Paperwhite alternatives?

[MustardOrMayo]

I recommend PocketBook Touch Lux 5 or BOOX Poke2, however, I don't currently have either of those, so I'm drawing data from other sources.

For PocketBook, see this reply someone already posted.

For BOOX, and I'm drawing this from videos I've seen as I don't have one yet:

registration required Registration is entirely optional AFAIK, and you can use most features that don't depend on Google Play Services (it runs an Android-based firmware)
no file manager for easily organizing books There's a "Storage" tab right on the home screen that seemingly works like a file manager!
can't change default fonts or add new ones Kindle has that in a newer firmware release, I believe 5.11+, as I was able to do it on my K7 Paperwhite. I think fonts can be sideloaded on Boox.
no epub support Boox has that, but I don't know how good their rendering engine is. As it supports most Android phone apps (or tablet apps in the case of the larger models), you could use other reading apps like Libera Reader.
disabling syncing doesn't seem to work properly No built-in syncing, it's just in the phone apps for other e-book platforms AFAIK.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by MustardOrMayo

I recommend PocketBook Touch Lux 5 or BOOX Poke2, however, I don't currently have either of those, so I'm drawing data from other sources.

For PocketBook, see this reply someone already posted.

For BOOX, and I'm drawing this from videos I've seen as I don't have one yet:

registration required Registration is entirely optional AFAIK, and you can use most features that don't depend on Google Play Services (it runs an Android-based firmware)
no file manager for easily organizing books There's a "Storage" tab right on the home screen that seemingly works like a file manager!
can't change default fonts or add new ones Kindle has that in a newer firmware release, I believe 5.11+, as I was able to do it on my K7 Paperwhite. I think fonts can be sideloaded on Boox.
no epub support Boox has that, but I don't know how good their rendering engine is. As it supports most Android phone apps (or tablet apps in the case of the larger models), you could use other reading apps like Libera Reader.
disabling syncing doesn't seem to work properly No built-in syncing, it's just in the phone apps for other e-book platforms AFAIK.

I would not go with the Boox Poke 2 as the Boox Poke 3 is coming out. The Poke 2 runs Android 9 and the Poke 3 will run Android 10 and have a better processor.

[Araucaria]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There's no reason not to do a proper registration. It's pure paranoia not to register. I have registered with Sony, Kobo, and Amazon and I've never had a single issue becusee of being registered. Not one, not ever.

I want to give a Kindle which I planned to load with public domain books to a friend who doesn't have an Amazon account. I foresee all sorts of problems with that.

If I register it to my Amazon account he'll be able to buy books using my account details. If I don't register it he'll find some of the features locked.

I think it won't be a Kindle.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Araucaria

I want to give a Kindle which I planned to load with public domain books to a friend who doesn't have an Amazon account. I foresee all sorts of problems with that.

If I register it to my Amazon account he'll be able to buy books using my account details. If I don't register it he'll find some of the features locked.

I think it won't be a Kindle.

If it's a Kobo, then you can setup an account for your friend. But that means you would have to create a new email address someplace and give it to your friend.

There is no 100% solution that does not involve your friend having an account someplace so the Reader can be registered. Even a fake Kobo registration can be an issue if Kobo breaks it in a future firmware. Kobo has already broken fake registration once and they could do it again. Plus, a fake registration means Overdrive will not work. So again, the only way to enable all features is to do a proper registration.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it's a Kobo, then you can setup an account for your friend. But that means you would have to create a new email address someplace and give it to your friend.

...

And they could do the same with a Kindle?

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by MustardOrMayo

I recommend PocketBook Touch Lux 5 or BOOX Poke2, however, I don't currently have either of those, so I'm drawing data from other sources.

For PocketBook, see this reply someone already posted.

For BOOX, and I'm drawing this from videos I've seen as I don't have one yet:

registration required Registration is entirely optional AFAIK, and you can use most features that don't depend on Google Play Services (it runs an Android-based firmware)
no file manager for easily organizing books There's a "Storage" tab right on the home screen that seemingly works like a file manager!
can't change default fonts or add new ones Kindle has that in a newer firmware release, I believe 5.11+, as I was able to do it on my K7 Paperwhite. I think fonts can be sideloaded on Boox.
no epub support Boox has that, but I don't know how good their rendering engine is. As it supports most Android phone apps (or tablet apps in the case of the larger models), you could use other reading apps like Libera Reader.
disabling syncing doesn't seem to work properly No built-in syncing, it's just in the phone apps for other e-book platforms AFAIK.

The Onyx Poke ranger is good, all of them. You don't need to register. You can organize books by folder. The Library view is okay if you don't have too many books. Some people like it. I find it limited. If you use a reader other than the one it comes with, it can be a PITA because the other reader doesn't always show under the Open with options. The storage tab is good, but again, only guaranteed if you use the default reader. You can add new fonts. Epub rendering is good. All versions of the Poke are good. I'd wait for the new one, but if you can a used older one cheap, I'd get it personally. The hardware lasts. The Android version doesn't matter if you're just reading books. But this is open Android and the battery charge doesn't last like a Kobo/Kindle.

[Araucaria]

Originally Posted by John F

And they could do the same with a Kindle?

Bearing in mind that I'm a fairly unsophisticated user, if I were to buy a Kindle for someone else who's in hospital, the thing I'm most likely to do is register it to my own Amazon account. That way the friend can use it straight away with the books I have loaded.

But Amazon have my credit card details and I don't know whether there's a way to block that particular Kindle from buying books. And I doubt whether that would fit with Amazon's business model.

So I bought the Kobo, and registered it to my own address. As I don't have any card registered to the Kobo account it all seems fairly good.

And I must say - as I have the Kobo to use myself for a couple of weeks (I'm currently in quarantine) - it seems a more user-friendly reader than the Kindle I have had for years. But obviously that's just a matter of opinion.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Araucaria

And I must say - as I have the Kobo to use myself for a couple of weeks (I'm currently in quarantine) - it seems a more user-friendly reader than the Kindle I have had for years. But obviously that's just a matter of opinion.

And of course it has a much better dictionary!