May not buy anything as confused

dhj · 02-10-2012, 08:55 AM

My first foray into the ereader world was with an Elonex 500eb which, although clunky, I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, the machine is causing bother so I am in the market for 'other' ereaders and this is where I am becoming a bit hacked off. Everywhere I look (especially in the UK) the Kindle is thrust at me from every angle but, as I read predominately epub (from my local library), and read far more in the evening in a comfy chair (or even in bed) a kindle doesn't seem to be the way to go (doesn't read epub and has no backlight) so I'm looking elsewhere. Step up the Kobo wireless which I bought for the grand some of £70 from whsmith - and returned 50 minutes later when I got 'USB device not recognized' when I tried to setup on my £700 lenovo laptop. (A quick look on google revealed numerous people with a similar problem) So, what do I do now? Given the backlight and the epub requirement I don't really know where to look as , in the UK, we don't seem to have anywhere near the number of choices they have elsewhere in the world. So, in summary, I'm looking for a 6" device with a backlight that reads epubs (without me converting using Calibre - not a difficult task but I don't see why I should have to) and is obtainable in the UK at a reasonable price (probably under £120). Anybody got any ideas they can help me with?

daveps · 02-10-2012, 09:40 AM

Instead of getting a back lit reader, why not just buy a clip on light for any reader that does e-pub? Presume there is a specific reason you want/need a backlight?

dhj · 02-10-2012, 10:14 AM

A good point and the answer is probably laziness. I travel a fair bit and so throw my ereader into my pocket, whipping it out whenever I have a spare moment. Often I end up in a Travel Lodge type establishment and spend the evening reading, often in low light (hence the backlight). The add-on light is a good idea but then I have to remember to take it and it's another thing to lose. Bear in mind that I only take usb sticks with me if I can attach them to my keyring - forgetfulness is common for me!

ottdmk · 02-10-2012, 10:43 AM

Sorry to hear you had problems with the Kobo WiFi. I have a Kobo Touch (a bit more expensive) and I have nothing but positive things to say about it.

Sounds to me like you might want to research some cheap Android tablets. Your desire for a backlight = LCD screen, so it makes sense. Even the cheaper ones should do ok for ePub. I'd make sure they work ok with Adobe Digital Editions though as you're a library fan. (IE, that ADE will export the ePubs ok.)

AnemicOak · 02-10-2012, 11:02 AM

Maybe a 7" Android tablet would be the way to go. You can install the Mantano app (or Aldiko or BlueFire) and read Adobe DRM'd ePubs (like the library has) all day long plus have access to other reading apps (Kindle, etc.) if you should desire.

dhj · 02-10-2012, 11:04 AM

Thanks for the reply.Yes, I have an idea I might need to go that route. Unfortunately (and I didn't want to own up to this at first) I recently purchased such a device from ebay and, although it was a 7" screen, was actually nearly 10" tall and over 5" wide and, to cap it all, it takes nearly a minute and a half to start up so is next to useless (although it was very cheap !) Perhaps I should look at something a bit more main stream.

soulfuldog · 02-10-2012, 03:33 PM

It works out a lot more expensive than the pretty cheap Kobo wireless, but have you considered the Sony PRS-T1? If you buy it and the lighted cover that goes with it you'll have to spend £170, but it would meet your needs (good library access, epub and although not back-lit, as long as you keep it in the cover, the light is there).

dhj · 02-10-2012, 03:37 PM

I hadn't considered that but maybe that's a possibler. I'll have a look at those.

Many thanks for your input.

HarryT · 02-12-2012, 03:59 AM

No eInk device has a backlight for the simple reason that an eInk screen is opaque - it cannot be backlit.

02-10-2012, 08:55 AM	#1
dhj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: eleonex 500eb	May not buy anything as confused My first foray into the ereader world was with an Elonex 500eb which, although clunky, I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, the machine is causing bother so I am in the market for 'other' ereaders and this is where I am becoming a bit hacked off. Everywhere I look (especially in the UK) the Kindle is thrust at me from every angle but, as I read predominately epub (from my local library), and read far more in the evening in a comfy chair (or even in bed) a kindle doesn't seem to be the way to go (doesn't read epub and has no backlight) so I'm looking elsewhere. Step up the Kobo wireless which I bought for the grand some of £70 from whsmith - and returned 50 minutes later when I got 'USB device not recognized' when I tried to setup on my £700 lenovo laptop. (A quick look on google revealed numerous people with a similar problem) So, what do I do now? Given the backlight and the epub requirement I don't really know where to look as , in the UK, we don't seem to have anywhere near the number of choices they have elsewhere in the world. So, in summary, I'm looking for a 6" device with a backlight that reads epubs (without me converting using Calibre - not a difficult task but I don't see why I should have to) and is obtainable in the UK at a reasonable price (probably under £120). Anybody got any ideas they can help me with?

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02-10-2012, 09:40 AM	#2
daveps Member Posts: 17 Karma: 494330 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Instead of getting a back lit reader, why not just buy a clip on light for any reader that does e-pub? Presume there is a specific reason you want/need a backlight?

02-10-2012, 10:14 AM	#3
dhj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: eleonex 500eb	A good point and the answer is probably laziness. I travel a fair bit and so throw my ereader into my pocket, whipping it out whenever I have a spare moment. Often I end up in a Travel Lodge type establishment and spend the evening reading, often in low light (hence the backlight). The add-on light is a good idea but then I have to remember to take it and it's another thing to lose. Bear in mind that I only take usb sticks with me if I can attach them to my keyring - forgetfulness is common for me!

02-10-2012, 10:43 AM	#4
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	Sorry to hear you had problems with the Kobo WiFi. I have a Kobo Touch (a bit more expensive) and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. Sounds to me like you might want to research some cheap Android tablets. Your desire for a backlight = LCD screen, so it makes sense. Even the cheaper ones should do ok for ePub. I'd make sure they work ok with Adobe Digital Editions though as you're a library fan. (IE, that ADE will export the ePubs ok.)

02-10-2012, 11:02 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Maybe a 7" Android tablet would be the way to go. You can install the Mantano app (or Aldiko or BlueFire) and read Adobe DRM'd ePubs (like the library has) all day long plus have access to other reading apps (Kindle, etc.) if you should desire.

02-10-2012, 11:04 AM	#6
dhj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: eleonex 500eb	Thanks for the reply.Yes, I have an idea I might need to go that route. Unfortunately (and I didn't want to own up to this at first) I recently purchased such a device from ebay and, although it was a 7" screen, was actually nearly 10" tall and over 5" wide and, to cap it all, it takes nearly a minute and a half to start up so is next to useless (although it was very cheap !) Perhaps I should look at something a bit more main stream.

02-10-2012, 03:33 PM	#7
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	It works out a lot more expensive than the pretty cheap Kobo wireless, but have you considered the Sony PRS-T1? If you buy it and the lighted cover that goes with it you'll have to spend £170, but it would meet your needs (good library access, epub and although not back-lit, as long as you keep it in the cover, the light is there).

02-10-2012, 03:37 PM	#8
dhj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: eleonex 500eb	I hadn't considered that but maybe that's a possibler. I'll have a look at those. Many thanks for your input.

02-12-2012, 03:59 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,545 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No eInk device has a backlight for the simple reason that an eInk screen is opaque - it cannot be backlit.

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