I spent the better part of yesterday absorbed in NASA’s live stream of the Artemis II mission as they flew around the back of the Moon and entered the return trajectory to Earth. The day was full of inspiring moments, the absolute best of the human spirit and it made me feel hopeful in a way I haven’t for a while now.
During the stream, there were several moments where the scientific reporters involved talked about various aspects of being an astronaut and being on mission. One of those is that each astronaut is allowed a personal preference kit (PPK). The size has varied a bit over the years, but the current size of the PPK is a rectangular box measuring approximately 5 inches by 8 inches by 2 inches (12.7 cm × 20.3 cm × 5.1 cm).
So here’s the question. If you were on a mission to space, what would you put in your PPK? Here are my answers.
I’d want to bring a fountain pen, but I don’t know how well those would work in space, without gravity. So maybe I should bring a Fisher Space Pen?
My selection for a notebook is gonna be pretty predictable too. While I’m tempted to bring a journal with more pages for all my amazing thoughts about the experience, I might need to bring one of my cherished Field Notes Lunacy notebooks with me, right?
Field Notes Lunacy
Something crafty. That box is SMALL. Yarn is squishy, but what do I bring for days away in space? I’m thinking a good pair of socks (one skein of sock yarn, and 5 double pointed needles – though heaven help me if I let go of one and it floats away!) What yarn? Maybe Deep Dyed Yarns Dark Side of the Moon?
This review is not about paper or ink or pens but about a device I think might appeal to anyone looking to get away from doomscrolling. It’s the XTEink X4 ($69 available in black or white — direct link or Amazon). It’s a a 4.3″ eink screen device that is not tethered to any ecosystem. You can load any epubs to the device via the microSD card that is included (it is recommended to upgrade the microSD card since the provided card is generic).
XTEink X4 compared to B7 Slim notebook and my iPhone 15 Pro
In my quest to spend less time on my phone, I discovered the XTEink X4. What really appealed to me was that the X4 is not tied to the Amazon Kindle ecosystem or Kobo or anything else.
Of course, this can also been seen as a downside. If you own a lot of books purchased through Amazon’s Kindle store or use Kindle Unlimited, then the XTEink device might not work. If you like to get public domain books from the Gutenberg Project or Standard Ebooks, then you might like this device.
I have been purchasing my books through the Kobo store which allows customers to download their books to their computer and save them locally. I prefer this since I have been an ereader for many years and, like so many other technologies I’ve seen come and go, I like knowing I own my books so I can move them from device to device.
Side note: Anyone can buy books from the Kobo bookstore and save them to whatever ereader device you are currently using. I particularly like their Daily Deals page for ebooks for $4.99 or less, with most being $1.99 or so. Books can also be purchased from the Google Play Store and ebooks.com and I am sure there are others. Leave a comment if you have a good source to purchase ebooks and download them down below.
Finally, if you read most of your ebooks from the library through Overdrive or Libby, there is not support for those books on the X4. At least not yet. So, if you are mostly a library book reader, skip the device for now.
Yep, the XTEink X4 is smaller than my B7 Slim notebook and WAY smaller than my iPhone.
The Device
The device is TINY which makes it easy to hold with one hand. This is the same size as my beloved Mark’s EDiT B7 Slim notebook. It is thinner than my notebook AND my phone. Since it has a a black-and-white eink screen, it’s easy on the eyes and the battery lasts for days or even weeks depending on usage.
Size comparison: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2 and the XTEink X4
The XTEink X4 does not have a touch screen. In order to navigate, you must rely on the physical buttons. There is a rocker bottom on the right hand side that can be used to turn pages as well as two rocker buttons on the bottom front of the device. So again, no touchscreen may be a plus for some and a minus for others.
The screen resolution for the XTEink X4 is 220ppi. When compared to the resolution specs of the Kobo and Kindle which are both 300ppi, there is a slightly noticeable difference when compared side-by-side. However, when I am reading on the X4, I am not also reading simultaneously on the other devices and as a result, I do not notice the slightly lower ppi. So don’t let the specs affect your call about purchasing an X4.
There is wifi capabilities and some of the firmware versions (details about that below) does support transferring files via wifi. There is even an app for your phone to help transfer PDF and epub documents over wifi to the X4. Most folks recommend just popping the MicroSD card into your computer if you’re transferring files as its faster and more stable, just FYI.
I keep forgetting about this but the X4 does not have a backlight. If you like to read in the dark or lowlight situations, you’ll need a lamp or external light source. I keep not noticing this because I usually use my ereaders with exterior lights, a lamp or daylight to illuminate my device so I seldom use the backlight. But again, some will see this as a feature and others will see it as a bug.
The X4 is an ereader device, there is no capabilities for audiobooks or sound but that’s okay. There are other devices we can use for that.
The Community
The most notable thing about the XTEink devices (there is an even smaller 3″ X3 device hitting the market as I type this and rumors of other products in the pipeline) is that the software and firmware that runs on this device is being furiously upgraded and modified by a super-active community of fans and developers. I purchased my device and immediately swapped out the stock firmware from XTEink with the most popular homebrew version called Crosspoint. It added support for a bunch of features that I wanted to try and, as a type nerd, replaced the default font with Bookerly, a beautifully designed ereader-specific typeface.
So, again, the customize-ability of the device may be a perk for some and a downside for others since many people feel that the current default firmware is not great. However, I have the technical skill of a cabbage and was able to “flash” the new Crosspoint firmware onto my device following the detailed and very helpful instructions on the Readme.club, an XTEink enthusiast web site) and had it up and running in about 30 minutes. While it was installing, I picked books from my library in Calibre (the application I use to store my ebook library on my laptop) and picked out sleep screens (which can be custom and stored in a folder called “sleep” as long as the files are sized properly and saved as .bmp files).
Another side note: The best way I’ve found to customize sleep screens is to use X4 Wallpaper Converter. Just upload an image ans use the tools provided to generate the perfect .bmp file. I just grabbed the folder of images I had cellected as sleep screens for my Kobo device and repurposed them.
Just another screen size comparison but also a chance to see the similarity in contrast and brightness.
The Bottom Line:
If you are someone who appreciates a little technical DIY for a no-notification, no-internet, distraction-free device that is lightweight, portable and pocketable, the XTEink X4 is definitely for you. You can’t beat the price when compared to Boox Palma devices (the closest in size) or the Kindle or Kobo devices.
If you are tiny ereader-curious but worried about being “techie enough,” trust me, you are. If I can do it, you can too. If you have questions, drop my question below.
If you are tied to Kindle or Kindle Unlimited, then you should probably pass. At least for now.
I like this device so much, I have been petsitting for a friend this week and I take my phone and the X4 with me when I go over to the house. I sit on the couch and read for a bit so the cat has some companionship. Today, when I left, I only had my X4 and had to go back later and get my phone which I left on my friend’s kitchen table! Yeah. See my priorities?
There is a lot more detail about the X4 and comparison to other ereader devices in the video below.
Links to pretty much everything mentioned in the video above:
DISCLAIMER: Some items in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.
The irony of becoming a published writer means that I have less time to read them. I’m not counting the 20+ times I have to read my own work during the drafting, revising, and publishing process.
Even though I take long breaks between reading books, I’ll never give up reading. I’m format agnostic when I read. Print books, ebooks, audiobooks—I love them all. There’s a time and place for each of them. If I’m lucky enough to have the book in multiple formats, I will switch between them. (Thanks to my public library!)
Also my perimenopausal brain fog makes it harder for me to jump into some fantasy and sci-fi world building. So I’ve adjusted my reading goals and intentions to fit my lifestyle better. Yes, I’m a romance writer but I also love SSF. Even better when there’s romance in them!
My Reading Goals
Raiders of the Lost Heart. You’ll want to read the entire series by Jo Segura. Imagine if there was less colonialism and more kissing in Indiana Jones.
Since I read less books, I try to read more intentionally. My reading goals are:
A majority of my books I’ve read are written by BIPOC, LGTBQIA+, and women writers. Even better when those intersect.
DNF (did not finish) books I’m not enjoying. I have too many unread books to spend time with one that doesn’t make me happy. Usually it’s not the book or writer’s fault. I’m a mood reader
Read more closely (if possible). That means highlighting passages I like and writing a thoughtful review that’s for my eyes only
Add the book, fave quotes, and review to my reading journal
Documenting Books in my Journal
Love is a War Song by Danica Nava. Highly recommend!
I document the basics in my reading journal, but I enjoy combining multiple hobbies when I do so. I use a mix of fountain pen, watercolor, gouache, stamps, stickers, washi and more. It all depends on how much time I have to spend with my journal.
Temping is Hell by Cathy Yardley was so fun. It made me laugh out loud.
I recently made an Instagram reel of my latest journal entry for Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers. It took me longer to make this video than adding it to my journal. Ha!
I’m currently 2 books behind in my reading journal, but that’s fine with me. I want this process and this journal to be low stress. When I’m too busy and don’t feel like pulling out all the tools, I print out the cover on some sticky backed photo paper and call it done.
Just like my life, my reading journal is a work in progress.
For April, I needed to reboot my set-up after a less-than-stellar March. I fell off the planner wagon for a couple weeks in March so my planner has some blank pages. I’m not switching planners, I am just turning the page and going to keep going. Those blank pages tell their own story about how my year has progressed.
If this has happened to you, don’t give up. Give yourself permission to start over. If your blank pages bother you, clip them together or heck, rip them out. You have my permission to start over — if you need that.
For April, I am embracing flowers, new growth and fresh changes. I am using up half-used sticker sheets as well as some new clear stamps and continuing to work my way through my washi collections.
For the whole story and flip-throughs of my March pages plus my plan for April, check out the video below.
DISCLAIMER: Some items in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.
No April Fool’s Day jokes here today. The world is too scary right now so we are gonna stay true to who we are– pens, ink,and stationery love!
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Last time I wandered through JetPens to try ALL the gel pens, I picked up a pack of Zebra Sarasa Nano .038mm pens (5 Color Set – Basic for $12.50).
The set is what it says – a basic set, but I love that it includes orange and pink in addition to red/blue/black which are more standard.
As a general rule, I like what I see of Zebra Sarasa pens. They function well and are a great introductory option. My only objection is that they are more or less intended to be disposable, and I’m really trying not to use “single use” plastics and fill up landfills. So I was curious to see that these are refillable too!
The specs on these inks says they’re pigment based and noted as archival quality. Does that mean water resistant? It does. That ink ain’t going anywhere!
I will say that this set with the .38mm nibs is a little on the thin side for me. They’re not scratchy, but I prefer slightly wider and wetter gel pens and nibs (I guess I’m still on my Pilot Juice kick!). That said, if I need to write in small letters and details, I appreciate the fine writing possibilities of a smaller point. And If you’re wanting to test drive some gel pens, I do like these a lot!
DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
I’ve already contacted Pamela and her goodies will be on her way to her shortly. Thanks for reading along at the Desk and stay tuned for further giveaways!
