Need help for a new e-Reader

[Paper&ink]

I am thinking about buying an e-Reader but I’m not sure if there is one that I want, hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction.

I have an old Kindle I bought about 10 years ago and like the ink technology they used to use. I have tried using my iPad because I can use different apps for multiple eBook readers. However, I would rather have something using the E ink technology.

Is there an e-Reader that I can download ebooks from multiple sources (Amazon, iBooks, B&N, etc...)? I don’t mind “jailbreaking” a device to do it, as long as it is going to be reliable. I looked into Calibre, but it just seems to be a DRM free library.

Just to be clear, I don’t intend to download pirated eBooks or anything like that. I just want to be able to shop for the best price on an eBook and have them all on one device. Thanks for any help.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Paper&ink

I am thinking about buying an e-Reader but I’m not sure if there is one that I want, hopefully someone here can point me in the right direction.

I have an old Kindle I bought about 10 years ago and like the ink technology they used to use. I have tried using my iPad because I can use different apps for multiple eBook readers. However, I would rather have something using the E ink technology.

Is there an e-Reader that I can download ebooks from multiple sources (Amazon, iBooks, B&N, etc...)? I don’t mind “jailbreaking” a device to do it, as long as it is going to be reliable. I looked into Calibre, but it just seems to be a DRM free library.

Just to be clear, I don’t intend to download pirated eBooks or anything like that. I just want to be able to shop for the best price on an eBook and have them all on one device. Thanks for any help.

A kindle if you don't mind side loading.

Calibre is much more than just DRM removal. It is also a converter which you will need if you want both Amazon and epubs on one reader. For more information check out the Calibre forum here.

As to jailbreaking that might or might not be possible on a new kindle.

Now in a few minutes a poster will be along to tell you all about Kobos.
They are also very good devices.

[JSWolf]

What is it you want? do you want a larger (than 6") screen? Do you want more options than Kindle gives? Do you want native ePub support?

[Paper&ink]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is it you want? do you want a larger (than 6") screen? Do you want more options than Kindle gives? Do you want native ePub support?

A larger screen would be nice, but not necessary. I am only going to use it for reading books, no editing or reading magazines or newspapers.

I just want to be able to buy from multiple sources. For instance, if Apple had a sale on a book in their iBook store or the same for B&N. That is why I started on my iPad, but I don’t like reading on the screen as much as one of the E ink screens.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Paper&ink

A larger screen would be nice, but not necessary. I am only going to use it for reading books, no editing or reading magazines or newspapers.

I just want to be able to buy from multiple sources. For instance, if Apple had a sale on a book in their iBook store or the same for B&N. That is why I started on my iPad, but I don’t like reading on the screen as much as one of the E ink screens.

You will definitely need to learn calibre. It converts the formats.

So just out of curiosity, where did you read calibre was A DRM free library? That is not even close.


Oh and just so you know: for self-published books Amazon should always be the lowest.
They have a clause in their author agreement that they must be either the same or lower price than everyone else.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Paper&ink

A larger screen would be nice, but not necessary. I am only going to use it for reading books, no editing or reading magazines or newspapers.

I just want to be able to buy from multiple sources. For instance, if Apple had a sale on a book in their iBook store or the same for B&N. That is why I started on my iPad, but I don’t like reading on the screen as much as one of the E ink screens.

If you need to download them directly to the device then you likely need a browser as well. Likely only an Android device will work for you. There are several listed in our wiki and some in our forums. Of course if you can download to a computer and then transfer to the device then the options are significantly larger. Of course, it is more than just a format issue, there is also DRM issues.

Dale

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Paper&ink

A larger screen would be nice, but not necessary. I am only going to use it for reading books, no editing or reading magazines or newspapers.

I just want to be able to buy from multiple sources. For instance, if Apple had a sale on a book in their iBook store or the same for B&N. That is why I started on my iPad, but I don’t like reading on the screen as much as one of the E ink screens.

You won't be able to buy from Apple. Apple's DRM prevents that. You'd need an iPhone, iPad, or MAC to do that.

You can buy from B&N (as long as you have a working nook for PC or nook Study that can download), Amazon, Google, Kobo, and other that use ePub with standard Adobe DRM.

If you'd like a larger screen, then a Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 would do rather well.

[TuxGirl]

Another thought: Kobo has a lowest price guarantee. The only catch is that the isbn numbers have to match, and sometimes they have a different isbn for a book than Amazon does, but I have had a book reduced because I found it cheaper on Amazon.

They do have fewer indie books than Amazon, but they do have plenty of freebies, and reasonable selection of books overall.

[Paper&ink]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

You will definitely need to learn calibre. It converts the formats.

So just out of curiosity, where did you read calibre was A DRM free library? That is not even close.


Oh and just so you know: for self-published books Amazon should always be the lowest.
They have a clause in their author agreement that they must be either the same or lower price than everyone else.

A guy at work told me he uses it for that, when I looked at their site on my phone I couldn’t get any of the links to open except some list of DRM free downloads. Now that I have checked it out on my laptop, it seems that it is exactly what I need, and I shouldn’t have to jailbreak anything since it converts the file. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Paper&ink]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You won't be able to buy from Apple. Apple's DRM prevents that. You'd need an iPhone, iPad, or MAC to do that.

You can buy from B&N (as long as you have a working nook for PC or nook Study that can download), Amazon, Google, Kobo, and other that use ePub with standard Adobe DRM.

If you'd like a larger screen, then a Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 would do rather well.

I do have an iPad, and have bought 2 iBooks on it. But I don’t see a way to pull those files to my PC so that I could use Calibre to convert it and put it on something else. Even iOS 11’s new file manager doesn’t show them. So I guess that would be the only one I couldn’t buy from to put on another device, or is there a way to convert them? I am going to compare the Kobo and Kindle devices since both should have something that will work for me. Thanks for the help.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Paper&ink

A guy at work told me he uses it for that, when I looked at their site on my phone I couldn’t get any of the links to open except some list of DRM free downloads. Now that I have checked it out on my laptop, it seems that it is exactly what I need, and I shouldn’t have to jailbreak anything since it converts the file. Thanks for the suggestion.

I thought it might be what you needed. Thanks for letting me know where you got the information.

Just remember you can buy books pretty much anywhere except Apple and Barnes & Noble.
There are also a few other sites for books you might not know.
Smashwords, Mobileread and a few others that are alluding me at the moment.

Now I will tell you that Kobo has a greater selection of fonts.

Right now, pretty much expect to get a stock kindle. The newest kindles may not could be jailbroken.

[onewiththeanswer]

If you don't feel like buying a Kindle, which is a pretty good e-reader, you should look into the Fire 7 Tablet, it has a really reasonable price. Onyx BOOX Ereader is another pretty good option and the price the same. I hope you find the best one for you!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I thought it might be what you needed. Thanks for letting me know where you got the information.

Just remember you can buy books pretty much anywhere except Apple and Barnes & Noble.

You can still get eBooks from B&N. I'm using nook for PC and others are using nook Study.

As for Apple, forgetit. The DRM will get in the way and you cannot easily remove the DRM (if at all).

Now I will tell you that Kobo has a greater selection of fonts.

And with Kobo you can add your own choice of fonts. And there are many more choices of font size. With a Kindle, I've read of many people saying that the font size between either steps 4 & 5 or 5 & 6 are too large a gap. One is too small and the other is too big.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by onewiththeanswer

If you don't feel like buying a Kindle, which is a pretty good e-reader, you should look into the Fire 7 Tablet, it has a really reasonable price. Onyx BOOX Ereader is another pretty good option and the price the same. I hope you find the best one for you!

Unless you can find a good ePub reading app for the Fire, don't bother. Most ePub reading apps for Android are not all that good and some are downright rubbish.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Unless you can find a good ePub reading app for the Fire, don't bother. Most ePub reading apps for Android are not all that good and some are downright rubbish.

I would disagree, I particularly like Moon Reader Pro for ePubs and it works fine on my very generic Lenovo Android tablet. I admit I have no idea if the Fire tablets prevent one from using any Non Kindle eReader apps, but a nice generic Android tablet changes the equation considerably, I think.