Any low-budget, used or refurb recommendations?

taosaur · 12-12-2011, 08:36 AM

I think an ereader would be a great gift for my uncle, but it would be tough to budget more than $40 (or even that much) for the purchase. He is 100% tech illiterate, so I'd rather it not do much besides books. Refurb or used e-ink would be awesome, and I am watching craigslist, but I know if I find anything it's more likely to be LCD with a 2-hour battery life. As long as it is capable of displaying large print and holding at least a few hundred books, it will be better than what he's got (bupkis).

My best lead so far is an Aluratek Libre @$50.

Off to scour ebay. Any feedback is much appreciated.

ProfCrash · 12-12-2011, 10:15 AM

Good luck with that. I honestly wish I could help. Sony does have a trade in program that can lower the price of a new T-1. I think they are being sold for $89 right now, that with a trade in could get you a new reader at your price point if you have a reader that you can trade in.

arcadata · 12-12-2011, 10:30 AM

Hopefully, Kobo will have their Kobo WiFi refurbished sale again (it went for $40 last time)...

soondai · 12-12-2011, 11:07 AM

someone is selling a used latest generation kindle in the flea market for 50 bucks. Not likely to get a better deal than that

taosaur · 12-12-2011, 11:15 AM

I suppose it would be better than the Libre at the same price, but it'd be a lot less effort on my end if it took epub :P Maybe I'll feel the guy out to see if he's legit.

faithbw · 12-13-2011, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Good luck with that. I honestly wish I could help. Sony does have a trade in program that can lower the price of a new T-1. I think they are being sold for $89 right now, that with a trade in could get you a new reader at your price point if you have a reader that you can trade in.

They're being sold for $99.00. Sony is willing to give up to $50.00 for a trade-in. So, the OP might be able to get a new Sony for $50.00. I think $40.00 is pushing it, even for a refurbished or used e-reader.

gbm · 12-13-2011, 09:11 PM

Geeks.com has 5" Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro for $57.49

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...at=CON&cpc=JAD

Bernie

cgsmom · 12-14-2011, 09:13 AM

Kobo is selling refurbished units for $49.99. I just looked

taosaur · 12-14-2011, 10:05 AM

Newegg had a good deal on a digital photo frame today, which was the idea that lead me to an e-reader in the first place, so I went with that. He'll probably "get it" and appreciate it more right off the bat than an e-reader anyway, though he would probably come to appreciate an e-reader more over time. I'm just thinking of ways to give him access to stuff the rest of us have on Facebook or PCs, without him having to learn to use a computer.

Of the readers I considered, the Aluratek Libre Pro would probably have been the best bet @$50. For someone who doesn't have the money to be buying books or any use for (or knowledge of) the internet, it would have been the simplest for him to use and easy for me to load up. A lot of folks on this forum who have variants of that device actually prefer the "e-paper" screen to e-ink or normal LCD, too.

It's sad that simple e-readers like that (which could probably now be produced at considerably less cost than the Kindles, Kobos and Nooks) are all but entirely giving way to hand-held storefronts.

If anyone's looking for a deal on a digital frame (which also happens to be Aluratek): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882728019
$32.99 w/ promo code EMCYTZT966, free 3-day shipping. Good through midnight tomorrow.

taosaur · 12-15-2011, 05:12 PM

Aaaaaand one day later I have a like-new Nook Classic in my hot little hands

With the frame, it puts me over budget, but I did score it for my target $40, off craigslist. The guy says he's used it like three times, and the condition backs that up. Not sure if I'll shuffle the frame to someone else or try to sell it on c-list when it arrives.

AndyfromVA · 12-17-2011, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

Aaaaaand one day later I have a like-new Nook Classic in my hot little hands

With the frame, it puts me over budget, but I did score it for my target $40, off craigslist. The guy says he's used it like three times, and the condition backs that up. Not sure if I'll shuffle the frame to someone else or try to sell it on c-list when it arrives.

I love my Nook Classic!

taosaur · 12-17-2011, 10:48 AM

I spent about two hours yesterday trying to root it without much luck :/ I mainly just want to get a library app on there that won't default to B&N purchases and will let him browse by genre.

Noah98 · 12-23-2011, 02:15 AM

I still think the nook classic is one of the best eink readers! It is unique, and has many features.

12-12-2011, 08:36 AM	#1
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Any low-budget, used or refurb recommendations? I think an ereader would be a great gift for my uncle, but it would be tough to budget more than $40 (or even that much) for the purchase. He is 100% tech illiterate, so I'd rather it not do much besides books. Refurb or used e-ink would be awesome, and I am watching craigslist, but I know if I find anything it's more likely to be LCD with a 2-hour battery life. As long as it is capable of displaying large print and holding at least a few hundred books, it will be better than what he's got (bupkis). My best lead so far is an Aluratek Libre @$50. Off to scour ebay. Any feedback is much appreciated.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Budget tablet roundup	Noah98	Kindle Fire	6	11-24-2011 01:53 PM
A choice between two budget readers?	ttomm46	Which one should I buy?	18	06-18-2011 05:07 PM
Low budget scanner + OCR: Test and results	Madmanden	Workshop	4	09-13-2010 01:37 AM
low-budget eReader with minimum capabilities	USBoM	Which one should I buy?	7	03-08-2009 11:47 AM

12-12-2011, 10:15 AM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Good luck with that. I honestly wish I could help. Sony does have a trade in program that can lower the price of a new T-1. I think they are being sold for $89 right now, that with a trade in could get you a new reader at your price point if you have a reader that you can trade in.

12-12-2011, 10:30 AM	#3
arcadata Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,230 Karma: 4651787 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad, iPod Touch, Sony PRS-350	Hopefully, Kobo will have their Kobo WiFi refurbished sale again (it went for $40 last time)...

12-12-2011, 11:07 AM	#4
soondai Guru Posts: 672 Karma: 1109784 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Paperwhite	someone is selling a used latest generation kindle in the flea market for 50 bucks. Not likely to get a better deal than that

12-12-2011, 11:15 AM	#5
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I suppose it would be better than the Libre at the same price, but it'd be a lot less effort on my end if it took epub :P Maybe I'll feel the guy out to see if he's legit.

12-13-2011, 09:11 PM	#7
gbm Wizard Posts: 2,188 Karma: 8888888 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD,Hisence Sero 7 Pro RIP, Nook STR, jetbook lite	Geeks.com has 5" Astak EZ Reader Pocket Pro for $57.49 http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...at=CON&cpc=JAD Bernie

12-14-2011, 09:13 AM	#8
cgsmom Addict Posts: 336 Karma: 3797667 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Device: Kindle Colorsoft, Nook GL4+, Nook GL4, Kindle Oasis 3, iPhone 14	Kobo is selling refurbished units for $49.99. I just looked

12-14-2011, 10:05 AM	#9
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Newegg had a good deal on a digital photo frame today, which was the idea that lead me to an e-reader in the first place, so I went with that. He'll probably "get it" and appreciate it more right off the bat than an e-reader anyway, though he would probably come to appreciate an e-reader more over time. I'm just thinking of ways to give him access to stuff the rest of us have on Facebook or PCs, without him having to learn to use a computer. Of the readers I considered, the Aluratek Libre Pro would probably have been the best bet @$50. For someone who doesn't have the money to be buying books or any use for (or knowledge of) the internet, it would have been the simplest for him to use and easy for me to load up. A lot of folks on this forum who have variants of that device actually prefer the "e-paper" screen to e-ink or normal LCD, too. It's sad that simple e-readers like that (which could probably now be produced at considerably less cost than the Kindles, Kobos and Nooks) are all but entirely giving way to hand-held storefronts. If anyone's looking for a deal on a digital frame (which also happens to be Aluratek): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882728019 $32.99 w/ promo code EMCYTZT966, free 3-day shipping. Good through midnight tomorrow.

12-15-2011, 05:12 PM	#10
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Aaaaaand one day later I have a like-new Nook Classic in my hot little hands With the frame, it puts me over budget, but I did score it for my target $40, off craigslist. The guy says he's used it like three times, and the condition backs that up. Not sure if I'll shuffle the frame to someone else or try to sell it on c-list when it arrives.

12-17-2011, 10:48 AM	#12
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I spent about two hours yesterday trying to root it without much luck :/ I mainly just want to get a library app on there that won't default to B&N purchases and will let him browse by genre.

12-23-2011, 02:15 AM	#13
Noah98 Eccentric Posts: 510 Karma: 342150 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Device: The nook, ipad 3, Kindle Fire HD (8.9), Kindle Paperwhite	I still think the nook classic is one of the best eink readers! It is unique, and has many features.