral and the themes resonated at the right time. So it is the only collectable book I own. The rest is still things like the old print of Harry Potter (my first ever book, my gran read it to me), hitchhikers big green book and the Calvin and Hobbes collection etc.
I try to favour an anti-library but I keep about 15 books I love just so I can hand them to people I meet that seem like the'd get something out of them.
I think firestarter or do Android dream of electric sheep was the last one I thrust at someone
Hi - like others on the thread I've purchased my Boox (in my case a Boox Go Color 7). I love it - so thanks for the recommendation. Just wondering if you have a 'hints/tips' document where you collect up bits you've found. I'm particularly interested in whether the metal stand you got for your Palma work for your Go Color 7 and whether you can still do this with your Color 7 'I've got a nifty widget that displays my highlighted quotes even when the device is asleep'?
As far as I know, the (readwise community) widget only works on the Palma, because it's closer to stock Android. The metal stand probably would work for my Go Color, but I generally use my little elephant stand when I want to prop it up, since it's got a different form factor than the Palma and is easier to hold onto.
Here's my elephant: https://www.amazon.com/WINDSIUUU-Pencil-Creative-Elephant-Organizer/dp/B0C2Z1XDC1/
I have a Tab Ultra (not colour) I use for writing and reading - mostly using Reader. But I hadn't really discovered the powers of Ghostreader -- thanks! Loved the tour of devices.
I travel with my kindle and use it for reading at night because it's smaller and the case feels more resistant to damage/protective than the cover for my TU. But ..ahem...the battery is going. Do you find the Go Colour 7 feels more resistent to damage? Can you really "throw it" in your bag without worrying about screen cracks?
The Boox Go comes with a case, tho I don't bother to use it. I haven't had it long enough to say whether it will hold up to rough beating -- I suspect it will be fine for my as long as my son doesn't decide to throw it down the stairs or something. He hasn't broken the iPad yet tho and I worry more about that since it's bigger and feels more fragile.
I don't generally have trouble with screens cracking on my devices, even with my (android) phone it's only ever happened once, and that when I fumbled it in a truly spectacular way on hard tile.
Thanks! I've never broken a screen, but I always have some impact-resistant frame around it. Maybe I can look for something similar that will fit the Go 7. 🤞
This newsletter comes exactly at the right time, as I was looking for a replacement of my almost 10 year old Kindle Paperwhite. I'm also using Readwise quite a bit and it's one of the biggest features I'm missing on Kindle right now.
I was not aware of the existence of epaper Android tablets, so this opens a whole new world for me. I'll definitely check out Boox' catalog (and if they are sold in Europe or at least shipped to).
I'm also curious to learn your "internal X-ray" prompt for readwise. Do you mind sharing it?
Android e-ink devices are awesome, I hope you find one you like!
Also, I'm pretty sure the internal x-ray prompt for Ghostreader is live for all users -- if you can't access it on Reader 5.17.1 or after a hard refresh of your browser, shoot me an in-app bug report and I'll take a look at the diagnostics wearing my 'official' hat.
have you tried the kindle app on your go color 7? read one review that said needed a lot of tweaking and still had ghosting.
The last time I tried it, I needed to do a lot of fiddling to get the page turning to work right, but I don't read many Kindle exclusive books these days. Part of the advantage of the Boox to me is (as with Obsidian) avoiding feeling locked in to a specific app or ecosystem.
As someone who has only ever used Kindle, my noob question is where do you buy/get your .epubs from? Are there places where they are not DRM ?
Lots of books are DRM free -- all scifi and fantasy from Tor and Baen, for example. It's also not that hard to strip DRM from books and convert files using an app like Calibre. There are lots of places to get books other than Amazon -- publisher's websites, places like Standard Ebooks.
What are some of the hard words in "Ender's Game"? I read it when I was 8 and don't remember the vocab being difficult aside from "hegemon(y)". Flipping thru it quickly now I also see "polemarch", but otherwise the language looks pretty approachable (of course I only looked at a small percentage of pages). EDIT: I just looked back and see you mentioned "peripatetic", which I would definitely have just glossed over as a kid.
It was more of an issue in Speaker for the Dead, tbh. But also stuff like 'libidinous' and 'lacrimose'
I've come close to buying a Palma a few times. I'm using a Nova Air C at the moment, but the Palma size seems to lend itself to reading in cafes etc. when I'm cycling.
Do you know how much of a step up the Go is from the Air C?
I've never used the Nova Air C, sorry. Some folks don't like the color Go's DPI numbers, so I'd probably start there with a comparison.
The 10.3 is a great size for writing, that totally makes sense. What kind of stuff do you write? Back when I was still teaching I had an AP student who swore by the nebo app and her notes were always GORGEOUS and organized, but I haven't had to take those sorts of notes in so long... mostly I just write directly into the Substack editor these days 🙈