Recommendations for eBook reader devices, please

[utopiah@lemmy.ml]

PineNote (Pine 64) or reMarkable (Pro if you have budget, 2 or even 1 otherwise)

Both work on Linux proper, the reMarkable comes with Linux out of the box whereas PineNote comes with Android but one can install Linux on it.

They are mostly to sketch but it is also good to read. You can pretty much use whatever you want on them, including developing your own software. I don't know if they have Calibre clients because whats I do is... just scp my ePubs or PDFs on there.

Here are my tinkering notes on both https://fabien.benetou.fr/Tools/Eink but feel free to ask any clarification.

PS: the Bookeen Diva also does not require any software, namely you can plug it on Linux, it gets detected as a filesystem and you can copy DRM-free content on it. It's a totally different form factor (much smaller so IMHO not great for comics) and I don't think there is the same open-source community as the other 2.

[utopiah@lemmy.ml]

Also a good moment to clarify that DRM sucks, but as a user, or even a consumer, you don't have to be worry of them (at least technically) because it's trivial to remove. For example you can use this super convenient script https://pypi.org/project/DeGourou/ to straight up download content that should in theory be "just" for you. The online public library I use, namely https://www.lirtuel.be/ does offer ePub and PDF so I was overjoy... only to realize they meant with DRM. As I had already registered and was honestly pissed at them for not disclosing it from the start I tried DeGourou and... it just worked and is very convenient (you just give it the .acsm then it downloads and remove the DRM, so you get a proper file after). So... yeah, obviously don't buy any DRM content if you don't have to but if somehow you must, it's not that big a deal technically speaking.

[gazter@aussie.zone]

Oooh, amazing! Do you use it? How mature is it?

[irelephant@lemm.ee]

I have a Kobo sage and its pretty good. Just avoid the color ones.

[funkycarrot@discuss.tchncs.de]

Have a later model, the Pocketbook Verse (not the pro edition). Flashed KOReader on it which was much easier than anticipated. Have a couple extra features in the reader that way.

It does as promised. I just plug it into my devices to get epubs onto it. You don't even need a book management software like Calibre, you can use it similarly to how you'd use a thumb drive.

[tehn00bi@lemmy.world]

Yeah, kobo is what I’m planning on upgrading too.

[count_duckula@discuss.tchncs.de]

I decided to use my phone to read after my Kindle broke. I use KOReader. I would like to not support proprietary products as much as I can, just my personal philosophy since the last 7-8 years. So far I can't complain about my setup, and there is one less device to lug around. I do miss an e-ink display sometimes though.

[fod@startrek.website]

I don't have experience with any readers until recently. Did some research and went with. Kobo colour. It has met expectations and I'm using it with no issue.

I wanted physical buttons.

I didn't want an Amazon device.

[decisoft@lemm.ee]

I was on your point 4 years ago. After some research, I'm using Kobo + Calibre-web with Kobo Sync integration:

https://brandonjkessler.com/technology/2021/04/26/setup-kobo-sync-in-calibre-web.html

[cowbee@lemmy.ml]

I use a Kobo with Calibre! I use it for fiction and theory alike.

[zante@slrpnk.net]

im still amazed the e-ink so expensive. you can get an androiud table for 40 quid.

[utopiah@lemmy.ml]

I don't but it's quite mature, people have been using it as a replacement for years now.

[perishthethought@lemm.ee]

Oof, I get you about eInk, but how crappy is that tablet?

[zante@slrpnk.net]

It would last about a week if you’re careful ! The whole thing, not the battery !

[coffeetastesbadlikecoffee@sh.itjust.works]

I really like my era.
Pocketbook allows me to have the website of a local bookstore as the "shop" button on the home screen, so I can support them. It is comfortable to hold and the front light is pretty good.

In the summer months when I don't use the backlighting, I need to charge it every 2 weeks with very heavy reading or even 2 months with light reading (~20 mins a day)

[animalsdream@slrpnk.net]

I've had an e-ink device, and read ebooks on a number of devices. Some notes:

• If it's a casual read and I can get the book in epub or mobi format, I might just have it on my phone and use Librera.

• I did not like e-ink displays at all. The text itself doesn't appear easier on the eyes to me, and if anything the jarring refreshes on each page turn make the overall experience even more straining. For this reason regular Android tablets have become my preferred way to read books.

• For tablets I suggest one that is at least 10 inches. A lot of ebooks are still only available in pdf format, and I've found that anything smaller than a 10 inch display makes for bad pdf reading.

• Following from all that, I would suggest the Pixel Tablet, because from a privacy perspective, you have the option to install GrapheneOS on it. From there you can get F-Droid, install any of those ebook apps, and now you have a reasonably secure and private ebook reader - and the best part is, because it's a general purpose tablet, you're not accumulating unnecessary single-purpose devices. You never know if the tablet might have other important uses down the line.

[ittakestwo@feddit.org]

That's not really an adequate recommendation imo. The Miyoo Mini Plus has subpar battery runtime due to it's size limitations and it's LCD screen, compared to actual eInk devices. The screen size and ratio is also not suitable for effective reading, even though it is possible to read eBooks with it.

[animalsdream@slrpnk.net]

Or for other options you can checkout LineageOS. Filter by tablet to see which ones are supported, and that can help narrow choices of tablets that can be made privacy-respecting. Just make sure to use a version that does not have gapps on it. Once you use LineageOS's site to find a supported tablet, you can go to the MicroG for LineageOS site to download the MicroG version of the OS. This comes with a set of alternatives to Google spyware so you can use your tablet completely free of Google.

[ashenone@lemmy.ml]

I use a Lenovo M9 tablet and Readera as an e-reader and Smart Audiobook player and am very happy with it. Both apps are free without ads but also have a paid version with a couple extra features.

[hotcoffee@lemm.ee]

Yeah well it's more of a fun recommendation, don't take things so seriously. There are already enough serious recommendations in the comments.