Review of ONYX BOOX Caesar. A good gift option for loved ones and yourself. Test and review: Onyx BOOX Caesar – an e-book with basic features of Onyx Caesar

I welcome the members of the Club of Experts, as well as all the guests who have visited this page.
Once again, ONYX pleases us with a novelty in the world of e-books. This time she introduced a new model on the market called ONYX Boox Caesar 2. This reader is an updated version of the previous ONYX Boox Caesar book. The main change here was the presence of a new SNOW Field function.

Package

ONYX Boox Caesar 2 comes in a small white box. The image of the emperor is printed on the front side in the center, and at the bottom there is a brief historical background about Caesar.

There is a Roman ornament on the right side, no data are available.

On the left side, you can see barcodes, as well as information about the importer and the place of assembly.

ONYX logos are placed on the top and bottom ends.

On the back side there are descriptions of the reader and its new SNOW Field function. Below are specifications, as well as information about the importer and manufacturer. On the market, the e-book is available in several colors: white, black and gray. In our case, the body color is black.

If we compare the design of the packaging with the design of the previous model, then there are no changes except for the name and description of the SNOW Field function.

Equipment

The set of ONYX Boox Caesar 2, like the first model, consists of minimum set elements:
- E-book ONYX Boox Caesar 2;
- User's manual;
- USB-microUSB cable;
- Warranty card.

Appearance

The appearance of the ONYX Boox Caesar 2 is identical to other "entry level" readers, be it Caesar, COLUMBUS 2 or Amundsen.
This case is time-tested, it meets all the requirements for easy reading.
ONYX Boox Caesar 2 is made of black matte plastic. Its overall dimensions are 170 x 117 x 8.7 mm, and the weight is 182 g.

At the bottom of the front side is a five-position key. It is made in the form of a square black button with a silver trim. Above the key you can see corporate logo boox.

On the sides there are long keys for calling up the menu and scrolling.

On the top end there is a power button and a "Reset" hole.

At the bottom there is a microUSB connector, a slot for a memory card, and a plug for the missing audio input.

The only difference in appearance ONYX Boox Caesar 2 has touched the back cover. Now all the information has been moved from the central part to the bottom of the case.

The quality of workmanship and materials remains at a high level. Changes in appearance also did not happen, all controls remained in place.

Screen

The ONYX Boox Caesar 2 has a 6-inch E-Ink Carta screen. The display resolution is 1024 x 758 pixels, which is quite enough for a clear display of text. There is no touch control.
One of the main advantages of the ONYX Boox Caesar 2 is the MOON Light. It is worth noting that the brightness of the backlight in 100% mode is very intense. As for me, 50% for reading is more than enough.

In the settings of the e-book, there are tools for working with display backlighting, thanks to which the user can significantly extend the autonomy of the reader.

Comparison of an e-book with a printed page.

Generally speaking, the screen of the updated model also remained without any changes.

SNOW Field

SNOW Field is the main and only novelty introduced in ONYX Boox Caesar 2. The SNOW Field feature allows you to minimize the number of artifacts visible to the eye. This is a very useful feature, because due to partial rendering, the user will not see the outlines of the old page on the new page. At this stage, the SNOW Field function is supported by the Neo Reader 2 program. But the manufacturers promise that in future updates, its support will also be implemented in the OReader reader program.
For an illustrative example, I recorded the work of the SNOW Field function in Neo Reader 2.

Interface

The main screen has not changed, the exception is new style menu icons at the bottom of the display.

The list of books in the "Library" tab can be displayed in three options - everything, as in previous versions. Navigation remained inconvenient. I would like to finally see something more practical.

Two new programs appeared in the list of applications: "Clock" and "Reading Statistics".

By opening the statistics, you can view information about the books read, reading time, as well as the distribution of time.

The "Settings" tab contains all the tools you need to work with an e-book. Here you can view information about the built-in memory and information about the device. By the way, now only 5.06 GB of memory is available to the user, while in the previous model it was 6.16 GB.

Also in the settings there is an opportunity to assign functions to the side buttons in several ways.
In addition, there is another tab with settings. The main addition was the ability to assign functions to the side and center buttons.

Usage

Once again, the ONYX Boox Caesar 2 hardware has been kept intact. The e-book uses a dual-core Rockchip RK3026 processor with a clock speed of 1000 MHz, as well as a Mali-400 MP graphics accelerator. The total amount of built-in memory is 8 GB, and operational - 512 MB.

The reader control has also not changed: the left key calls up the menu, and the right key is used to scroll through. As I mentioned earlier, the user can independently assign functions to buttons in the Settings - System - Button Settings tab.

Like previous models, ONYX Boox Caesar 2 is capable of playing all major text formats.
The oReader and Neo Reader 2 reader programs have not undergone any changes in the interface. Presented sets of functions and tools for displaying text include everything you need.

Offline work

Autonomous operation of ONYX Boox Caesar 2 is provided by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. Also, manufacturers have provided special settings that allow you to put the e-book into sleep mode. Thus, the high battery capacity, the screen off setting, and the absence of a Wi-Fi module significantly increase the operating time of the device.

Conclusion

As you can see, the only difference between the new model and the old one is the presence of the SNOW Field function. The difference between the two display options cannot be called cardinal, both screens are made at a high level. The only thing that should be noted is that in ONYX Boox Caesar 2 there is a noticeable trend towards the development of technology, manufacturers are not sitting idly by, for which I thank them. But speaking in general, I still lean towards the need for touch control in an e-reader. If you agree with me, then you should take a closer look at ONYX Boox Vasco Da Gama 2.

That's all for me, make smart purchases and enjoy new acquisitions.
I express my special gratitude to the administration of the Club of Experts for the opportunity to post this review.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros: - E-Ink screen - Backlight - Mechanical buttons - Many supported file formats - Good battery - There is a page turning button on the side

Disadvantages: - No cover included - Inconvenient transition to a specific (by number) page using a joystick

Comment: I use the book only for reading, before that for several years there was the simplest Wexler reader, it broke down, and I chose a book without touch controls, Wi-Fi and other extra functionality that I don’t use in the book, and the absence of which has a positive effect on the cost of the book; I also wanted the page turning button to be on the side. I bought a cover with a magnetic clasp separately, without a cover I feel uncomfortable. Once I made all the settings (font size, backlight brightness, etc.), I use it with pleasure, I hope for a long work of the book.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ragnar L.

Pros: -Price. Of all the books out there, this one is probably the most affordable. -Battery. Holds for a very long time. There is no way for me to discharge in order to produce three cycles. - Backlight. Bad lighting is not a problem.

Disadvantages: Most important: small joystick. Very awkward to switch. By the way, my hands are not big. No case included.

Comment: Without a touchscreen, it's uncomfortable, but then you get used to it. don't get used to the little joystick. He's annoying. The lack of a touchscreen and a case is connected with the budget, so by and large it is not a disadvantage. And so you get used to everything. A good choice for beginners who have recently decided to try using e-books. Buy - you won't regret it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Ludmila O.

Advantages: Lightweight Omnivorous Eyes do not get tired High-quality assembly Fits comfortably in the hand Excellent screen Very long work on one charge good speed work Optimum size.

Disadvantages: Slightly confusing settings (although, maybe only for me), fortunately, they are rarely needed.

Comment: The book deserves all the praise: fast response, a lot of memory, all this allows you to use it as a kind of universal device, which is necessary in everyday life. Glad to buy. I usually keep the backlight on at ~ 20% brightness. In bright ambient light, it is not visible, in normal light it makes the screen visually clearer, in the dark it provides quite comfortable reading. It is very convenient to read in the subway - differences in lighting almost do not interfere. After the purchase, I immediately charged it to the stop - and for almost a month - the battery has not sat down yet. I read 1-2 hours every day, mostly fb2 and djvu.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Alexey Skochilov

Pros: Screen and backlight quality. Battery. Decent price for this quality. Nice coverage.

Cons: Terrible joystick control with a small button deeply recessed. It will be difficult for people with thumbs to press it. Crooked menu.

Comment: Almost everything (except for the joystick), with regard to manufacturability and design, is five plus. Programmers who made such a menu should be driven from a company that produces some of the best readers. In terms of price / quality ratio, I put 5. If purely in terms of quality, 4.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Arseniy H.

Advantages: Pleasant to the touch plastic, ergonomic design, comfortable control keys, pleasant backlight, eight gigabytes of internal memory, various covers are suitable, adequate price.

Cons: Haven't found one yet.

Comment: An excellent reader for your money, a minimum of unnecessary programs and functions, you can install a separate library through a PC, the battery holds just gorgeous, a month with daily use.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great screen, good backlight. Small, light, fits well in any handbag.

Disadvantages: No cover, because of this, often the hand itself presses the side key when not needed. It is also uncomfortable to hold in your hands because of this. What is being sold is not good. I had to sew the cover myself. Inconvenient navigation. The interface cannot be called intuitive. I didn't get used to it right away.

Comment: When you get used to it, you like it. Worth the money spent.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Albert E.

Advantages: An excellent reader without any bells and whistles for a book such as wi-fi, a sensor, etc., which is too much in our life. Working hours are great too. I can’t say that I read 100 sheets every day, but on average a book a week. Batteries with this use last more than a month and a half and then, half full.

Disadvantages: Of course, there are many pluses, but there are also some minuses for me, and they are as follows: in many models it is included, but here they could also be added due to the lack of some functions (wi-fi, sensor), because. in all other respects they are absolutely identical books and almost identical in price; - I don’t like it and sometimes it infuriates me to hold the button for a long time to scroll one or several pages back (they could come up with an additional section in the reading mode in the settings for switching side buttons)

We continue our acquaintance with new e-books from the company ONYX BOOX. We recently talked about the reader, which the manufacturer classified as middle class, both in price and in terms of characteristics and functionality. And today in our editorial office it turned out to be a more budget device from the initial series ONYX BOOX Caesar. This reader, like Vasco Da Gama, is equipped with a 6-inch E-Ink Carta screen with MOON Light backlight, powerful hardware, high-capacity batteries and support for most modern formats text files, and the differences are only in the absence of the latest touch screen and Wi-Fi wireless network, which reduced the price by 700 rubles.

Specifications:

• Display: 6 inches, E-Ink Carta, 16 shades of gray;
• Display resolution: 758x1024 pixels, 212 ppi;
• Contrast: 14:1;
• Backlight: MOON Light;
• Processor: Rockchip RK3026, 2 cores, 1 GHz;
• RAM: 512 MB;
• Built-in memory: 8 GB;
• Memory expansion slot: yes, microSD / microSDHC up to 32 GB;
• Wired interface: USB 2.0;
• Wireless interface: none;
• Supported text formats: TXT, HTML, RTF, FB2, FB2.zip, MOBIPOCKET, CHM, PDB, DOC, DOCX, PRC, EPUB, PDF, DjVu;
• Supported graphic formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP;
• Battery: Li-Ion, 3000 mAh;
• Operating system: Android 4.2;
• Dimensions: 170x117x8.7 mm;
• Weight: 182 grams;
• Recommended price: 6790 rubles.

Packaging and equipment

The packaging of inexpensive readers from ONYX BOOX is quite pleasant and informative. In addition, the thick hard cardboard perfectly protects the fragile screen of the e-reader during transportation. On the box with the Caesar book, we see the already familiar biography of the historical figure to whom this book is dedicated, in our case it is Gaius Julius Caesar - an ancient Greek political figure.

Contents of delivery:

• E-book ONYX BOOX Caesar;
• USB cable;
• Documentation.

Thus, only the essentials are in the box. To reduce the final cost, the manufacturer abandoned both the case and the charger, which is quite logical.

Appearance and features

Caesar is positioned by the manufacturer as an entry-level reader, as evidenced by the functionality and, of course, the price. On the this moment In addition to the tested book, this series includes another one that we tested earlier. This, which costs another 800 rubles cheaper. What is the difference? But here's the thing: Amundsen is deprived of such an important feature as the backlight of the screen, which is very critical for most users. It also has a battery capacity almost half that of Caesar. Is it worth overpaying these same 800 rubles for additional features? We think it's worth it. Well, if you also need Wi-Fi, then you should pay attention to, which already belongs to the middle line of the manufacturer.

The appearance of the ONYX BOOX Caesar is similar to the earlier C-series non-touch models. In this case, only black body color is available. The plastic is pleasant to the touch, a little easily soiled, but this is not critical. The shape is as streamlined and smooth as possible. In fact, we are already so accustomed to the ONYX BOOX case that it seems almost perfect. Yes, there are books that are more compact, lighter and more modern in appearance, but here everything is balanced and familiar.

The dimensions are pretty standard for 6 inches: 170x117x8.7 mm. Weight 182 grams. The reader is great for both home use and for reading on the street or in transport. The only point is that you should take care of the case, as it is not included in the kit. There are several options for covers: you can choose a branded one that is more expensive or purchase a universal "pocket" for affordable price. As for ease of use, the reader lies perfectly in the hand, it is convenient to use it alone. and two hands. Of course, there are control nuances associated with the lack of a touch screen, but if you are used to such books, then you will not experience any inconvenience.

So, reader management. It happens only with the help of mechanical buttons, of which there are three (not counting the power button). The main navigation tool is a five-way joystick under the screen, which is responsible for moving in the menu, calling it, turning pages, and also quick turn on and turn off the backlight. There are two more buttons on the sides of the screen, one of which scrolls the pages forward, and the second brings up the menu when reading or exits an open application. Is this management good? It is difficult to answer unequivocally, it all depends on your experience with e-books: if you previously used only a touch reader, then it will take time to get used to mechanical buttons; if you have previously used a book with similar controls, then you will definitely quickly find a common language with ONYX BOOX Caesar.

Of the wired interfaces, there is only microUSB for charging and connecting to a computer - the book should not have anything else. Next to the port is a slot for a microSD memory card. Declared support for cards up to 32 GB, which greatly expands the memory built into the reader. 32 GB will fit a lot of books. A small power button on the top.

Screen

It looks like the transition from E-Ink Pearl screens to E-Ink Carta was quite successful. Now even entry-level books have a high-quality modern Carta screen. This also applies to the ONYX BOOX Caesar. The screen resolution of the reader is 758 by 1024 pixels - the value is standard and already familiar. This resolution provides a pixel density of 212 ppi, which is enough for comfortable reading of any texts. The letters look smooth, without a pronounced "ladder" at the edges. The contrast is set to 14:1. The backing of the E-Ink Carta screens is slightly lighter than that of the outdated Pearl HD, which brings the visual experience of reading an e-book as close as possible to that of reading a classic. paper book. An absolute plus for a book priced at less than 7,000 rubles is the backlight. In ONYX BOOX Caesar, it is implemented using MOON Light technology. The screen is illuminated by LEDs on the side, which is as harmless to the eyes as possible even when reading a book for a long time.

The backlight brightness is large. At the level of 20-30% it is comfortable to read in the dark, you are unlikely to set the maximum backlight level, it is very bright. Illumination uniformity is not bad; as usual, there are small light spots at the bottom of the screen, since this is where the LEDs are located, but in everyday use you do not pay attention to them.

Performance and software

The platform on which the book is built has remained the same. This is a Rockchip RK3026 with two Cortex-A9 cores running at 1GHz. If you have watched previous reviews of ONYX BOOX books on our or other sites, then you already know what we are talking about. Well, if you come across this platform in e-books for the first time, then we will briefly talk about its capabilities. Yes, for a tablet, this processor is rather weak and no longer relevant, but an e-book is far from being a tablet, and it does not require such resources. From the processor, we only need fast processing of small text files of various formats, and the RK3026 copes with this task without problems. FB2 files with a volume of several megabytes open very quickly, and also flip through. More difficult to process PDF files larger than 70 MB make the interface of the book think, but only for a few seconds, which is quite acceptable. Scrolling through such files is fast. Another question is that a six-inch screen is not enough for PDF and DjVu, but that's a completely different story.

A few words about memory. The book has 512 MB of RAM and 8 GB of permanent memory. After downloading, about 240 MB and 6 GB are available to the user, respectively. In principle, these volumes are enough for any tasks. If you plan to store a huge library or read very capacious formats, then you can install a memory card (up to 32 GB is supported).

Now let's talk about the interface. We have considered it more than once, so we will go through only the main points. This is Android 4.2.2 with its own shell adapted for e-books. The interface is as simple and clear as possible and has very little in common with the same Android "th that we are used to seeing in smartphones.

The desktop, as expected, displays currently read and recently downloaded books. The library is convenient, understandable, but does not know how to show folders. If you want folders, then use the file manager that is installed out of the box.

Since the book is on Android, there is also a section with applications. There are very few of them installed, and you will probably use only one - the Dictionary. Calculator and gallery are unlikely to be useful to you. We do not see the usual Google Play in the list of applications, and the reason for this is simple: the book does not support Wi-Fi. Third-party applications can only be installed using a computer by copying the appropriate file to the reader's memory.

Reading settings

We buy an electronic reader for only one purpose - to read, everything else is secondary. And it is convenient to read when everything is set up for yourself. ONYX BOOX Caesar allows you to do this, or rather, it allows you to configure not the e-book itself, but pre-installed reading applications. By default, the most popular formats are opened using OReader, and we'll look at its settings.

Since the book is not touch-sensitive, the manufacturer had to think about how to implement the menu call when reading, because on touchscreens this is done with a short tap in the center of the screen. In our case, the menu was divided into main and extended. The main one is called up with a short press on the central button of the joystick and allows you to use the dictionary, go to the content, add a bookmark or increase / decrease the font size. A more extended menu is called up by long pressing the left side button and then selecting the "Menu" item. Here, line spacings are already adjustable, and fonts are selected. In general, there are many settings, you can choose the best for yourself.

Offline work

The latest readers from ONYX BOOX come out exclusively with a 3000 mAh battery, which is a lot for a book. As has been observed with other e-readers, the main consumer of power is often the wireless wifi network. Immediately it is absent, which means that the reader will work for a long time. This was also confirmed during testing. Turning pages every 20-30 seconds (full update every 3 pages) of an FB2 file with the backlight on at 50% consumes about 1.5% of the battery charge in two hours. We observed an identical result when testing the ONYX BOOX Vasco Da Gama with W-Fi turned off. Based on energy consumption, even when reading 3-4 hours a day, the reader will work for at least one month.

Results

ONYX BOOX Caesar is not quite the usual budget class. On the one hand, a very budget package, the absence of the ONYX BOOX branded case beloved by many, as well as the already familiar case design and the lack of Wi-Fi. On the other hand, you can forget about all this when you look at the screen and the technical specifications. A productive platform for an e-book, a large amount of memory, both main and operational, an excellent E-Ink Carta screen with high contrast and high-quality MOON Light backlight. Many users may be confused by the lack of a sensor, but this is a price cut. If you categorically do not accept the mechanical control of such gadgets, then you should take a closer look at older versions of ONYX BOOX readers, for example, to or.

A few words about the price. At the time of writing, the recommended price is 6790 rubles. This is one of the cheapest books from the manufacturer's line. If you look at competitors with similar characteristics, then these will be only second-tier brands. So the price can be considered justified.

Pros:

• High-quality screen E-Ink Carta;
• Good build quality;
• Long battery life;
• Fast work in the interface and when reading books;
• Acceptable price.

May not like:

• Modest delivery set;
• Only mechanical control.

For the copy provided for review, we thank MakTsentr, the exclusive representative of ONYX International products in Russia.

Electronic books are much more useful than electronic cigarettes, and not only because they do not harm health, but also save space in the house or bag. I have repeatedly reviewed products from Onyx, the leader in the reader market, but previous models were in the premium segment. Agree, not everyone is ready to pay 10-11 thousand for a device for reading books, so today's review is dedicated to Gaius Julius Caesar, or rather, the budget version of the reader for a modest 6.5 thousand rubles ONYX BOOX Caesar 2. Well, let's read?

By the way, the budget of the device is felt literally in everything, from the configuration to the device itself. However, this does not mean that the device is molded from what it was. The ONYX BOOX Caesar 2 is a popular model that has become a classic in the reading genre.

The reader comes in a box stylized as a real book, which depicts the Roman comrade Caesar with the FRED PERRY logo.

The box contains only the charging cable, user manual and warranty card. In general, they did not live richly, there was nothing to start. The main difference between the budget version of the reader is the lack of a branded leather cover, which comes in more expensive models.

Also, the ONYX BOOX Caesar 2 lacks a touch screen. However, this is not a reason to be upset - the joystick in the middle at the bottom and two keys on the sides are more than enough for comfortable use. Moreover, for me personally, one button on the left was enough to turn the pages.

The first thing that is felt when meeting with the device is its lightness. The reader weighs only 182 grams, and thanks to the classic size of a pocket book, the device lies securely and comfortably without slipping out of your hands.

Fingers easily reach all the necessary buttons, so no perverted maneuvers will have to be done.
Despite the low cost of the device, this model has a proprietary E Ink Carta screen, the essence of which is increased contrast and a lighter background than the previous generation screens.

The classic MOON Light backlight has not gone anywhere, the brightness of which can be characterized by the phrase “well, you, infection, shine in my face.” In general, you will not have problems with reading at night or under the covers. In the country, I used this "reader" even as a flashlight when going to the toilet.

On board the device are 512 MB of RAM and a 2-core 1 GHz processor - of course, these parameters are beyond the eyes and ears for comfortable reading.

Even the built-in 8 GB is more than enough to store an entire library, for insatiable book worms, memory expansion up to 32 GB is provided.

As usual with Onyx, the 3000 mAh battery will last you a long time. This is a decent indicator for this kind of device.

The number of supported formats is impressive, so the "dance with a tambourine" to find a digestible format can be avoided.

Everything else is standard - a built-in dictionary that you can use when reading, support a large number languages. Among them, for example, Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese and many others. There is also an English-Russian and Russian-English dictionaries, calculator, convenient reader and that is all.

Of course, you can install third-party applications, but keep in mind that without a touch screen, they may not work. So check compatibility.

All in all, the ONYX BOOX Caesar 2 is a reliable no-frills reader for those who only want an e-reader and nothing else. No frills, just a pleasant comfortable reading and immersion in your favorite books. What else can you demand from a reader for that kind of money, I don’t even know. Of course, you can say that a simple reader can be bought for a couple of thousand cheaper and you will be right, but ONYX BOOX is, first of all, a recognizable brand, which means stable quality. Anyone who needs an excellent reader for adequate money ONYX BOOX Caesar 2 fits perfectly.

The full line of devices can be viewed on the official website of the company.

P.S. I wanted to put something themed with Caesar on the title photo, for example, the ruins of the Roman Empire, but, unfortunately, I am in the country and there is no Roman Empire here. Moreover, there is not even a Caesar salad here to take a picture of a book against its background. So do your best, but you stay here and there.

And although ONYX BOOK named their reader in honor of the Roman emperor-multi-station (or lettuce?), It cannot be compared with a Swiss knife. WiFi? No. Bluetooth? Also no. Caesar shines just like an e-book. Largely due to the excellent screen quality, MOON Light backlight and thoughtful ergonomics.

Excellent eInk Carta Display

Caesar has the best of options screens - eInk Carta with an ideal resolution for 6 inches (1024x758 pixels). Thanks to the high contrast ratio (14:1), text is equally readable both indoors and in bright sunlight. In total darkness, the MOON Light backlight with a wide range of brightness helps out. The display displays 16 shades of gray and does a good job of playing simple and light PDF files like technical documentation, catalogs and books that for some reason have been laid out in PDF.

Convenient control system

Since the screen is not touch-sensitive, 2 side buttons are responsible for switching pages. As the reader's experience shows, this option is the most convenient, as it allows you to turn the pages without letting go of the book. If necessary, the buttons can be reconfigured for the left hand. An additional plus for convenience is the soft-touch case, which sits securely in the hands.

Android and a capacious battery

Caesar has a 3000 mAh battery, which allows you to forget about charging for a long time: when reading 2-3 hours a day, 100% charge is enough for about 2 months of work. The reader itself is running android version 4.2, the interface of which has been changed almost beyond recognition. From stock android applications there is only a calculator, a dictionary and the OReader reader itself.

File manager

Perhaps the only drawback of this book is its indistinctly sorted file system: everything is lumped together by file names. If you keep order in the library, then this is not a problem. But if the shelves are bursting with downloaded books from original titles in the spirit of "d_nolan_-_kuriniye_utehi", you will have to dig into the file manager and look for everything manually. How more books the more time it takes.