"Open" e-book readers?

[JSWolf]

An unregistered Kindle is a very poor choice. You collections by not registering. Also, ePub is open when not encumbered with DRM. Mobi & KF8 are not open even if no DRM.

[jbcohen]

The only book readers that I know of that are not ancored to a store is probably the libra pro and the libra color. Aluratek does not sell ebooks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

The only book readers that I know of that are not ancored to a store is probably the libra pro and the libra color. Aluratek does not sell ebooks.

The T2 is not tied to Sony's store. You can buy DRMed ePub from other shops.

[Ayla7]

Another option is Onyx Boox, they are not tied to any book store either.

[Cdesja5]

Originally Posted by Ayla7

Another option is Onyx Boox, they are not tied to any book store either.

Same with Kobo, you can buy from any shop that sells epubs (or anything else for that matter if you convert afterwards in Calibre).

[stewacide]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

The only book readers that I know of that are not ancored to a store is probably the libra pro and the libra color. Aluratek does not sell ebooks.

Sony and Kobo both support vanilla ADE DRM, so they can be used with any store.

A Nook can be used with any ADE supporting store - e.g. Sony's or Kobo's - but you can't buy on the Nook store and put it on a non-Nook device.

[spindlegirl]

Technical bells and whistles aside, the T2 has been the most consistent in not being big brothery.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

Technical bells and whistles aside, the T2 has been the most consistent in not being big brothery.

If this thread had taken place a year ago, then I would have agreed that the T2 would be a good choice. As it is, though, technology has moved on, and Sony haven't - their interest in the reader marker seems luke-warm at best. There are better choices available these days.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If this thread had taken place a year ago, then I would have agreed that the T2 would be a good choice. As it is, though, technology has moved on, and Sony haven't - their interest in the reader marker seems luke-warm at best. There are better choices available these days.

Given all the issues with the PW, maybe Sony were waiting until they could get a front lit screen done right instead of doing it wrong and still releasing it.

A Kindle is not as open as a Reader that handles ePub. ePub without DRM is open. KF8 & Mobi are not open. I've said this before and you've obviously skipped over my posts.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Given all the issues with the PW, maybe Sony were waiting until they could get a front lit screen done right instead of doing it wrong and still releasing it.

If you look at the Kindle forum you'll see that the overwhelming majority of users are perfectly happy with the PW. The number of complains is very small.

A Kindle is not as open as a Reader that handles ePub. ePub without DRM is open. KF8 & Mobi are not open. I've said this before and you've obviously skipped over my posts.

"Open" is much overrated, given the triviality of converting between ePub and KF8. Yes, you're right of course in saying that ePub is an "open standard" and KF8 isn't, but who gives a damn when you can seamlessly convert from one to the other? It doesn't make the slightest practical difference one way or the other.

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you look at the Kindle forum you'll see that the overwhelming majority of users are perfectly happy with the PW. The number of complains is very small.

Agreed. My wife loves her Kindle PW.

Originally Posted by HarryT

"Open" is much overrated, given the triviality of converting between ePub and KF8. Yes, you're right of course in saying that ePub is an "open standard" and KF8 isn't, but who gives a damn when you can seamlessly convert from one to the other? It doesn't make the slightest practical difference one way or the other.

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye in the same way that "Open" is only overrated until you cannot convert a DRM'ed ebook.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you look at the Kindle forum you'll see that the overwhelming majority of users are perfectly happy with the PW. The number of complains is very small.

It wasn't all that small.

"Open" is much overrated, given the triviality of converting between ePub and KF8. Yes, you're right of course in saying that ePub is an "open standard" and KF8 isn't, but who gives a damn when you can seamlessly convert from one to the other? It doesn't make the slightest practical difference one way or the other.

I'm only going by what the OP is posting. The OP wants open and did not mention anything about converting. So, I'm still going to stick with my recommendation of a Reader that handles ePub. And because Amazon does not handle ePub, it's not open and it's not appropriate until the OP says otherwise.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by Xtro

Any "open" e-book readers without forced account system or similar? I just want to be able to buy the reader, unbox it and sideload books without the need to register an account or use the manufacturers proprietary software.

I would recommend the black basic Kindle USD 69 or Paperwhite USD 119. You take it out of the box, turn it on, and start putting content on it. It is open in that you do not have to register it. If you register it, it takes you about a minute and you do not need to give out anything but your email address, unlike with some other readers.

Apparently, people want to argue about what you meant with open, so you may want to explain some more. It reads many formats, but it does not read ePub. I personally could care less, but it may be important to you.

It also depends on where you live. What kind of ebook formats are supported by your public library, if you'd like to borrow them on your reader? In the US, you can use Kindle and ePub readers for public library ebooks, in Germany only ePub readers, for instance. Also, in some countries, Amazon has the best selection of ebooks - in some countries it does not sell any at all or the best selection is ePub - where do you live?

I agree with Harry in that Sony, right now, does not have a device with a higher resolution screen, which simply puts it in last year's reader category, like it or not. The T2 is not lit, has a lower rez screen, but costs around the same as a high-end Kindle Paperwhite. They may come up with a better device this year, but to invest in what I personally would call outdated technology for the price of cutting edge tech that is available from Amazon and Kobo is not something I would advise a friend to do.

Also check out this eader comparison, or PC Mag's reader info, or this comparison.

[spindlegirl]

Given the title of this thread, though, I can understand the OP's wishes, because they are the same as mine.

I love that I have not had to "register" or have some third party babysit which books I own. My books are my books and I just want to stick them on there and go, and not be obligated to register in order to have basic things like collections and dictionaries.

I have not once turned on wifi, no need, because I am not an impulse book buyer who has book emergencies. I buy my books and stick them on calibre and then transfer them to my T2 when I need them.

I'm very comfortable with the fact that my e-reader is 'outdated' technology. I don't place a lot of importance on it, and neither do a lot of my Kindle 4 and Kobo Touch reading seatmates on the commute every morning. Since my e-reading needs are met, as well as the fact that I still borrow a lot of physical books from the public library, I'm good to go.

As for the T2's price, I got mine for less than $100 canadian during a sale. 9 dollars less than I paid for the Kindle 4.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by spindlegirl

I'm very comfortable with the fact that my e-reader is 'outdated' technology. I don't place a lot of importance on it, and neither do a lot of my Kindle 4 and Kobo Touch reading seatmates on the commute every morning. Since my e-reading needs are met, as well as the fact that I still borrow a lot of physical books from the public library, I'm good to go.

Valid points. But if you are buying a new reader now, for potential use for several years, it wouldn't make sense to me personally to buy something which is, at the time of purchase, "old" technology, unless there was some overwhelming reason to do so, such as a very heavily-discounted sale price.