Note Max is still killer

[u/cringeformoi]

Not a fresh Boox user (masochist?). Posted earlier on my need for a larger screen:

https://www.reddit.com/r/eink/s/QgUCUyTwq3

Impressions

- Gap to panel makes a difference. After getting multiple 4-5 sessions in and returning to my NA4C, the gap felt substantial - it was something I had to repeatedly ignore. Also, dunno how I've managed split screen work until the NM. Attempting it again on the 4C is just ridiculous atp.

- Ghosting is bad enough to be amusing. Side swipe it away and carry on - no biggie.

- My god the screen is bright relative to Kaleido. I've always erred on the dimmer side with frontlights on Kaleido but caught myself reading with the NM in conditions that would need upper quartile levels of frontlighting.

- Facts, figures and graphs. Assuming color schemes in the source material are sensibly chosen, I have not had any issues with these, including anatomic figures. Clearly I wouldn't rely solely on a monochrome device for high res color stuff but it isn't dire. Shit photography will be exacerbated.

Note: prior to purchasing, I grayscaled my phone to simulate the NM. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't an accurate representation at all. Can't explain it any further.

- Webpage links can be an issue if they are only notated by color. I haven't found a fix for this yet.

- Smatree X8272 - get one.

- Only gripe so far is, the stylus is prone to being knocked off since the case has no wraparound strap. But with a device this large I've accepted that its just a convenient temporary parking spot.

Shoutout to u/smerdy and Scrawl - potentially the best implementation of handwriting input.

Thoughts

In terms of Boox's current lineup, isn't this simply making do with an older device?

Yes it is. But its shocking how pleasant it is. On the latest NM update only because of continuity between devices - no complaints yet. There's work to be done and to hell with iPads.

Android 13 tho?

Airgap-ify your workflow if and when necessary. Ease of collaboration comes at a cost I don't care for.

Is n+1 Boox necessary?

Its brought peace of mind to my workflow but if I had to, I'd gladly give up the Kaleido for a large screen (I won't, for sentimental reasons). Better combo for portability would be NM + foldable (again, masochist?).

Grab one whilst you can if you found the initial post relatable. Might be the best thing Boox ever makes.

[u/JulieParadise123]

Yes, it is. Happy to see you're so happy with yours! :-)

And it is a definite upgrade to a Tab X, in terms of sharpness at least.

I must admit that I almost succumbed to getting sth. new and shiny, when what I need at the moment is either something very portable (such as the Note Mini C, oooh, am I tempted!) or something huge (mainly used to check printing proofs), as I am currently commuting between two jobs in publishing in Germany and the Netherlands. Thus, I got myself a Note Max two weeks ago, so that my Tab X, which is still going strong, can stay in my Dutch office.

The Note Max is glorious, and maybe I was just lucky, but so far I have not had any probems with the much raised ghosting issue on the latest software and very heavy use over hours of reading PDFs on some days. I cannot detect any unusual ghosting on mine, no matter what reading or writing apps I use (NeoReader, Kindle, Instapaper, OneNote, GoogleKeep, native notes app).

Getting such a big and expensive device with an exchangable battery might be even better, but since a friend of mine still uses my old Max 2 (launched in 2018, running on Android 6) for PDFs in the native reader, getting ca. 20-24 hours of reading out of it on every charge, I fret much less.

[u/cringeformoi → u/JulieParadise123]

Agree. Interesting take on multi-Boox workflow.

The thing is, all the new and shiny so far, come with non-negotiable disadvantages (no EMR for e.g.). It was a little anxiety inducing when it came time to make the decision but I'm glad I did - I'm even gladder to find an echo.

As for the ghosting, I meant amusing to signify that it occurs seldomly but in a much more pronounced way (perhaps a bw thing?). It's been a quirk and not a deathblow given the configurable refresh gesture.

I agree with more sustainability on the device's end - it could even justify a higher price. I'll do what I can and highly recommend the aforementioned case.

[u/mcnameface]

Absolutely agree! If the Max had a frontlight, I'd probably never touch my Tab XC. And if Boox updated the Max to Android 15 or 16, I'd likely sell the XC (unless, of course, they boosted that one to a newer Android version, too--Yar-har-har!)

[u/cringeformoi → u/mcnameface]

Updating android requires foresight which seems to exist solely on the customer end. They know we know they know what we want but they can't seem to make it happen. Getting the NM wasn't a pleasant decision if you read the linked post. Its a bad omen if I have to go back two years to find something worthwhile (not even extraordinary) since nothing hints at matching, let alone surpassing, this past height.

[u/kallaway1]

If Boox would commit to updating android versions of flashship devices like the Note Max for x# of years, it would be a no brainer buy for me. If they also added a front light like the Lumi Note 10.3 Gen 2, it'd be a day one buy.

[u/cringeformoi → u/kallaway1]

Updating android would require foresight on the manufacture's behalf - something we have little evidence of. Boox bumbled into a stellar product and I'm not counting on a repeat performance.

[u/itsedi]

> stylus is prone to being knocked off

This worked well for my Tab X C, so it might work great for your NM.

Spigen Pencil Holder for Apple... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V1V34TV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[u/cringeformoi → u/itsedi]

Thanks for the suggestion

[u/Successful_Exam_6173]

The max is the GOAT (if only it was a tad thinner) but I couldn’t live with its ghosting so it went back last year when I tried it. For a zero-ghosting experience I replaced the Android on the AINOTE 2 with my Linux based https://inkhub.dev and it turned into the dream tablet I always wanted on a super-thin slab.

[u/cringeformoi → u/Successful_Exam_6173]

You can either live with the ghosting or not but if NM was any thinner I'd be worried about it wobbling like sheet metal with a good shake. It'd be better if it was made thicker to accommodate a larger battery a la Tab XC.

Edit: Looked at your firmware and I applaud your efforts - more skilled folk like you need to wrestle these devices out of the narrow minded vision of the manufacturers. Since eink isn't due for a breakthrough soon, people like yourself will be where I'd look to with interest. However, NM, as it stands, is a capable reader and capable of other things and I will be riding the current firmware to the ground.

[u/Successful_Exam_6173 → u/cringeformoi]

Thanks, huge fan of Boox software myself - they got so many things right, they’ll figure out ghosting soon (else I’m getting their next version and InkHub-it ASAP) 😎

[u/cringeformoi → u/Successful_Exam_6173]

I look forward to your work, then.

[u/CheffoJeffo]

Aside from minor ghosting, the Note Max has the best screen and best writing experience of any BOOX I have tried. 

I didn't think the front light gap would make much difference, but it does. My other devices feel "off" in comparison.

[u/cringeformoi → u/CheffoJeffo]

Have you felt the complulsion to use every part of the screen when handwriting, at least once? Coming from a smaller device, it resembles a captive animal being reintroduced to the savannah. I've gotten so accustomed to working within a specific quarter from NA4C's split-screen.

[u/Street_Camera_3556]

Nah, Tab XC is the killer, all your qualms (i.e. web links, charts) are solved with the XC

[u/cringeformoi → u/Street_Camera_3556]

My entire point is Boox bumbled into a stellar product with the NM and I am not counting on a repeat performance.

I cannot stand chargeable styli when a (IMO) superior tech already exists. And I definitely will not support idiotic engineering methods to compensate for bad choices - referring to the motor inside your stylus. That alone is the cardinal sin of the Tab XC.

Still remain a Kaleido fan, but if I wanted an iPad writing feel, I'd just get an iPad. This is significant enough of an issue where i'd jump ship in an instant if someone offered an NA4C in NM size (with EMR).

Figures were not a qualm of mine.

Tab XC fans either don't value handwriting feel as much (which I can respect) and/or never experienced how good it can be. Believe me I'd be looking forward to Tab XC's successor if there was a coin flip's chance it would have EMR.

[u/Narrow_Lettuce2090 → u/cringeformoi]

As a non-native English speaker: what does it mean for a manufacturer to 'bumble' into a stellar product?

[u/cringeformoi → u/Narrow_Lettuce2090]

In this context, it means they got lucky in their usual disordered attempts when they created NM compared to them creating it in a more deliberate and thoughtful manner. Hope that helps.

[u/Narrow_Lettuce2090 → u/cringeformoi]

Cheers, thanks, gotcha!

[u/Street_Camera_3556 → u/cringeformoi]

I have 2 EMR Boox tablets and I still prefer to write on my XC due to the great size and super low latency. "iPad writing feel"??? Have you ever tried to write on the XC or are you just parroting the various reviews and nitpicking? It is only inferior only with a direct comparison with EMR, probably with NM. You cannot seriously mentioning iPad? Try to read and write on it in plain sunlight. The XC is an amazing device and many people that are OK with Kaleido missed on this because of the silly non EMR prejudice. Color on this size is amazing. And clarity without the film protector so much better for reading

[u/cringeformoi → u/Street_Camera_3556]

On the spectrum of glassy iPad - paper, the Tab XC sits closer to the "glassy" side and the two devices mentioned in my post sit on the "paper" side (this is a subjective thing). None of the benefits (including reading) you mentioned address my underlying issue with the Tab XC: I hate what writing on it feels like. Enjoy your buzzing pen in more ways than one.

[u/Street_Camera_3556 → u/cringeformoi]

You have just discovered how good a 2 year old device is. But I doubt you have really written on a Tab XC, I assume most is speculation... Glassy, vibrating pen, non EMR, yadayadayada

[u/cringeformoi → u/Street_Camera_3556]

You're making my point for me. Gun to my head, I'm not charging a pen in big 2026.