Best choice for an 8 year old?

Mukluktb · 07-07-2015, 12:43 AM

I have spent my day researching and reading this forum. I am now very confused and I apologise for asking similar questions.

I have been looking at the Boyue, Illumni and the Onyx. A lot of what I ahve been reading people have been rooting? them and all sorts of things that seem way above what I would be capable of. So what I need to know is what is the best as is device (apart from simple upgrades)?

Our local library only loans epub books through Overdrive (Overdrive in Australia does not offer Kindle books).
Amazon is often cheaper for book purchases plus Grandma wants to gift him a library (or something).
He has visual processing problems so a regular tablet LCD is out it has to be e-ink
We do have a collection of PDF books too

These requirements is what led me to the above choices but I cannot make heads or tails of which will work better for us and then which model is better.

I was initially liking the Onyx Afterglow but am now leaning towards the Boyue from my reading here. Does the lack of googleplay make it really hard to install apps? Its only for books so I can't imagine I would need to do more than add an app for Kindle and maybe one to manage the other files if it doesn't already handle them.

I would truly appreciate any help.

Mukluktb · 07-07-2015, 02:10 AM

I should also mention he would like to read comics on it

susan_cassidy · 07-07-2015, 01:31 PM

Comics are not going to work well on an eink device. Black and white, for one thing, and they may be designed for a larger page size.

Personally, I don't trust the off brand ereaders.

Mukluktb · 07-07-2015, 05:52 PM

Thanks. A lot of the comics he has are black and white so I don't think eink will be too much an issue. Most of his reading is novels.

I think I have decided not to go with any of these devices. On watching some more youtube I don't think any of the apps actually truly work on the eink, not well enough for an 8 year old anyway.

Back to square one, which format do I buy into sigh. Off to reading the forum, so much info here it is wonderful. If anyone happens to read and has a suggestion on which way they think is easier to go and convert to I would appreciate your thoughts.

dickloraine · 07-07-2015, 07:41 PM

Is he reading mangas or classic comics? The main difficulty for comics is that scrolling is bad on eInk so it would be best, if showing a whole pages is still readable.
You can convert comics to ebooks either with calibre or the comic converter which is somewhere here on mobilread. For that to work you need drm-free comics in cbz or cbr format. I don't own a kindle so I don't know how big their catalog is, but amazon has its panel view tech for comics.
Maybe a slightly larger reader like the kobo h2o will do the trick. If you liberate the books from drm you can buy on amazon and convert them with calibre to read on the kobo.

dickloraine · 07-07-2015, 07:43 PM

And I think the kobos even suport cbz natively. But converting them to the exact size of the reader with the mentioned apps might be better nonetheless.

Mukluktb · 07-07-2015, 07:55 PM

To be honest I have no idea he just likes the format and borrows whatever the library has and I think he has borrowed them all now. Its mostly super hero stuff (they are colour). We can always use the ipad for back up comic reading.

I'm currently thinking Kindle for ease of purchasing and Grandma buying. I've also read that Calibre handles converting to Kindle better than from Kindle. So i should be able to easily convert any free epub. Plus most of my whole 10 ebooks on my Sony are converted from Kindle.

The libraries selection is slim pickings so he can just use my Sony for those rare borrowings.

But then the Kobo has the waterproof one which could be good for a kid.

I really passionately am currently hating ereaders for their lock down to formats.

dickloraine · 07-07-2015, 08:20 PM

I don't think there is a difference how calibre converts. The only scenario where kindle to epub would be worth would be if the kindle book is only an old mobi.
Reading comics is definitely better on a tablet. Since he is 8, a 6" reader would be easier to hold for him. Since you know how to use calibre, I would say either kindle or kobo would be fine. I don't know if and how good this is integrated in the kindle, but amazon also has a family sharing option (so he can read books you buyed at amazon) and free time (which allows you to manage which books he can read).

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 03:13 AM

Do bear in mind that these are relatively fragile devices and the glass screen substrate is easy to fracture if subject to knocks. In all honesty I would hesitate to give one to an 8-year-old child. They are not toys.

PandathePanda · 07-08-2015, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do bear in mind that these are relatively fragile devices and the glass screen substrate is easy to fracture if subject to knocks. In all honesty I would hesitate to give one to an 8-year-old child. They are not toys.

My sister gave her kids tablets two years ago, the youngest was almost 4, and he has yet to break his.

mbovenka · 07-08-2015, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandathePanda

My sister gave her kids tablets two years ago, the youngest was almost 4, and he has yet to break his.

Tablets aren't as fragile as ereaders tend to be. Although my H2O has slipped from my fingers a number of times (sitting down) when I nodded off, and it's still in one piece

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandathePanda

My sister gave her kids tablets two years ago, the youngest was almost 4, and he has yet to break his.

Tablets are a lot tougher than eInk readers. No glass substrate to break in a tablet!

Obviously, though, children vary enormously in how they treat their possessions, and the original poster is in the best position to judge whether or not it would be treated well. I simply wanted to make the OP aware of the matter.

shalym · 07-08-2015, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do bear in mind that these are relatively fragile devices and the glass screen substrate is easy to fracture if subject to knocks. In all honesty I would hesitate to give one to an 8-year-old child. They are not toys.

I guess the Kindle for Kids bundle isn't available outside the US? http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00XIV00E..._shopall_k_keb Even if it's not, is there anything similar to Square Trade with it's accidental damage insurance available in Australia?

Shari

susan_cassidy · 07-08-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

I guess the Kindle for Kids bundle isn't available outside the US? http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00XIV00E..._shopall_k_keb Even if it's not, is there anything similar to Square Trade with it's accidental damage insurance available in Australia?

Shari

That is a Fire. Fires aren't eink.

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 01:56 PM

Are you sure? It looks like an eInk Kindle to me.

07-07-2015, 12:43 AM	#1
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	Best choice for an 8 year old? I have spent my day researching and reading this forum. I am now very confused and I apologise for asking similar questions. I have been looking at the Boyue, Illumni and the Onyx. A lot of what I ahve been reading people have been rooting? them and all sorts of things that seem way above what I would be capable of. So what I need to know is what is the best as is device (apart from simple upgrades)? Our local library only loans epub books through Overdrive (Overdrive in Australia does not offer Kindle books). Amazon is often cheaper for book purchases plus Grandma wants to gift him a library (or something). He has visual processing problems so a regular tablet LCD is out it has to be e-ink We do have a collection of PDF books too These requirements is what led me to the above choices but I cannot make heads or tails of which will work better for us and then which model is better. I was initially liking the Onyx Afterglow but am now leaning towards the Boyue from my reading here. Does the lack of googleplay make it really hard to install apps? Its only for books so I can't imagine I would need to do more than add an app for Kindle and maybe one to manage the other files if it doesn't already handle them. I would truly appreciate any help.

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07-07-2015, 02:10 AM	#2
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	I should also mention he would like to read comics on it

07-07-2015, 01:31 PM	#3
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Comics are not going to work well on an eink device. Black and white, for one thing, and they may be designed for a larger page size. Personally, I don't trust the off brand ereaders.

07-07-2015, 05:52 PM	#4
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	Thanks. A lot of the comics he has are black and white so I don't think eink will be too much an issue. Most of his reading is novels. I think I have decided not to go with any of these devices. On watching some more youtube I don't think any of the apps actually truly work on the eink, not well enough for an 8 year old anyway. Back to square one, which format do I buy into sigh. Off to reading the forum, so much info here it is wonderful. If anyone happens to read and has a suggestion on which way they think is easier to go and convert to I would appreciate your thoughts.

07-07-2015, 07:41 PM	#5
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544080 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	Is he reading mangas or classic comics? The main difficulty for comics is that scrolling is bad on eInk so it would be best, if showing a whole pages is still readable. You can convert comics to ebooks either with calibre or the comic converter which is somewhere here on mobilread. For that to work you need drm-free comics in cbz or cbr format. I don't own a kindle so I don't know how big their catalog is, but amazon has its panel view tech for comics. Maybe a slightly larger reader like the kobo h2o will do the trick. If you liberate the books from drm you can buy on amazon and convert them with calibre to read on the kobo.

07-07-2015, 07:43 PM	#6
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544080 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	And I think the kobos even suport cbz natively. But converting them to the exact size of the reader with the mentioned apps might be better nonetheless.

07-07-2015, 07:55 PM	#7
Mukluktb Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Sony, iPad	To be honest I have no idea he just likes the format and borrows whatever the library has and I think he has borrowed them all now. Its mostly super hero stuff (they are colour). We can always use the ipad for back up comic reading. I'm currently thinking Kindle for ease of purchasing and Grandma buying. I've also read that Calibre handles converting to Kindle better than from Kindle. So i should be able to easily convert any free epub. Plus most of my whole 10 ebooks on my Sony are converted from Kindle. The libraries selection is slim pickings so he can just use my Sony for those rare borrowings. But then the Kobo has the waterproof one which could be good for a kid. I really passionately am currently hating ereaders for their lock down to formats.

07-07-2015, 08:20 PM	#8
dickloraine Guru Posts: 631 Karma: 7544080 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Berlin Device: PRS 350, Kobo Aura	I don't think there is a difference how calibre converts. The only scenario where kindle to epub would be worth would be if the kindle book is only an old mobi. Reading comics is definitely better on a tablet. Since he is 8, a 6" reader would be easier to hold for him. Since you know how to use calibre, I would say either kindle or kobo would be fine. I don't know if and how good this is integrated in the kindle, but amazon also has a family sharing option (so he can read books you buyed at amazon) and free time (which allows you to manage which books he can read).

07-08-2015, 03:13 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	Do bear in mind that these are relatively fragile devices and the glass screen substrate is easy to fracture if subject to knocks. In all honesty I would hesitate to give one to an 8-year-old child. They are not toys.

07-08-2015, 01:56 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Are you sure? It looks like an eInk Kindle to me.

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