So Many choices - What's your recommendation?

[ImaCurious1]

Hi All,

If I may, I would like to request suggestions from all the people that have been happy with an e-reader they own and love.

I used to have an Astak EZreader Pro and love-love-loved it!!! Sadly it died.
Now I'm looking to replace it so I can enjoy my convenient reading once again, but i find myself overwhelmed with options (and sometimes underwhelmed with some product offerings).

I know i will be hugely disappointed if I don't enjoy my new reader as much as the last one, so hope you all have insight to help make a better decision.

I'll be honest, I'm kind of picky. I'm trying to research as much as I can but still can't tell some simple things. (ie: will a kindle or a kobo read all/any of my non-drm books?)
I have a pretty large library (I use calibre) in many formats but it has all been collected - not purchased.
What I'm looking for:
- Eink screen
- good battery life ( linux vs android as OS?)
- removable storage such as SD (I can switch out cards to change libraries)
- pdf reflow (I realize none are perfect)
- I would like to be able to rotate the screen and zoom font
- pocket sized 5"-6" screen or (120x165x20cm)/(4.75"x6.5"x0.75") in case

currently I've been looking at the Onyx AfterGlow 2 and the Energy Sistem Ereader Pro. My concern with these are primarily battery life and I really don't need all the extra functionality they offer.

Any wisdom?

Curtis

[susan_cassidy]

Kindles and Kobos read two different formats, so neither one will read every possible book. Kindles use mobi format, or a variant of it, and Kobo uses ePub. You can convert formats, if necessary, by using Calibre or another program.

Few ereaders have SD card capability. PDF reflow is another potential problem. I think Kobo does it on the fly, Kindle requires that you convert the whole document beforehand, via emailing it to your Kindle. Very easy.

I don't know what OS the Kobo uses. Eink Kindles use Linux.

[cybmole]

But one tablet can read every book as it can run multiple reader apps . both amazon and kobo provide free apps

[susan_cassidy]

But, tablets aren't eink.

[ImaCurious1]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Kindles and Kobos read two different formats, so neither one will read every possible book. Kindles use mobi format, or a variant of it, and Kobo uses ePub. You can convert formats, if necessary, by using Calibre or another program.

Few ereaders have SD card capability. PDF reflow is another potential problem. I think Kobo does it on the fly, Kindle requires that you convert the whole document beforehand, via emailing it to your Kindle. Very easy.

I don't know what OS the Kobo uses. Eink Kindles use Linux.

Hi Susan, thanks for the replay. I know there are differences between the Kindle and Kobo world and each offer their pros and cons. Everyone will have their own preferences for sure...
... What I had meant is that I hadn't been looking at these major brands because I was worried that they would only work with book/content purchased from their own bookstores or at least having a DRM signature.

Do you know if either would read a DRM-stripped e-book?

[ImaCurious1]

Can anyone offer their experience with either the Onyx AfterGlow 2 or the Energy Sistem Ereader Pro with respect to battery life and usability?

[susan_cassidy]

Of course they work with non-DRM books.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ImaCurious1

I have a pretty large library (I use calibre) in many formats but it has all been collected - not purchased.


Curtis

I must admit, I'm curious about what "collected--not purchased" means. If it's public domain, it's easy enough to download in another format if that's easier than converting and sideloading.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

But, tablets aren't eink.

true, but they meet all the other requirements. depends which ones the OP regards as must haves, as I suspect nothing will tick every box on his list
e.g. kindles don't accept SDs, Kobo Hd / H20 does not do screen rotate.....

[JSWolf]

If the OP is not in the US and the OP does use Overdrive, then a Kindle is right out.

Since you want removable storage, Kindles are right out. Kobo does have removable storage.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the OP is not in the US and the OP does use Overdrive, then a Kindle is right out.

Since you want removable storage, Kindles are right out. Kobo does have removable storage.

but my aura HD does not do the landscape / portrait screen rotate thing. I dunno if that is true for ALL Kobo models though.

methinks the requirements will have to be prioritized , otherwise with Kindle & Kobo both eliminated there's not a lot left....

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by cybmole

but my aura HD does not do the landscape / portrait screen rotate thing. I dunno if that is true for ALL Kobo models though.

methinks the requirements will have to be prioritized , otherwise with Kindle & Kobo both eliminated there's not a lot left....

True that. It looks like there isn't much choice if the OP has to have all of the features.

Of course, the OP could try to find a refurbished or overstock Sony T1, T2, or T3 as they do everything on his list.

[EowynCarter]

Cybook muse might do. But i'm not really sure about reflow quality, don't use it much.
Seams laggy.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

True that. It looks like there isn't much choice if the OP has to have all of the features.

Of course, the OP could try to find a refurbished or overstock Sony T1, T2, or T3 as they do everything on his list.

many of the sony readers sill in circulation will have almost end-of-life batteries by now, so it's a probable fail on battery life, unless opened up & a new one fitted ( tricky)

[delph]

The Energy Sistem Ereader Pro is actually a re-branded device that goes under multiple names. There's a thread here about experiences with them. Page 7 of the thread has some information about recent updates to the device. The whole thread is worth reading if you're particularly interested, though.