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Returned the reMarkable 2 and purchased the BOOX Go 10.3

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questccg
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The reason that I returned the reMarkable 2 was because it cannot operate without a WiFi Connection. Let me explain... My process and workflow go a bit like this:

#1> I take notes on a page by writing ideas down.

#2> Next I lasso the contents of those handwritten notes.

#3> I convert the selected contents into typed notes.

Well in order for the reMarkable 2 to do this... It REQUIRES a connection with the Internet to run the Internet Software which does the conversion between handwritten notes and typed ones. NOT GOOD!

And so this was the DEAL BREAKER... I googled for more on eInk Tablets and found the BOOX Go 10.3 which was Black & White, similar look but much better software and conversion offline when not connected with the Internet. Furthermore Bluetooth compatible and I bought a Logitech Keyboard to type with the Android eInk Tablet.

The BOOX device allows me to do the EXACT same workflow with some KEY improvements such as Fonts and Font Sizes. In addition to things you would expect from any Text Tablet which is Bold, Underline and Italics...

I am very please with the BOOX device as it does everything I need. It can even have Android Apps such as a Calculator which allows you to do computations while on the device. Never know when you need to do some math... Hehehe!

Another important feature is INSERTING "Images" PNGs or JPEGs into your notes. The BOOX device allows this while the reMarkable 2 does NOT. Another important feature which makes the BOOX device BETTER than PAPER: I can import my images and add them... SIMPLY AMAZING!

Like I said it on Reddit: the reMarkable 2 has great hardware but its Linux OS is limited in what Apps it can have and generally speaking the software is the weak point of that device. Whereas the BOOX Go 10.3 is a good device and has a FANTASTIC Android 12 OS with it. As such there are many apps that will work with the device and its software is its STRONG POINT!

So a bit of opposition and mixed content but TODAY the BOOX device is the clear winner. Tried any eInk Tablets and care to share YOUR experience... Feel free to comment below!

Cheers.

larienna
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It's a shame, linux does not

It's a shame, linux does not make the cut in this case. I am a fan of linux. It could probably not do OCR locally. Which is surprising, because there are OCR software in linux. I never used them, and they could be far from perfect.

I know so little about epaper technology, but I was considering if it was possible to actually make games on epaper tech since I am aiming for animation less or limited game.

If there are some android devices, that probably means those devices are open to development.

***

Side notes, I am trying to convert my Glymmer library (menu based use interface) to Raylib. The structure of the library seems to force me doing a real time game. There must be a game loop somewhere, with constant blitting, that is necessary to read user input. Still, I could drop the frame rate below 60 fps. This forced feature could have some advantages like having blinking cursors for example.

Still, I need to make sure it does not query the database 60 times per seconds. I'll have to find a way to isolate code to make sure it does not happens. Maybe using some kind of dirty flag system, or wait for user input, to query the DB only if data to be displayed has changed.

The other main issue is with unicode and UTF-8 mandatory support. Which is not good because of the variable character length and the fact that I am making my own fonts, I don't want to draw thousands of characters. I will be reusing my glyph system to draw dialog borders for characters too using the ISO 8859.15 table.

questccg
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Well I TRIED BOTH ... And I found that...

The BOOX Go 10.3 on Android 12 ... Is more of a STANDARD device. Things feel like a Smartphone. The gestures, on-screen keyboard, the apps and the play store are all like an Android Smartphone or at least very similar. That having been said, the reMarkable is not YEARS away from having a better feature set. I mean it CAN "read" PDFs and images too... So it's more of a way to make that the device can have a better note-taking application which allows one to import and size images. Same goes for Fonts, Font Sizes and various character states like: Bold, Underlined and Italics.

For ME anyhow, the BOOX Go 10.3 does exactly what I need it to do.

For my process and workflow ... It operates as I had gotten used to the reMarkable and so the lasso to select handwritten notes, the OFFLINE OCR and then FORMATTING as to Font and Font Size all work great and do what I need the device to do especially when I am NOT at home.

The BOOX device is really what the reMarkable 2 aspires to be. The device is a bit smaller in size but has about the same size screen and the smaller format is good too as it resembles a notebook or notepad. You can have any TEMPLATE you like for writing on and I usually use LINES to write on and then change the template once the page is done (to BLANK).

***

On your side note, you've been working on that GAME for a while now. Have you made any progress??? Other than needing (or wanting) to change the menu software how is the game coming along?! Have you found someone to illustrate monsters and such? If not Deviant Art might be a good place to see and ask around if there are any artists that can draw monsters for the game, no?

Maybe you could put together ONE (1) LEVEL which is completed and demonstrate that one level to gage interest in the game...?

I know you like Linux and perhaps a Linux tablet would have been the better of worlds. But by far, the Android 12 device is much better in terms of doing what an eInk device should do. I highly recommend it... Even if I am a bit unhappy that the reMarkable 2 did not live up to its expectations. I so wanted to love that eInk Tablet (the reMarkable 2) but with no off-line OCR that was the deal breaker.

***

On another note, the BOOX Go 10.3 is like $400 CAD dollars less expensive than the reMarkable 2. So the reMarkable 2 all-in was $949 CAD and the BOOX Go 10.3 was $545 CAD. The only thing that you need to know is if you BUY the BOOX device, you will be charged $75 CAD of GST by customs. And if you buy a Bluetooth Keyboard, that's another $50 CAD... So you do save money but you need to factor in the "extras" which include duty and import fees. Still the device is REASONABLY priced. Whereas the reMarkable 2 for what it does is NOT worth the extra costs...

The other point is you need the reMarkable 2 Type Folio... The BOOX device doesn't force you to buy their keyboard and I bought a Logitech SLIM keyboard which is super compact and is Bluetooth. Pretty impressive for the Android 12 device...

So that's enough of a comparison and my personal thoughts on the matter. If you are interested in an eInk Tablet ... This is something you can look into IF you don't want COLOR (and you can live with Black & White).

Best!

Note #1: The $949 CAD price tag is a LOT of money. Some ppl still can't understand how the reMarkable 2 is priced at nearly double the price of the BOOX Go 10.3... From a hardware perspective they look almost identical with some minor discrepancies.

In comparison the $545 CAD price tag of the BOOX Go 10.3 is AMAZING! They do offer the better of the two devices in terms of software ... Hardware is about the same. So the argument: "I will buy the reMarkable 2 because it is the better of the two HARDWARE device..." is plausible but then when you look at the SOFTWARE, you realize that the BOOX is years in advance over the reMarkable 2...

Note #2: If you wonder about the Android 12 OS ... Well like I said everything is STANDARD. What do I mean??? Well you can LOCK the device in Portrait or Landscape mode or you can enable Auto-Rotate much like an Android Smartphone. The Navi-Ball is the same which allows to access other options at a pens-touch ... You can enable/disable Bluetooth. You can power off the device like a Smartphone: off, standby, restart. Split screen is another option.

Note #3: What I DON'T LIKE??? The way the pen/stylus doesn't hold nicely on the side when the device is powered off. When you close the Folio, the pen can fall and drop to the floor damaging the pen tip. Yes you do have a clasp to secure the pen which is NECESSARY and not optional if you do not want to damage you pen tips.

That's my only gripe with the device: the pen/stylus can fall if not secured with the extra magnetic clasp.

That clasp doubles as a way to secure the device at different ANGLES too... So it has several functions even though the device doesn't allow the PEN to be secure itself with the rest of the device.

That's the only issue I have with the BOOX Go 10.3: you need to secure the pen/stylus as it may fall if you do not and you would lose your pen/stylus...

questccg
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Joined: 04/16/2011
eInk vs. ePaper

larienna wrote:
I know so little about epaper technology, but I was considering if it was possible to actually make games on epaper tech since I am aiming for animation less or limited game.

Well know that I believe that the entire catalog of apps is available to the BOOX Go 10.3 as it is a NATIVE Android 12 device. Yes you CAN play games but know that the refresh rate for some games like Side-Scrollers will DRAIN the battery pretty quickly.

Other games like Chess or Checkers are fine to play because there is little to no animation. You could probably even play "Candy Crush Saga" with it's limited animation of the tiles and explosions and such.

And BTW its an eInk Device or Tablet. ePaper is for screens/monitors and the technology behind displaying content on a paper-like surface or screen.

The only thing YOU need to worry about is to CREATE and Android 12 App and ppl can DOWNLOAD your App/Game from the Google Play Store. That's really it...

Note #1: eInk is the more attractive buy because you can write on a SURFACE which is comparable to PAPER and with verious PEN STYLES, you can simulate a marker, a highlighter, a pencil, a pen, etc. Plus the BOOX device allows you to CUSTOMIZE five (5) PEN STYLES and it really makes a BIG difference when you WRITE!

I personally like a PEN with a width of 8pts. And I normally write in BLACK (#000000).

So that's what all the fuss is about when it comes to eInk Devices or Tablets. Your idea of a GAME for the eInk Device or Tablet is intriguing TBH. Something that would be designed with less animations and could still be fun to play... IDK... Would have to think about it some more.

In the meantime, I can take a BUNCH of notes with regards to Battle Botz and see where that leads...

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