Any non-touch e-book readers?

PieCh0Ee0nah · 01-13-2014, 01:18 AM

I have an aging Sony PRS-505 and one of the main reasons I have not upgraded is that I like the buttons and the fact they keep my greasy fingers off the screen. Are there any current e-book readers that are not touch based, or have decent buttons for page flipping? One thing I really love about the 505 is that the PRS+ enhancements give me 3 different buttons that can turn the page which is great for holding it in a variety of positions.

My list of absolute requirements are pretty slim: Calibre and EPUB compatible, an e-ink screen, and buttons to flip pages.

owly · 01-13-2014, 04:02 AM

There are a few with both touch and buttons. Bookeens readers http://www.bookeen.com/en/cybook Sony's T-line (doesn't have frontlight), Pocketbook http://www.pocketbook-int.com/us Onyx boox readers https://onyx-boox.com/ So there are a few to choose from. The fact is though that as long as you have dry hands you really don't see that much fingerprints on a touch screen.

HarryT · 01-13-2014, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

The fact is though that as long as you have dry hands you really don't see that much fingerprints on a touch screen.

Agreed. I have quite greasy skin, but, unlike my iPhone and iPad (which are fingerprint magnets), fingerprints just don't show up at all on the matte surface of an eInk device.

jbcohen · 01-13-2014, 07:57 AM

Amazon's entry level kindle is a non-touch. However since the sony readers are the ones that you know, and you have built up a level of comfortability with I would think that it would make sense to buy a newer Sony. I am not familiar with sony's current offerings but I would be suprised if sony did not offer any entry level no touch reader.

HarryT · 01-13-2014, 08:09 AM

Sony don't make any non-touch readers.

PieCh0Ee0nah · 01-13-2014, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Agreed. I have quite greasy skin, but, unlike my iPhone and iPad (which are fingerprint magnets), fingerprints just don't show up at all on the matte surface of an eInk device.

Very interesting and good to know. I based most of my fingerprint worry on my tablet and phone so I thought they would severely interfere with a nice long reading session.

HarryT · 01-13-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieCh0Ee0nah

Very interesting and good to know. I based most of my fingerprint worry on my tablet and phone so I thought they would severely interfere with a nice long reading session.

No, it's totally different. Although I must say that even on my iPad, which looks a complete mess when it's turned off - looks like a mirror covered in fingerprints - they're completely invisible when the device is actually in use. Do you find that you can actually see the fingerprints when using it?

PieCh0Ee0nah · 01-13-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

There are a few with both touch and buttons. Bookeens readers http://www.bookeen.com/en/cybook Sony's T-line (doesn't have frontlight), Pocketbook http://www.pocketbook-int.com/us Onyx boox readers https://onyx-boox.com/ So there are a few to choose from. The fact is though that as long as you have dry hands you really don't see that much fingerprints on a touch screen.

Thanks for the pointers, I'll review those carefully. I don't currently have a frontlight so I probably don't know what I'm missing.

Calenorn · 01-13-2014, 12:59 PM

Of course, Barnes and Noble is still selling the original Simple Touch. It has buttons, plus expandable memory. No problem side-loading books.

I like mine so much I bought a spare. They're currently going for $59. I've used mine every day for two years and it's still going strong.

dordale · 01-13-2014, 02:31 PM

The newer Sonys are touch-enabled, but still have page turn buttons. The newest model, the T3 isn't available in the US, so depending on where you are that might or might not be an option--and unfortunately PRS+ won't work on it either. I think the last Sony models that you can use PRS+ on are the 350/650/950s.

I agree with the others though--fingerprints aren't a problem on the e-ink touch screens. I don't notice them on my Kindle PW2 or on my Sony 350/650s. I have to admit I would prefer an option for page turn buttons, but I like the touch interface for accessing menus, dictionary lookup, etc. If I had to choose (which I did) between page turn buttons on a non-touch interface and no page turn buttons with a touch screen, the touch screen would definitely win out.

bill_mchale · 01-13-2014, 04:12 PM

I would also point out that most touch readers (I believe with the exception of the current Kindle Paperwhite) use an IR technology that is very stylus friendly so you can use the touch functions without using your fingers.

That being said, a ziplock bag is no longer the best protection for them in the bath.

--
Bill

NickyWithNook · 01-13-2014, 06:13 PM

I am constantly cleaning fingerprints off my iPad, but I don't have that problem with any e-ink reader I've had. The e-ink screens don't seem to attract smudges like tablets do. I don't know why.

And touch is a big deal for looking up words in the dictionary. It is SO easy to just touch the word to look it up.

The Nook Simple Touch is really cheap and a nice e-reader. It has a touch screen AND buttons and has an SD slot. If you're looking for something cost effective, I would at least look in that direction.

I know I'm repeating others - but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus.

jbcohen · 01-14-2014, 07:27 AM

Gee that's interesting harry. I thought that everyone made non touch readers.

HarryT · 01-14-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Gee that's interesting harry. I thought that everyone made non touch readers.

I believe I'm right in saying that neither B&N nor Kobo make non-touch readers, either.

soulfuldog · 01-14-2014, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

I would also point out that most touch readers (I believe with the exception of the current Kindle Paperwhite) use an IR technology that is very stylus friendly so you can use the touch functions without using your fingers.

Not quite, the two very latest ereaders from Kobo & Amazon (Aura & PW) both use capacitive touch screen. They've moved on from the infra-red their older touch screen models use (Kobo Glo/Touch & Kindle Touch) while the limited Aura HD still uses infra-red too. Nook didn't follow them with their updated Glowlight, but it'll be interesting to see if it leads to everyone else following suit in future.

01-13-2014, 01:18 AM	#1
PieCh0Ee0nah Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Any non-touch e-book readers? I have an aging Sony PRS-505 and one of the main reasons I have not upgraded is that I like the buttons and the fact they keep my greasy fingers off the screen. Are there any current e-book readers that are not touch based, or have decent buttons for page flipping? One thing I really love about the 505 is that the PRS+ enhancements give me 3 different buttons that can turn the page which is great for holding it in a variety of positions. My list of absolute requirements are pretty slim: Calibre and EPUB compatible, an e-ink screen, and buttons to flip pages.

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01-13-2014, 04:02 AM	#2
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	There are a few with both touch and buttons. Bookeens readers http://www.bookeen.com/en/cybook Sony's T-line (doesn't have frontlight), Pocketbook http://www.pocketbook-int.com/us Onyx boox readers https://onyx-boox.com/ So there are a few to choose from. The fact is though that as long as you have dry hands you really don't see that much fingerprints on a touch screen.

01-13-2014, 07:57 AM	#4
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Amazon's entry level kindle is a non-touch. However since the sony readers are the ones that you know, and you have built up a level of comfortability with I would think that it would make sense to buy a newer Sony. I am not familiar with sony's current offerings but I would be suprised if sony did not offer any entry level no touch reader.

01-13-2014, 08:09 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sony don't make any non-touch readers.

01-13-2014, 12:59 PM	#9
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,157 Karma: 8710811 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	Of course, Barnes and Noble is still selling the original Simple Touch. It has buttons, plus expandable memory. No problem side-loading books. I like mine so much I bought a spare. They're currently going for $59. I've used mine every day for two years and it's still going strong.

01-13-2014, 02:31 PM	#10
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	The newer Sonys are touch-enabled, but still have page turn buttons. The newest model, the T3 isn't available in the US, so depending on where you are that might or might not be an option--and unfortunately PRS+ won't work on it either. I think the last Sony models that you can use PRS+ on are the 350/650/950s. I agree with the others though--fingerprints aren't a problem on the e-ink touch screens. I don't notice them on my Kindle PW2 or on my Sony 350/650s. I have to admit I would prefer an option for page turn buttons, but I like the touch interface for accessing menus, dictionary lookup, etc. If I had to choose (which I did) between page turn buttons on a non-touch interface and no page turn buttons with a touch screen, the touch screen would definitely win out.

01-13-2014, 04:12 PM	#11
bill_mchale Wizard Posts: 1,451 Karma: 1550000 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE	I would also point out that most touch readers (I believe with the exception of the current Kindle Paperwhite) use an IR technology that is very stylus friendly so you can use the touch functions without using your fingers. That being said, a ziplock bag is no longer the best protection for them in the bath. -- Bill

01-13-2014, 06:13 PM	#12
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 748 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	I am constantly cleaning fingerprints off my iPad, but I don't have that problem with any e-ink reader I've had. The e-ink screens don't seem to attract smudges like tablets do. I don't know why. And touch is a big deal for looking up words in the dictionary. It is SO easy to just touch the word to look it up. The Nook Simple Touch is really cheap and a nice e-reader. It has a touch screen AND buttons and has an SD slot. If you're looking for something cost effective, I would at least look in that direction. I know I'm repeating others - but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus.

01-14-2014, 07:27 AM	#13
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Gee that's interesting harry. I thought that everyone made non touch readers.

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