[cincomay]

Hello!

I've been reading the Calibre forum here for years and years, but I've never posted before. I hope the experienced e-reading folks here can help me narrow down my search for a new ereader!

I've been using Kindles for about a decade (Kindle Keyboard, several basic models, tried and hated a Paperwhite), but I'm unhappy with my current Kindle Basic (purchased in mid 2017) and am ready to try another company. I live in the United States and only need English-language support.

E-ink models only, please, because reading on backlit devices gives me headaches. My budget is $300 or under, and I would prefer smaller models due to small hands.

I am primarily a fanfic reader, so sideloading via Calibre is crucial, and a good ebook store is not. I read a whole lot of articles via Pocket on my phone, so Pocket support would be amazing (but is not required).

I read mostly before bed in very low light on my device's largest font size. I tried a Kindle Paperwhite in early 2017 for three weeks and hated it because using the lit screen (while convenient) gave me insomnia. So I'm interested in models with color-change (non-blue) lights or no lights at all, or the option to turn off the light entirely (so long as those models have huge fonts!).

I'm not a fan of Kindle Basic's touch screen: I'm constantly highlighting things when I meant to turn the page, and accidentally changing the font size. I would prefer a model with page turn buttons (either instead of or in addition to touch screen) because I hate moving a finger to turn the page (on
Kindle Keyboard I could just press down while holding the book, which helped me avoid repetitive stress injury discomfort). Ability to turn off the touch screen would also be helpful. Moving from chapter to chapter or scanning through pages quickly are features I would enjoy.

I've investigated some options, and frontrunners appear to be the Nook Glow Light 3 and the Kobo Aura H2O 2 (although I do not need a waterproof device).

I never take notes or make highlights, and I also don't use Internet-interactive features, but maybe I would if those features were better than the ones on Kindle. I don't need PDF support. I occasionally use Overdrive through my local library, so compatibility with that program would be appreciated but is not required.

On my old Kindle Keyboard I loved to switch between reading and listening via Text-to-Speech. My current Kindle Basic has Text-to-Speech via bluetooth headphones, but I find the audio menus difficult to use and the feature eats battery at a shocking rate. I would appreciate any kind of Text-to-Speech feature, but especially ones with a headphone jack and visual menus.

The tl;dr version of my ereader requirements:

- American fanfic reader with small hands seeks new ereader that supports sideloading from Calibre. E-ink only, under $250
- color-changing front light or no light (or ability to turn light completely off + very large font size)
- sideloading via Calibre
- page turn buttons appreciated! Ability to move between chapters/scan through pages would also be great
- font options (especially size, but also margins and spacing would be appreciated)
- Pocket support not necessary but a huge plus!
- Overdrive compatible would be great but not a dealbreaker
- Expandable memory is nice but not necessary
- Internet/wifi/waterproof features mainly unimportant
- Text-to-speech appreciated but not necessary

What do you think?

Also, I gather that Kobo may be releasing a new Mini in the next few months--is it worth waiting to see if that has a color-changing front light?

Thank you for your thoughts!

May