Okay, I give in! Please suggest an epub reader.

BookCat · 02-12-2014, 09:21 AM

While I LOVE my old Sony prs 505, which is (touch wood) in perfect working condition, it doesn't read epubs very well. There have been many suggestions from this site that I upgrade my reader rather than ask for the illustrated MR books to be uploaded in lrf, an old format suited to the 505.

Features I need:
eink display
buttons
SD slot
sideloading (for PD books and stuff I write)
the ability to read RTF or .doc

Features I would ideally want:
No wi-fi, or at least a switch offable wi-fi (the internet in my house is all wired).
Not keen on touch screens because I tend to run my thumb down the screen as I'm reading.
Would like dictionary look-up, realise that this would entail touchscreen.
Ability to alter font size.
No backlight, frontlight optional.
Not keen on the Amazon infrastructure or mobi.
A reader I can't surf the web on, or play games. I want a dedicated reader, not a pc or gameboy.

All suggestions considered. I would like something as much like the prs 505 as possible, but maybe not a Sony as they seem to be closing the reader division.

susan_cassidy · 02-12-2014, 11:33 AM

No reader I ever heard of does .doc format. Some have rtf support.

Every reader has sideloading.

Have you seen the wiki comparison chart here at modileread: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix?

EndlessWaves · 02-12-2014, 11:57 AM

A kobo fulfils most of the criteria.

While it is a touch screen you can run your finger down the screen with nothing activating provided you start off with a small up or down motion. That's on my Aura HD but the range shares the same software (although some like the mini have older versions) so I'd imagine it'll apply on all hardware models.

BookCat · 02-12-2014, 12:43 PM

Would you mind giving me a link to the Aura HD so that I can do some research? I've read some good things about it on MR.

Yes, Susan, I've seen the matrix, but it just confuses me! Easily done.

Billi · 02-12-2014, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

No reader I ever heard of does .doc format. Some have rtf support.

The Pocketbook and Onyx devices do .doc format.

Billi · 02-12-2014, 01:15 PM

I would advise you to investigate into the Sony T3 or into the Pocketbook devices, for instance this one:
http://www.pocketbook-readers.de/pro...products_id=84

(The site is in German but one gets the facts, I think.)

BookCat · 02-12-2014, 01:19 PM

Since Sony are closing down their reader division, I doubt that there'll be support for their readers for much longer, otherwise I would have considered the T3.

booklover6 · 02-12-2014, 01:23 PM

It's not like you would get support from Sony, anyway.

Billi · 02-12-2014, 01:28 PM

Yes, you may be right with the support lacking, I just thought this should be the reader you would be most familiar with.

Tarana · 02-12-2014, 01:46 PM

Honestly, there are only a few eink readers out there and hardly any that still use buttons. Other than the SD slot, the 6 inch Amazon ereader would suit your needs. Just use Calibre to convert .doc and .rtf files. They've worked fine on my unit. I have buttons and a look up dictionary, so it's not a problem. Other than initial registration, you never have to turn wifi on again. There appear to be public places in your area that have free wifi access, so shouldn't be too much of a problem.

susan_cassidy · 02-12-2014, 03:15 PM

Of course, the Kindle isn't an epub reader, which was the main thing that the OP mentioned.

booklover6 · 02-12-2014, 03:47 PM

If BookCat can find a Nook Simple Touch in a shop in her country, she would have what she wants....epub, buttons, SD card slot. And very likely a good sale price.

Other than that, the best bet, in my opinion, would be a Sony T1, T2 of T3, or a Kobo Glo, Aura, or Aura HD.

meeera · 02-12-2014, 07:14 PM

And a side note: if you get a capacitive screen (Aura 6 inch), you might want to try a cotton or wool finger-cot (thumb-cot?) on your thumb, so it won't set off the touch screen.

BookCat · 02-13-2014, 06:18 AM

Well I've crossed the Aura HD off my list because of its size. The Aura looks okay and like the way it doesn't refresh every page turn, but the font, on vids, doesn't look as clear as the HD and it seems to have big gaps at the bottom of the page, depending which font is being used.

My requirement is for a reader which can read rtf OR .doc, not both. It's easy to go into Word and change a .doc to rtf.

The Pocketbook seems impossible to get in the UK.

The T3 is very tempting but for the fact that the Sony ereader division is being taken over by Kobo as far as books are concerned, and I suspect the support for the readers, such as firmware updates, will be phased out soon.

A Kindle would side-step the problems with the new ADE, but wouldn't enable me to read epubs. I'd have to get the 3g version to get round having no wi-fi in the house.

It would be nice to have a reader which won't come with the new ADE. Any suggestions?

Billi · 02-13-2014, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

It would be nice to have a reader which won't come with the new ADE. Any suggestions?

Every reader you buy now has the old ADE. You can't buy any ebook reader with the new ADE at the moment.

Pocketbook - yes, I've seen you've crossed them out - stated to publish an update to all of their "relevant readers".

02-12-2014, 09:21 AM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Okay, I give in! Please suggest an epub reader. While I LOVE my old Sony prs 505, which is (touch wood) in perfect working condition, it doesn't read epubs very well. There have been many suggestions from this site that I upgrade my reader rather than ask for the illustrated MR books to be uploaded in lrf, an old format suited to the 505. Features I need: eink display buttons SD slot sideloading (for PD books and stuff I write) the ability to read RTF or .doc Features I would ideally want: No wi-fi, or at least a switch offable wi-fi (the internet in my house is all wired). Not keen on touch screens because I tend to run my thumb down the screen as I'm reading. Would like dictionary look-up, realise that this would entail touchscreen. Ability to alter font size. No backlight, frontlight optional. Not keen on the Amazon infrastructure or mobi. A reader I can't surf the web on, or play games. I want a dedicated reader, not a pc or gameboy. All suggestions considered. I would like something as much like the prs 505 as possible, but maybe not a Sony as they seem to be closing the reader division.

02-13-2014, 06:18 AM	#14
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Well I've crossed the Aura HD off my list because of its size. The Aura looks okay and like the way it doesn't refresh every page turn, but the font, on vids, doesn't look as clear as the HD and it seems to have big gaps at the bottom of the page, depending which font is being used. My requirement is for a reader which can read rtf OR .doc, not both. It's easy to go into Word and change a .doc to rtf. The Pocketbook seems impossible to get in the UK. The T3 is very tempting but for the fact that the Sony ereader division is being taken over by Kobo as far as books are concerned, and I suspect the support for the readers, such as firmware updates, will be phased out soon. A Kindle would side-step the problems with the new ADE, but wouldn't enable me to read epubs. I'd have to get the 3g version to get round having no wi-fi in the house. It would be nice to have a reader which won't come with the new ADE. Any suggestions? Last edited by BookCat; 02-13-2014 at 06:21 AM. Reason: paragraphs in wrong order!

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02-12-2014, 11:33 AM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	No reader I ever heard of does .doc format. Some have rtf support. Every reader has sideloading. Have you seen the wiki comparison chart here at modileread: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix?

02-12-2014, 11:57 AM	#3
EndlessWaves Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 38158 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kobo Aura HD	A kobo fulfils most of the criteria. While it is a touch screen you can run your finger down the screen with nothing activating provided you start off with a small up or down motion. That's on my Aura HD but the range shares the same software (although some like the mini have older versions) so I'd imagine it'll apply on all hardware models.

02-12-2014, 12:43 PM	#4
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Would you mind giving me a link to the Aura HD so that I can do some research? I've read some good things about it on MR. Yes, Susan, I've seen the matrix, but it just confuses me! Easily done.

02-12-2014, 01:15 PM	#6
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	I would advise you to investigate into the Sony T3 or into the Pocketbook devices, for instance this one: http://www.pocketbook-readers.de/pro...products_id=84 (The site is in German but one gets the facts, I think.)

02-12-2014, 01:19 PM	#7
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Since Sony are closing down their reader division, I doubt that there'll be support for their readers for much longer, otherwise I would have considered the T3.

02-12-2014, 01:23 PM	#8
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	It's not like you would get support from Sony, anyway.

02-12-2014, 01:28 PM	#9
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Yes, you may be right with the support lacking, I just thought this should be the reader you would be most familiar with.

02-12-2014, 01:46 PM	#10
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,038 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	Honestly, there are only a few eink readers out there and hardly any that still use buttons. Other than the SD slot, the 6 inch Amazon ereader would suit your needs. Just use Calibre to convert .doc and .rtf files. They've worked fine on my unit. I have buttons and a look up dictionary, so it's not a problem. Other than initial registration, you never have to turn wifi on again. There appear to be public places in your area that have free wifi access, so shouldn't be too much of a problem.

02-12-2014, 03:15 PM	#11
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Of course, the Kindle isn't an epub reader, which was the main thing that the OP mentioned.

02-12-2014, 03:47 PM	#12
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	If BookCat can find a Nook Simple Touch in a shop in her country, she would have what she wants....epub, buttons, SD card slot. And very likely a good sale price. Other than that, the best bet, in my opinion, would be a Sony T1, T2 of T3, or a Kobo Glo, Aura, or Aura HD.

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02-12-2014, 07:14 PM	#13
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	And a side note: if you get a capacitive screen (Aura 6 inch), you might want to try a cotton or wool finger-cot (thumb-cot?) on your thumb, so it won't set off the touch screen.