The Cheapest E-Reader?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by BookCat

I've read threads on MR in the past which said buying a second hand ereader is not a good idea. It might be registered (stolen) or have a very run down battery.

All I can give you is anecdotal evidence of course. But I bought a refurbed Kobo Aura off of eBay four years ago and it's still going strong.

I bought a Glowlight Plus used off of eBay a month ago or so and no issues there either.

Each was $50.

I dunno. I don't want to tell you to ignore the advice of others. But I have no issues buying a used reader.

[BookCat]

Thanks Zodwallop. I've been playing with the Kobo Mini for a few days: loading books onto it and checking them (meaning that I got lost in reading them!) and the battery hasn't given me any problems at all. It's a lovely little ereader.

I've been delaying wrapping it; having too much fun.

[soulfuldog]

I sold the Kobo Mini to BookCat and can confirm that the battery appears to still be in great condition. I've never heavily used it to test the battery in that respect, as it was always a back-up ereader, but the battery retains its charge really well when not being used a lot. I also have a Sony 350 but the battery on it does run down. The battery on the Mini is the most impressive thing about it for me, that was why I though it might be good to pass on to someone who reads only occasionally. Like BookCat, if it had a frontlight, I'd happily have kept it.

[Ricky D'Angelo]

Originally Posted by BookCat

In the UK the basic kindle is £60-£70 depending on whether it has adverts.

He rarely uses his PC and doesn't have a tablet or a smart phone, so the app wouldn't be appropriate. Years ago, he somehow managed to put The Castle of Oltranto onto a Gameboy SP using an emulator. That was my first encounter with e-reading! .

Well, since he has a PC put it to use by checking out books from the local library. . . hopefully he has wi-fi.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/5...from_overdrive

Originally Posted by Ricky D'Angelo

Well, since he has a PC put it to use by checking out books from the local library. . . hopefully he has wi-fi.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/5...from_overdrive

Kindle e-readers do not have Overdrive integration outside the US. The link you provided includes this statement:
"We do not yet have a licence for use with a Kindle in the UK."

[barryem]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

All I can give you is anecdotal evidence of course. But I bought a refurbed Kobo Aura off of eBay four years ago and it's still going strong.

I bought 3 of these for myself and 2 of them for my neighbors and all have worked well. I mostly use mine as loaners when someone in my retirement home wants to read a book I have. But I'll read a book on them from time to time and they work great.

I think this is a situation where there is no right answer. Buy a used ereader and you might be sorry. Or you might get a great deal. So far my experience has mostly been good.

The one bad experience even turned out well. The first of the Aura's I bought was from a different seller and when I got it it was a Mini. I emailed him and in his email where he apologized and explained that he thought it was called an Aura he also explained that he'd just refunded my money, which he had, and that he didn't want the Mini back. I gave it to a neighbor and I left that seller some positive feedback where I explained what happened. That was my worst experience.

I've been buying stuff on Ebay for years and I've always assumed that I'll someday get bitten. So far I've done pretty well. I did get a Tandy Model 100 that wasn't as described but was still in pretty decent shape and I'd have bought it anyway if he'd described it honestly. I've also bought a cheap Paperwhite replacement battery that turned out to be rather poor. Everything else has been really good.

Barry

[BookCat]

Originally Posted by stuartjmz

Kindle e-readers do not have Overdrive integration outside the US. The link you provided includes this statement:
"We do not yet have a licence for use with a Kindle in the UK."

Thank you, but it's not a Kindle, it's a Kobo. He probably doesn't read enough to use Overdrive, but I'll mention this to him.

[BookCat]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

I sold the Kobo Mini to BookCat and can confirm that the battery appears to still be in great condition. I've never heavily used it to test the battery in that respect, as it was always a back-up ereader, but the battery retains its charge really well when not being used a lot. I also have a Sony 350 but the battery on it does run down. The battery on the Mini is the most impressive thing about it for me, that was why I though it might be good to pass on to someone who reads only occasionally. Like BookCat, if it had a frontlight, I'd happily have kept it.

The Mini is wonderful. I just wish that 5" readers, with frontlights, were made now. This size would be so useful for reading in waiting rooms etc.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by BookCat

The Mini is wonderful. I just wish that 5" readers, with frontlights, were made now. This size would be so useful for reading in waiting rooms etc.

You can always use a clipon book light like you would for a hard copy book.

Dale

[HLS]

Originally Posted by BookCat

I'm thinking of buying an ereader, for Christmas, for a friend who reads only occasionally. He was a little upset when his Pandigital Novel recently died (it was a freebie with some sort of magazine deal years ago). He doesn't read enough to justify the cost of the Basic Kindle.

Is there anything cheaper? Some little known brand which hardly anyone uses?

I realise this is a difficult question. Thanks lots for any suggestions.

They have sales at times. The basic kindle is the cheapest I think. Only thing I can see that is cheap is the basic kindle fire which I think is $50

[HLS]

Originally Posted by BookCat

Thank you, but it's not a Kindle, it's a Kobo. He probably doesn't read enough to use Overdrive, but I'll mention this to him.

You can use overdrive on kindle but you have to do it on a PC and it directs you to an amazon page where you can download the library book to your kindle. It is just easier on a kobo for its built into the actual device

[John F]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

You can use overdrive on kindle but you have to do it on a PC and it directs you to an amazon page where you can download the library book to your kindle. It is just easier on a kobo for its built into the actual device

Is a PC really necessary, or can a smartphone or tablet be used? Also bookcat keeps mentioning the UK, so Overdrive doesn't work with a Kindle?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by John F

Is a PC really necessary, or can a smartphone or tablet be used? Also bookcat keeps mentioning the UK, so Overdrive doesn't work with a Kindle?

Tablet (& presumably smartphone) works fine, using a web browser. Yeah OD/Kindle is US only.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by BookCat

The Mini is wonderful. I just wish that 5" readers, with frontlights, were made now. This size would be so useful for reading in waiting rooms etc.

The Sony 350 is even neater and more compact, but the Mini is great, but with both - no light, no fun! Having a clip-on light totally negates from how small and portable they are.

Originally Posted by kcladyz

You can use overdrive on kindle but you have to do it on a PC and it directs you to an amazon page where you can download the library book to your kindle. It is just easier on a kobo for its built into the actual device

Not in the UK, you can't use a Kindle for library books here. That was the reason I bought the Kobo Mini, I just didn't use it enough because I've become so used to using a lighted ereader.