Choosing a frontlit ereader

OneiroDancer · 07-27-2015, 11:17 AM

Hello,

I was browsing the net for frontlit ereaders, but it's not easy. I want to exclude kindle paperwhite, because I oppose Amazon commercial model. I know that there is some reasonable model from nook and kobo; searching around I had found the Energy Ereader pro +, from a first look it seemed very open.

I know that my knowledge is a bit dated, so, what do you suggest? It has to be frontlit, it should be reasonably cheap (say, below 100 EUR - 110 USD), I would like it open. What readers are out there with such a profile?

ottdmk · 07-27-2015, 04:12 PM

The new Kobo Glo HD matches. It's as open as it gets, the frontlight is quite good, and it retails for $129.00 CDN, (approx $99US or 90euro.) It doesn't have a SD slot unlike most Kobos.

If you want to go cheaper, the Kobo Aura is at $99 CDN these days, and has a SD slot. Frontlight is, again, quite good. Some people say the capacitive touch screen layer degrades the text, but many have said it only suffers if you directly compare readers. (In other words, it's fine unless you're comparing it.)

HarryT · 07-28-2015, 09:53 AM

Just to point out that buying a Kindle in no way restricts you to buying books from Amazon. I have a Kindle Voyage, but buy my books from numerous different stores. The good thing about Amazon is that their customer service, should you ever have a problem, is superb.

barryem · 07-28-2015, 02:02 PM

I read on a Kindle Voyage and a Paperwhite. I also have a Kobo. I do choose to use the Amazon ecosystem but I don't have to. I get occasional books from other sources and read them on the kindle or the Kobo. Doing so is trivial. It doesn't require much thought at all.

One of my sources is Gutenberg and I have a setup via Bookdrop where I Gutenberg sends my book to Dropbox and I simply copy it into the Bookdrop folder and it's automatically sent by Bookdrop to my Kindle via Amazon's email service. It takes me about 10 seconds to do it. Less if I'm already in Windows Explorer.

I like the Kindles because they're just better devices all around. The Kobo has the advantage of being smaller, which I like, but it's screen isn't as good. It's a decent screen and fine to read on but the Kindles are better.

I should mention that I have a Kobo Glo and a Kobo Aura and not the newer Kobo HD. I don't know how that compares with the Kindles screens.

Barry

JSWolf · 07-28-2015, 02:16 PM

If you want a Reader that has a larger screen than the normal 6" screen. I'd recommend the Kobo Aura H2O with a 6.8" screen.

meeera · 07-28-2015, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryem

I like the Kindles because they're just better devices all around. The Kobo has the advantage of being smaller, which I like, but it's screen isn't as good. It's a decent screen and fine to read on but the Kindles are better.

I should mention that I have a Kobo Glo and a Kobo Aura and not the newer Kobo HD. I don't know how that compares with the Kindles screens.

The Aura H2O has a gorgeous screen (I haven't seen a GloHD yet). Glo/Aura are a generation or two behind the current Kobos & Kindles.

There is no "better device all round". If ecosystem and/or customer service are of primary importance, a Kindle is likely a better choice. If typography/display customisation, larger screen, waterproofing, easy control of collections with Calibre, public library use anywhere but the USA, or tweakability/openness are important, Kobo.

Rizla · 07-28-2015, 11:29 PM

Open Android ereader gives you the most functionality. Can run Cool Reader and other apps on it. Think the energy pro is a repackaged Boyue. Can be found on bangood.com is one source supposed to be cheap. If you are in Europe or Asia you can find quite a few nice open Android devices. There is also Onyx. Boyue is probably the cheapest.

Kobo is okay. Its Linux and is open.
Amazon is closed tight as a ducks ass.

Depends what you want. My personal preference is open Android. Can do more with it. ALOT.

HarryT · 07-29-2015, 02:28 AM

The H2O has a very poor touchscreen, though. Mine was so inaccurate that it was virtually impossible to select a small hyperlink such as a footnote. I sold it as a result.

JSWolf · 07-29-2015, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

OCan be found on bangood.com is one source supposed to be cheap.

bangood.com is a domain sitting there waiting to be sold for $5,000.

mathil · 07-29-2015, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The H2O has a very poor touchscreen, though. Mine was so inaccurate that it was virtually impossible to select a small hyperlink such as a footnote. I sold it as a result.

You might have had a defective one. I have never had issues with hyperlinks and highlighting has always been not perfect, but definitely usable (and much, much improved with the latest firmware). Both of these are features that I use very frequently.

meeera · 07-29-2015, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathil

You might have had a defective one. I have never had issues with hyperlinks and highlighting has always been not perfect, but definitely usable (and much, much improved with the latest firmware). Both of these are features that I use very frequently.

If I'm reading with a very tiny font, footnote hyperlinks can be hard to select. However I don't read in a tiny font most of the time, and I rarely read a book with footnotes, so it's not an issue to me. It obviously is for a few people, though, in which case they should either choose a different device or manipulate their book accordingly to increase the target size (which has been discussed in the Kobo forum).

OneiroDancer · 07-29-2015, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

bangood.com is a domain sitting there waiting to be sold for $5,000.

There was a "g" missing from the domain as written by rizla, it is "banggood.com" (I simply googled it and I got corrected). Anyway, the boyue is out of stock. I had a look at it and it's very nice, I'll see if it can be found somewhere else.

The kobo glo HD is nice, but apparently it is difficult to buy it in Italy for less than 129 EUR.

@HarryT, I know I can read anything with a kindle, I just don't like their approach and their custom format and a lot of other things, so I have no intention of buying a kindle (though I gladly shop on amazon for paper books and other items - I would also buy another reader from them, if there was an interesting offer...)

John F · 07-29-2015, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The H2O has a very poor touchscreen, though. Mine was so inaccurate that it was virtually impossible to select a small hyperlink such as a footnote. I sold it as a result.

The touch screen for footnotes is very for poor epubs on Kobo. With kepubs, the touch screen and footnotes work very well. There is a simple work around to the foot note problem (IMO).

HarryT · 07-29-2015, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

The touch screen for footnotes is very for poor epubs on Kobo. With kepubs, the touch screen and footnotes work very well. There is a simple work around to the foot note problem (IMO).

What is the workaround? Convert to kepub?

John F · 07-29-2015, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What is the workaround? Convert to kepub?

Yes, convert to kepub. Or buy ebooks from Kobo.

07-27-2015, 11:17 AM	#1
OneiroDancer Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 2148536 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: Onyx Poke 3, Kobo Clara HD	Choosing a frontlit ereader Hello, I was browsing the net for frontlit ereaders, but it's not easy. I want to exclude kindle paperwhite, because I oppose Amazon commercial model. I know that there is some reasonable model from nook and kobo; searching around I had found the Energy Ereader pro +, from a first look it seemed very open. I know that my knowledge is a bit dated, so, what do you suggest? It has to be frontlit, it should be reasonably cheap (say, below 100 EUR - 110 USD), I would like it open. What readers are out there with such a profile?

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07-27-2015, 04:12 PM	#2
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	The new Kobo Glo HD matches. It's as open as it gets, the frontlight is quite good, and it retails for $129.00 CDN, (approx $99US or 90euro.) It doesn't have a SD slot unlike most Kobos. If you want to go cheaper, the Kobo Aura is at $99 CDN these days, and has a SD slot. Frontlight is, again, quite good. Some people say the capacitive touch screen layer degrades the text, but many have said it only suffers if you directly compare readers. (In other words, it's fine unless you're comparing it.)

07-28-2015, 09:53 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just to point out that buying a Kindle in no way restricts you to buying books from Amazon. I have a Kindle Voyage, but buy my books from numerous different stores. The good thing about Amazon is that their customer service, should you ever have a problem, is superb.

07-28-2015, 02:02 PM	#4
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I read on a Kindle Voyage and a Paperwhite. I also have a Kobo. I do choose to use the Amazon ecosystem but I don't have to. I get occasional books from other sources and read them on the kindle or the Kobo. Doing so is trivial. It doesn't require much thought at all. One of my sources is Gutenberg and I have a setup via Bookdrop where I Gutenberg sends my book to Dropbox and I simply copy it into the Bookdrop folder and it's automatically sent by Bookdrop to my Kindle via Amazon's email service. It takes me about 10 seconds to do it. Less if I'm already in Windows Explorer. I like the Kindles because they're just better devices all around. The Kobo has the advantage of being smaller, which I like, but it's screen isn't as good. It's a decent screen and fine to read on but the Kindles are better. I should mention that I have a Kobo Glo and a Kobo Aura and not the newer Kobo HD. I don't know how that compares with the Kindles screens. Barry

07-28-2015, 02:16 PM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,015 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you want a Reader that has a larger screen than the normal 6" screen. I'd recommend the Kobo Aura H2O with a 6.8" screen.

07-28-2015, 11:29 PM	#7
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	Open Android ereader gives you the most functionality. Can run Cool Reader and other apps on it. Think the energy pro is a repackaged Boyue. Can be found on bangood.com is one source supposed to be cheap. If you are in Europe or Asia you can find quite a few nice open Android devices. There is also Onyx. Boyue is probably the cheapest. Kobo is okay. Its Linux and is open. Amazon is closed tight as a ducks ass. Depends what you want. My personal preference is open Android. Can do more with it. ALOT.

07-29-2015, 02:28 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The H2O has a very poor touchscreen, though. Mine was so inaccurate that it was virtually impossible to select a small hyperlink such as a footnote. I sold it as a result.

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