Ebook reader for foreign languages

[Phixster]

Hi there,

I've always read ebooks on my phone but a recent visit to the optometrist has made me consider getting a proper ebook reader in order to save my eyesight (and battery).

For context purposes: I'm from Australia, I've never owned an ebook reader before and I am not tied to any particular ecosystem. So I'm basically in the market for a new ebbok reader with the following features/requirements:

1. Can read/display Chinese well
- 95% of what I read is Chinese novels which I download from various sources. They are usually in txt format with some epub files. So it's important that Chinese language (both simplified and traditional) is able to be displayed well.

2. Sideloading books and borrowing library books
- probably most of what I will read will not be downloaded from the official store so the ebook reader I'm looking for should be able to do so in a relatively painless process and not crash or do some weird rendering thing...
- I also want to be able to read books borrowed from my local library
- I don't mind using calibre if required because I'm pretty sure no libraries in australia support kindle (someone please correct me if I'm wrong)

3. Must have built in light. Pretty self explanatory.

4. In built dictionaries.
- mostly looking for a Japanese to English dictionary since I'm trying to improve my Japanese language ability and looking to start reading some novels

5. Price and portability. Looking for a portable size to be able to be held single handedly comfortably. Not considering any of the top range models because of price. Something around the 200aud mark.

Thanks for any advice.

[Cinisajoy]

For epubs and the library, you want a Kobo.
Not sure on the dictionary.

To anyone else with suggestions: his budget is roughly $152 today.

[Doitsu]

If foreign language support is your main criteria, you might want to get a Kindle. Otherwise pretty much any recent epub reader with built-in light will do.

Originally Posted by Phixster

1. Can read/display Chinese well

The Kindle GUI can be changed to Chinese or Japanese. It's also possible to use Chinese and Japanese keyboard layouts with the English GUI.

Originally Posted by Phixster

2. Sideloading books and borrowing library books

Sideloading works after conversion to the AZW3 format with Calibre.
AFAIK, you won't be able to borrow Overdrive library books in Australia, unless they added Kindle support over the last few years.

Originally Posted by Phixster

3. Must have built in light. Pretty self explanatory.

All Paperwhite, Voyage and Oasis models have built-in light.

Originally Posted by Phixster

4. In built dictionaries.

All Kindle models come with free monolingual Chinese and Japanese dictionaries.

• 现代汉语词典 (Xian Dai Han Yu Ci Dian) Commercial Press
• 大辞泉 (Daijisen Japanese Dictionary)

If you register your Kindle, you can also download the following free bilingual dictionaries:

• Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary (プログレッシブ和英中辞典第３版) Shogakukan
• Progressive English-Japanese Dictionary(プログレッシブ英和中辞典) Shogakukan
• Modern Chinese-English Dictionary (现代汉英词典) FLTRP
• Modern English-Chinese Dictionary (现代英汉词典) FLTRP

Originally Posted by Phixster

5. Price and portability. Looking for a portable size to be able to be held single handedly comfortably.

Current Kindle models weigh between 160 and 190 grams. If you're on a budget look for refurbished Paperwhites.

[Phixster]

Thanks for the advice.

How is kobo in terms of foreign language support?