Most customizable tablet for ebooks

rubberbucket · 07-07-2013, 03:27 AM

I've got a Nook Tablet right now - finding, though, that the more books I get, the more I hate its functionality. There are over 300 books in my library right now and try as I may, I just can't organize them in a way that is easy to manage.

I both buy and download my books. It's nice that the purchased ones show up at the top of my library and are labeled as "New". But as for the ones I download (and import through Calibre just fyi), those get added into the mix of existing books and it's become increasingly difficult to separate the read from the unread. Even when I sort by "date added" on my Nook, for whatever reason some things that should be at the top, end up at the very bottom. Lots of scrolling. Lots of annoyance.

Tried to solve the confusion by making shelves ... but that's a pain in itself. Lots of tapping and scrolling. Thought creating shelves for all my book series would be helpful, but because I've got a shizload of books, it made for a shizload of shelves. My Unread shelf is obviously at the bottom so even MORE scrolling.

Tried to solve THAT problem by creating a shortcut of the Unread shelf to my home screen. Turns out my Nook doesn't even have that capability.

Is it too much to ask that an ebook library be capable of easily labeling books read and unread? Like email! You get it, it's unread. You open it, it's read. You want to mark it as unread again even after you've opened it, two clicks away and BOOM - done.

What are my options here?!

HarryT · 07-07-2013, 11:49 AM

I'd suggest using Calibre for maintaining your ebook library and keeping track of what's read and unread. For easier than trying to do it in the reading app.

Synamon · 07-07-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubberbucket

What are my options here?!

An iPad with the Marvin reading app.

rubberbucket · 07-07-2013, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

An iPad with the Marvin reading app.

Holy. Smokes.

This looks like way more than I could have ever hoped to find! You just made my day, you are a champ!

Adoby · 07-10-2013, 10:14 AM

Or an Android tablet with Mantano reading app. Very easy to find and tag books. Almost as easy as with calibre.

booklover6 · 07-10-2013, 11:50 AM

Get a Nook HD and put Mantano reader on it. Best resolution in the 7" size, and you can add custom fonts to Mantano Essentials, which you can buy for $2.99 in the Play Store. I like that app better than any of the others I have tried (which is most of them).

jersysman · 07-10-2013, 07:22 PM

I must admit that the Marvin reading app is a great reader. I just wish they made it for Android devices as well.

Xanthe · 07-10-2013, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubberbucket

Tried to solve the confusion by making shelves ... but that's a pain in itself. Lots of tapping and scrolling. Thought creating shelves for all my book series would be helpful, but because I've got a shizload of books, it made for a shizload of shelves. My Unread shelf is obviously at the bottom so even MORE scrolling.

Rename your "Unread" shelf "AA Unread" or "1 Unread". That should bring it up to the top of the stack. That's what I did on my T1 for my "Already Read" collection. Should probably work the same for anything that alphabetizes.

HarryT · 07-11-2013, 01:30 AM

Underscores are useful, too. They sort before letters.

rubberbucket · 07-16-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

Get a Nook HD and put Mantano reader on it.

The only downside to the Nook HD is that it isn't recognized on my MacBook when I open Calibre. My sister's got a Nook HD and I quickly discovered that little issue when I tried putting some of my Calibre books on it just last week. The device just wouldn't show up so it was a little problematic trying to decipher what was and wasn't on her Nook already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jersysman

I must admit that the Marvin reading app is a great reader. I just wish they made it for Android devices as well.

Yeah, I quickly realized there is a considerable price difference between iPads and other e-readers. And I learned my lesson with buying the newest smartphone - I still only use it to call and text. My Nook's no different in that I only read on it. Hard to decide if buying an iPad Mini is worth it if I'm only reading with it.

Although I AM pretty fed up with my elibrary ... I might just have to save up because Marvin looks real nice, clean and easy for all my ebooks.

booklover6 · 07-16-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubberbucket

The only downside to the Nook HD is that it isn't recognized on my MacBook when I open Calibre. My sister's got a Nook HD and I quickly discovered that little issue when I tried putting some of my Calibre books on it just last week. The device just wouldn't show up so it was a little problematic trying to decipher what was and wasn't on her Nook already.

You could simply manage the ebooks via the SD card, not with Calibre. Keep them all filed the way you want on the SD card, use Mantano or another file manager to browse over to the book you want and open it with Mantano or your favorite reading app.

07-07-2013, 03:27 AM	#1
rubberbucket Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Nook Tablet	Most customizable tablet for ebooks I've got a Nook Tablet right now - finding, though, that the more books I get, the more I hate its functionality. There are over 300 books in my library right now and try as I may, I just can't organize them in a way that is easy to manage. I both buy and download my books. It's nice that the purchased ones show up at the top of my library and are labeled as "New". But as for the ones I download (and import through Calibre just fyi), those get added into the mix of existing books and it's become increasingly difficult to separate the read from the unread. Even when I sort by "date added" on my Nook, for whatever reason some things that should be at the top, end up at the very bottom. Lots of scrolling. Lots of annoyance. Tried to solve the confusion by making shelves ... but that's a pain in itself. Lots of tapping and scrolling. Thought creating shelves for all my book series would be helpful, but because I've got a shizload of books, it made for a shizload of shelves. My Unread shelf is obviously at the bottom so even MORE scrolling. Tried to solve THAT problem by creating a shortcut of the Unread shelf to my home screen. Turns out my Nook doesn't even have that capability. Is it too much to ask that an ebook library be capable of easily labeling books read and unread? Like email! You get it, it's unread. You open it, it's read. You want to mark it as unread again even after you've opened it, two clicks away and BOOM - done. What are my options here?!

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07-07-2013, 11:49 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd suggest using Calibre for maintaining your ebook library and keeping track of what's read and unread. For easier than trying to do it in the reading app.

07-10-2013, 10:14 AM	#5
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Or an Android tablet with Mantano reading app. Very easy to find and tag books. Almost as easy as with calibre.

07-10-2013, 11:50 AM	#6
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	Get a Nook HD and put Mantano reader on it. Best resolution in the 7" size, and you can add custom fonts to Mantano Essentials, which you can buy for $2.99 in the Play Store. I like that app better than any of the others I have tried (which is most of them).

07-10-2013, 07:22 PM	#7
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	I must admit that the Marvin reading app is a great reader. I just wish they made it for Android devices as well.

07-11-2013, 01:30 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Underscores are useful, too. They sort before letters.