Tommaths (he/him)2d ago

So what's the best, most open, e-reader to get?

I'm being pushed out of one increasingly locked-down corporate ebook racket and I don't want to sign up to another one.

So:

- Who's making the best e-readers that'll allow me to buy ebooks from different providers?
- Who's selling eBooks that aren't locked down to a single brand of device?

(I'm in the UK)

#bookstodon

Show threadCherizilla

@TeaKayB Boox readers run android, so you can install as many ereader apps as you want.

Kobo makes sideloading non-Kobo books easy, and it integrates natively with library Overdrive services. You can even install KOReader alongside the native software and connect to Calibre, for example.

I love my Kobo, but Boox may be the easiest if you want to run a bunch of different store apps on the same device without fiddling.

Apr 8 at 11:11pmWeb
Show threadAilbhe2d ago
@cherizilla @TeaKayB I loved the idea of Boox but the household got two different kinds and used neither, whereas we are all using Kobo + Calibre fairly easily. Wireless sync with calibre feels seamless.
Show threadCherizilla2d ago
@Ailbhe @TeaKayB Good to know! Thanks.
Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@Ailbhe @cherizilla
Good to know, thank you!
Show threadAilbhe2d ago
@cherizilla @TeaKayB Just realised, one thing worth noting is that we all sync over WiFi through the household ebook server (household not personal because de-drm and share everything, like with real books) but can still access the Kobo shop and buy and download new things fine. It involved changing one line on the Kobo itself and then it was easy. It might be even easier if you're happy to use a wire and only have one person using the server.
Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@Ailbhe @cherizilla
That's good to know, thanks. I like the idea of setting up a wireless book server!
Show threadR.L. Dane    đźŤµ 2d ago

@cherizilla @TeaKayB

Having a Kobo device also makes DeDRMing your purchased books with Calibre and the right plugin extremely easy.

There's also a build for KOreader for it.

Just FYI, Onyx (maker of BOOX devices) has a dicey history with the GPL, from what I've heard.

The PineNote is the only truly FOSS option.

Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@rl_dane @cherizilla
Good to know, thanks. I hadn't heard of the Pinenote - I'll look it up.
Show threadDan Patch2d ago
@cherizilla @TeaKayB Kobo also has an entire DRM-free search category: https://www.kobo.com/en/en/p/drm-free
DRM-Free eBooks! | Rakuten Kobo Germany

Check out Kobo’s selection of DRM-Free eBooks! Titles iInclude Mystery, Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Non-Fiction.

Rakuten Kobo
Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@datn @cherizilla
Oh, that's a bonus!
Show threadCherizilla2d ago
@datn I didn't know that! Nice.
Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@cherizilla
Boox is on my radar; good to hear some opinions on it. I worry that getting a Kobo would be signing up to another corporate ecosystem, but it's good to hear it works with other services.
Show threadgnate2d ago

@TeaKayB @cherizilla

For my pocketbook, Boox is crazy expensive (colored by my desire for a 13" e-ink device for reading music) but even outside of that, only a couple models are below $200US.

I found a like new Kobo Aura HD which has served me very well for $60. It's just old enough to avoid "features" I don;t want, and just new enough to be useable.

Kobo does have weird corporate roots in Rakuten, but the hardware are good.

Show threadgnate2d ago

@TeaKayB

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

My source for e-reader info. Quite a lot of info in the forums, in addition to the wiki, and LOTS of user submitted PD e-books, which may be better that commercially available editions.

Also the place to go for info re: modding devices with other firmware/OS, if you're into that kind of thing.

MobileRead Wiki - E-book Reader Matrix

Show threadTommaths (he/him)2d ago
@gnate
Useful link, thanks!
Show threadgnate2d ago
@TeaKayB It may be more outdated than I realized...but that suits my purpose! Kobo Vox is a good example of "improvements"--they're trying to turn e-readers into Smart TVs, with branded apps (and data hoovering and tracking) but doesn't even support PDFs!