Need a Durable Ereader (something better than Kobo)

[Milanya]

Originally Posted by lsale

Unfortunately, my options are very slim now. I can either go with another Kobo, but I'm not happy with their product. or a Kindle, that dosen't support epub files and I would have to convert everything (which I don't want to do)

Anyone have any suggestions?

Is Nook an option? Nooks read epub files.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Milanya

Is Nook an option? Nooks read epub files.

Their old devices are, well, old, and their new devices restrict all but 500 MB to store-synced books.
And the latest Nook Glowlight doesn't come with an mSD slot.

B&N doesn't really seem to like their customers (for all types of reasons) -- I would be very hesitant of getting a Nook.
(And in my personal, limited experience, borrowing a friend's Nook just to see how it works, it was very slow.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Their old devices are, well, old, and their new devices restrict all but 500 MB to store-synced books.
And the latest Nook Glowlight doesn't come with an mSD slot.

B&N doesn't really seem to like their customers (for all types of reasons) -- I would be very hesitant of getting a Nook.
(And in my personal, limited experience, borrowing a friend's Nook just to see how it works, it was very slow.)

For reading ePubs either the Nook Simple Touch or Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight would work fine. As for old ... compared to what? -- the Kindle Touch? I still own and regularly use both a NST and NST w/ Glowlight, don't find them any slower than comparatively aged Kindles, and find the wider bezels with page turn key design to be the best of my eReaders for holding and using.

I'll probably never try the new Nook Glowlight (unless I see a used one really cheap on sale somewhere, because of the lack of SD Card slot) and, if you're comparing the B&N infrastructure with the Amazon infrastructure, Amazon wins hands down. But the NST readers, themselves, are well designed and comfortable to use. I would have no trouble suggesting one for ePubs.

[Bertolt]

Originally Posted by Jmirko

The Kindle may be a good choice for a lot of people, but the OP wants a durable reader that supports epub. Kindle is well known for not supporting epub, and it isn't especially tough either. So your advice is not really relevant to the question IMO.

I was just trying to encourage a little lateral thinking, because that is what is required sometimes when people have irreconcilable needs. I think we all want a durable ereader and the question of epub or Kindle format is not important. Can you see whether you are reading an epub as opposed to a mobi or AZW3. Of course not. Are epubs more durable as a format than mobi? No and it doesn't matter in any case because we can change epubs into mobi or what ever format we want using Calibre very easily and in no time at all.
If durabilty and good value are priorities, then Kindle is the solution IMO.

[Rizla]

Get a refurbed / used / new Sony on ebay. T2s can be had for a song. Yes, I know because I've got one. Check your PMs.

You probably just got unlucky. I've dropped e-readers, and I've never broken one. But they were ALL in a case.

Get a cheap $10 case off ebay too

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

You probably just got unlucky. I've dropped e-readers, and I've never broken one. But they were ALL in a case.

... which is precisely the point. Luck doesn't really enter into it; forward planning (ie buying a case) does.

[Rizla]

I don't recommend buying new or expensive. The most expensive e-readers can and have failed (through no fault of the user) one month after the warranty. I know. It's happened to me. Never again. Buy cheap. Buy refurb. Buy used. There are countless examples of users who have put there e-reader next to their bed at night, snug in its protective case, and in the morning the screen is broken. Call the vendor: No refund for you! I PMed you a good e-reader vendor on ebay. I will add that Amazon do provide the best customer service if you decide to buy new. If the screen magically breaks, they may not replace it, but they'll probably give you $$$ off the replacement. The PW2 or the new cheap basic one are the best. But they don't read epub. I'd jailbreak the thing.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Milanya

Is Nook an option? Nooks read epub files.

The old Nook ST is awesome. I use one. However, you have to root it and run open Android. An easy thing to do, but not for everybody.

I wouldn't get the new one.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

There are countless examples of users who have put there e-reader next to their bed at night, snug in its protective case, and in the morning the screen is broken.

Screens don't spontaneously break; if it breaks, it's because you've broken it. Not necessarily at that time, but at some point in the recent past. A knock can cause a small stress fracture of the glass substrate, which can then spread like a crack in a car windscreen due to a change in temperature, for example. But at the end of the day, it's still you that's broken it.

[Joeldmtl]

My wife's and my Kobo e-readers both fell of a bar stool a few days ago. Both were in a case. Nothing happened to either of them. You can't expect that your e-reader will never fall on the ground. Bottom line is GET A CASE!!

[meeera]

Originally Posted by HarryT

[...] But at the end of the day, it's still you that's broken it.

Well, perhaps. If mine ever breaks, I fully intend to blame the cats.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I don't recommend buying new or expensive. The most expensive e-readers can and have failed (through no fault of the user) one month after the warranty. I know. It's happened to me. Never again. Buy cheap. Buy refurb. Buy used. There are countless examples of users who have put there e-reader next to their bed at night, snug in its protective case, and in the morning the screen is broken. Call the vendor: No refund for you! I PMed you a good e-reader vendor on ebay. I will add that Amazon do provide the best customer service if you decide to buy new. If the screen magically breaks, they may not replace it, but they'll probably give you $$$ off the replacement. The PW2 or the new cheap basic one are the best. But they don't read epub. I'd jailbreak the thing.

That is what warranties are for. Amazon only offers you a discount on a new Kindle when you are out of the 1-year warranty and they don't just offer you a warrantied replacement. In fact, Amazon has been known to be extra forgiving and replace your Kindle even after the warranty.

I assume any retailer would respect the warranty...

ETA: Just realized you were talking about a month after the warranty ends. No, can't say I've heard of that happening.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

That is what warranties are for. Amazon only offers you a discount on a new Kindle when you are out of the 1-year warranty and they don't just offer you a warrantied replacement. In fact, Amazon has been known to be extra forgiving and replace your Kindle even after the warranty.

I assume any retailer would respect the warranty...

But it is worth noting that a warranty covers manufacturing defects, not things the user has done themselves, like broken screens. Amazon are super-nice, and will often replace a Kindle even if the problem is a broken screen, but they certainly don't have to do this, and most other reader manufacturers won't do so.

If you are accident prone, an "extended warranty" (which is really an insurance policy) which covers you against accidental damage may be worth considering.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Screens don't spontaneously break; if it breaks, it's because you've broken it. Not necessarily at that time, but at some point in the recent past. A knock can cause a small stress fracture of the glass substrate, which can then spread like a crack in a car windscreen due to a change in temperature, for example. But at the end of the day, it's still you that's broken it.

You don't know that. A screen could be manufactured with a fault just waiting to pop.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by HarryT

But it is worth noting that a warranty covers manufacturing defects, not things the user has done themselves, like broken screens. Amazon are super-nice, and will often replace a Kindle even if the problem is a broken screen, but they certainly don't have to do this, and most other reader manufacturers won't do so.

If you are accident prone, an "extended warranty" (which is really an insurance policy) which covers you against accidental damage may be worth considering.

Good point. A limited extended warranty won't cover a broken screen, even if it broke "magically."