Looking for an ereader with a sturdy screen

[lego1]

I accidentally broke the screen on my sony 350 ereader recently and want to replace it with one that has a screen that is less breakable. Before buying the sony I had read on these forums of other sonys with brooken screens so I did buy the accedent insurance so I am not out the full cost of the sony ereader. I am not sure what to buy to replace it.

I need something that can read library books and having a wifi conection to download the books would be great too (although the sony connection was not too hard to use either). Any advice on ones to look at or ones to avoid?

thanks, Jen.

[Billi]

Lego, I'm afraid you don't have much alternatives. Almost all readers use the same kind of eink screen made by E-Ink or SiPix that consists of a glass substrate. And in almost all subfora here you can read about broken screens, unfortunately.

I don't know if the readers with a wacom touch screen are less prone to breaking (as there is the additional wacom layer beneath the glass screen) and I could imagine that readers with a greater frame around the screen and a greater thickness (like Onyx 60/Bebook Neo/PB 302...) offer a little bit more protection.

Reading your needs I would think you can choose between all readers with epub support. And a cover improves the life expectancy of your reader!

[jocampo]

What's prone to break, is the glass substrate, and as far as I know, that's a common factor on all eink devices, at least at the time of this post.

Get a nice cover and avoid sudden impacts or protect the eink reader when you toss it inside a backpack or bag.

I put mine on my backpack and use it on my trips and so far, so good.

[pidgeon92]

Instead of looking for a sturdier ereader, look for a sturdier cover. All ereaders are the same. A good cover will make all the difference.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Instead of looking for a sturdier ereader, look for a sturdier cover. All ereaders are the same. A good cover will make all the difference.

Although they all use the same screen, it's certainly not true that they are all equally sturdy; the prime culprit in breaking an eInk screen is flexing it, and there's considerable variation in how well protected from flexing the screen is. It's a lot easier to break a CyBook Gen3 than it is a Sony or a Kindle, for example.

But I'd agree with your basic point: a sturdy case is essential.

[anjirlly]

If you were happy with the Sony 350's 5" screen, then the updated PB360+ might be a good option for you. IMO, the snap-on cover's integration with the reader provides more structural integrity. That said, you'll still find reports of broken screens in the PocketBook forum. Because glass is always going to be fragile, particularly with larger screen sizes, I am eagerly awaiting the switch from glass to plastic, as discussed in Charbax's interview with the vice president of Eink (see News forum).

[Shohreh]

Originally Posted by jocampo

What's prone to break, is the glass substrate, and as far as I know, that's a common factor on all eink devices, at least at the time of this post. Get a nice cover and avoid sudden impacts or protect the eink reader when you toss it inside a backpack or bag.I put mine on my backpack and use it on my trips and so far, so good.

I often carry a PocketBook Touch Lux 3 on bike trips, and had the misfortune of having its screen break twice, although I bought the cover from PB and I make sure not to press on the screen:



I'm thinking of getting a reader from another brand (probably Bookeen or Kobo), but can something else be done to protect the screen?

Thank you.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Shohreh

I often carry a PocketBook Touch Lux 3 on bike trips, and had the misfortune of having its screen break twice, although I bought the cover from PB and I make sure not to press on the screen:

I'm thinking of getting a reader from another brand (probably Bookeen or Kobo), but can something else be done to protect the screen?.

You could store it inside a padded rigid box-style case.

It's generally less about pressing directly on the screen, and more about twisting or bending forces (or, of course, impact). Severe temperature extremes can be another issue.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Shohreh

I'm thinking of getting a reader from another brand (probably Bookeen or Kobo), but can something else be done to protect the screen?

Ouch. That looks like a broken substrate, yes... The only thing you can do is buying a hard case for it, such as those from Pelican. Something that only bends under truly irresistible forces

[Shohreh]

Thanks much for the infos.

A hard case it'll be.

[robko]

Originally Posted by meeera

You could store it inside a padded rigid box-style case.

It's generally less about pressing directly on the screen, and more about twisting or bending forces (or, of course, impact). Severe temperature extremes can be another issue.

ALL OF THIS!! IMHO cases like you currently have are way overrated for preventing cracked substrates.

[Cinisajoy]

Agreeing with the hard case. Just one little detail, a good hard case is not cheap.

[ottdmk]

I really wish Kobo would make an H2O sized e-reader with a Mobius screen. That would be sweet.

[Jmirko]

If anyone is interested in a super-tough budget ereader, the Wexler FlexOne is available on Aliexpress for 52€ with free shipping. The software is not on par with the Kobo for sure, but it's very light and has a plastic screen without glass components. I have one and can recommend it for tough conditions, although probably not as a primary device for e-reading connoisseurs.

[JSWolf]

I use my H2O all the time and I take it with me a lot as well. I have it in a case that cost less than $20 and I've had no issue with it. I've also had 4 other Readers that I've carried around and used a lot. Never has the screen broken.

What this means is that it's not the Reader's that are at fault. It's user error.