No "open" ereaders? Shoud I buy the iPad Mini instead?

N3rd · 12-15-2013, 08:20 AM

I want an ereader because of the screen but I don't want the forced ecosystem or forced registration. I want an open ereader. I can find one so should I buy the iPad Mini with Retina display even though of the LCD fatigue (eye strain)?

HarryT · 12-15-2013, 08:28 AM

I'm afraid you can't use an iPad either without registering it. What's so bad about registration?

You're not "forced" into anybody's ecosystem with an eInk device. There's a wonderful free program called "Calibre" (which has a dedicated forum here at MR) which makes it easy to convert books between different formats. Although I have a Kindle, I buy ebooks from many different bookstores; owning a Kindle doesn't restrict you to only buying books from Amazon, any more than owning a Kobo forces you to buy from Kobo, etc.

soulfuldog · 12-15-2013, 08:39 AM

There are ways round the "enforced" registrations of both the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glo/Aura etc. And if you use Calibre as HarryT suggests, you don't need to let yourself be locked into any store, or indeed any format.

There are readers that aren't linked to any bookstore, like those from Pocketbook, Onyx Boox, the Cybook Odysessy,the ImcoV6L. Generally a little more expensive, not as readily available, and for the most part (IMHO) not as good as the Kindle Paperwhite.

Rizla · 12-15-2013, 09:28 AM

You don't need to register a Sony. You can get cheap T1 / T2s on ebay easy enough. The T2 is better. If you are computer savvy, you can get a Nook ST dirt cheap and root it and use Coolreader on it. Also you can 'root' Kobo now and run Android, but again, you need to to be a bit savvy.
Don't get an Ipad if you like open solutions. It is extremely closed. If you get an LCD-screen device, get an Android tablet. But I don't recommend it. LCD screens suck for reading on.

HarryT · 12-15-2013, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

LCD screens suck for reading on.

That very much depends on the individual; I can read academic PDFs on my iPad all day without difficulty. But I agree that eInk screens are far, far better for reading fiction.

exaltedwombat · 12-15-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N3rd

I want an ereader because of the screen but I don't want the forced ecosystem or forced registration. I want an open ereader. I can find one so should I buy the iPad Mini with Retina display even though of the LCD fatigue (eye strain)?

If you want an open system, Apple is definitely the wrong direction!

But, even if you don't want to get into cracking DRM and converting formats, all the book retailers offer readers for a range of computers and tablets.

Sgt.Stubby · 12-15-2013, 02:24 PM

Hacking a device to break it open and dodge the registration still involves financially supporting the overly controlling producers of these devices. So IMO it's insufficient.

You could buy a netbook that runs linux, and swap the screen for a dual-mode pixelQI screen. Then you have a better screen than all the commercial options, and everything is FOSS. No need for a nanny!

komugi · 12-15-2013, 04:51 PM

Wanting an "Open" system and picking Apple. The irony.

Sgt.Stubby · 12-16-2013, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komugi

Wanting an "Open" system and picking Apple. The irony.

The OPs rationale is that if he cannot control the device, then he might as well go for (what he considers) the best user experience. There's nothing worse than being controlled, and then also having lousy apps that are compulsory to boot (which is what you get with many androids, for example).

The irony here is actually that he's considering an eye-straining LCD, so he would be compromising on user experience as well.

WashWest · 12-16-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

You don't need to register a Sony. You can get cheap T1 / T2s on ebay easy enough.

Indeed. I just bought a PRS-350 from eBay and love it. I loaded my library on it with Calibre and didn't register with Sony, nor do I plan to buy any books from Sony's store.

mystika1 · 12-16-2013, 09:27 AM

I don't find that my kobo or nook keep me bound to any store. I do buy drm free books from kobo though.

+ side note:

I used to feel that eink was the only good way to read ebooks. Then my eyes decided to go bad and everything changed. Now I mostly read on my Nook HD+ because I can see the text better than on my eink reader. The text is fuzzy to me on my eink reader which causes me eye fatigue, but the text on my tablet is easier to read.(clear, bold fonts and I can customize my reading experience better) I use Mantano Reading app which allows me to dim the backlight as low as my eink device can go.(I have compared side by side) I also suffer from insomnia and have found that reading on the Nook with light dimmed does not keep me awake.(as it did on previous tablets and phones that I have tried.) I didn't want to read on a tablet and was convinced that it was bad for my eyes, but at the moment my eyes have proved me wrong. I may go back to my eink device once I get new glasses, but for now...my eyes are most happy with the nook. I just wish the battery would last long like an eink device.

Sincerely,

Penny

HarryT · 12-16-2013, 09:34 AM

Whatever works for YOU is what's right.

jersysman · 12-17-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Whatever works for YOU is what's right.

+1

Been preaching this for a long time!

faithbw · 12-17-2013, 03:41 PM

Are you assuming that you'll have eye strain because of an LCD screen? I ask because many people say this and pretty much everyone believes it. I did until I actually started reading on Nexus 7. I actually find the text to crisper on my Nexus 7 as opposed to my old Sony PRS-350. If you find looking at LCD screens for a long period of time to be bothersome then I would simply look at options like Calibre. I registered my Sony Reader and my old Nook with the respective store but only used Calibre to sideload book onto. I wasn't locked into ANY bookstore with Calibre.

I've gotten lazy since I got my tablet because I can shop at all the bookstores via apps but Calibre is great (I need to start using it again).

I agree with the others about Apple being very closed. I mean if that's an issue for you then I'm not sure you want an iPad. Actually, just about every device is going to be closed in some way or another (unless you root it and that isn't for the faint of heart).

FizzyWater · 12-17-2013, 09:13 PM

Pocketbook eReaders are "open", although if you're in the US, you'll have to buy from a reseller. (I got mine in Amazon's "marketplace").

12-15-2013, 08:20 AM	#1
N3rd Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: None	No "open" ereaders? Shoud I buy the iPad Mini instead? I want an ereader because of the screen but I don't want the forced ecosystem or forced registration. I want an open ereader. I can find one so should I buy the iPad Mini with Retina display even though of the LCD fatigue (eye strain)?

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12-15-2013, 08:28 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	I'm afraid you can't use an iPad either without registering it. What's so bad about registration? You're not "forced" into anybody's ecosystem with an eInk device. There's a wonderful free program called "Calibre" (which has a dedicated forum here at MR) which makes it easy to convert books between different formats. Although I have a Kindle, I buy ebooks from many different bookstores; owning a Kindle doesn't restrict you to only buying books from Amazon, any more than owning a Kobo forces you to buy from Kobo, etc.

12-15-2013, 08:39 AM	#3
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	There are ways round the "enforced" registrations of both the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glo/Aura etc. And if you use Calibre as HarryT suggests, you don't need to let yourself be locked into any store, or indeed any format. There are readers that aren't linked to any bookstore, like those from Pocketbook, Onyx Boox, the Cybook Odysessy,the ImcoV6L. Generally a little more expensive, not as readily available, and for the most part (IMHO) not as good as the Kindle Paperwhite.

12-15-2013, 09:28 AM	#4
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	You don't need to register a Sony. You can get cheap T1 / T2s on ebay easy enough. The T2 is better. If you are computer savvy, you can get a Nook ST dirt cheap and root it and use Coolreader on it. Also you can 'root' Kobo now and run Android, but again, you need to to be a bit savvy. Don't get an Ipad if you like open solutions. It is extremely closed. If you get an LCD-screen device, get an Android tablet. But I don't recommend it. LCD screens suck for reading on.

12-15-2013, 02:24 PM	#7
Sgt.Stubby Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 530000 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: none	Hacking a device to break it open and dodge the registration still involves financially supporting the overly controlling producers of these devices. So IMO it's insufficient. You could buy a netbook that runs linux, and swap the screen for a dual-mode pixelQI screen. Then you have a better screen than all the commercial options, and everything is FOSS. No need for a nanny!

12-15-2013, 04:51 PM	#8
komugi Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 254 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Surface Pro 3, HTC 10, Kobo Aura H2O	Wanting an "Open" system and picking Apple. The irony.

12-16-2013, 09:27 AM	#11
mystika1 Addict Posts: 353 Karma: 1360168 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Louisiana Device: IPad Air 2, , Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Aura H2Ov1, Kobo Mini	I don't find that my kobo or nook keep me bound to any store. I do buy drm free books from kobo though. + side note: I used to feel that eink was the only good way to read ebooks. Then my eyes decided to go bad and everything changed. Now I mostly read on my Nook HD+ because I can see the text better than on my eink reader. The text is fuzzy to me on my eink reader which causes me eye fatigue, but the text on my tablet is easier to read.(clear, bold fonts and I can customize my reading experience better) I use Mantano Reading app which allows me to dim the backlight as low as my eink device can go.(I have compared side by side) I also suffer from insomnia and have found that reading on the Nook with light dimmed does not keep me awake.(as it did on previous tablets and phones that I have tried.) I didn't want to read on a tablet and was convinced that it was bad for my eyes, but at the moment my eyes have proved me wrong. I may go back to my eink device once I get new glasses, but for now...my eyes are most happy with the nook. I just wish the battery would last long like an eink device. Sincerely, Penny

12-16-2013, 09:34 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Whatever works for YOU is what's right.

12-17-2013, 03:41 PM	#14
faithbw Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 1526148 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: A place where the sun always shines Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Mini 2	Are you assuming that you'll have eye strain because of an LCD screen? I ask because many people say this and pretty much everyone believes it. I did until I actually started reading on Nexus 7. I actually find the text to crisper on my Nexus 7 as opposed to my old Sony PRS-350. If you find looking at LCD screens for a long period of time to be bothersome then I would simply look at options like Calibre. I registered my Sony Reader and my old Nook with the respective store but only used Calibre to sideload book onto. I wasn't locked into ANY bookstore with Calibre. I've gotten lazy since I got my tablet because I can shop at all the bookstores via apps but Calibre is great (I need to start using it again). I agree with the others about Apple being very closed. I mean if that's an issue for you then I'm not sure you want an iPad. Actually, just about every device is going to be closed in some way or another (unless you root it and that isn't for the faint of heart).

12-17-2013, 09:13 PM	#15
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Pocketbook eReaders are "open", although if you're in the US, you'll have to buy from a reseller. (I got mine in Amazon's "marketplace").

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