MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cheap, largish tablet for color ereader to use w/ calibre, ideally easily modded?

anoukaimee · 05-01-2019, 07:38 PM

I have an old Kindle Paperwhite which is sufficient for reading fiction and such, but I have a lot of nonfiction in full color (magazines, garden books, etc.) that I am currently reading on my OnePlus 3 phone (with MoonReader and Calibre_Companion), and just find it too small.

My basic needs:

cheap ($150 or less);
supports PDF, EPUB, MOBI, at the very least;
Expandable memory (ability to take a 256 GB or larger SD card ideal);
Android preferred;
At least 10" screen (I think);
Full color, though I'm not picky about the quality--LCD fine;

Additionally, if there is an older model that is supported by alternative development ("hackable") that would be ideal. Is there one that everyone uses (looked at the wikis but they're kind of out of date). I would love to be able to put it in a "semi-kiosk" mode, to limit the availability of a browser to what is needed to access Wikipedia, a dictionary, and possibly in the future RSS feeds and the like (although I think that can be done through Calibre using Calibre companion, I just don't use that feature). The reason being, I tend to get distracted by the web and it would be nice not to have the alternative of doing anything but reading. At the same time, being able to install a PDF editor and the likes of PrinterShare, Send Anywhere, Clipboard + Notes, and other apps that allow for the easy export of notes taken is needed. I'm pretty good with Android hacking (rooting, alt ROMs etc), but thought before I posted to XDA I'd check here since you are the experts in e-readers and might know immediately a good match. I know from experience that some brands make it easier or harder to mod, so this is a consideration. Being able to eliminate a browser is not a deal-breaker, though.

If there's a Fire, Nook, or the like that is cheap and supports full color (and doesn't try to prevent you from installing and easily organizing books downloaded from sites other than the source of the ereader; looking at you, Amazon) then would love to know. Or links to comparisons that are current.

Thanks for any guidance!

05-01-2019, 07:38 PM	#1
anoukaimee Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: USA Device: Kobo Clara, Pixel 6 (Moon Reader/Calibre Companion), Amazon Fire 10	Cheap, largish tablet for color ereader to use w/ calibre, ideally easily modded? I have an old Kindle Paperwhite which is sufficient for reading fiction and such, but I have a lot of nonfiction in full color (magazines, garden books, etc.) that I am currently reading on my OnePlus 3 phone (with MoonReader and Calibre_Companion), and just find it too small. My basic needs: cheap ($150 or less); supports PDF, EPUB, MOBI, at the very least; Expandable memory (ability to take a 256 GB or larger SD card ideal); Android preferred; At least 10" screen (I think); Full color, though I'm not picky about the quality--LCD fine; Additionally, if there is an older model that is supported by alternative development ("hackable") that would be ideal. Is there one that everyone uses (looked at the wikis but they're kind of out of date). I would love to be able to put it in a "semi-kiosk" mode, to limit the availability of a browser to what is needed to access Wikipedia, a dictionary, and possibly in the future RSS feeds and the like (although I think that can be done through Calibre using Calibre companion, I just don't use that feature). The reason being, I tend to get distracted by the web and it would be nice not to have the alternative of doing anything but reading. At the same time, being able to install a PDF editor and the likes of PrinterShare, Send Anywhere, Clipboard + Notes, and other apps that allow for the easy export of notes taken is needed. I'm pretty good with Android hacking (rooting, alt ROMs etc), but thought before I posted to XDA I'd check here since you are the experts in e-readers and might know immediately a good match. I know from experience that some brands make it easier or harder to mod, so this is a consideration. Being able to eliminate a browser is not a deal-breaker, though. If there's a Fire, Nook, or the like that is cheap and supports full color (and doesn't try to prevent you from installing and easily organizing books downloaded from sites other than the source of the ereader; looking at you, Amazon) then would love to know. Or links to comparisons that are current. Thanks for any guidance!