In light of the second database collapse on my Pocketbook HD-3, I'm considering replacing it. I've had several ereaders and am very familiar with the standard option range. (I used to be a regular here.) I'm looking for:
- Buttons to turn pages - not optional, non-negotiable; not interested in anything that's touchscreen only.
- 6" or smaller screen (I miss 5" readers but I don't think anyone's making them anymore) (Could be flexible on this)
- Easy sideloading (drag and drop into folders)
- Epub support (I gather they may all have this now)
- Available in the US (Could hypothetically be flexible on this; I have friends in UK and Europe and could arrange for shipping.)
- Long battery life: 8+ hours reading time; more than 3 days idle time between charges. (I expect more than a week of idle time, but I don't need it.)
- Large database capacity: Can handle several thousand ebooks without choking; can navigate in folders with several hundred to a couple-thousand files. I want a library, not a bookshelf.
Do not care about (will not use):
- Wifi; bluetooth
- Audio of any sort
- Large storage capacity (8gb is fine; 4gb is fine; nothing is that small anymore.) (Currently have about 4500 ebooks in my PB, which takes up less than 2gb of the 16gb drive.)
- Store connections/support (won't use; 90% of what I read is fanfic)
- ADE support
- Waterproof (...I am capable of putting my ereader in a ziploc if I want to read in the tub)
Would like, optional:
- Frontlight - I've gotten used to one but don't need it.
- Asian language support - current Pocketbook does not show Japanese characters; no idea how to activate that
- SD card option - never used; might be nice.
- US tech support (the pipe dream; I think Amazon is the only one, and Kindles don't have page turn buttons)
- Filetype support outside of epub - pdf, mobi, html, doc/docx.
- No account needed to start using it (last I checked, Kobo and Kindle both require a login to set up the device at all, but it can be ignored after that)
Used/Refurbished is fine. If I could find an Astak Pocket EZ-Reader with a battery that's not 10 years dead, I'd use that.
A quick look around says options may include:
- Onyx Boox Darwin, Poke4 Lite
- Pocketbook - various options; all may have the database problem I've run into
- Is the Ectaco Jetbook still a thing? (I prefer e-ink. Willing to consider otherwise to get other features.)
Other options seem to be larger than the desired 6" screen.