ereader without tracking

period3 · 11-03-2011, 09:38 AM

I'm looking to get an ereader soon, but I'm not intersted in buying one that's constantly squawking to the mothership about what books I'm reading, what I'm clicking, etc.

I don't plan on purchasing any e-books, as there are plenty of free ones available. I don't plan on using any of the networking capabilities. I would prefer one that works without any sort of online activation. I understand an online activation might be necessary to purchase books, but as I said I don't plan on purchasing books. I will transfer books from my computer to the device, using Calibre to convert to whatever format the device needs.

I use Linux at work and Windows at home, and ideally the device would work with both.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Dulin's Books · 11-03-2011, 09:54 AM

a PocketBook device or perhaps the upcoming Bookeen

Kevin8or · 11-03-2011, 09:55 AM

Welcome, period3!

I recall seeing someone post that he simply kept his Kindle's wireless turned off because, like you, he didn't want Amazon recording his device's contents. B&N's Nook also plays big brother. If you're content to live w/o wireless, then it's really a non-issue for you. Get whichever device appeals to you, and don't use the wireless.

My purchases have mainly been from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. At both stores, connection by your device is unnecessary. I imagine that holds true anywhere you go. You can download the file from the store to you computer, and from your computer to your device (via USB).

Lots and lots of threads here about choosing an e-reader.

howyoudoin · 11-03-2011, 09:56 AM

A deregistered kindle?

Edit: What Kevin8or said.

ProfCrash · 11-03-2011, 10:24 AM

Any of the e-readers would work for you. Just don't register the e-reader and don't turn on the WiFI.

period3 · 11-03-2011, 11:08 AM

Great, thanks, I mostly wasn't sure about the registration requirement. I read somewhere the kindle asks you to register as soon as you first turn it on, but I wasn't sure if it was actually required.

I'll probably end up with either a kindle or kobo, since they're the easiest to find...

ProfCrash · 11-03-2011, 12:22 PM

The Kindle might ask you to register but you don't have to. You will not be able to use collections if you do not register. If collections are important to you, you can register and then never turn on Whispernet again.

ilovejedd · 11-03-2011, 01:03 PM

Perhaps one of the Sony PRS-x50? No wi-fi or 3G, doesn't need to be registered for any of the functions to work (aside from Adobe DRM support obviously but you won't be needing that) and it works very well with Calibre (including collections, etc).

SmokeAndMirrors · 11-03-2011, 01:34 PM

I dig my Kobo Touch. You do need to set it up to get the firmware updated, but it doesn't require you to input any personal info.

So I downloaded the desktop software, set it up, and then uninstalled it. From there on out, I have used my Kobo Touch exclusively with Calibre (also a Linux user!), with wifi off (airplane mode) pretty much all the time. I haven't touched Kobo Desktop since I did the set-up.

When there's a firmware update, I check out what's on offer. If there's something I want, I turn on wifi and download it. If there isn't, I don't. I suppose if I were really concerned, I could have all my books on a microSD card, and just pop out the card when I wanted to update, so that none of my personal books were on the device while wifi was on.

As the others said, while some readers do require some sort of online set-up to get updated like the Kobo, you don't necessarily have to use their program or give them any personal info.

pidgeon92 · 11-03-2011, 10:41 PM

An Onyx device would be good.

Dulin's Books · 11-03-2011, 11:07 PM

Any of their 6 inch devices any way. at this point.

11-03-2011, 09:38 AM	#1
period3 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: kindle	ereader without tracking I'm looking to get an ereader soon, but I'm not intersted in buying one that's constantly squawking to the mothership about what books I'm reading, what I'm clicking, etc. I don't plan on purchasing any e-books, as there are plenty of free ones available. I don't plan on using any of the networking capabilities. I would prefer one that works without any sort of online activation. I understand an online activation might be necessary to purchase books, but as I said I don't plan on purchasing books. I will transfer books from my computer to the device, using Calibre to convert to whatever format the device needs. I use Linux at work and Windows at home, and ideally the device would work with both. Any recommendations? Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tracking Magic	BearMountainBooks	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	8	07-04-2012 05:31 PM
Tracking my posts	cc200	Feedback	2	12-06-2010 09:41 PM
Tracking Down eBooks	KindleKid	Sony Reader	10	08-19-2009 07:26 PM
Anyone with a tracking number	Riocaz	iRex	4	07-14-2006 08:25 AM

11-03-2011, 09:54 AM	#2
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	a PocketBook device or perhaps the upcoming Bookeen

11-03-2011, 09:55 AM	#3
Kevin8or Guru Posts: 977 Karma: 43409226 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle 3	Welcome, period3! I recall seeing someone post that he simply kept his Kindle's wireless turned off because, like you, he didn't want Amazon recording his device's contents. B&N's Nook also plays big brother. If you're content to live w/o wireless, then it's really a non-issue for you. Get whichever device appeals to you, and don't use the wireless. My purchases have mainly been from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. At both stores, connection by your device is unnecessary. I imagine that holds true anywhere you go. You can download the file from the store to you computer, and from your computer to your device (via USB). Lots and lots of threads here about choosing an e-reader.

11-03-2011, 09:56 AM	#4
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	A deregistered kindle? Edit: What Kevin8or said.

11-03-2011, 10:24 AM	#5
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	Any of the e-readers would work for you. Just don't register the e-reader and don't turn on the WiFI.

11-03-2011, 11:08 AM	#6
period3 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: kindle	Great, thanks, I mostly wasn't sure about the registration requirement. I read somewhere the kindle asks you to register as soon as you first turn it on, but I wasn't sure if it was actually required. I'll probably end up with either a kindle or kobo, since they're the easiest to find...

11-03-2011, 12:22 PM	#7
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	The Kindle might ask you to register but you don't have to. You will not be able to use collections if you do not register. If collections are important to you, you can register and then never turn on Whispernet again.

11-03-2011, 01:03 PM	#8
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Perhaps one of the Sony PRS-x50? No wi-fi or 3G, doesn't need to be registered for any of the functions to work (aside from Adobe DRM support obviously but you won't be needing that) and it works very well with Calibre (including collections, etc).

11-03-2011, 01:34 PM	#9
SmokeAndMirrors Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 2064388 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: MN, US Device: Kobo Touch, Asus Eee Pad Slider	I dig my Kobo Touch. You do need to set it up to get the firmware updated, but it doesn't require you to input any personal info. So I downloaded the desktop software, set it up, and then uninstalled it. From there on out, I have used my Kobo Touch exclusively with Calibre (also a Linux user!), with wifi off (airplane mode) pretty much all the time. I haven't touched Kobo Desktop since I did the set-up. When there's a firmware update, I check out what's on offer. If there's something I want, I turn on wifi and download it. If there isn't, I don't. I suppose if I were really concerned, I could have all my books on a microSD card, and just pop out the card when I wanted to update, so that none of my personal books were on the device while wifi was on. As the others said, while some readers do require some sort of online set-up to get updated like the Kobo, you don't necessarily have to use their program or give them any personal info.

11-03-2011, 10:41 PM	#10
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	An Onyx device would be good.

11-03-2011, 11:07 PM	#11
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Any of their 6 inch devices any way. at this point.

Advert

Advert