NPR

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:30 pm**

I've got a few bob in amazon gift vouchers to spend, and I'm considering getting an e-reader for bed. I had a kindle years ago, prior to losing it in a taxi after a few beers too many, and it was easily the best device I've had for bedtime reading.

I took a look on the amazon website and couldn't believe the price of kindles, which made me wonder if there any other brands of e-reader worth a look. I have a fair few books on the kindle app, so would like to be able to read those, although I don't want to be hooked into the kindle system if I can avoid it (aside from a deep dislike of Bezos and the whole amazon approach to life, I've just discovered you've got to pay extra for ad-free kindles. Fecking shocking.)

anyone got a decent e-reader they could recommend?

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:00 pm**

Hope comfortable are you with tech ?

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:04 pm**

inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:30 pm I've got a few bob in amazon gift vouchers to spend, and I'm considering getting an e-reader for bed. I had a kindle years ago, prior to losing it in a taxi after a few beers too many, and it was easily the best device I've had for bedtime reading.

I took a look on the amazon website and couldn't believe the price of kindles, which made me wonder if there any other brands of e-reader worth a look. I have a fair few books on the kindle app, so would like to be able to read those, although I don't want to be hooked into the kindle system if I can avoid it (aside from a deep dislike of Bezos and the whole amazon approach to life, I've just discovered you've got to pay extra for ad-free kindles. Fecking shocking.)

anyone got a decent e-reader they could recommend?

Hmm - kindles haven't really changed thaaat much in price, but the improvements are incremental anyway. I'd say grab one on eBay. They're better than any other e-readers I've tried.

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:06 pm**

fishfoodie wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:00 pm Hope comfortable are you with tech ?

Generally OK, although I can't promise I'll not end up shouting at it.

(I would rather avoid having to crack or otherwise jailbreak a device)

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:12 pm**

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:04 pm
inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:30 pm I've got a few bob in amazon gift vouchers to spend, and I'm considering getting an e-reader for bed. I had a kindle years ago, prior to losing it in a taxi after a few beers too many, and it was easily the best device I've had for bedtime reading.

I took a look on the amazon website and couldn't believe the price of kindles, which made me wonder if there any other brands of e-reader worth a look. I have a fair few books on the kindle app, so would like to be able to read those, although I don't want to be hooked into the kindle system if I can avoid it (aside from a deep dislike of Bezos and the whole amazon approach to life, I've just discovered you've got to pay extra for ad-free kindles. Fecking shocking.)

anyone got a decent e-reader they could recommend?
Hmm - kindles haven't really changed thaaat much in price, but the improvements are incremental anyway. I'd say grab one on eBay. They're better than any other e-readers I've tried.

They've got a few for 500 notes, although to be fair you can use those more like a tablet than just a reader.

Just to reiterate, I've got amazon vouchers to spend (appreciate you may have missed it given later hour and the tedious nature of my question) so ebay etc aren't in scope, although there are a few refurbs on amazon.

I'd really like to dodge kindle if I can, I'd rather sacrifice the books I've already got on there than sink more money into a closed system. I'm checking to see if e.g. kobo have a kindle app or a way of reading books purchased through the kindle service, but it seems sadly not. I'm almost certain amazon won't let me export my purchases to open format either, for fair reasons (avoid pirating) to foul (they're arses).

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:18 pm**

inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:12 pm
JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:04 pm
inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:30 pm I've got a few bob in amazon gift vouchers to spend, and I'm considering getting an e-reader for bed. I had a kindle years ago, prior to losing it in a taxi after a few beers too many, and it was easily the best device I've had for bedtime reading.

I took a look on the amazon website and couldn't believe the price of kindles, which made me wonder if there any other brands of e-reader worth a look. I have a fair few books on the kindle app, so would like to be able to read those, although I don't want to be hooked into the kindle system if I can avoid it (aside from a deep dislike of Bezos and the whole amazon approach to life, I've just discovered you've got to pay extra for ad-free kindles. Fecking shocking.)

anyone got a decent e-reader they could recommend?
Hmm - kindles haven't really changed thaaat much in price, but the improvements are incremental anyway. I'd say grab one on eBay. They're better than any other e-readers I've tried.
They've got a few for 500 notes, although to be fair you can use those more like a tablet than just a reader.

Just to reiterate, I've got amazon vouchers to spend (appreciate you may have missed it given later hour and the tedious nature of my question) so ebay etc aren't in scope, although there are a few refurbs on amazon.

I'd really like to dodge kindle if I can, I'd rather sacrifice the books I've already got on there than sink more money into a closed system. I'm checking to see if e.g. kobo have a kindle app or a way of reading books purchased through the kindle service, but it seems sadly not. I'm almost certain amazon won't let me export my purchases to open format either, for fair reasons (avoid pirating) to foul (they're arses).

Yep I didn't pay attention to the gift vouchers, soz. The 500 quid ones are not e-readers really, they're for writing on as well. Their Paperwhite range is 120-150 quid. However, while I do agree it's a closed system, you can use Calibre or similar to transfer ebooks to the Kindle with no drama, and you can always source DRM-free ebooks legally or otherwise. End sales pitch! Good luck finding an alternative that suits your use case.

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:19 pm**

inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:06 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:00 pm Hope comfortable are you with tech ?
Generally OK, although I can't promise I'll not end up shouting at it.

(I would rather avoid having to crack or otherwise jailbreak a device)

I've a Boox, as I wanted a larger screen.

https://shop.boox.com/collections/all-products

It's not the device you have to jailbreak, it's the content.The bastards want to sell you the book, & then control where & how you get to read it !!

I ask how comfortable you are with tech, as the best solution it to buy an open reader, & then install Calibre somewhere, so you can download your books, strip the DRM, & serve them out to your reader.

I've a raspberry pi running Calibre, serving a mix of books from Gutenberg, & various ones I've bought. I go to a web page served by the pi, on my boox, click on the file link, & the book opens on my boox. You could do it from a laptop etc, & just run it when you wanted to load books to the reader.

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:28 pm**

fishfoodie wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:19 pm
inactionman wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:06 pm
fishfoodie wrote: Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:00 pm Hope comfortable are you with tech ?
Generally OK, although I can't promise I'll not end up shouting at it.

(I would rather avoid having to crack or otherwise jailbreak a device)
I've a Boox, as I wanted a larger screen.

https://shop.boox.com/collections/all-products

It's not the device you have to jailbreak, it's the content.The bastards want to sell you the book, & then control where & how you get to read it !!

I ask how comfortable you are with tech, as the best solution it to buy an open reader, & then install Calibre somewhere, so you can download your books, strip the DRM, & serve them out to your reader.

I've a raspberry pi running Calibre, serving a mix of books from Gutenberg, & various ones I've bought. I go to a web page served by the pi, on my boox, click on the file link, & the book opens on my boox. You could do it from a laptop etc, & just run it when you wanted to load books to the reader.

Cool

I've seen a few bits of software that claim they strip DRM from kindle content that I've paid for, assume calibre can do that? I was never sure quite how dodgy they were, as I assumed that even though I won the rights to the content there would be some weasel words in my amazon contract that would prevent me exporting content.

I know Kobo etc support a load of open formats, so I should be able to load anything I could export from kindle onto a kobo device.

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:44 pm**

Yep, I haven't encountered anything yet that calibre couldn't cope with.

Posted: **Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:47 pm**

I don't think I've converted Kindle with Calibre, but the app is pretty versatile. This thread suggests a way and another way?

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 4:14 am**

I've used Kobo's since their first iteration.

Use Calibre to convert any books that aren't native to it - never any issues

I've even browsed the bored on it

Currently on the Libra 2

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 5:53 am**

Ipad with Kindle app.
Sorted

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:18 am**

Jim Lahey wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 5:53 am Ipad with Kindle app.
Sorted

I find that too heavy.

Kindle Paperwhite is my preferred e-reader

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 9:43 am**

Jim Lahey wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 5:53 am Ipad with Kindle app.
Sorted

reading from a eInk display is a much more pleasant experience, & you only need to recharge after a month or so.

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:12 pm**

I recently bought a paperweight Kindle thingy and wow .. as was said .. charge lasts for ages and screen is great. Good size and weight for holding for a prolonged read.

I also have Kindle on my work PC so if I get bored and I pop on and read few pages while the meeting does not really need me.

Also have it on iPhone incase I am out and about and want to read something.

This leaves the ipad which was the primary reader to now be used for browsing.

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:19 pm**

Books. Buy actual real books.

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:21 pm**

I bought a Kindle for a short stay in hospital and it is great and as others have said it is not expensive. Which recommend them which is a plus and I also use on laptop and phone when I need to. All in all great value and easy to use.

Posted: **Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:27 pm**

Slick wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:19 pm Books. Buy actual real books.

I have too many of the feckers already.

Posted: **Fri Aug 04, 2023 9:58 pm**

Just put in order for a Kobo Libra 2.

If it sucks I'll blame you lot.

Posted: **Fri Aug 04, 2023 9:58 pm**

robmatic wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:27 pm
Slick wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:19 pm Books. Buy actual real books.
I have too many of the feckers already.

Indeed. And, sad to say, my eyes are not what they were.

NPR

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