rootable, backlit, physical buttons (is there a feature table?)

[ajoseph]

Hi, I'm looking for a rootable linux-based e-reader (including ROOTABLE android devices) with a backlight and physical page-turn buttons. 10" size would be ideal, but I'm flexible there. I have the Kindle Oasis 3 and really like the backlight for reading by the fireplace, just want a bigger screen and root access. Did I mention I need root access?

Is there a feature table somewhere that is kept up to date? I sorta figured I could just find some feature table like that and look for these three things (rootable, backlit, physical buttons). Sadly the largest retailer, amazon, seems happy to abuse their ability to make it difficult to comparison-shop. So sad.

[Sirtel]

Nook Glowlight Plus (2019) is 7.8'', based on Android and AFAIK rootable (I haven't tried, so you have to google for more detailed info). Kobo Forma is 8'', based on Linux and its OS is open to tinkerers and developers, so no need to root at all.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

Hi, I'm looking for a rootable linux-based e-reader (including ROOTABLE android devices) with a backlight and physical page-turn buttons. 10" size would be ideal, but I'm flexible there.

Tablets have backlight. EInk devices have front light when light.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kobo Forma is 8'', based on Linux and its OS is open to tinkerers and developers, so no need to root at all.

Wow, this looks like exactly what I want. Even has a sleek form factor! Thanks so much, without your comment I never would've found this in the ocean of nearly-identical-but-rebranded readers out there.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Tablets have backlight. EInk devices have front light when light.

Picky picky.

This actually makes shopping EVEN MORE difficult, because some e-readers use the term "front light", some use the term "back light" since that's what most consumers think it is, and others (I'm looking at you, Kobo) invent their own silly proprietary name like "COMFORTlight" and don't use the term "back light" or "front light" anywhere in their product description, making themselves unsearchable. Way to go, guys.

And of course, searching for "light" is useless because every e-reader declares itself to be "light weight".

Alright, now I'm just going to go cry for a while.

[John F]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

Picky picky.

This actually makes shopping EVEN MORE difficult, because some e-readers use the term "front light", some use the term "back light" since that's what most consumers think it is, and others (I'm looking at you, Kobo) invent their own silly proprietary name like "COMFORTlight" and don't use the term "back light" or "front light" anywhere in their product description, making themselves unsearchable. Way to go, guys.

And of course, searching for "light" is useless because every e-reader declares itself to be "light weight".

Alright, now I'm just going to go cry for a while.

Who is using the term "back light"? I would guess it is a translation error?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

Picky picky.

This actually makes shopping EVEN MORE difficult, because some e-readers use the term "front light", some use the term "back light" since that's what most consumers think it is, and others (I'm looking at you, Kobo) invent their own silly proprietary name like "COMFORTlight" and don't use the term "back light" or "front light" anywhere in their product description, making themselves unsearchable. Way to go, guys.

And of course, searching for "light" is useless because every e-reader declares itself to be "light weight".

Forget about how the light is handled. Look at the screen. If it is e-ink, it must front-lit. E-ink screens do not let light pass through them. Everything else will probably be back-lit. And nobody would bother to mention this. Really, you should be specifying what sort of screen you want, and whether the light can change colour. Your original post suggests that you are after a device with an e-ink screen, but, it doesn't explicitly state it.

And just to be clear, not all ereaders use e-ink screens. There aren't many around now that aren't e-ink, but, there have been plenty of ereaders that used LCD screens. Tablets and smartphones have taken their place as they became more affordable.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kobo Forma is 8'', based on Linux and its OS is open to tinkerers and developers, so no need to root at all.

So, it took over a year, but I am finally using the Kobo Forma as my primary e-reader. Thank you so much for this recommendation!

The Forma feels like moving into a mansion after living in the tent that was my Kindle Oasis 1 (my KOA2 didn't last long since it isn't rootable). Such a big roomy screen on the Forma! And PDF scrolling is way, way faster on the Forma even at a higher resolution.

I have to say, for anybody who comes across this thread: the Kobo Forma is awesome hardware with pretty awful software. Even the latest firmware still corrupts files transferred over USB! I had to migrate to KOReader (which rocks) first before I could migrate to the the Forma; zero issues with the USB storage mode provided by KOReader. Kobo should just preload KOReader on their devices and focus on hardware design, which they are very good at.

Thanks again for the recommendation!

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

I have to say, for anybody who comes across this thread: the Kobo Forma is awesome hardware with pretty awful software. Even the latest firmware still corrupts files transferred over USB!

Corrupts files how?

[JSWolf]

You have to eject your Kobo to prevent a database corruption. If you are not properly ejecting, then start doing so.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by meeera

Corrupts files how?

This issue is still present on my barely-used Kobo Forma with the very latest firmware (Feb 2021):

https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader/issues/70

It's sort of ridiculous that the factory firmware can't get something as simple as USB Storage mode to work properly. KOReader has its own independent implementation which works flawlessly on the exact same device.

The Kobo guys are fantastic hardware designers. They should stick to that and ship KOReader as their default firmware.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you are not properly ejecting, then start doing so.

Yes, I'm properly ejecting. Read the issue above. The Forma resets the USB connection mid-transfer, corrupting the data in flight (some block writes land, others don't), before the user even gets around to ejecting. It's really atrocious. And KOReader has no trouble doing this correctly!

And before somebody says something about USB cables, I have a box full of them, tried five different ones. All five eventually caused a mid-transfer disconnect with the factory firmware, and all five worked perfectly with KOReader's USB Storage mode.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

This issue is still present on my barely-used Kobo Forma with the very latest firmware (Feb 2021):

https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader/issues/70.

OK, I thought you were saying there was something specific to current Forma firmware that "corrupts files". That's a 2018 thread (pre Forma) with a few updates, several of them solving their disconnection problems with different hubs and cables.

Given that there are many of us here not having file-corruption problems with our Kobos, I would suspect there's something specific going on with your setup, but I'm not in a position to trouble-shoot it with you. Others probably are though, so you're of course welcome to start a thread on your problem in the Kobo forum.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

This issue is still present on my barely-used Kobo Forma with the very latest firmware (Feb 2021)

As a minor nit, the very latest release firmware is from August, 2021 (4.28.18220). That aside, I have seen database corruption very few times on my Forma from November, 2018 and for the most part, those have been my own fault for not safely ejecting with only 2 occasions where the database corruption was due to unknown causes.

That said, there is an issue with the latest firmware and CBZ/CBR files which were first noticed on the Elipsa with 4.28 firmware but has been pretty much confirmed on Kobo's other ereaders with 4.28.18220.

One improvement for me with 4.28.18220 is that I can now use any of the USb ports on my laptop to connect my Forma. Previously, the Always On USB-C port and the Thunderbold 3 port would not allow the Forma to connect.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by meeera

That's a 2018 thread (pre Forma) with a few updates

Scroll down, latest post is from this year. Meaning this bug has sat unfixed for three years now...

Would you like me to add a "me too" post to that bug? Those are generally considered to be unconstructive. That's probably why you don't see many of them. The bug exists, Kobo has been made aware of it, the ball is (still) in their court.

Originally Posted by DNSB

One improvement for me with 4.28.18220 is that I can now use any of the USb ports on my laptop to connect my Forma. Previously, the Always On USB-C port and the Thunderbold 3 port would not allow the Forma to connect.

This is what I'm talking about... it's 2021 folks. USB is a quarter-century old. Bugs like "works with only some of the USB ports on my machine" are pretty embarrassing.

But I still love the Forma hardware. It is a sweet device.

[ajoseph]

Originally Posted by ajoseph

Would you like me to add a "me too" post to that bug?

Alright, I bumped the bug, mainly because I could contribute new info: swapping the software for KOReader fixes it, so it's definitely a software issue and not a cable problem (although some cables may be better at triggering the bug).