Distributor: Standaard Boekhandel
Tolino Vision 2 – Hardware Review
In the previous part of the e-reader reviews, we talked about the fairly simple Tolino Shine, which is a great e-reader for casual readers and those with a smaller budget. In this article we’ll talk about the Tolino Vision 2, which finds itself in a higher price category, but also aims at more avid readers as well as readers that might just want to go for something a bit more powerful.
If you’re new to the e-readers ‘scene’, you might want to consider reading through the Tolino Shine review first.
Design
The Tolino Vision 2 is slightly more classy than the Tolino Shine. With its black design, it will already appear to be a bit more modern and expensive than its simple counterpart. You’ll notice that the outside frame is smaller than the Shine, making the screen appear larger, while in reality it is not. The surface of the device is completely smooth, giving it more the look of a tablet compared to older e-reader models. Just like the Shine, the Vision 2’s backside is coated with the same rubber-ish material, giving a more matte look to everything except for the monitor.
All the buttons have been incorporated in the design, which makes the two top buttons and the home button appear a lot more smooth. Again no real whistles and bells, but a device such as this one does not need that many extras.
Comfort
With the smoother materials used, the Vision 2 is quite soft to hold, making it quite comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. The padding does bring the same disadvantage as it does with many other devices that use the same material, namely that it stains easily. You’ll quickly see fingerprints, grease stains and so on, even if you handle the device with clean hands. The rubber also prevents it to be cleaned easily, but nonetheless, a lens cloth can do wonders.
Seeing the device only weighs 174 grams, you will not be bothered by the weight if you are planning to sink your teeth in a new, longer novel. This, in combination with the smaller frame, makes the Tolino Vision 2 quite a comfortable device.
A small extra function has been implemented for those who wish to read with one hand, whilst perhaps sipping their cup of coffee, namely the option to tap the back of the device to turn the page. Even though you have to tap quite hard to turn to the next page, it’s still a fun option.
Specs
- 163 mm x 114 mm x 8,1 mm
- 174 grams
- 6 inch display
- E-Ink Carta monitor
- Waterproof coating (30 minutes, 1 meter depth)
- Powerful processor
- Built in shop
- 4GB storage (Only 2GB available for books)
- Supports ePub, PDF and txt
- 7 weeks battery life
- Cloud synchronization of books
Overview
Plug and play is the basic principle of the Tolino Vision 2 if you want to get started. You simply need to connect the device with your PC, using the supplied Mini-USB cable in order to charge up the device and manage the files you have on it. You can simply drag and drop new books on your device, if you already had them stored on your PC. Keep in mind, you won’t be able to do any reading on your Vision 2, as long as it is connected with your computer.
As expected, you can easily use different file types in correspondence with the Vision 2. The device supports ePub, PDF and txt files, thus making sure you will be able to view the most used file formats. You can easily transfer your collection from another e-readers to this one, or even titles from your smartphone and PC, if you already had some eBooks on it.
The basic functions are all present: the e-reader will keep track of which books are stored in the cloud (if you have a wifi connection), where you stopped in which book, your font type and size settings, account data and so on. The moment you start using the device, it’s clear that everything you do is saved to the letter, making it that much more comfortable and practical when using the Vision the next time(s).
If the room or environment you’re reading in gets too dark, you can turn on the backlight with the touch of a button, lengthening your reading experience. This will decrease your battery lifespan, though not that drastically. Even with the light on, the e-reader does not feel like a normal tablet, as it still remains very pleasant and comfortable for your eyes.
Of course, other basic functions are also implemented, such as taking screenshots of items you do not wish to forget, making notes, adding websites to your favorites, and the built in shop. The shop the Tolino Vision 2 is linked with is the digital one from the Standaard Boekhandel. In here you can buy new books on the go (wifi), if you have a credit card closeby. If you wish to purchase from their site, other payment methods are also available on your PC. If you have an account, you’ll be able to link all your books to five different devices, allowing easy access to your digital library.
To store your books, the device offers 2GB of available space for your books. This will allow you to bring more than 1000 books with you on your many adventures, be it at home or on the road.
Just like the Shine, the Vision 2 promises seven weeks of battery life. This is quite accurate, if you don’t use your backlight too much and don’t keep the e-reader active all the time. You can certainly bring a fully charged Vision 2 on a lengthy holiday, not having to worry about having to recharge it. (Don’t stay away too long though!)
You’ll notice that the device itself is very responsive. It will react quite quickly when you perform an action, making it a lot faster than it’s cheaper counterpart. Thanks to this, the screen will flicker a decent amount less and typing and surfing will go a lot smoother as well.
Conclusion
The Tolino Vision 2 is a great device for the experienced reader. You will be treated to a compact and light e-reader, with a clear screen and above all a lot of horsepower. The device itself responds very quickly and you will notice hardly any delay, making it very responsive and easy to use. If you have a budget that reaches a bit further than the price of the Shine, the Vision 2 might be the way to go.
Tolino Vision 2 - Hardware Review,
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