Preferably not requiring internet or web services or “apps” (shudder)
If its moddable thats cool but even better if it doesnt even need that
I like my supernote, I have the smaller DIN A5 sized one but there is also an A4 sized one.
Love my Supernote. One of the objects in my life that as soon as it breaks, I’m immediately buying a new one (or in the case of the newest model, replacement parts).
Boox has 10.3" and 13.3" models: https://shop.boox.com/collections/all-products/13-3 The 13.3 would be closest to A4 (assuming that’s what you meant, A4 or 8.5x11). They run Android, you can install other reader apps like Kindle, Kobo, Libby. You can load PDFs by USB (which I do). There was a browser interface which I’d tried and it worked, but I just don’t use it. No idea if it’s still available. The built-in reading app can mark up epubs the same as PDFs. I purchased a Wacom stylus that has a side button for the eraser function because the original it comes with has the eraser on the top. I didn’t like having to flip the stylus over.
I have a predecessor 13.3" model, the Max Lumi, which is no longer available, but I am still fairly pleased with it. I’d gotten mine for the purpose of splitscreening a document on one side and notebook on the other side, to take notes for school. If I were to buy again now, I would go for the slightly smaller 10.3 size to be more portable, but unlikely to use spiltscreen. I would also opt for colour (which was not yet an option when I bought mine.)
In case people care, the maker of Boox devices flagrantly violates GPL license terms, basically stealing and profiting from open source code.
Edit: thread with details
A11 is 18x26mm. Maybe you’re thinking more like A4?
ReMarkable devices would seem to fit what you’re asking, as document viewing and markup are practically all they do, they run Linux (not Android) and, I believe, are cloud-optional.
BTW, you can also ask in [email protected]
Remarkables don’t play well with open source in general. They are a heavily modified Linux but there is really nothing left of Linux for the user. Which is a good point, but also a bad point.
They might be cloud optional, but they surely push hard on the cloud subscription and paywall features.
I did my research in Feb 26, maybe things are different now. I went with a different brand. Pretty happy, but read below…
Also, don’t expect too much from displays. Lag is significant over the board and the overall experience is meh at best, on all of them. Maybe I am too picky, but it’s not paper and it feels like it’s not paper. And the pen lags. Forget using any non native app for the pen … only the built in apps feels remotely nice to use, and any app you install just don’t integrate with the screen hardware deeply enough to be actually usable
My experience with e-ink notebook like devices has not been satisfactory. It’s not a matter of cost, even the costier ones have the same limits. It’s a technology limit .
Input lag, non-paper feel and heavy cloud-pushing are not the case with Remarkable. Documents can be uploaded and downloaded locally via a browser. Here is a good starting point with what can be done with a modded device, including self-hosting a replacement for Remarkable’s cloud services and installing a package manager to make installing further community software pretty easy. And for someone comfortable with the terminal, the Entware system lets you choose from a whole bunch of standard open-source packages you can add.
This isn’t going to give you what you’d think of as “a Linux desktop” or even Android-like experience, but OP wasn’t asking for that.
Okular
Here: https://okular.kde.org/
