The Cheapest E-Reader?

BookCat · 12-06-2018, 07:05 AM

I'm thinking of buying an ereader, for Christmas, for a friend who reads only occasionally. He was a little upset when his Pandigital Novel recently died (it was a freebie with some sort of magazine deal years ago). He doesn't read enough to justify the cost of the Basic Kindle.

Is there anything cheaper? Some little known brand which hardly anyone uses?

I realise this is a difficult question. Thanks lots for any suggestions.

pdurrant · 12-06-2018, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

I'm thinking of buying an ereader, for Christmas, for a friend who reads only occasionally. He was a little upset when his Pandigital Novel recently died (it was a freebie with some sort of magazine deal years ago). He doesn't read enough to justify the cost of the Basic Kindle.

Is there anything cheaper? Some little known brand which hardly anyone uses?

I realise this is a difficult question. Thanks lots for any suggestions.

How about a Kindle Keyboard 3? Good ones seem to go for £20-£30 on eBay. It can handle KFX format from Amazon, and with a 3G model you don't even need to have Wi-Fi.

The screen is only a 150dpi pearl screen with no frontlight, but it's still plenty good enough for use in normal lighting.

mobama · 12-06-2018, 11:04 AM

Doesn't read enough to justify the cost of a Basic Kindle? Probably you mean does not read enough to justify the subscription cost of the Kindle app.

I do not know if there is a reading app where the subscription would be cheaper. A way aroundthe whole problem is to not use any app, but download and read whatever files float around the internet. Gutenberg.org alone is plenty of reading for hundreds of lifetimes.

When you do not subscribe to the Kindle app, a Basic Kindle could quite well be justified.

kacir · 12-06-2018, 11:42 AM

Have a look at the Goodwill.com site

ilovejedd · 12-06-2018, 11:45 AM

Dunno about UK but basic Kindle often goes on sale for $40-50 in the US. I doubt you'd find anything cheaper unless you go used.

BookCat · 12-06-2018, 12:17 PM

In the UK the basic kindle is £60-£70 depending on whether it has adverts.

He rarely uses his PC and doesn't have a tablet or a smart phone, so the app wouldn't be appropriate. Years ago, he somehow managed to put The Castle of Oltranto onto a Gameboy SP using an emulator. That was my first encounter with e-reading!

I'm in the UK, so postage from Goodwill would probably cost more than the device.

I've read threads on MR in the past which said buying a second hand ereader is not a good idea. It might be registered (stolen) or have a very run down battery.

So I was wondering if there was a little known brand which was very cheap (around £30ish) so that I could get a new one?

ilovejedd · 12-06-2018, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

In the UK the basic kindle is £60-£70 depending on whether it has adverts.

He rarely uses his PC and doesn't have a tablet or a smart phone, so the app wouldn't be appropriate. Years ago, he somehow managed to put The Castle of Oltranto onto a Gameboy SP using an emulator. That was my first encounter with e-reading!

I'm in the UK, so postage from Goodwill would probably cost more than the device.

I've read threads on MR in the past which said buying a second hand ereader is not a good idea. It might be registered (stolen) or have a very run down battery.

So I was wondering if there was a little known brand which was very cheap (around £30ish) so that I could get a new one?

Honestly, the Chinese-branded e-ink readers I see on Aliexpress cost the same or more than the basic Kindle. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon was selling their devices at or below cost in order to generate future revenue from services and subscriptions. Finding something cheaper that's brand new will probably be difficult.

BookCat · 12-06-2018, 12:45 PM

In that case I'll offer to contribute to the cost of a reader, rather than buying one outright. He'll be fine with the kindle basic; the Pandigital Novel didn't have a frontlight and he seemed to like that.

Another one of my cats needs a vet visit (abscess on his head caused by a swipe from his mother: Cyd's about 9yrs old, and his mum is about 16.) Victoria has to go for a check-up too. So I can't afford to cover the entire cost of the kindle basic.

Thanks for your help.
If anyone has more ideas, I'm open to suggestions.

stumped · 12-06-2018, 02:33 PM

Any modern smart phone can run free reading apps, All you need is good eyesight for the small screen.
And anyone with a uk library membership can read library books as ebooks and or listen to audiobooks, on loan, for free. Using the free Libby app.

BookCat · 12-06-2018, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stumped

Any modern smart phone can run free reading apps, All you need is good eyesight for the small screen.
And anyone with a uk library membership can read library books as ebooks and or listen to audiobooks, on loan, for free. Using the free Libby app.

Unfortunately, he has a dumb phone. Many people I know don't have smart phones, it's probably a generational thing.

Barbara1955 · 12-06-2018, 05:04 PM

Find something else for him for Christmas.

Add some different apps for reading to his cell.

BookCat · 12-07-2018, 10:11 AM

Apps are only available for smart phones, his mobile isn't smart.

Looks like he'll be getting something else.

NSILMike · 12-10-2018, 02:16 PM

Does he have a smartphone? See if there is a kindle app for it.

Nevermind- Now I see he doesn't. Instead I'd suggest a tablet that is compatible with an ebook app such as Kindle. In the US at least, the kindle android app is free.

Little.Egret · 12-21-2018, 06:36 PM

In the UK the Fire 7 (HD7) tablet starts at £34.99

I assume home or public library Wi-Fi is available

BookCat · 12-21-2018, 08:07 PM

Thank you, Little Egret. One of the mobileread members sold me a Kobo Mini at an amazing price. I think an eink reader which doesn't have lighting would be perfect for him. It's a very nice little ereader. Such a shame they're not still made, with the option of frontlighting. If they were, I'd buy one immediately; but I'm too used to lighting.

Thanks everyone.

12-06-2018, 07:05 AM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	The Cheapest E-Reader? I'm thinking of buying an ereader, for Christmas, for a friend who reads only occasionally. He was a little upset when his Pandigital Novel recently died (it was a freebie with some sort of magazine deal years ago). He doesn't read enough to justify the cost of the Basic Kindle. Is there anything cheaper? Some little known brand which hardly anyone uses? I realise this is a difficult question. Thanks lots for any suggestions.

12-06-2018, 12:45 PM	#8
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	In that case I'll offer to contribute to the cost of a reader, rather than buying one outright. He'll be fine with the kindle basic; the Pandigital Novel didn't have a frontlight and he seemed to like that. Another one of my cats needs a vet visit (abscess on his head caused by a swipe from his mother: Cyd's about 9yrs old, and his mum is about 16.) Victoria has to go for a check-up too. So I can't afford to cover the entire cost of the kindle basic. Thanks for your help. If anyone has more ideas, I'm open to suggestions. Last edited by BookCat; 12-06-2018 at 12:50 PM.

12-10-2018, 02:16 PM	#13
NSILMike Guru Posts: 735 Karma: 35936 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Shrewsury, MA Device: Lenovo Android Tablet	Does he have a smartphone? See if there is a kindle app for it. Nevermind- Now I see he doesn't. Instead I'd suggest a tablet that is compatible with an ebook app such as Kindle. In the US at least, the kindle android app is free. Last edited by NSILMike; 12-10-2018 at 02:19 PM.

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12-06-2018, 11:04 AM	#3
mobama Evangelist Posts: 432 Karma: 2303460 Join Date: Aug 2017 Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 3, Onyx T76ML, Kobo H2O Edition 1, Kobo Mini	Doesn't read enough to justify the cost of a Basic Kindle? Probably you mean does not read enough to justify the subscription cost of the Kindle app. I do not know if there is a reading app where the subscription would be cheaper. A way aroundthe whole problem is to not use any app, but download and read whatever files float around the internet. Gutenberg.org alone is plenty of reading for hundreds of lifetimes. When you do not subscribe to the Kindle app, a Basic Kindle could quite well be justified.

12-06-2018, 11:42 AM	#4
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,450 Karma: 10484861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	Have a look at the Goodwill.com site

12-06-2018, 11:45 AM	#5
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,111 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	Dunno about UK but basic Kindle often goes on sale for $40-50 in the US. I doubt you'd find anything cheaper unless you go used.

12-06-2018, 12:17 PM	#6
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	In the UK the basic kindle is £60-£70 depending on whether it has adverts. He rarely uses his PC and doesn't have a tablet or a smart phone, so the app wouldn't be appropriate. Years ago, he somehow managed to put The Castle of Oltranto onto a Gameboy SP using an emulator. That was my first encounter with e-reading! I'm in the UK, so postage from Goodwill would probably cost more than the device. I've read threads on MR in the past which said buying a second hand ereader is not a good idea. It might be registered (stolen) or have a very run down battery. So I was wondering if there was a little known brand which was very cheap (around £30ish) so that I could get a new one?

12-06-2018, 02:33 PM	#9
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	Any modern smart phone can run free reading apps, All you need is good eyesight for the small screen. And anyone with a uk library membership can read library books as ebooks and or listen to audiobooks, on loan, for free. Using the free Libby app.

12-06-2018, 05:04 PM	#11
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Find something else for him for Christmas. Add some different apps for reading to his cell.

12-07-2018, 10:11 AM	#12
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Apps are only available for smart phones, his mobile isn't smart. Looks like he'll be getting something else.

12-21-2018, 06:36 PM	#14
Little.Egret Wizard Posts: 3,168 Karma: 37800000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G, Kindle Fire 2, NOOK ST, Kindle HDX, Fire 7"	In the UK the Fire 7 (HD7) tablet starts at £34.99 I assume home or public library Wi-Fi is available

12-21-2018, 08:07 PM	#15
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thank you, Little Egret. One of the mobileread members sold me a Kobo Mini at an amazing price. I think an eink reader which doesn't have lighting would be perfect for him. It's a very nice little ereader. Such a shame they're not still made, with the option of frontlighting. If they were, I'd buy one immediately; but I'm too used to lighting. Thanks everyone.