Backlit e-Reader, least eye strain, & open most formats?

[firstname]

I am looking for some advice on an e-Reader, which I had intended to buy second hand to keep costs down, but I will consider purchasing a new one also if the perfect device is too new to be available second hand. The main capabilities I would like it to have are as follow:

1. Backlit so I can read at night without a light

2. Least eye strain possible. I do not suffer with my eyes, but I have read about how blue light from a regular tablet can affect sleep, which I can have problems with, and I would rather negate this as much as possible.

3. The ability to load almost all, or most formats, as I have a large collection of e-books from Amazon but also other providers etc. I am happy to root the device, if necessary.

Wi-Fi would be nice for transferring files, but this is not a deal breaker. I am happy enough with a black & white display as I want this device for reading books, colour would be a bonus, but not something I want to pay extra for, or sacrifice anything listed above.

I watched one review online about the Kobo Aura One, and although this is way over my budget, I would consider the investment if it really is what would suit my needs. I then watched another review, and it really is damning of the Kobo Aura One, intermittent touch response, delay changing pages, inability to select text, and bad PDF navigation.

Perhaps I should just go with Kindle Paperwhite and jailbreak it to allow ePub compatibility?

[pdurrant]

I'd suggest going for a Kindle Paperwhite, and just convert your ePubs to AZW3 with calibre.

[meeera]

Firstly, I'm guessing that you're looking for a front-lit e-ink device, given that you're seeking black and white with lowest eyestrain? E-ink readers are all frontlit (or not lit at all).

Your other needs don't really narrow things down much, if you're willing to convert formats (which is very easy with Calibre, stripping DRM first if necessary with Apprentice Alf's tools). Do you want a six inch screen, or larger? Is waterproofing of interest to you? Library ebook borrowing? Font customisation, sideloading of fonts, fine display customisation? Other things?

You also haven't stated your country. It makes a difference.

If you're planning to read a lot of PDFs, on the other hand, especially if they're technical/scientific PDFs, I'd suggest a tablet.

[Pajamaman]

Be warned, the current jailbreak no longer works with the current firmware. You can still buy the old firmware, but be careful...

Also Kobo supports more formats than Kindle. And it comes jailbroken. But Kindle does have more tools written for a jailbroken device, as long as you can jailbreak it.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by meeera

Firstly, I'm guessing that you're looking for a front-lit e-ink device, given that you're seeking black and white with lowest eyestrain? E-ink readers are all frontlit (or not lit at all).

Your other needs don't really narrow things down much, if you're willing to convert formats (which is very easy with Calibre, stripping DRM first if necessary with Apprentice Alf's tools). Do you want a six inch screen, or larger? Is waterproofing of interest to you? Library ebook borrowing? Font customisation, sideloading of fonts, fine display customisation? Other things?

You also haven't stated your country. It makes a difference.

If you're planning to read a lot of PDFs, on the other hand, especially if they're technical/scientific PDFs, I'd suggest a tablet.

This is good advice.

Most e-readers can not read Amazon and ePub books. Invest some time learning about Calibre and DRM stripping if you want to read your books on a device of your choosing.

[Pajamaman]

Also be aware Amazon is introducing a book format called KFX which cannot be converted. You can still d/l the older ebook formats via loopholes, but Amazon is making it harder to convert books.
If you want an "open" ereader, it's harder to find a less open ereader than a Kindle, and they're becoming less and less open. whatever you do, if you get one, do it soon and make sure you have the old firmware.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

Also be aware Amazon is introducing a book format called KFX which cannot be converted. You can still d/l the older ebook formats via loopholes, but Amazon is making it harder to convert books.
If you want an "open" ereader, it's harder to find a less open ereader than a Kindle, and they're becoming less and less open. whatever you do, if you get one, do it soon and make sure you have the old firmware.

Forgive me, but that's slightly alarmist advice. Firstly, there's no practical possibility of ever not being able to load your own content onto a Kindle, and so you can use it to read books bought elsewhere, if that's your wish. Secondly, there's little possibility of ever being "forced" to get a Kindle book in KFX format.

A Kindle is neither more nor less open than any other brand, and which firmware version you have on it is pretty irrelevant unless you have a wish to jailbreak it (something I've never personally felt the slightest urge to do ).

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Secondly, there's little possibility of ever being "forced" to get a Kindle book in KFX format.

Aside from using an older version of Kindle for PC, how can you currently avoid getting a format other than KFX from Amazon?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Aside from using an older version of Kindle for PC, how can you currently avoid getting a format other than KFX from Amazon?

Use the "transfer via USB" option on the "Manage Your Kindle" page at Amazon. That gives you a KF8 or Mobi version of the book. It's unlikely to ever give you KFX, because KFX isn't a single file, but a bundle of files and a folder.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Use the "transfer via USB" option on the "Manage Your Kindle" page at Amazon. That gives you a KF8 or Mobi version of the book. It's unlikely to ever give you KFX, because KFX isn't a single file, but a bundle of files and a folder.

You must own an actual Kindle to use the "transfer via USB" option. I don't own a Kindle, and when I chose that I get this message:

"You have selected content that is not compatible with any of your registered devices. Please remove incompatible content from selection for eligible devices to appear."

So as far as I know, aside from using an older version of Kindle for PC, you can not avoid KFX from Amazon. And if they retire the older versions of Kindle For PC (as they have done before) then customers like me will be out of luck.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So as far as I know, aside from using an older version of Kindle for PC, you can not avoid KFX from Amazon. And if they retire the older versions of Kindle For PC (as they have done before) then customers like me will be out of luck.

There have been instructions posted in the various KFX threads for disabling getting KFX in newer versions of K4PC. Haven't tried them myself.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Use the "transfer via USB" option on the "Manage Your Kindle" page at Amazon. That gives you a KF8 or Mobi version of the book. It's unlikely to ever give you KFX, because KFX isn't a single file, but a bundle of files and a folder.

The Apple AZK is also a bundle of files in a folder. I have no doubt that Amazon can deliver a KFX in a single file that gets expanded automatically. KDF is a format that may provide that ability. After all ePub itself is a bundle of files inside a zip file. Some of the tools I have seen open the ePub zip and store it in a folder in order to read it with a browser.

Dale

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

There have been instructions posted in the various KFX threads for disabling getting KFX in newer versions of K4PC. Haven't tried them myself.

Good to know. I followed the KFX threads for a while, then gave up since my current installation of K4PC still works.

[ZodWallop]

firstname's gotta be asking how any of this will help him/her find a good reader.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

You must own an actual Kindle to use the "transfer via USB" option. I don't own a Kindle, and when I chose that I get this message:

"You have selected content that is not compatible with any of your registered devices. Please remove incompatible content from selection for eligible devices to appear."

So as far as I know, aside from using an older version of Kindle for PC, you can not avoid KFX from Amazon. And if they retire the older versions of Kindle For PC (as they have done before) then customers like me will be out of luck.

Certainly you must own a Kindle, and that's what it's been suggested that the OP buys.