Something with buttons that works well with Calibre

CitizenOfTheGala · 06-13-2018, 01:22 PM

Good Afternoon Mobileread!
I'm looking for something to replace my Kindle Voyage. I really wanted to like it, and I was a big fan of the page-turning buttons, but it's just waaaay too clunky about sideloading books and managing large collections. The qualities I'm looking for are:

eink screen
On the smaller side (ie closer to 6 inches than 7 or 8)
Able to sync well with calibre, preferably with the ability of organize books into collections/folders/something. This is where Kindle has been the most frustrating to me.
Physical page-turning buttons of some kind. Having to swipe at a touchscreen just takes me right out of what I'm reading.
Good battery life

Do you wonderful people know of any readers that would check those boxes? I realize some of my preferences are not exactly what's 'hot' right now and that I may have to compromise, but I'd like to find something with as many of those features as possible. I am willing to tinker/jailbreak if it'll get reliable results.

mobama · 06-13-2018, 02:40 PM

This one ticks all the boxes https://youtu.be/IahmopAdtSs?t=62

And it has TTS, tinted frontlight, and microSD.

FizzyWater · 06-13-2018, 06:29 PM

I've had a few Pocketbook devices. They all worked well with Calibre and had physical buttons. But they always seemed slower at page turns than the other readers I've had, and I eventually ended up abandoning them. I sold (for a loss) two of them to help fund the next best thing, and have only kept the one I did because it has TTS and that might be useful someday. I probably ought to dig it out and give it a top off.

Hemmi · 06-13-2018, 06:44 PM

Sony ereaders fit most of that. They can be had secondhand but battery life varies. If you can find a T2 or T3 and are willing to take a chance, those are great ereaders. Not the newest and fastest out there but still my favorites of all the ereaders I own.

Mivo · 06-13-2018, 07:21 PM

I don't know about older Pocketbooks, but the InkPad 3 has instant page turns. No delay of any kind.

The Touch HD 2 does seem to tick all the boxes. Pocketbook's software supports all sorts of collections, you can view them based on tags, authors, series, and shelves.

JSWolf · 06-13-2018, 08:06 PM

Forget Sony Readers. They are just too slow and the software is too old. Plus, no front light and low resolution.

06-13-2018, 01:22 PM	#1
CitizenOfTheGala Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Something with buttons that works well with Calibre Good Afternoon Mobileread! I'm looking for something to replace my Kindle Voyage. I really wanted to like it, and I was a big fan of the page-turning buttons, but it's just waaaay too clunky about sideloading books and managing large collections. The qualities I'm looking for are: eink screen On the smaller side (ie closer to 6 inches than 7 or 8) Able to sync well with calibre, preferably with the ability of organize books into collections/folders/something. This is where Kindle has been the most frustrating to me. Physical page-turning buttons of some kind. Having to swipe at a touchscreen just takes me right out of what I'm reading. Good battery life Do you wonderful people know of any readers that would check those boxes? I realize some of my preferences are not exactly what's 'hot' right now and that I may have to compromise, but I'd like to find something with as many of those features as possible. I am willing to tinker/jailbreak if it'll get reliable results.

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06-13-2018, 02:40 PM	#2
mobama Evangelist Posts: 432 Karma: 2303460 Join Date: Aug 2017 Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 3, Onyx T76ML, Kobo H2O Edition 1, Kobo Mini	This one ticks all the boxes https://youtu.be/IahmopAdtSs?t=62 And it has TTS, tinted frontlight, and microSD.

06-13-2018, 06:29 PM	#3
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I've had a few Pocketbook devices. They all worked well with Calibre and had physical buttons. But they always seemed slower at page turns than the other readers I've had, and I eventually ended up abandoning them. I sold (for a loss) two of them to help fund the next best thing, and have only kept the one I did because it has TTS and that might be useful someday. I probably ought to dig it out and give it a top off.

06-13-2018, 06:44 PM	#4
Hemmi Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,350 Karma: 15987608 Join Date: Apr 2015 Device: Sonys, Nooks, Kobo Libra, Forma, Mini, Paperwhite	Sony ereaders fit most of that. They can be had secondhand but battery life varies. If you can find a T2 or T3 and are willing to take a chance, those are great ereaders. Not the newest and fastest out there but still my favorites of all the ereaders I own.

06-13-2018, 07:21 PM	#5
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	I don't know about older Pocketbooks, but the InkPad 3 has instant page turns. No delay of any kind. The Touch HD 2 does seem to tick all the boxes. Pocketbook's software supports all sorts of collections, you can view them based on tags, authors, series, and shelves.

06-13-2018, 08:06 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,894 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Forget Sony Readers. They are just too slow and the software is too old. Plus, no front light and low resolution.