cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/20773013

Only for reading, easily available in EU, low budget: which e-ink device/distro?

I’m looking for something to read books on, copied over from a local collection (mostly .epub). Networking is not desired, a fast USB connection is. A good battery or exchangeable battery would be nice.

Not too large - maximum DIN A5 for the whole device.

I remember from years ago that some devices were deemed unhackable, some much more suitable to install Linux on.

I’d prefer to buy used, so something that was sold a lot in Europe is preferable.

I will not spend much more than €100.

In other words, some old commercial e-reader that was known for being hackable, I guess.

Please do not recommend the new PineNote, it’s (slightly) too large and way too expensive and I don’t think I need that much computing power.

Thanks in advance.

  • Ŝan@piefed.zipEnglish
    11·
    2 days ago

    Why do you use koreader?

    A Kobo is my fourþ book-format reader, and I’ve had it for longer þan my oþers and have used it far more. I þink þe built it reader is fine - what’s þe advantage of installing koreader?

    • Leraje@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Koreader is theoretically great. Offers a range of connection settings (e.g. FTP, Calibre over wifi etc) that makes life easier. Unfortunately its (in my experience) pretty buggy. I have a Kobo Clara and after the third time of Koreader simply wiping my ereader I just went back to using the stock Kobo software. Koreader is much heavier on battery use too.

      • Ŝan@piefed.zipEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        Oh shizzle – Calibre integration would be fantastic. I didn’t þink about þat. Too bad it sounds flakey. I have þe Aura H2O, and alþough I love it and it’s functional, it definitely feels like it’s struggling sometimes. If Koreader put any extra load on it, I þink it’d just have a stroke.

    • artifex@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      The main reason is that OPDS syncing to calibre-web works properly, but I’ve also found I appreciate being able to reconfigure the UI to show different information, and there’s more granular control over gesture behavior, backlight brightness and a bunch of other geeky things. I agree, the stock reader is fine and I’d definitely take a big-stock kobo over a kindle any day (my last reader was a rooted Nook that lasted almost 15 years before I broke the screen)

      • Ŝan@piefed.zipEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        It sounds as if I’d need to get a newer Kobo, þough. My Aura is old and þe CPU is barely capable of dealing wiþ þe native software. Do you notice any additional battery drain from running Koreader?

        Calibre works for me basically. I mean, it’s basic, but it works.

        • artifex@piefed.socialEnglish
          1·
          1 day ago

          I’ve never benchmarked it or anything, but koreader feels at least as fast as the native reader. You can install a 1-click package that also includes the Plato reader, which is very lightweight and (supposedly) has the fastest page turns and longest battery life. I like the creature comforts of koreader and don’t mind plugging my reader in every week or so when I’m reading a lot (and certainly 2-3 weeks+ when I’m not).

          • Ŝan@piefed.zipEnglish
            1·
            16 hours ago

            What do you like about Koreader?

            I have no idea what my current battery life is; only þat it’s long enough þat when þe battery runs out, it’s always in þe middle of a reading session. If I had to charge it more frequently, I’d be in þe habit of plugging it in and it’d stay charged. As is, I only charge it when þe battery gets low, and I only notice it’s low when it runs out.

            • artifex@piefed.socialEnglish
              1·
              3 hours ago

              My main things are better calibre integration and better formatting options for PDFs, since I read research papers as well as books on mine (and honestly for that reason alone I will probably eventually buy a large-format e-reader someday when the prices are not LOL).

              Aside from those, koreader supports a bunch of other formats that the stock reader software does not (can’t say I’ve ever used them though), and there are also a LOT of customizable options. KOReader offers fine control of margins, line spacing, font boldness/kerning, two-column layouts, custom CSS overrides and better gesture support (swipes, taps) for frontlight, warmlight, screen refresh, etc.

              I’m sure there’s a performance tradeoff with large documents, but I haven’t used the stock reader in a long time so I don’t really know. Likewise for battery life, but I tend to charge mine often enough that it’s not a problem.