Tough Ereader?

ms007 · 08-12-2012, 05:40 AM

Hi everyone. I am not sure if you can help me out at all, but I am looking for an ereading device which can take some bumps. An ereader which one could carry along during outdoor activities and could still take it out after a day of hiking for example without coming across a cracked screen.

I think LCD displays are out of the equation for that, although I heard some good things about gorilla glass? Would such a device survive, lets say a drop of a meter or two or a bump against a wall (in a backpack)?

Somewhere I read that there are eink devices with plastic screens, so would that work?

HarryT · 08-12-2012, 05:53 AM

There are no tough eInk devices, but there are tough CASES to carry eInk devices in.

frostschutz · 08-12-2012, 06:29 AM

There's the Wexler Flex One. It's tough due to its flexible display which doesn't crack. The form factor takes some getting used to, though. I don't know if any other readers use this display yet.

Another reasonably tough model is the PB360. It comes with a lid so it's sturdy even without a case. But as all other eink devices, the screen is just glass. So it will crack under stress; one user managed this recently by putting it in his ass pocket and bending down

pants can exerct quite a lot of force on such a device

Tough cases can only do so much too. Might help with drops and regular backpack bumps, but torsion is a bitch and if your backpack weighs as much as you do...

No matter which device you get, you'll just have to devise a way to treat it very carefully.

ms007 · 08-12-2012, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

There's the Wexler Flex One. It's tough due to its flexible display which doesn't crack. The form factor takes some getting used to, though. I don't know if any other readers use this display yet.

Another reasonably tough model is the PB360. It comes with a lid so it's sturdy even without a case. But as all other eink devices, the screen is just glass.

Is the Wexler display glass as well? If it doesn't crack it might fit the bill. Where can I purchase it?

ms007 · 08-12-2012, 12:27 PM

Ok, from all that I could find about the Wexler it seems to have a plastic display and might be exactly what I am looking for.

Frostschutz, can you please link me to a place or webstore that sells this device?

pdurrant · 08-12-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms007

Ok, from all that I could find about the Wexler it seems to have a plastic display and might be exactly what I am looking for.

Frostschutz, can you please link me to a place or webstore that sells this device?

ShopEreaders seems to have it. $329.99

There's a hands-on review available from goodereader.

Note that it does not handle DRMed ePubs.

frostschutz · 08-12-2012, 01:25 PM

$329, seriously? It'd be cheaper to buy a regular reader, and buy a new one if it breaks.

ms007 · 08-12-2012, 01:59 PM

Thanks pdurrant!

But that price is a bit steep, especially compared with the non-plastic competitors.
Also, I live in the EU and would have to pay customs on top of that. Is there a EU located store that sells them?

Or any other suggestion for what I m looking for?

pdurrant · 08-12-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms007

Thanks pdurrant!

But that price is a bit steep, especially compared with the non-plastic competitors.
Also, I live in the EU and would have to pay customs on top of that. Is there a EU located store that sells them?

Or any other suggestion for what I m looking for?

That's the only rugged (i.e. non-glass substrate) eInk device I know about. It doesn't seem to be very widely available though.

ms007 · 08-13-2012, 12:47 PM

I did some more research, but people here and I think the wexler is the only device that would fit my needs atm.

I was not able to find a EU based retailer that sells it, therefore I would like to know if the more experienced people on the forum know any place where one can buy it and at least save the additional shpping and customs?

Maybe someone who owns a wexler can chime in ?

ProfCrash · 08-13-2012, 02:08 PM

There is a case. For the kindle that is made out of the same material as the canopies of fighters. The case is called Klear Kase. It is water resistant and very strong. The case and the kindle would be considerably less expensive.

HarryT · 08-14-2012, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms007

I did some more research, but people here and I think the wexler is the only device that would fit my needs atm.

Is there any reason that you think a strong case would not be sufficient for you? I take my Kindle hiking with me, in a leather cover inside a metal box (an old DVD case, in fact) and it's never suffered any mishaps.

tubemonkey · 08-14-2012, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

$329, seriously? It'd be cheaper to buy a regular reader, and buy a new one if it breaks.

My thoughts also. You can buy 4 Kindle 4's for that price:

Wexler Flex One = $330
Kindle 4 = $79 x 4 = $316 and $14 leftover to buy a case

ms007 · 08-15-2012, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is there any reason that you think a strong case would not be sufficient for you? I take my Kindle hiking with me, in a leather cover inside a metal box (an old DVD case, in fact) and it's never suffered any mishaps.

Sorry, I didn t even think about a good case being an option, since I was looking for a device which has a plastic/ gorilla glass screen and works without additional accessories. Of course, if the price difference is that extreme, you are right and I will probably settle for the kindle+case solution. It would be nice though, if one could forget about leather cover + dvd case because the reader is just not so fragile, wouldn't it?

I still would like to know if there is any european distributor for the Wexler (or a comparable device) and if anyone owns one and can compare?

ProfCrash · 08-15-2012, 08:10 AM

http://www.klearkase.com/

If you get a kindle keyboard, the klear kase will be light weight and provide good protection.

08-12-2012, 05:40 AM	#1
ms007 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: academic ereader	Tough Ereader? Hi everyone. I am not sure if you can help me out at all, but I am looking for an ereading device which can take some bumps. An ereader which one could carry along during outdoor activities and could still take it out after a day of hiking for example without coming across a cracked screen. I think LCD displays are out of the equation for that, although I heard some good things about gorilla glass? Would such a device survive, lets say a drop of a meter or two or a bump against a wall (in a backpack)? Somewhere I read that there are eink devices with plastic screens, so would that work?

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08-12-2012, 05:53 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	There are no tough eInk devices, but there are tough CASES to carry eInk devices in.

08-12-2012, 06:29 AM	#3
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,279 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	There's the Wexler Flex One. It's tough due to its flexible display which doesn't crack. The form factor takes some getting used to, though. I don't know if any other readers use this display yet. Another reasonably tough model is the PB360. It comes with a lid so it's sturdy even without a case. But as all other eink devices, the screen is just glass. So it will crack under stress; one user managed this recently by putting it in his ass pocket and bending down pants can exerct quite a lot of force on such a device Tough cases can only do so much too. Might help with drops and regular backpack bumps, but torsion is a bitch and if your backpack weighs as much as you do... No matter which device you get, you'll just have to devise a way to treat it very carefully.

08-12-2012, 12:27 PM	#5
ms007 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: academic ereader	Ok, from all that I could find about the Wexler it seems to have a plastic display and might be exactly what I am looking for. Frostschutz, can you please link me to a place or webstore that sells this device?

08-12-2012, 01:25 PM	#7
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,279 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	$329, seriously? It'd be cheaper to buy a regular reader, and buy a new one if it breaks.

08-12-2012, 01:59 PM	#8
ms007 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: academic ereader	Thanks pdurrant! But that price is a bit steep, especially compared with the non-plastic competitors. Also, I live in the EU and would have to pay customs on top of that. Is there a EU located store that sells them? Or any other suggestion for what I m looking for?

08-13-2012, 12:47 PM	#10
ms007 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: academic ereader	I did some more research, but people here and I think the wexler is the only device that would fit my needs atm. I was not able to find a EU based retailer that sells it, therefore I would like to know if the more experienced people on the forum know any place where one can buy it and at least save the additional shpping and customs? Maybe someone who owns a wexler can chime in ?

08-13-2012, 02:08 PM	#11
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	There is a case. For the kindle that is made out of the same material as the canopies of fighters. The case is called Klear Kase. It is water resistant and very strong. The case and the kindle would be considerably less expensive.

08-15-2012, 08:10 AM	#15
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	http://www.klearkase.com/ If you get a kindle keyboard, the klear kase will be light weight and provide good protection.

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