Where should I look for an e-reader?

[MarjaE]

I mean, besides Amazon.

I can't use Best Buy with my disabilities.

Barnes and Noble have Nooks. Which should be easier to return, if they don't work out.

I tried Good E-Reader, but got hit by the side-scrolling ads, so I can't use their main store page either with my disabilities. But their review pages look useful.

I figure I need at least 7.8" to read small print in pdfs. I can't use zooming or panning. I don't know who allows searching by size.

Also, the ability to disable touchscreen gestures, the ability to read complex pdfs, etc.

[barryem]

If you want to read PDF's I'd suggest a tablet or at least a very large ereader, one with at least a 10" screen. PDF's don't flow so they're not good on a normal size ereader. That said, they work a little better on Kindles than on most others.

Leaving PDF out of the equation Kobo has a feature that lets you turn off the touch screen except to turn pages. Kindles also have that feature but it's a little clumsier.

Since you want a larger screen you might consider a Kobo Forma or a Kindle Oasis. They both have page turn buttons.

Barnes and Noble's Nook is a nice ereader and their current model has a larger screen. It's firmware is pretty buggy but I like mine a lot. None of the bugs interfere with anything I do. They also have page turn buttons. They don't allow you to turn off the touch screen. Also if you decide to return it you'll find Barnes and Noble difficult to deal with. They're not known for their customer service.

I've found Kobo to be easy to deal with and Amazon the easiest to deal with.

I would definitely avoid GoodEreader. They've ripped off a lot of people. B&N's service isn't good but they're not dishonest. I wouldn't say that about GoodEReader.

These days I read mostly on my phone but I have and have used a lot of ereaders and I've always preferred Kindles but I've had enjoyed my Nooks and Kobos too. They're all excellent devices. It's just a matter of what fits your personal preferences.

Barry

[MarjaE]

Thank you.

In this thread, I'm asking about where to look, rather than what to look for.

[HLS]

What does best buy have to do with disability?? They deliver and have store pick up. Just curious. sorry

[HLS]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

I mean, besides Amazon.

I can't use Best Buy with my disabilities.

Barnes and Noble have Nooks. Which should be easier to return, if they don't work out.

I tried Good E-Reader, but got hit by the side-scrolling ads, so I can't use their main store page either with my disabilities. But their review pages look useful.

I figure I need at least 7.8" to read small print in pdfs. I can't use zooming or panning. I don't know who allows searching by size.

Also, the ability to disable touchscreen gestures, the ability to read complex pdfs, etc.

Nook Glowlight Plus is 7.8 and i like it. the text size options are not as good as a kindle or kobo. You can also get a tablet which is better for pdfs. ereaders are not really designed for them.

[MarjaE]

The local Best Buy isn't accessible. I can get very sick from flashing light, loud noise, and rhythmic noise such as helicopters and music.

P.S. Their website isn't entirely accessible either. The front page is full of flashing, and the search pages have a sidebar which scrolls separately from the rest of the page, following standard web design practices these days...

I've discussed my issues with tablets in the other thread, among several other threads. I can't see bright glowing screens, I can't see with too much reflection, and I struggle with touch screens. Getting an e-ink device avoids 2 of these 3 problems. Getting a low-brightness device *might* avoid 1 or 2 but it's hard to find the appropriate info.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by barryem

If you want to read PDF's I'd suggest a tablet or at least a very large ereader, one with at least a 10" screen. PDF's don't flow so they're not good on a normal size ereader. That said, they work a little better on Kindles than on most others.

Leaving PDF out of the equation Kobo has a feature that lets you turn off the touch screen except to turn pages. Kindles also have that feature but it's a little clumsier.

Since you want a larger screen you might consider a Kobo Forma or a Kindle Oasis. They both have page turn buttons.

Barnes and Noble's Nook is a nice ereader and their current model has a larger screen. It's firmware is pretty buggy but I like mine a lot. None of the bugs interfere with anything I do.

Barry, have you updated your nooks to the most recent firmware (52.0.78)? The previous firmware fixed a lot of the bugs I've experienced and then the most recent update adds some little refinements that I appreciate.

I'd recommend checking for the update.

Also if you decide to return it you'll find Barnes and Noble difficult to deal with. They're not known for their customer service.

That surprises me. I'd have figured B&N would have great service, in the store at least. Granted, I've never tried going in with a Nook problem, so maybe I'm just ignorant.

[/QUOTE]I've found Kobo to be easy to deal with and Amazon the easiest to deal with.[/QUOTE]

Kobo's had lots of complaints about poor customer service (note: like with B&N, I've never gone to Kobo customer service with an issue, so that is all hearsay).

Amazon, I hear nothing but good things about.

I would definitely avoid GoodEreader. They've ripped off a lot of people.

No joke. Avoid GoodEreader. Do not give them your money.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by MarjaE

I mean, besides Amazon.

Sorry if this is all obvious to you (and you mention B&N, so I assume you live in the US).

Kindles - Amazon
Nooks - B&N
Kobos - Walmart
Pocketbooks - Newegg

If you don't mind buying used, you can find some deals on eBay. I've purchased a couple of readers there with no issues.

[JSWolf]

Forget B&N. The firmware on the nook is awful.

Given that you want to read PDF, I suggest the Pocketbook Inkpad X with a 10.3" screen available from Newegg.

https://www.newegg.com/p/0VG-00FH-00...1967-_-Product

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Forget B&N. The firmware on the nook is awful.

Buddy, on the Nook, give it a rest. You do not need to pipe up every time the Nook is mentioned. It gets old and tiresome.

[Dr. Drib]

What devices (as you list that own) don't quite work for you anymore, in terms of your disability? Here are your devices:

Iriver Story HD
Amazon Kindle 5
Amazon Kindle DX

Once that's answered, we will be more informed on where to recommend places for you to secure a more modern ebook reader.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Buddy, on the Nook, give it a rest. You do not need to pipe up every time the Nook is mentioned. It gets old and tiresome.

But to be totally honest, Pocketbook has better software for reading PDF. And the larger screen would make PDF readable.

[MarjaE]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

What devices (as you list that own) don't quite work for you anymore, in terms of your disability? Here are your devices:

Iriver Story HD
Amazon Kindle 5
Amazon Kindle DX

Once that's answered, we will be more informed on where to recommend places for you to secure a more modern ebook reader.

Iriver Story Hd works well for epubs. I can't move them between collections as I finish them, so I tend to reserve it for longer novels and for reference books. It can usually display pdfs without trouble, but I can't read some pdfs depending on the fonts and font sizes.

I tried a magnifying glass and reading glasses over my regular glasses, but I got awful migraines.

Icarus Illumina would sometimes start zooming, so I got awful migraines. And then it broke.

iPad Mini, Nuvision, and one other tablet, I couldn't see the screen, because it was too bright. I experimented with apps to reduce brightness, I experimented with a bluetooth wraparound controller to avoid touchscreen trouble, etc. but nothing worked. Each device would start at full brightness, and without the appropriate apps, and each device would start with touchpad controls only, and the controller was designed for 2 hands at once. I was able to return the iPad Mini and the other.

Amazon Kindle 5 works great for mobis. I can move stories between collections as I finish them, so I tend to use it for shorter stories and for articles. It can display *some* pdfs without trouble, but again I can't read most. Splitting collections between the Dx and K5 saves a lot of trouble with memory and disk space.

Amazon Kindle Dx works great for mobis and for *some* pdfs. But not other pdfs. Using Librerator it works for more pdfs, but doesn't let me reorganize collections. Using KOReader on it is a pain and a half.

So what are the problems with pdf?

* Some pdfs are designed with layers, and with the assumption that users can swap out layers. Neither my usual pdf software nor my e-readers are good at hiding layers. Adobe Reader and PDF Studio Viewer can hide layers, but neither are accessible with my visual issues. I can sometimes manually edit the code, but I don't want to do that too often.

* A lot of pdfs use jpeg200, jp2, or jpx compression. My usual pdf software, the Story Hd, Librerator, and KOReader can show these, but the usual Kindle software can't. K2pdfopt and Ghostscript can convert these, but K2pdfopt has to rasterize the text, so it's only ideal for scanned pdfs, and Ghostscript handles transparency differently from my usual pdf software, and Preview, and my Kindle, so it results in large gray rectangles.

* A few pdfs rely on composite images, e.g. involving small tiles. Which can make files freeze or crash. And Ghostscript can't handle these.

* In my experience, K2pdfopt can screw up paragraph detection and table detection. Same for various pdf to epub tools.

* A lot of pdfs have backgrounds or frames around each page. Occasionally they obscure text. Often they cause more trouble for pdf to epub tools, so I'd prefer to be able to display original pages.

Zoom and Pan isn't an option with my visual issues. Top/Bottom is frustrating with multi-column pdfs, but may be an option. With some troublesome pdfs, it requires a larger screen than the Story HD, but would probably work with the Kobo Libra or Kindle Oasis. Full-page display should work once we reach the size of the Kobo Forma, Likebook Mars, Nook Glowlight Plus, and so on. But prices for e-ink devices spiral out of control. So I'm also trying to see if there are accessible led or lcd devices with suitably low minimum brightness.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But to be totally honest, Pocketbook has better software for reading PDF. And the larger screen would make PDF readable.

That is true. Though the InkPad X is considerably more expensive than the Glowlight Plus.

Really, I join the crowd saying don't read PDF on e-ink, but the OP said they don't wanna hear it.

[MarjaE]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That is true. Though the InkPad X is considerably more expensive than the Glowlight Plus.

Really, I join the crowd saying don't read PDF on e-ink, but the OP said they don't wanna hear it.

I have a much easier time with e-ink, and a lot of trouble seeing glowing screens, and seeing through reflections.

I might be able to use Samsung Galaxy Tab devices, since they're reportedly only 1 cd/m2 at 0%. But it's much harder to find data on minimum brightness, than on maximum brightness.

I've often been told "get a tablet!" and "don't use e-ink!" but very rarely offered any advice to help find a glowdevice which *might* work. So I'm tired of hearing the former but would like to hear the latter.