The Worst ebook Reader You Ever Owned!

Dr. Drib · 07-10-2022, 12:09 PM

Each to his or her own thoughts, eh? -- A big old 'YUP' and 'Shrug' on this ugly-screened embarrassment that I'll mention in the next paragraph.

Mine would have to be the Sony PRS-700, with the worst touch screen in the history of ebook readers. The light - godawful and uneven - was not backlit. (I think the technology did not exist at that time - please, correct me if I'm wrong.)

I think I paid $350 (or thereabouts), and ended up giving the damn thing away. Although, mercifully, I should have buried it in the same graveyard used in Plan 9 From Outer Space. I guess zombies and dead people also need to read, on occasion, when they're not out foraging for brains.

BUT WAIT! I just realized I should have given it to that pompous alien, Eros, (who reminds me of someone best left unnamed). I'm sure he would have some wonderful thoughts on how to use it - along with a lecture or two, of course.

Remember: Opinions are only opinions, unless you owned a Ford Pinto. [Guilty!]

Quoth · 07-10-2022, 12:14 PM

Kindle DXG bought on Sale from Amazon (old stock) for PDFs. I gave my PW (2?) away before I realised how bad it was.

Deskisamess · 07-10-2022, 12:37 PM

The first "Basic" Kindle with the thin clicky page-turn buttons. Man I disliked that thing.

DNSB · 07-10-2022, 01:19 PM

The worst ereader I didn't own was the creation of a local group in the mid-2000s. It was "inspired" by the Sony Librie but used an LCD display and was powered by 4 AA batteries. It's controls looked like someone had borrowed an original Nintendo controller for paging and selecting text for searching. The display was a 640x480 backlit LCD which had a very narrow viewing angle and a backlight that lacked brightness but did suck battery power. The ebook format was PDB. The prototype I was given to try out managed 3.5 hours of battery life plus whatever time was wasted restarting after crashes. The only nice feature was the ridge for the battery compartment which made for a nice grip.

Sadly (Thankfully??) after testing the 5 prototypes, it was decided not to go into production.

JSWolf · 07-10-2022, 03:32 PM

For me it's the nook STR. The bezel is atrocious. The firmware is awful. The partitioned memory is pitiful what's left over for side loading. It's just a POS at best.

Sirtel · 07-10-2022, 05:48 PM

The only ereader without buttons I've owned - the 2014 basic Kindle. It wasn't bad in other aspects, but I just can't use an ereader without physical buttons (or at least the haptic ones like the Voyage had). Fingerprints drive me mad.

My very first ereader was the first basic Kindle with thin clicky buttons hated by Deskisamess.

I was fine with it, but of course I wouldn't want to use it now. Compared to modern readers, it's very slow, with very few customization options, unlit and the screen is dated. But I loved it when I used it back then.

rcentros · 07-10-2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

The first "Basic" Kindle with the thin clicky page-turn buttons. Man I disliked that thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

For me it's the nook STR. The bezel is atrocious. The firmware is awful. The partitioned memory is pitiful what's left over for side loading. It's just a POS at best.

I like both of these. The Simple Touch was my first eReader and the Kindle Basic (balck, no-touch) was my "second" (there was a Kindle Touch in the middle, but the fonts were too light and I gave it away to my brother before I realized that you could install darker fonts). Just replaced the battery in the Kindle Basic (black, no touch) a few months ago.

My least favorite readers, were the PRS-600 and PRS-900 Sonys. I would say the PRS-700 also, but that one was basically non-functional (battery was too weak) so I really couldn't give it a fair test.

ZodWallop · 07-11-2022, 01:56 PM

I've owned a couple of Nooks and a couple of Kobos and I've liked all of them.

I think the Nook Simple Touch (with Glowlight) is great and still use it. The software is pretty out of date (it's a decade old) but the reading experience is still good. I like the page turn buttons and expandable memory.

JSWolf · 07-11-2022, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I like both of these. The Simple Touch was my first eReader and the Kindle Basic (balck, no-touch) was my "second" (there was a Kindle Touch in the middle, but the fonts were too light and I gave it away to my brother before I realized that you could install darker fonts). Just replaced the battery in the Kindle Basic (black, no touch) a few months ago.

My least favorite readers, were the PRS-600 and PRS-900 Sonys. I would say the PRS-700 also, but that one was basically non-functional (battery was too weak) so I really couldn't give it a fair test.

That reminds me. The font rendering on the nook STR is awful. With the exact same font rendered on the nook, it looked like a different font then when rendered on a Sony Reader PRS-650. Awful software on the nook obviously.

Quoth · 07-11-2022, 02:12 PM

I have the Sony PRS-350 and I think it's great for the age. I did get a T1 and couldn't figure why they switched from Linux to Android. It also froze if dictionary accessed, so I took it back. Sony obsessed with the idea of using ereader to sell their books and ditched ordinary ereaders when that didn't work.

I had a Nook ST and thought it OK, if somewhat clunky design. I gave it to one of the grandchildren.

theducks · 07-11-2022, 02:43 PM

None! (OK the first batch of EZreader pocket pro, had flaws that were fixed in later batches. But it DID the main job I bought it for.)
,
But each thereafter did get better (wanted features)

(and none cost more than my first

one )

shalym · 07-11-2022, 03:32 PM

For me, it was the original Paperwhite. The screen was so bad I could only read on it for an hour or so at a time. It's one of the few readers that I didn't keep once I got it. The other one was the original Oasis--that one was just a pain to use...in the case, it was awkward to hold, out of the case it only got a few hours worth of battery life.

Shari

rcentros · 07-11-2022, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That reminds me. The font rendering on the nook STR is awful. With the exact same font rendered on the nook, it looked like a different font then when rendered on a Sony Reader PRS-650. Awful software on the nook obviously.

For me, dark fonts were (are) important and the Simple Touch had a nice crisp, high contrast screen. As for its interface, I always liked it. Still do. And I still think that its big bezels with page turn buttons makes it comfortable and use. To each their own on this.

I agree that fonts are rendered very nicely on Sony readers. In my opinion they are rendered better than on most modern readers. Wished they had stayed in the eReader market.

Bookstooge · 07-11-2022, 05:56 PM

For me, it was the Sony T2. I had nothing but problems with that reader and eventually went back to a K4-nontouch until I got the original Oasis. I'm just as glad Sony got out of the ereader market.

JSWolf · 07-11-2022, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookstooge

For me, it was the Sony T2. I had nothing but problems with that reader and eventually went back to a K4-nontouch until I got the original Oasis. I'm just as glad Sony got out of the ereader market.

I have a T1. Last I used it, it worked very well. It sounds like your T2 was just a bad unit. It happens.

07-10-2022, 12:09 PM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	The Worst ebook Reader You Ever Owned! Each to his or her own thoughts, eh? -- A big old '*YUP' and 'Shrug' on this ugly-screened embarrassment that I'll mention in the next paragraph. Mine would have to be the Sony PRS-700, with the worst touch screen in the history of ebook readers. The light - godawful and uneven - was not backlit. (I think the technology did not exist at that time - please, correct me if I'm wrong.) I think I paid $350 (or thereabouts), and ended up giving the damn thing away. Although, mercifully, I should have buried it in the same graveyard used in Plan 9 From Outer Space. I guess zombies and dead people also need to read, on occasion, when they're not out foraging for brains. BUT WAIT!* I just realized I should have given it to that pompous alien, Eros, (who reminds me of someone best left unnamed). I'm sure he would have some wonderful thoughts on how to use it - along with a lecture or two, of course. Remember: Opinions are only opinions, unless you owned a Ford Pinto. [Guilty!] Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Dr. Drib; 07-10-2022 at 08:12 PM. Reason: ending to ended

07-10-2022, 03:32 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,727 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	For me it's the nook STR. The bezel is atrocious. The firmware is awful. The partitioned memory is pitiful what's left over for side loading. It's just a POS at best. Last edited by JSWolf; 07-10-2022 at 03:37 PM.

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07-10-2022, 12:14 PM	#2
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,975 Karma: 111111111 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Kindle DXG bought on Sale from Amazon (old stock) for PDFs. I gave my PW (2?) away before I realised how bad it was.

07-10-2022, 12:37 PM	#3
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	The first "Basic" Kindle with the thin clicky page-turn buttons. Man I disliked that thing.

07-10-2022, 01:19 PM	#4
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,078 Karma: 174315300 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	The worst ereader I didn't own was the creation of a local group in the mid-2000s. It was "inspired" by the Sony Librie but used an LCD display and was powered by 4 AA batteries. It's controls looked like someone had borrowed an original Nintendo controller for paging and selecting text for searching. The display was a 640x480 backlit LCD which had a very narrow viewing angle and a backlight that lacked brightness but did suck battery power. The ebook format was PDB. The prototype I was given to try out managed 3.5 hours of battery life plus whatever time was wasted restarting after crashes. The only nice feature was the ridge for the battery compartment which made for a nice grip. Sadly (Thankfully??) after testing the 5 prototypes, it was decided not to go into production.

07-10-2022, 05:48 PM	#6
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,982 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The only ereader without buttons I've owned - the 2014 basic Kindle. It wasn't bad in other aspects, but I just can't use an ereader without physical buttons (or at least the haptic ones like the Voyage had). Fingerprints drive me mad. My very first ereader was the first basic Kindle with thin clicky buttons hated by Deskisamess. I was fine with it, but of course I wouldn't want to use it now. Compared to modern readers, it's very slow, with very few customization options, unlit and the screen is dated. But I loved it when I used it back then.

07-11-2022, 01:56 PM	#8
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,499 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	I've owned a couple of Nooks and a couple of Kobos and I've liked all of them. I think the Nook Simple Touch (with Glowlight) is great and still use it. The software is pretty out of date (it's a decade old) but the reading experience is still good. I like the page turn buttons and expandable memory.

07-11-2022, 02:12 PM	#10
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,975 Karma: 111111111 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I have the Sony PRS-350 and I think it's great for the age. I did get a T1 and couldn't figure why they switched from Linux to Android. It also froze if dictionary accessed, so I took it back. Sony obsessed with the idea of using ereader to sell their books and ditched ordinary ereaders when that didn't work. I had a Nook ST and thought it OK, if somewhat clunky design. I gave it to one of the grandchildren.

07-11-2022, 02:43 PM	#11
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,249 Karma: 61360164 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	None! (OK the first batch of EZreader pocket pro, had flaws that were fixed in later batches. But it DID the main job I bought it for.) , But each thereafter did get better (wanted features) (and none cost more than my first one )

07-11-2022, 03:32 PM	#12
shalym Wizard Posts: 3,068 Karma: 54671821 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New England Device: PW 1, 2, 3, Voyage, Oasis 2 & 3, Fires, Aura HD, iPad	For me, it was the original Paperwhite. The screen was so bad I could only read on it for an hour or so at a time. It's one of the few readers that I didn't keep once I got it. The other one was the original Oasis--that one was just a pain to use...in the case, it was awkward to hold, out of the case it only got a few hours worth of battery life. Shari

07-11-2022, 05:56 PM	#14
Bookstooge Member Retired Posts: 805 Karma: 2091358 Join Date: May 2019 Device: Kindle Oasis 1st Gen, PB Era	For me, it was the Sony T2. I had nothing but problems with that reader and eventually went back to a K4-nontouch until I got the original Oasis. I'm just as glad Sony got out of the ereader market.