After my first ereader and need help picking one...

[kutusov]

I've been reading off an iPad but it's not great for outdoor reading and I'm also afraid of ruining it. I live in a warm place with beautiful beaches and warm ocean, so I'm afraid of sand and water getting into my ipad. I read only text, no comics or manga.

The local store that sells kobos have them stored in their boxes and, with the Covid thing and all, won't take them out for me to have a look at.

Basically what concerns me the most right now is what size to go. I don't like short lines with 4 or 5 words and having to be always jumping from line to line. I think you can make the text smaller so you can have more words per page? I've been trying to figure out sizes through youtube videos but most people seem to prefer bigger words and I'm wondering if there's any reason for it...

Just from sizes alone, I'm inclined to the Kobo Forma because it's one of the bigger ones but that's really expensive and a lot of reviews say that it's a bit too big. Looks to me roughly the size of a small book but maybe I'm missing something. The next option would be the Libra H20 or the Kindle Oasis. I think the 6 inch ones will feel way too small for me.

Can you guys help me out here on what I'm missing, not considering or your views on this stuff since I'm not familiar at all with these devices?

[pdurrant]

On a standard 6" eInk screen (in this case, a Kindle), With font size about the same as a mass-market paperback, one gets about 10 words per line. With the font size a couple of steps larger, about the font size in a typical hardback, one gets about eight words per line. (Images below)

My advice would be to go for a waterproof 6" model, and see how you like it.

Most people go for a slightly larger font on their ereader because larger fonts are easier to read, and the extra pages don't cost anything. Paper books generally go for the smallest font they think their' customers will stand.

[ottischwenk]

Para o tamanho do ecrã, relação de aspecto 3x4:
6 polegadas ~ 15 cm = 9*12 cm
7 polegadas ~ 17,5 cm = 10,5*14 cm
8 polegadas ~ 20 cm = 12*16 cm
O meu leitor de linha favorito é actualmente Tolino Epos 2 - tem o hardware de Kobo Forma, é à prova de água e é muito leve a 195g.
Pois em viagem utilizo um dispositivo de 6 polegadas, pois posso colocá-lo no bolso de um casaco

[kutusov]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

On a standard 6" eInk screen (in this case, a Kindle), With font size about the same as a mass-market paperback, one gets about 10 words per line. With the font size a couple of steps larger, about the font size in a typical hardback, one gets about eight words per line. (Images below)

My advice would be to go for a waterproof 6" model, and see how you like it.

Most people go for a slightly larger font on their ereader because larger fonts are easier to read, and the extra pages don't cost anything. Paper books generally go for the smallest font they think their' customers will stand.

Thanks for the pictures, that was a great help. What I see online is a much larger font but that's actually OK

[kutusov]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Para o tamanho do ecrã, relação de aspecto 3x4:
6 polegadas ~ 15 cm = 9*12 cm
7 polegadas ~ 17,5 cm = 10,5*14 cm
8 polegadas ~ 20 cm = 12*16 cm
O meu leitor de linha favorito é actualmente Tolino Epos 2 - tem o hardware de Kobo Forma, é à prova de água e é muito leve a 195g.
Pois em viagem utilizo um dispositivo de 6 polegadas, pois posso colocá-lo no bolso de um casaco

Bom português, obrigado

Guys, what about the Kobo vs Kindle thing? I already use Calibre and it doesn't seem like much of a problem getting epubs into a Kindle...

Any other brand I might not know about and worth giving a look?

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by kutusov

Bom português, obrigado

Google translate from German

Guys, what about the Kobo vs Kindle thing? I already use Calibre and it doesn't seem like much of a problem getting epubs into a Kindle...

Any other brand I might not know about and worth giving a look?

Im a fan of Boyue Likebook and I have ordered this device from Spain (no customs aso) - it will arrive this week.
Its an Chinese 7.8 Inch Android 8.1 EInk Tablet with 4 Core CPU, 1,5 GHz, 2/32 GB and SD feature.
Similar are Onyx-Boox Devices, but more expensive.

[Pajamaman]

I suggest a 7.8-8" water-proof device. Kobo does one. 7.8" is portable but nice and big to read on. I've had a lot of 6" devices. 7.8 is better. If you can't afford it, 6" will be okay.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by kutusov

I've been reading off an iPad but it's not great for outdoor reading and I'm also afraid of ruining it. I live in a warm place with beautiful beaches and warm ocean, so I'm afraid of sand and water getting into my ipad. I read only text, no comics or manga.

The local store that sells kobos have them stored in their boxes and, with the Covid thing and all, won't take them out for me to have a look at.

Basically what concerns me the most right now is what size to go. I don't like short lines with 4 or 5 words and having to be always jumping from line to line. I think you can make the text smaller so you can have more words per page? I've been trying to figure out sizes through youtube videos but most people seem to prefer bigger words and I'm wondering if there's any reason for it...

Just from sizes alone, I'm inclined to the Kobo Forma because it's one of the bigger ones but that's really expensive and a lot of reviews say that it's a bit too big. Looks to me roughly the size of a small book but maybe I'm missing something. The next option would be the Libra H20 or the Kindle Oasis. I think the 6 inch ones will feel way too small for me.

Can you guys help me out here on what I'm missing, not considering or your views on this stuff since I'm not familiar at all with these devices?

The Forma is about the same size as the iPad Mini. There is the Kobo Libra H2O which is a 7" screen. A lot of people find that a good size. Also, on a Kobo, there are more font sizes available compared to a Kindle. One problem I've read about a Kindle is because it has a limited number of font sizes, some find one size too small and the next up size too large.

The Libra is less expensive then the Oasis and the firmware is better. The reading experience and eBook management are also better with the Libra.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Libra is less expensive then the Oasis and the firmware is better. The reading experience and eBook management are also better with the Libra.

I wouldn't say that. While it's true the Libra has a lot more options and ebook management on the device is better, personally I found the reading experience on an unpatched Kobo to be worse than on the Oasis. After patching it's more or less the same. YMMV.

The Kobo still doesn't have the image zoom option with epubs (kepubs do have it) and it doesn't have global search like Kindles have (the option to search the text of your entire library).

[kutusov]

Ahaha, so back to the idea of a Forma... I'll probably do that then. I think it's easier for me to regret getting one that I feel it's too small rather than one I feel it's too big. I actually prefer books on the 11inch ipad than the page of a mass market paperback.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I wouldn't say that. While it's true the Libra has a lot more options and ebook management on the device is better, personally I found the reading experience on an unpatched Kobo to be worse than on the Oasis. After patching it's more or less the same. YMMV.

The Kobo still doesn't have the image zoom option with epubs (kepubs do have it) and it doesn't have global search like Kindles have (the option to search the text of your entire library).

I highly disagree with you. Reading on an unpatched Kobo is not worse then reading on a Kindle. Once the Kobo is patched, yes it's better. That makes it even better then the Kindle yet again.

I have never once had the need to search all my eBooks in one go. If I ever felt the need for image zoom, I can read KePub.

What I find annoying about the Kindle is the really pathetic setting Amazon foists on the user. Wide margins and a wide line height. BAH!

I rarely use my PW3. But I am glad it's not a PW4. The PW4 screen is not realy all that good because Amazon did a really poor job making it flush. The PW4 screen is not as clear/sharp as the PW3 screen.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I highly disagree with you.

Yes, I know.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes, I know.

But at least I do it from experience, not just some idea of what things are like.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But at least I do it from experience, not just some idea of what things are like.

Jon, if you look at @sirtel's device list, he does have the experience. Personally, I also disagree with him but that is based on two items: the overly wide margins on a Kindle even at the narrowest setting and the paucity of font size settings.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I also disagree based on ... and the paucity of font size settings.

The FONT_RAMP hack allows very fine grained font size settings.