this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2023
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I'm just re-discovering the 2015 Kindle paper white I bought years ago and had stopped using...because overall I had started reading less. I'm using it with a new appreciation for how great of a form factor it is for my hands + a pop socket. Carry it with me everywhere, tucks into my jacket pocket or backpack when I'm heading to work.

I'm not the biggest fan of Amazon, but I load it with Calibre so where possible I try to get my ebooks from elsewhere.

Anyway Im wondering what you all are reading on and why. What're the latest advances in ereader technology since 2015? Am I missing out on something?

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[–] sortofblue@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago

I have a Kobo Libra 2 and I think the only extra features are that it's waterproof and you can do audiobooks on it via Bluetooth (you might be able to do that on Kindle too, I'm not sure).

I went with Kobo because I'm not a fan of Amazon and because I wanted to access a subscription service through it. With the optional sleep cover I never turn it off so it's always ready to go.

[–] alex@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

My parents got me a Kindle Paperwhite in 2014 for my birthday, which I replaced with a new Kindle Paperwhite in 2018. I like the Paperwhite over the classic because it has backlighting.

In the future, I think I'd like to get a Kobo one because it can be cracked to run open source software on it, but since I already go through Calibre for everything and never buy from the Amazon store, I will definitely not replace my ereader before it dies.

[–] beedaddy@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

There have been no major innovations since 2015, when eInk Carta displays were already available. In the meantime, there are eInk Carta 1200 displays, which offer a bit more contrast depending on the manufacturer. Kobo Libra 2 is a good example. Since Kobo is not officially represented in my country, I mainly use PocketBook devices. Here, I like the open system and that metadata like genre or series are fully evaluated and displayed. The latest model, Inkpad 4, is not quite cheap, but I can highly recommend it. It has a 7.8-inch display, a long battery life, and USB-C.

[–] Thewanderer@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Azzu@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

Librera FD on my Android.

[–] jacob@lemmy.dork.lol 2 points 1 year ago

Another Kobo Libra 2 user here. In addition what other's have said about wanting to escape Amazon's reach, its also pretty open as far as these types of devices go. I use Overdrive (Libby) a lot and it's integration is pretty nice, though it is certainly not hard to use with a Kindle anyways.

If you like to tinker with your devices, Kobo devices won't try and stop you from doing so. The following projects give you a lot of customization options to get exactly what you want out of your Kobo:

  • KOReader - This also works with a jailbroken Kindle, though it's much easier to get going on Kobo. Tons of customization options and has very flexible style overrides and lots of plugins.
  • Plato is another reader application though only supported for Kobo devices. Does not feature as much customization as KOReader, but does more than the stock reader and has a very nice UI.
  • Even if you stick with the stock reader, there are a number of patches you can apply if there are things about the stock software that bug you.

I go the calibre route as well, I have the cheapest basic kindle it is super light and very small I can even fit it in most pockets.

I really enjoy the curation of a bookstore so I usually end up side loading an epub of my physical purchases. I’ll typically switch back and forth I just finished “The Way of Kings” the hardcover was gigantic and unwieldy at times but the maps were so much better than the kindle version.

[–] gzrrt@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Using a second-gen kindle Oasis, which is great hardware (aside from using the wrong charging port). DRM ebooks from Amazon are definitely not great though, so I keep it in airplane mode at all times and load it up via calibre.

[–] aznsin12@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Kobo Libra 2. I use it for the overdrive app to access my library's ebook library. Been using it to read ebooks since to slowly pay off getting the eReader in the first place. It's been great!

[–] woodland@social.degrowth.dev 1 points 1 year ago

@books Hisense touch, size of a phone so it’s easy to carry and runs android so can use it for other stuff easily

[–] kneekon@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

Another Kobo Libra 2 owner here. It's a great unit, with physical buttons on the side which also assists with holding the Kobo during reading. The only drawback for me is the OS is laggy at times.

[–] lwgrs@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use a Kobo Clara HD. There's a newer version available (it's a Clara model, can't recall the exact name) but the Clara HD does the job well. Of the reviews I've read, if you own a Clara HD, upgrading to the newest model may not be worth it for you.

I also use my iPad Air + Google Books, and the Kindle app, for things that are either on those accounts or don't play nice with the Clara HD. For example, PDF advance reader copies do not work very well on the Kobo, and converting them with Calibre doesn't always work either.

[–] Lexicon@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I also have a Kobo Clara HD and I love it. Battery life isn't quite as good as my old Paperwhite (but still good) but more than made up for by not having to deal with Amazon and being able to actually make categories of books on the thing and the use of Overdrive/Libby.

I also used Calibre for my Paperwhite and use it for my Kobo, and the Kobo is just better and doesn't feel like such a fight to use.

Only other complaints would be: not that many cases available for it, and the lowest light setting is a good bit brighter than on the Paperwhite. All minor things.

[–] lwgrs@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Battery life

Maybe I simply don't read as much on my Kobo as you do, but I find the battery life amazing. I rarely charge it. As I type that, I realize that I read quite a bit of paperback books though.

cases

I'm not too picky about this. I use the navy blue Kobo case designed for the Clara. It's not the greatest thing in the world but I enjoy it.

All in all, I don't have much to compare it to other than a VERY old Kobo - like one of the originals I believe. It was incredibly slow and battery life on that one was horrid. Yeah, the screen was bigger than the Clara, but the Clara is leaps and bounds above that ugly thing I was using.>

[–] Lexicon@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good points. I do use mine a ton, so I end up charging it about every other week on average, which is still very good. Part of the issue is also that I bought a third-party case (I use it before bed every night, so I always buy the brightest orange case I can find for easy locating when it inevitably gets lost in the bedsheets) and it's not that reliable about sleeping the Kobo when I close it.

[–] lwgrs@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

One thing I've done recently to help battery life is change the settings to have the device power off after 20 minutes of inactivity (I think it's 20 minutes - either way it's the longest time period available in the settings).

[–] Lexicon@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I will have to check that setting, thanks.

[–] kronicmage@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

I'm a huge fan of my 13" Boox Max Lumi 2 -- the form factor is superb for pdfs. But it's definitely a niche and more expensive device and it isn't for everyone

[–] NoHardshipInPancakes@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

9th gen Kindle Oasis. The metal body and contour is very nice to hold. I do wish I wasnt wrapped up in the Amazon ecosystem but the device itself is superb. Im a Pastor and college professor and I consume a lot of books through it, it's nice for at home or in the office but it's a bit cumbersome to just carry around.

I also read on my phone a lot as well because it's always with me. Can't do long stretches but it beats doom scrolling

[–] gabuwu@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They haven't really advanced a whole lot, unless you want an android tablet with e-ink and deal with the annoyance that will bring or are looking for an eink tablet to write on. Newer ones aimed primarily to reading are now usually water resistant, have non-recessed screens, and audiobook support with the exclusive service each ereader company is provided by (kobo only has kobo audiobooks, kindle only has audible books etc) so the technology hasn't evolved a whole lot unless you want to detangle yourself from the Amazon ecosystem. There are android e-ink tablets, but most them are unfortunately made by Chinese companies that not only require you to manually enable the android app store, but there's pretty big privacy concerns and just general shady business practices amongst nearly all of the few that operate in that niche market (especially amongst Boox, they have paid people to write fake reviews)

There are some color ereaders but the technology isn't really ready for general use, its very finnicky and has a bunch of issues when used in consumer ereaders. Writing based eink tablets are excellent though, if that's something you are into.

I personally have kept my 2015 kindle and as long as its still running I'm gonna stick with it personally.

[–] gzrrt@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Boox in particular is known for brazenly violating the GPL, repeatedly. Their hardware looks decent, but there's no way I'm supporting that.

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