Help Me Shop

Calenorn · 11-07-2014, 12:26 PM

I'm thinking of an eink screen reader with a micro SD card slot. A device that strictly loads material from my computer. Wifi capability is not required; if it is included I just won't use it. And I'd like to use the device out of the box without registering anywhere and without establishing an account that I never intend to use.

Does such a thing exist? Can a person have an ereader that's COMPLETELY off the grid?

ATDrake · 11-07-2014, 12:47 PM

Once upon a time, the Sony would have done that. I used my PRS-T1 for quite some time without registering it to the Sony store or for ADE and would just sideload stuff onto the SD card.

I did eventually break down and sign into the Reader Store just to see what it would be like to "shop" directly from the device. But aside from that, it did pretty much work exactly the way you describe.

No idea which non-defunct brands would do it now, though (PocketBook?).

Dr. Drib · 11-07-2014, 01:47 PM

Moved to the "Which one should I buy" forum.

Don
(Moderator)

davidfor · 11-07-2014, 10:36 PM

Most of the Kobo devices have a micros SD card slot. Set up is supposed to require connecting to the Kobo site, but there are instruction for bypassing that. After the setup, there is no need to connect to the Kobo store at all.

Josieb1 · 11-07-2014, 11:05 PM

What you can do during set up is to register the kobo to a fake email address and skip the banking details. Kobo do not check the address so have no idea it's fake. Make a note of what it is the afterwards go to the kobo website sign in with the email address and delete it. That way your kobo is registered but you can't buy books with it. Or you could leave it registered to the fake email address, you just wouldn't be able to use it to buy books as you haven't added payments details and you won't be bothered by emails from kobo.

Tarana · 11-07-2014, 11:22 PM

I don't think anybody currently has an ereader out there that does not require registering it with the parent company. However, after that, you can turn the wifi off and not worry about it.

AnemicOak · 11-08-2014, 12:10 AM

For something that doesn't need registration one might want to look into some of the non-retailer affiliated devices like Bookeen and Pocketbook.

Jmirko · 11-08-2014, 04:06 AM

Onyx, Hanvon?

Calenorn · 11-08-2014, 07:20 AM

JosieB and Tarana are right, of course. I already use my NOOK Simple Touch without turning the wifi on, and at this point I could close the B&N account completely and see no impact.

So I will use this device (and a spare!) until the batteries give out. That could be a long time! I hope someone will still be making eink displays at that point, because I really don't want to read from a backlit screen.

Thanks all for your help.

rcentros · 11-08-2014, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calenorn

JosieB and Tarana are right, of course. I already use my NOOK Simple Touch without turning the wifi on, and at this point I could close the B&N account completely and see no impact.

So I will use this device (and a spare!) until the batteries give out. That could be a long time! I hope someone will still be making eink displays at that point, because I really don't want to read from a backlit screen.

I like the Nook Simple Touches. Comfortable to hold and good fonts. Currently, at any rate, you can still buy replacement batteries for the NSTs -- I don't know if that'll still be true by the time your batteries wear out, however.

eschwartz · 11-11-2014, 12:42 AM

The Kindle does not require signing in. When you first turn it on, if you refuse to connect to WiFi it will pop up with an error-connecting and ask if you want to login later. Then it will drop you down to the main UI and never bug you again.

Unlike the Kobo there is no need to connect to the computer for the initial setup in order to avoid logging in.

Calenorn · 11-11-2014, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The Kindle does not require signing in. When you first turn it on, if you refuse to connect to WiFi it will pop up with an error-connecting and ask if you want to login later. Then it will drop you down to the main UI and never bug you again.

Unlike the Kobo there is no need to connect to the computer for the initial setup in order to avoid logging in.

Well, that sounds good. I know the NOOKs don't work properly until after they've called home to the mothership.

Still, all my stuff is in epub! That would be a lot of conversion work to do!

Lyn2012 · 11-11-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The Kindle does not require signing in. When you first turn it on, if you refuse to connect to WiFi it will pop up with an error-connecting and ask if you want to login later. Then it will drop you down to the main UI and never bug you again.

I did this with my PW1 then the clock never kept correct time and I couldn't use collections both of which (for me) were completely unacceptable.

eschwartz · 11-11-2014, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calenorn

Well, that sounds good. I know the NOOKs don't work properly until after they've called home to the mothership.

Still, all my stuff is in epub! That would be a lot of conversion work to do!

That would be a whole lot of "leave the computer running overnight with a batched job running".

eschwartz · 11-11-2014, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyn2012

I did this with my PW1 then the clock never kept correct time and I couldn't use collections both of which (for me) were completely unacceptable.

There is that timekeeping bug, yes. (Only when you reboot the Kindle without then connecting to WiFi, and seemingly only a random subset thereof.)

TBH, most people who don't want to connect over WiFi are the type to also jailbreak and use the BBB (Block Big Brother) Firewall.
(The other option is they just don't have WiFi, but the OP seems to be the former type.

)

Those same people would also use the KUAL Datetime button to set the clock off public timeservers instead of Amazon.

Collections are a mess for so many reasons it's not even funny -- that is why there are TWO collections hacks: Collections Manager Kindlet, and LibrarianSync. Both of which integrate with a calibre plugin. Both of which merrily ignore the Kindle directive that says you are unregistered, and update cc.db anyway.

11-07-2014, 12:26 PM	#1
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,160 Karma: 8710811 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	Help Me Shop I'm thinking of an eink screen reader with a micro SD card slot. A device that strictly loads material from my computer. Wifi capability is not required; if it is included I just won't use it. And I'd like to use the device out of the box without registering anywhere and without establishing an account that I never intend to use. Does such a thing exist? Can a person have an ereader that's COMPLETELY off the grid?

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11-07-2014, 12:47 PM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Once upon a time, the Sony would have done that. I used my PRS-T1 for quite some time without registering it to the Sony store or for ADE and would just sideload stuff onto the SD card. I did eventually break down and sign into the Reader Store just to see what it would be like to "shop" directly from the device. But aside from that, it did pretty much work exactly the way you describe. No idea which non-defunct brands would do it now, though (PocketBook?).

11-07-2014, 01:47 PM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,751 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Moved to the "Which one should I buy" forum. Don (Moderator)

11-07-2014, 10:36 PM	#4
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Most of the Kobo devices have a micros SD card slot. Set up is supposed to require connecting to the Kobo site, but there are instruction for bypassing that. After the setup, there is no need to connect to the Kobo store at all.

11-07-2014, 11:05 PM	#5
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,018 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	What you can do during set up is to register the kobo to a fake email address and skip the banking details. Kobo do not check the address so have no idea it's fake. Make a note of what it is the afterwards go to the kobo website sign in with the email address and delete it. That way your kobo is registered but you can't buy books with it. Or you could leave it registered to the fake email address, you just wouldn't be able to use it to buy books as you haven't added payments details and you won't be bothered by emails from kobo.

11-07-2014, 11:22 PM	#6
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,982 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I don't think anybody currently has an ereader out there that does not require registering it with the parent company. However, after that, you can turn the wifi off and not worry about it.

11-08-2014, 12:10 AM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	For something that doesn't need registration one might want to look into some of the non-retailer affiliated devices like Bookeen and Pocketbook.

11-08-2014, 04:06 AM	#8
Jmirko Recovered collector Posts: 398 Karma: 1555507 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: see signature	Onyx, Hanvon?

11-08-2014, 07:20 AM	#9
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,160 Karma: 8710811 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	JosieB and Tarana are right, of course. I already use my NOOK Simple Touch without turning the wifi on, and at this point I could close the B&N account completely and see no impact. So I will use this device (and a spare!) until the batteries give out. That could be a long time! I hope someone will still be making eink displays at that point, because I really don't want to read from a backlit screen. Thanks all for your help.

11-11-2014, 12:42 AM	#11
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The Kindle does not require signing in. When you first turn it on, if you refuse to connect to WiFi it will pop up with an error-connecting and ask if you want to login later. Then it will drop you down to the main UI and never bug you again. Unlike the Kobo there is no need to connect to the computer for the initial setup in order to avoid logging in.

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