Way back in 2012, The Guardian reviewed an eInk reader which cost a mere £8. The txtr beagle was designed to be a stripped-down and simplified eReader. As far as I can tell, it never shipped. There were a few review units sent out but I can't find any evidence of consumers getting their hands on one. Also, that £8 price was the subsidised price when purchased with a mobile contract. Their w…
I had the exact same experience with that model. The screen eventually cracked (I think I had it in a backpack that I was a bit too rough with). It was easy enough to replace the screen with one I found on AliExpress, but unfortunately the replacement then cracked a few weeks later. I don’t know whether it was because the replacement screen was poor quality or because once I had taken the device apart the screen was less protected, but I figured I wasn’t going to throw good money after bad. I ended up getting a second hand Kobo Aura on eBay which has served me well.
eReaders have gotten some new features like backlights but I don’t think the technology has fundamentally moved on all that much.
That said, I never took much issue with it. I didn’t have any of the very first e-readers so I’ve no idea if they’d bother me, but my first e-reader, a Kobo Touch from 2011 worked just fine and the refresh rate and ghosting wasn’t a problem.
I think the biggest pro with modern devices (to me personally) is that they’ve gotten more compact. I like how slim and comfortable my Boox Color 7 is.
I had the exact same experience with that model. The screen eventually cracked (I think I had it in a backpack that I was a bit too rough with). It was easy enough to replace the screen with one I found on AliExpress, but unfortunately the replacement then cracked a few weeks later. I don’t know whether it was because the replacement screen was poor quality or because once I had taken the device apart the screen was less protected, but I figured I wasn’t going to throw good money after bad. I ended up getting a second hand Kobo Aura on eBay which has served me well.
eReaders have gotten some new features like backlights but I don’t think the technology has fundamentally moved on all that much.
It’s definitely iterative but the newer eInk screens are higher res and color. Dunno how refresh rates compare on the color screens.
Much faster and less prone to ghosting.
That said, I never took much issue with it. I didn’t have any of the very first e-readers so I’ve no idea if they’d bother me, but my first e-reader, a Kobo Touch from 2011 worked just fine and the refresh rate and ghosting wasn’t a problem.
I think the biggest pro with modern devices (to me personally) is that they’ve gotten more compact. I like how slim and comfortable my Boox Color 7 is.