New readers from 2022 - 2024

[pypeke]

I noticed that some companies release a lot of new ereaders and some don't. What is your opinion as a user of these brands?


Onyx Boox - 17 new from 2022 - 2024 with 4 discontinued already.

Pocketbook - 11 new from 2022 - 2024 with 1 discontinued already.

Bigme - 15 new from 2023 - 2024 with 0 discontinued.

Kobo - 5 new from 2022 - 2024 with 0 discontinued.



So, is Bigme producing great products? Is it a new company?

Onyx Boox- not new company. Are they still trying to figure it out? Or just create new ereaders to help profits? Not sure I like Android 11.

Pocketbook products? Only 1 discontinued. A good sign?

Kobo has not produced many new ones since 2022, but none have been discontinued. A good sign?

Opinions? Thanks.

[patrik]

Another, maybe even more important fact is whether or not they keep updating discontinued devices.

I think Kobo excels in that area. Actually pretty amazing.

[pypeke]

Originally Posted by patrik

Another, maybe even more important fact is whether or not they keep updating discontinued devices.

I think Kobo excels in that area. Actually pretty amazing.

I have read that about Kobo. Very nice! Plus the ability to repair Kobos is wonderful.

[Renate]

Onyx is the all-time winner for plowing you under with a plethora of models.
Maybe they are running out of steam on 6" monochrome readers.
We've been with the Poke5 quite a while now.
Still, it's a good reader.

[JSWolf]

The biggest issue with Kobo is that they've disconnected the Libra 2 and have no replacement for it. The Libra Colour is not a replacement.

@pypeke your Kobo listing is incorrect. There are not 0 discontinued models between 2022-2024.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by pypeke

I
Bigme - 15 new from 2023 - 2024 with 0 discontinued.

Are all real or are some vapour-ware? A tiny Chinese startup, but expensive. Not in same league as Chinese Onyx / Boox.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...

@pypeke your Kobo listing is incorrect. There are not 0 discontinued models between 2022-2024.

Which models were discontinued (referring to the original post)?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

Which models were discontinued (referring to the original post)?

Kobo Clara 2E

That seems to be it from 2022-2024. There are other models discontinued between 2022-2024 but they were released prior to 2022.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Kobo Clara 2E

...

That was a short cycle.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by patrik

Another, maybe even more important fact is whether or not they keep updating discontinued devices.

I think Kobo excels in that area. Actually pretty amazing.

True. Even my 2013 Kobo Aura HD is running the latest firmware update.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by patrik

Another, maybe even more important fact is whether or not they keep updating discontinued devices.

I think Kobo excels in that area. Actually pretty amazing.

I agree. Kobo is amazing at supporting older devices. My Aura H2O has the latest 4.38 firmware available.

I may get it out, boot it up and install the new firmware.

[DNSB]

For what it may be worth, one of my relatives is running the latest 4.38 firmware on their Kobo Glo. I may be looking at helping with a battery transplant in the not so distant future.

[Kindleing]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For what it may be worth, one of my relatives is running the latest 4.38 firmware on their Kobo Glo. I may be looking at helping with a battery transplant in the not so distant future.

I Have several Kobos, including a Libra 2, Aura One, and a couple of Aura H2Os (an Edition 1 and Edition 2) but I have never updated the software on any of them. They all are running whatever they had when I bought them. Only the Libra 2 was new, all the others were bought used.

I didn't bother updating any of them because of how Amazon tends to degrade Kindle software with new updates and these all seem to function fine. Is there any downside to updating Kobos? I keep them offline and sideload them because I haven't bought any books through Kobo except the Pratchett Humble Bundle series.

Thanks.

[DNSB]

For me, I like having the same firmware version on my Kobos making for a consistent interface.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Kindleing

I Have several Kobos, including a Libra 2, Aura One, and a couple of Aura H2Os (an Edition 1 and Edition 2) but I have never updated the software on any of them. They all are running whatever they had when I bought them. Only the Libra 2 was new, all the others were bought used.

I didn't bother updating any of them because of how Amazon tends to degrade Kindle software with new updates and these all seem to function fine. Is there any downside to updating Kobos? I keep them offline and sideload them because I haven't bought any books through Kobo except the Pratchett Humble Bundle series.

Thanks.

Yes, you do want to update the firmware. Unlike Amazon, Kobo does make some useful updates and fixes. For example, ePub is faster, highlighting is easier, and you can adjust the Also, 4.38.23038 seems to be quite stable.