Considering buying my very first e-reader. Here are my thoughts. Please advise

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by droopy

Thanks, maximus83 for that link. I never heard of kepub till you mentioned it. Good to hear that using kepub means a better experience than epub.

As always, the MR Wiki is your friend . Read the following to learn about kepub:

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kepub

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I would sound a note of caution and say that the larger the screen, the poorer the performance of front-lighting (due to the physics of light diffusers). They work pretty well up to around about 7", significantly less well for anything much larger. If you don't plan to read PDFs, there's really no need for a larger screen.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Right. I'm absolutely not saying that there's anything wrong with the lighting of any of the 7-8" devices currently available, but there are very few illuminated 9.7" devices, and nothing at all larger than 9.7" has a frontlight (to the best of my knowledge).

Originally Posted by DaleDe

there are now 10.3" from Boyue only that have frontlights. The BOYUE Likebook Note was first and only at the time. Now the BOYUE Likebook Mimas as well. But the devices are not as even a light as others.
Dale

I have a 10.3" Likebook Mimas and the screen lighting is perfect! And I am very picky about even lighting, having previously returned two Kindle Paperwhites because I was dissatisfied with the lighting.

Also, in videos of the Mimas I've seen online, the screen lighting looks nice and even there too.

It looks like the original poster has bought something else, but I wanted to add my two cents for anybody else who wanders by. Last year, a couple posters here kept insisting that it was physically impossible to ever light a 10" or larger eInk screen. Consequently, I very nearly gave up an bought a non-lit device, which I would have hated. I'm so glad I held out for the frontlight. The Mimas has a "comfort light' and is extremely nice for reading! (And writing - the Mimas has note-taking abilities, too.)

Originally Posted by droopy

Hi Harry.
I most certainly want a distraction-free device. So a device that does not run other apps is a upside for me! A big upside! I want a device that does just one thing: lets me read my ePubs.

For me, I haven't found my Android eReaders to distract me from reading because eEink just doesn't render images and video like a phone or tablet does. I never even turn my Wifi on, and have no urge to web surf on eInk. Video is also not worth running on eInk practically speaking. (YMMV.)

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's certainly not been the situation with the Android eInk devices I've personally owned. They've needed to be charged every few days. Longer battery life than tablets, but not as good as many dedicated readers (although some readers do of course have longer battery lives than others!). I don't know if there are modern eInk Android devices that do have a battery life measured in weeks. If so, then I agree with you that it becomes irrelevant.

I don't know what Android devices you used Harry, but that hasn't been my experience.

The Likebook Mimas I'm using now has a 4700mAH battery, and it has always lasted a minimum of eleven days between charges, with what I consider some reasonably heavy usage. I always have the frontlight on, and I read and use the note taking function a lot, and also use it to play recordings to help me sleep. (It has built-in speakers.)

The last time I charged it, it was at 50%, but it was projected to last a total of 15 days. (I generally prefer to charge my eReader approximately every week, because I don't like the battery to get too low.)

The other nice thing about the Mimas is that it has USB C, so it charges superfast. I haven't timed it exactly, but I usually let it get down to around 30% and it charges in a couple hours or so. That was one of the biggest surprises for me. I thought it was going to take a long time to charge, especially with such a large battery.

Originally Posted by droopy

My dear mom bought me an 8GB Kobo Forma.

She and I are currently in different continents, so it'll some time for the Forma to get to me.

Thanks to all for your advice and suggestions. Appreciate it.

Oh, that's nice! I hope you like it. I would like to read your review after you get a chance to try it out.