I’ve been a book reader for a long time, but never got into eBooks. I want to try it out next, but don’t want to use any privacy vilotating devices or software. So, those “10 best” lists I found while searching are out, all of the Amazon crap is out.
What’s left? What’s a good device to buy so I can self-host my own eBook library and get into eReading. I would prefer suggestions for devices which just read books and comics and such. I don’t need access to the app stores on it, I think.
Thanks for any ideas.
ETA: I have a Linux PC and an Android phone, if those things matter.
ETA2: Thank you all for these replies. You’ve given me a lot to think about and I appreciate the help!
LAST EDIT: Getting a Kobo Clara Color, 6" eInk dealie-bob! Thanks y’all. Don’t let this stop you from posting your suggestions still. Posts like these help many over time. Y’all rock!
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I have an old Kindle Paperwhite. I put use Calibre and USB to manage the library, no Amazon connection necessary. Works great.
Used to have Paperwhite. Upgraded to Kindle Oasis a few years ago. No regrets.
Just… Another kobo. I don’t actually use calibre though, i just get the books in epub format. Then when you hook the kobo to the PC, it shows as mass storage anyway. Just dump your files, and after ejected it does its cursory file scan, and it shows them properly listed in the device.
Of course Calibre offers a lot more functionality, so if you want to have a proper library it might make sense to manage your books from there. I’m basically saying no conversion is needed a it natively reads epub.
Buy a Kobo, never connect it to WiFi. Or flash KOReader on it. Either way much better than the alternatives.
I have a Clara 2E. It was some time ago, so I cannot remember all the fine details, but I couldn’t get mine to start without some internet connection. I gave a throwaway email and allowed it to update before I switched off WiFi and could freely move books with Calibre.
To it’s credit, in 3 years since purchase it has not asked for internet since switching it on the first time.
Kobo. Simple as that. 😊
I use a Boox Note, and I like it a lot. Its an android based eBook reader so you have full access to android apps including side loading apps from other stores.
By default it does not have Google services set up but you can use the Play store should you want. But its not integrated to googles services. Obviously there is some integration to Onyx Boox services which is based in China. However infindnit is unobstrusive and you dont have to use their store or any of their tools.
Personally I use Calibre on my Linux PC to manage my books on the device, and I use fbreader as a reader (closed source) but you can install open source software if thats your preference. KOReader certainly works but I’m not a big fan of the interface personally.
I use ebooks.com to buy books (and calibre to remove DRM so I can use my preferred software), and you can install the Kindle app to access a kindle library if you haven’t liberated your books yet. Ebooks reader works on the device too. Obviously DRM free books from any source and format can also be used.
My device - the note - has an nice crisp screen, is well made with a nice aluminium chassie and is comfortable to hold. I read books in portrait mode so you have 2 pages visible at a time. Its also good for a4 size documents. They do also have smaller sizes that match a kindle paper white.
Kobo is the answer. It used to require some finicking to get it so you didn’t have to sign up with Walmart, but now that’s supposedly no longer an issue (I’ve had my Kobo for a long time). Install Calibre and the Kobo extension for Calibre. You now can borrow epubs from your local library, purchase them from your favorite online ebook store, or sail the high seas if you don’t give a fuck.
…and then my Kobo Clara briked itself into a bootloop after i connected it to WiFi.
Also beware how you buy ebooks from kobo’s store or you won’t be able to un-drm them (i.e. they get locked to the kobo).
All in all they do tend to be nice hardware and my usual recommendation.You can de-DRM books purchased from the Kobo store, I do it frequently. Use Apprentice Alf tools in Calibre.
Sorry to hear that. I’ll admit I don’t buy ebooks. Yoho yoho and all that. And yeah, I also never turn on wifi. Have you tried a hard reset?
The problem with all hard resets is that the reset button’s either:
a) at the lower back of the device
b) under the coverWhereas mine seems to be c) these is none.
At least they’ve partenered with iFixit, better late than never.
Instead of self-hosting, I have a device that can hold a large amount of sideloaded material and sync between my PC and device with syncthing. Boox devices work well for this.
there’s the pineNote but its a bit pricy
I use a Kobo Libra 2 and it’s been great
Pocketbook devices mostly run on Linux, except for a few android models. I have the Pocketbook Basic Lux, and I side load manga onto a SD card for it. It has a bookstore that can be entirely ignored, and you can use it without ever connecting wifi. I use Kindle Comic Converter to resize all my manga to the same resolution of the screen to prevent artifacts when the software downscales the images, as well as significantly reducing file size. It has a very simple menu and does not come with any bloatware or unnecessary additions. It is simply an eReader.
+1 for Pocketbook
Never had any issues with it whatsoever.
The device works great with Calibre.
There is some other functionality that I did not use.
Have a later model, the Pocketbook Verse (not the pro edition). Flashed KOReader on it which was much easier than anticipated. Have a couple extra features in the reader that way.
It does as promised. I just plug it into my devices to get epubs onto it. You don’t even need a book management software like Calibre, you can use it similarly to how you’d use a thumb drive.
I use a boox leaf 2, it has android without google play services OOTB, you can install that if you want and you can side load apps like normal android too. It has a nice crisp screen, adjustable backlight (color and intensity) micro SD slot in addition to the 32gb internal storage. It will open pretty much any eBook format out there, and you can also use kindle app and adobe digital editions for DRM books (if you don’t strip the DRM)
I highly recommend it.
I have a Remarkable Paper Pro that I love for graphic novels, aside of its hand-writting capabilities. It’s also good for reading books, but the size is a bit too big to carry it without a bag or when out and about. Ideally, I’d like something like the Boox Palma 2, but not sure if I can justify the price + Pen having already another eNotebook.
I use a Lenovo M9 tablet and Readera as an e-reader and Smart Audiobook player and am very happy with it. Both apps are free without ads but also have a paid version with a couple extra features. I hop on wifi and connect to calbre-web download all the books I want and then turn wifi off for maximum privacy
I read on my phone amoled display in dark mode with the app Cool Reader.
Same here with librera
Haven’t tried any other similar product (except the pro version), but I have the Remarkable 2 and in my experience it’s pretty good as an e reader as well. Maybe expensive for just using it as an e-reader but you can also use it as a note taking device. It’s pretty big but still really thin and light, so it’s a pretty good reading experience especially if you have bigger hands, some people may find it too big as an e-reader tho, but I really like the size.
One recommendation I can make is that if you are interested in it, if you have the money consider the pro version. If notetaking matters to you, the little I experienced writing on the pro version was so much better. The pen is much better as well as the tracking. My version tends to be off by about a millimeter at some places and the edges. This becomes extremely frustrating when you’re trying to e.g. dot the i-s and you keep missing where you want to write. From what I saw, the pro version is much better at this and is in colour.
I have had quite a battle with/trying to avoid Remarkable’s cloud service with both my RM1 and RM2. It is very deeply linked, and their privacy policy isn’t the best.
This might not be applicable if you’re only going to use it as an ereader, but I want to keep sensitive documents on mine and it has not been easy. I currently use this script, but it’s a clunky experience.
Unbelievably good piece of hardware though!
I’d argue it’s a simple toggle, namely if you do not register to their cloud, you don’t have access to their features and that’s it. If you somehow “mess” registration up and still went through the steps, hard reset and voila, clean reMarkable.
Source : I had the one and now have the reMarkable 2 and Pro and I do not use their cloud.
Also note that you can how your own self hosted alternative https://github.com/ddvk/rmfakecloud
Ah, didn’t realise this was the Privacy community, yeah not main the goto if that’s your focus.
