MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Looking for my first e-reader

misspelling · 08-16-2020, 12:55 PM

Thanks for the replies so far.

@meeera: There are no essential criteria. I know it's a niche request that's why I don't insist on anything. I'm merely looking for the closest match.

I want the e-reader mainly for two things.

for scientific publications, white papers, manuals and all those things you otherwise would either print or read on a computer screen (I prefer E-Ink)
for books (maybe even magazines or comics/mangas)

That's why it should support MOBI/EPUB and PDF. I think you can convert PDF to MOBI/EPUB. It would be more convenient if that would not be necessary, though.

I'd prefer AAA batteries because I tend to use my eletronic devices for a long time and in my experience the battery does not age well. I think newer batteries are better but as far as I know you still should keep them charged around 50% if you are planning to keep the device turned off for a while. If I use rechargeable AAA batteries I don't have to worry about the battery's life span. If the battery becomes useless I can easily replace it.

I try to avoid WiFi, bluetooth or the internet in general to minimize the vulnerable of the device. I don't want to spend any time checking if there's a security update I need to install. And I don't want any unecessary hardware that needs to be powered and eats up resources. Especially if I can achieve the same thing by puting anything I want to read on a SD card or a flash drive that I plug into the device.

The thing with an android/linux/windows device is that there're all those unnecessary tasks running in the background. I also don't want to deal with any app store or a million apps. The reader only needs to let me read what I put on it. The whole process shouldn't be unnecessary complicated. I feel like it's just cheaper to modify an android/linux/windows than to develop software tailored to the reader but I don't consider it to be ideal.

The avoidance of a touch screen was at the buttom of the list. I'd rather press a button that put my finder on the screen. And I probably could fix a button easier than a touch screen once the warranty expires.

I hope that gives you an idea on what I am trying to achieve.

@rcentros: I took a look at those PocketBooks but if they come with Linux and WiFi anyway I might as well go for the InkPad X as it has a bigger screen (I know I didn't say anything about screen size so you had every right not to consider it). Is there anything that I'm missing about the InkPad X regaring my criteria in comparison to the Basic Lux 2? As far as I can tell the InkPad has bluetooth (if the WiFi can be turned of the bluetooth can probably too) and a touch screen (but it appears to also have buttons so maybe using the touch screen can be avoided). Maybe there is something else that I missed?

Again, thanks for the help so far!

08-16-2020, 12:55 PM	#5
misspelling Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2020 Device: none	Thanks for the replies so far. @meeera: There are no essential criteria. I know it's a niche request that's why I don't insist on anything. I'm merely looking for the closest match. I want the e-reader mainly for two things. for scientific publications, white papers, manuals and all those things you otherwise would either print or read on a computer screen (I prefer E-Ink) for books (maybe even magazines or comics/mangas) That's why it should support MOBI/EPUB and PDF. I think you can convert PDF to MOBI/EPUB. It would be more convenient if that would not be necessary, though. I'd prefer AAA batteries because I tend to use my eletronic devices for a long time and in my experience the battery does not age well. I think newer batteries are better but as far as I know you still should keep them charged around 50% if you are planning to keep the device turned off for a while. If I use rechargeable AAA batteries I don't have to worry about the battery's life span. If the battery becomes useless I can easily replace it. I try to avoid WiFi, bluetooth or the internet in general to minimize the vulnerable of the device. I don't want to spend any time checking if there's a security update I need to install. And I don't want any unecessary hardware that needs to be powered and eats up resources. Especially if I can achieve the same thing by puting anything I want to read on a SD card or a flash drive that I plug into the device. The thing with an android/linux/windows device is that there're all those unnecessary tasks running in the background. I also don't want to deal with any app store or a million apps. The reader only needs to let me read what I put on it. The whole process shouldn't be unnecessary complicated. I feel like it's just cheaper to modify an android/linux/windows than to develop software tailored to the reader but I don't consider it to be ideal. The avoidance of a touch screen was at the buttom of the list. I'd rather press a button that put my finder on the screen. And I probably could fix a button easier than a touch screen once the warranty expires. I hope that gives you an idea on what I am trying to achieve. @rcentros: I took a look at those PocketBooks but if they come with Linux and WiFi anyway I might as well go for the InkPad X as it has a bigger screen (I know I didn't say anything about screen size so you had every right not to consider it). Is there anything that I'm missing about the InkPad X regaring my criteria in comparison to the Basic Lux 2? As far as I can tell the InkPad has bluetooth (if the WiFi can be turned of the bluetooth can probably too) and a touch screen (but it appears to also have buttons so maybe using the touch screen can be avoided). Maybe there is something else that I missed? Again, thanks for the help so far!