Help choosing the right ereader: requirements listed

[Stiletto]

I am in the market for an e-reader, my first.

I’ve done some research and looked at a number of models, ruling many of them out for one reason or another. I found this forum, have read through several of the “Which one should I buy?” posts and thought I’d join to make my own.

My general requirements and other info:

- I’ll be reading books, with no or few illustrations (no need for colour either).
- A large percentage of the books I’ll be reading are in PDF format, non-DRM. I’m happy to install KOReader (or similar) to facilitate this.
- Other ebooks will be purchased from Amazon or smaller / independent websites.
- I’m happy to pay for books and used to this, not so happy about the limitations imposed by DRM (in case of future device changes, etc.). An ethical way around this (for me) would be to buy a DRM version and download a pirated version; not sure if I can be bothered to do that though, in which case I’d just buy and download the DRM version.
- In principle, I’d prefer open source software wherever possible.
- The last time I avidly read books on a device was around the turn of the century, on an HP iPaq using MobiPocket Reader. I’ve used the Kindle App on my phone and Mac, but neither satisfy me.
- No budget limitations; I’m prepared to pay for quality but not novelty.

My MAIN REQUIREMENTS or deal-breakers:

- ability to make notes/annotations and highlight text - then synchronise this with my computer (Mac). I believe I can do this with Calibre. I need to do this with PDF books also, though I’m happy to use Calibre (or alternative) to convert to another format, if necessary.

- ability to install either the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, the Collins English Dictionary: Complete and Unabridged or alternative: a comprehensive, primarily UK English dictionary. I’m expecting to purchase the dictionary and possibly a Thesaurus, not expecting it to come bundled. Ideally I’d be able to highlight a word and have it looked up, but I’m happy to settle for copying and pasting the word into the dictionary.
Edit: I'm aware that the ODE comes bundled with Kindle devices. I mean that if I have to buy it for a different ereader this is not a problem, as long as I can and it works well.

- readable in bright sunlight as well as darkness / candlelight.

BONUS FEATURES that would make me choose one device over another:

- waterproof & dust-proof.
- regular firmware updates that effectively extend the life/usability of the device.

Devices considered / in the running:

Initially I was keen on the Kindle Oasis, but after further research I’m leaning towards the Kobo Aura H2O.

My main concern about the Aura H2O is that it was released in 2014, which seems a bit long in tooth for an electronic device. Is there a new version expected out soon?

I’ve seen the Tolino Vision 3 mentioned in one of the threads here, but have not been able to find many reviews.

...

Thank you for reading through all this and for any suggestions and guidance you can give me!




UPDATE: I've decided to go for the Kindle Oasis. After much reading, it seems that only Kindle can give me the dictionary I want, plus the highlighting and annotation features.

Thanks again to everyone for your feedback and advice!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stiletto

- I’m happy to pay for books and used to this, not so happy about the limitations imposed by DRM (in case of future device changes, etc.). An ethical way around this (for me) would be to buy a DRM version and download a pirated version; not sure if I can be bothered to do that though, in which case I’d just buy and download the DRM version.

Much, much easier to just use Apprentice Alf's tools to strip the DRM from your purchases. See http://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/ -- free and open source.

[eschwartz]

to Apprentice Alf.

Also keep in mind that the Kindle as a rule has the best dictionary support -- and the dictionaries are free.
KOReader will run on the Kindle, and we have a new universal jailbreak method.

"- In principle, I’d prefer open source software wherever possible."

Most ereaders are based on either Android or generic linux, but the UI, reader software, and storefront will all be developed in-house unless you go with a tablet + some open-source thirdparty ereader app. (And yes, there are E-Ink tablets available and marketed for ereading.)
Principles are always good, but unfortunately opportunities are scarce in the ereader world.

[pdurrant]

Having read through your requirements (and so long as you're OK with the inherent limitations of large PDFs on a 6" diagonal screen), I'd recommend the Kindle Voyage.

Nothing meets them all, but the Voyage is hackable (thanks to some great developers), has great dictionary support, and the best display around at the moment, IMO. Amazon are also very good at keeping older models usable with firmware updates.

The Voyage also feature a flush front - there's no raised bezel around the screen area to trap dust.

[Stiletto]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Having read through your requirements (and so long as you're OK with the inherent limitations of large PDFs on a 6" diagonal screen), I'd recommend the Kindle Voyage.

Nothing meets them all, but the Voyage is hackable (thanks to some great developers), has great dictionary support, and the best display around at the moment, IMO. Amazon are also very good at keeping older models usable with firmware updates.

The Voyage also feature a flush front - there's no raised bezel around the screen area to trap dust.

Thank you for your recommendation. I have a few questions:

- Why the Kindle Voyage and not the Oasis? Do you consider the Voyage's display superior and if so, why? I'm guessing if the Voyage is hackable it's (just) a matter of time before the Oasis is hacked too?

- Regarding "the Voyage is hackable", what features does this add? Do you have any links?

- Any comments on the Aura H2O?


Thank you for the advice in your first comment:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Much, much easier to just use Apprentice Alf's tools to strip the DRM from your purchases. See http://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/ -- free and open source.

I discovered after posting this that my SO installed Calibre and this plug-in on my computer while I was sleeping last night!!

Need to look for a plug-in for annotations next.

[eschwartz]

Again:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

KOReader will run on the Kindle, and we have a new universal jailbreak method.

"Universal" includes the Oasis.

[JSWolf]

There is supposed to be a new 7.8" Kobo due out in October from all the info we've read. If that's the case, the new Kobo with KOReader would do as well as you can expect for PDF on eInk (without going for a 13.3" device).

[Stiletto]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Again:
"Universal" includes the Oasis.

Aah! Thank you!!

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is supposed to be a new 7.8" Kobo due out in October from all the info we've read. If that's the case, the new Kobo with KOReader would do as well as you can expect for PDF on eInk (without going for a 13.3" device).

Thank you! A waterproof one?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stiletto

- Why the Kindle Voyage and not the Oasis? Do you consider the Voyage's display superior and if so, why? I'm guessing if the Voyage is hackable it's (just) a matter of time before the Oasis is hacked too?

- Regarding "the Voyage is hackable", what features does this add? Do you have any links?

- Any comments on the Aura H2O?

The displays should be very similar, but I don't think the Oasis form factor is worth the price. Personally, I don't find the size/weight of the Voyage a problem at all. But I admit I haven't tried an Oasis.

The hackability means you can add extra non-Amazon programs and features, e.g. KOReader. See the Jailbreak threads in the Kindle developer forum. Go for the index threads first - it's a bit confusing, there's so much stuff there.

The H2O is a bit bigger and heavier. I doubt whether the extra size will be significant for PDFs.

[soulfuldog]

I'd go for the Voyage too over the Oasis. Unless you crave the lightness and form factor of the Oasis (the display doesn't seem any better), you'd be as well going for the Voyage, or indeed the PW3 if you want to save cash.

As eschwartz has already indicated, if dictionaries are important, the Kindle is better in this respect. You'll find the Oxford Dictionary of English already pre-installed and its far more comprehensive than the Merriam-Webster dictionary that the Kobo's use.

I'm not sure on annotations & highlights other that in general the Kindle's seem to handle highlighting better than Kobo's, which is possibly because they use capacitive touch screens versus Kobo's infra-red touch.

The Kobo Aura H2O shouldn't be discounted because it was released in 2014, it has probably the nicest display and a lot of people like the slightly bigger screen on it. Where the Kobo's excel is the customisation of fonts, margins etc (though I'm not sure how this would work in relation to pdf files?). And for many people, the fact it's an epub reader while the Kindle uses it's own format.

If you're prepared to wait, you could hang around for a few months to wait and see what Kobo is up to with its potential 7.8" ereader. There's a thread about it over in the Kobo forum:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=275592

[barryem]

I have a Voyage and I took too long deciding if I wanted an Oasis and they were sold out and now I consider that a lucky break. The problem I see with the Oasis, after considering it a while, is the tiny battery in the device itself. From everything I've been able to find the cover only charges that battery and the device runs off that battery. Since it's 1/5th the size (I think I remember that fraction correctly) and since a battery is typically good for 500 to 1000 charges, that means the Oasis battery is likely to last 1/5th as long as the Voyage battery. And I'm talking about it's overall lifetime, not it's time between charges.

I like the idea of the Oasis but I'm afraid to spend that much money on something that might have such a short lifespan.

I'm not sure I'm right about this but I haven't been able to think of any way it's not true. I don't claim to know all the facts but I know enough to be afraid to spend that much on it.

Barry

[Stiletto]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

I'd go for the Voyage too over the Oasis. Unless you crave the lightness and form factor of the Oasis (the display doesn't seem any better), you'd be as well going for the Voyage, or indeed the PW3 if you want to save cash.

I do like the form factor and lightness of the Oasis. Gadgets tend to last me a very long time, so I prefer to get one that I'm really keen on and enjoy using. This is also the reason I'm hesitant about getting one that's reaching the end of it's model life (H20).

As eschwartz has already indicated, if dictionaries are important, the Kindle is better in this respect. You'll find the Oxford Dictionary of English already pre-installed and its far more comprehensive than the Merriam-Webster dictionary that the Kobo's use.

Yes, I'm aware that Kobos have the Mirriam-Webster dictionary installed and that won't cut it for me.

- Is it possible to install the COED or Complete & Unabridged Collins dictionary on the H2O and if so, what is the functionality like?

- Would I be better off asking this question on another forum here?

I'm not sure on annotations & highlights other that in general the Kindle's seem to handle highlighting better than Kobo's, which is possibly because they use capacitive touch screens versus Kobo's infra-red touch.

Aha. That's news to me. How fiddly / difficult is it? Highlighting is going to be something I do a lot of, as the books I’ll be reading are for study.

The Kobo Aura H2O shouldn't be discounted because it was released in 2014, it has probably the nicest display and a lot of people like the slightly bigger screen on it. Where the Kobo's excel is the customisation of fonts, margins etc (though I'm not sure how this would work in relation to pdf files?). And for many people, the fact it's an epub reader while the Kindle uses it's own format.

I think I'd be using Calibre on whatever device to centralise note-taking and transfer, so the Epub vs. Kindle format is not a factor to me, I don't think.

If you're prepared to wait, you could hang around for a few months to wait and see what Kobo is up to with its potential 7.8" ereader. There's a thread about it over in the Kobo forum:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=275592

Thank you for the link to that thread! I read through it all and note there is no mention of whether it will be waterproof. I might be willing to wait for one that is, but otherwise I don't think so.

I love the waterproof/dustproof feature of the Kobo H20, that trumps the form factor/lightness of the Oasis for me.

Any other comments are welcome. Thanks again!

[eschwartz]

I am pretty sure I have heard Kobo owners claiming that the Kobo's highlighting sensitivity issues are a software problem, since it only affects one of the two formats the Kobo uses. Either EPUB or KEPUB, but I certainly cannot be bothered to keep track of which one.
The Kobo uses different rendering engines for each. Apparently this is not the only amusing result.

[pdurrant]

It is possible to get a Kindle waterproofed, or buy a ready-waterproofed one. See these guys and this review.

[Stiletto]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The displays should be very similar, but I don't think the Oasis form factor is worth the price. Personally, I don't find the size/weight of the Voyage a problem at all. But I admit I haven't tried an Oasis.

The H2O is a bit bigger and heavier. I doubt whether the extra size will be significant for PDFs.

Personally, I’d opt for the lightness/form factor of the Oasis (over the Voyage) but the waterproof/dust-proof features of the H2O trump that, even if it also means extra size/weight.

The hackability means you can add extra non-Amazon programs and features, e.g. KOReader. See the Jailbreak threads in the Kindle developer forum. Go for the index threads first - it's a bit confusing, there's so much stuff there.

Thank you! Will do, am on a learning curve here.

Originally Posted by barryem

I have a Voyage and I took too long deciding if I wanted an Oasis and they were sold out and now I consider that a lucky break. The problem I see with the Oasis, after considering it a while, is the tiny battery in the device itself. From everything I've been able to find the cover only charges that battery and the device runs off that battery. Since it's 1/5th the size (I think I remember that fraction correctly) and since a battery is typically good for 500 to 1000 charges, that means the Oasis battery is likely to last 1/5th as long as the Voyage battery. And I'm talking about it's overall lifetime, not it's time between charges.

I like the idea of the Oasis but I'm afraid to spend that much money on something that might have such a short lifespan.

I'm not sure I'm right about this but I haven't been able to think of any way it's not true. I don't claim to know all the facts but I know enough to be afraid to spend that much on it.

Barry

Thank you for this, really interesting point! I hadn’t considered batteries at all. I’m understanding from some preliminary searching I’ve just done that it is possible to change the battery on a Kindle device (you have to send it off). I’ll need to read about what the situation is with Kobos.