Reader with no wifi at all?

[dunkinstunkin]

Hi all,

I have a very bad internet addiction. If I have access to a browser, I will stay up late on the internet. I am also addressing the psychological aspects of this issue, but a recovering alcoholic doesn't keep a bottle in the cupboard..

Anyway, I have (mostly) solved this problem on my android phone and windows PC with some great tools (Cold Turkey and Lock Me Out). But I had to get rid of my kindle paperwhite because of the included browser.

On what modern E ink devices is it possible to completely, permanently disable the wifi or browser (preferably wifi)?

I just bought an Onyx Boox Go 6, and using Shizuku and Canta I was able to remove the google play store and the browser completely. So, a success! I am not overall impressed with the device though.

I understand that both Kobo and PocketBook run linux, but so far googling has not turned up any results from the last 5 years of anyone doing something like permanently disabling wifi.

Has anyone done anything like this on other devices?

Thank you!

[Yapyap]

Possibly a bit too left field but if you really want to remove all temptation to do anything but read, the Xteink X4? It has wifi, I think, for file transfer (also SD card) but no browser (and no touch screen).

It’s very small though and quite limited in what it can do (read DRM-free epub or text files), but maybe in your case that might be a plus.

If that’s too tiny and limited… if you could manage to de-browser Boox Go 6, then how about Boox Go 7? It’s 7’’ and should be a fair bit more powerful / faster / better specced than the Go 6.

[DNSB]

For what it may be worth, one friend of mine renamed the WiFi driver on a Kobo Forma to prevent his child from being able to connect to the Internet. To restore the connection, he has a KoboRoot.tgz file that just adds the driver with the correct filename.

[dunkinstunkin]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I made some changes today that have got me happier with the boox go 6. I got the refresh and dpi settings configured correctly, I installed andoff and locked it down even more thoroughly, and installed the android FreeKiosk app pointed at koreader.

So it's essentially a dedicated KOreader device now. I think that will work!

[haertig]

Originally Posted by dunkinstunkin

But I had to get rid of my kindle paperwhite because of the included browser.

On what modern E ink devices is it possible to completely, permanently disable the wifi or browser (preferably wifi)?

Why go with an eReader at all? They still make books out of paper. Read those instead.

Originally Posted by dunkinstunkin

I understand that both Kobo and PocketBook run linux, but so far googling has not turned up any results from the last 5 years of anyone doing something like permanently disabling wifi.

If you can disable WiFi, then you can re-enable WiFi. That is not a solution.

YOU have to change. Trying to change the world around you is doomed to failure. You may need professional psychiatric help if you are as addicted as you say. You need to learn how to resist the temptation. Trying to get rid of all the things that temp you will never work - there are too many of them, and they are everywhere.

[dunkinstunkin]

I am also addressing the psychological aspects of this issue, but a recovering alcoholic doesn't keep a bottle in the cupboard..

An eBook reader doesn't need to access the internet, we can be intentional about how we engage with technology without abandoning it's usefulness, we are fighting against mega corporations using psychological tricks to try and keep us addicted, and mental health is also an intersectional issue.

But as to the topic of this post and this forum, I think I've got a solution to my specific goal, and perhaps this post will be useful to others exercising there individual freedom to do something similar.

All the best to you!

[rowe]

There is great value in designing for friction - creating a environment where healthy habits are the path of least resistance.

I’ve found that having a pocket ereader is a brilliant way to break the cycle. I’ve trained myself to reach for my reader instead of my iPhone, and having that specific tool makes all the difference.

For your ask, maybe Xteink X4 as mentioned earlier or Woxster Scriba.

I find that B/W e-ink is enough of a barrier in itself though. I prefer a higher quality pocket ereader with cellular (my favourite is the Viwoods Reader). It's good for reading, not very good for web browsing, and terrible with video. Also AI on eink is a good replacement for the web IMO (doesn't suck you in to doomscrolling, but can give you information you need). Because the device is more capable it means I hardly ever need to use my iPhone.