MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Undecided on first ereader (Kobo H2O, PocketBook Touch HD, and others)

the_need_to_read · 07-30-2017, 01:50 PM

Hi,

I've never had an ereader before nor did I knew much about them. Did some reading on the forum and also checked some youtube videos. But I'm still undecided as it looks my "ideal" ereader doesn't exist.

So this is my list of requirements:

**implicit** (AFAIK this is standard with all ereaders, just making sure I don't get surprises)
- be able to read under direct sunlight
- frontlight

**required**
- 01) able to highlight and annotate ePub and PDFs, and either 1) export those notes to txt/html/json or 2) save them in the ebook file itself (which would then be extracted). This should work well. On some ereaders (eg: InkBook Prime) you are unable to adjust the start and end points, it's a get it right or try again thing. Ideally the highlight should be an highlight, not an underline (eg: Kobo H2O). If the device is an Android I guess that would offer an instant fix to this.
- 02) access to internal storage. Either 1) via USB, but ideally 2) via telnet/ssh (which I suspect would be a lot faster than USB 2 and more convenient). Less of problem if it has support for external SD card.
- 03) portable enough to fit in my shoulder bag, so under 7''

**highly desirable**
- 04) audio with 3.5 headphone jack (bluetooth would be the alternative, but not ideal). I'd be able to listen to some ambience music or the audiobook while reading the book.
- 05) water and sand proof, as I will be doing some reading on the beach. But this is a bit subjective, I mean, people still use their phones on the beach and by the pool. Although it's true you can get unlucky and some feet dumps a load of sand on the ereader ;( Apparently Jeff Bezos uses a [ziplock bag](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/ma...6fob-q4-t.html), but I guess this would require physical buttons to work. And I'm unsure of how it would affect the reading experience, both for page turning and eye sight.
- 06) SD card
- 07) support for koreader, so this means a Kobo, PocketBook, or Android based device. Unless the ereader has a very good reader app.
- 08) physical buttons for page turning, unless the reader is responsive. I've seen videos where reaction time to touch is really slow.
- 09) allow ebook organization and access via folders (I'd expect this to be standard, but it looks some ereaders force you to browser by author first name).

**cherry on top**
- 10) Android, as it would give a lot of flexibility, especially on PDF reading apps; dual-boot would be an option
- 11) TTS (text-to-speech)
- 12) smart cover is available to buy

Contenders

Kobo H2O (265 dpi)
1, ?, 3, -, 5, 6, 7, -, ?, -, -, 12
refresh: https://youtu.be/Qsx1zEXdOiA?t=3m38s ; refresh with koreader on PDF: https://youtu.be/rsJizVAMpDQ?t=22m2s . There are annoying flashes during refresh.
Bonus points on the additional screen estate and screen quality

InkBook Prime (212 dpi)
1, ?, 3, 4b, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, 10, -, ?

refresh: https://youtu.be/LTvFWuyOQDQ?t=1m26s
just perfect, no flashes

PocketBook Touch HD (300 dpi)
-, ?, 3, 4j, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, ?, 11, ?
It seems annotations aren't working properly

We confirm that export of notes is currently unavailable for Pocketbook Touch HD. This function will be added in the software version 5.18.
But I guess koreader would solve this issue completely.

Onyx Boox C67ML Carta 2 (300 dpi)
1, ?, 3, -, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, 10, -, ?

I love just how fast the InkBook Prime refreshes the screen, the additional screen estate from the H2O and that it's water and sand proof, and the fact the Touch HD supports audio. Just a shame there isn't a device with all of that.

I'm torn between the H2O and the Touch HD.
If the H2O had audio that would close the deal for me. I'll probably go with it anyway. Just a shame Kobo lost the opportunity to add value to the H2O2, things like audio.

Any comments or suggestions?
Do I have any wrong ideas about anything I posted above?
And can anyone please clarify those points represented as `?` for the Kobo and PocketBook?

Thanks

PS: what about ebook stores? Can I buy the book and download it to my laptop and then copy it? Or does my device limits from where I can buy?

PS2: if it matters, I'm a Linux user. So I'd be unable to install any software on my computer, if that is required.

07-30-2017, 01:50 PM	#1
the_need_to_read Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: Kobo Aura H2O	Undecided on first ereader (Kobo H2O, PocketBook Touch HD, and others) Hi, I've never had an ereader before nor did I knew much about them. Did some reading on the forum and also checked some youtube videos. But I'm still undecided as it looks my "ideal" ereader doesn't exist. So this is my list of requirements: implicit (AFAIK this is standard with all ereaders, just making sure I don't get surprises) - be able to read under direct sunlight - frontlight required - 01) able to highlight and annotate ePub and PDFs, and either 1) export those notes to txt/html/json or 2) save them in the ebook file itself (which would then be extracted). This should work well. On some ereaders (eg: InkBook Prime) you are unable to adjust the start and end points, it's a get it right or try again thing. Ideally the highlight should be an highlight, not an underline (eg: Kobo H2O). If the device is an Android I guess that would offer an instant fix to this. - 02) access to internal storage. Either 1) via USB, but ideally 2) via telnet/ssh (which I suspect would be a lot faster than USB 2 and more convenient). Less of problem if it has support for external SD card. - 03) portable enough to fit in my shoulder bag, so under 7'' highly desirable - 04) audio with 3.5 headphone jack (bluetooth would be the alternative, but not ideal). I'd be able to listen to some ambience music or the audiobook while reading the book. - 05) water and sand proof, as I will be doing some reading on the beach. But this is a bit subjective, I mean, people still use their phones on the beach and by the pool. Although it's true you can get unlucky and some feet dumps a load of sand on the ereader ;( Apparently Jeff Bezos uses a [ziplock bag](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/ma...6fob-q4-t.html), but I guess this would require physical buttons to work. And I'm unsure of how it would affect the reading experience, both for page turning and eye sight. - 06) SD card - 07) support for koreader, so this means a Kobo, PocketBook, or Android based device. Unless the ereader has a very good reader app. - 08) physical buttons for page turning, unless the reader is responsive. I've seen videos where reaction time to touch is really slow. - 09) allow ebook organization and access via folders (I'd expect this to be standard, but it looks some ereaders force you to browser by author first name). cherry on top - 10) Android, as it would give a lot of flexibility, especially on PDF reading apps; dual-boot would be an option - 11) TTS (text-to-speech) - 12) smart cover is available to buy Contenders Kobo H2O (265 dpi) 1, ?, 3, -, 5, 6, 7, -, ?, -, -, 12 refresh: https://youtu.be/Qsx1zEXdOiA?t=3m38s ; refresh with koreader on PDF: https://youtu.be/rsJizVAMpDQ?t=22m2s . There are annoying flashes during refresh. Bonus points on the additional screen estate and screen quality InkBook Prime (212 dpi) 1, ?, 3, 4b, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, 10, -, ? refresh: https://youtu.be/LTvFWuyOQDQ?t=1m26s just perfect, no flashes PocketBook Touch HD (300 dpi) -, ?, 3, 4j, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, ?, 11, ? It seems annotations aren't working properly We confirm that export of notes is currently unavailable for Pocketbook Touch HD. This function will be added in the software version 5.18. But I guess koreader would solve this issue completely. Onyx Boox C67ML Carta 2 (300 dpi) 1, ?, 3, -, -, 6, 7, 8, ?, 10, -, ? I love just how fast the InkBook Prime refreshes the screen, the additional screen estate from the H2O and that it's water and sand proof, and the fact the Touch HD supports audio. Just a shame there isn't a device with all of that. I'm torn between the H2O and the Touch HD. If the H2O had audio that would close the deal for me. I'll probably go with it anyway. Just a shame Kobo lost the opportunity to add value to the H2O2, things like audio. Any comments or suggestions? Do I have any wrong ideas about anything I posted above? And can anyone please clarify those points represented as `?` for the Kobo and PocketBook? Thanks PS: what about ebook stores? Can I buy the book and download it to my laptop and then copy it? Or does my device limits from where I can buy? PS2: if it matters, I'm a Linux user. So I'd be unable to install any software on my computer, if that is required.