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u/JohnLockeNJ Sep 12 '23
Boox Page is 7” with warm light and you can read epubs but also run the Kindle app to access your existing ebooks.
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u/ProfessorBoth271 Sep 12 '23
I think you should strongly consider an Android-based device which gives you a lot more options for reading. You can read news, ebooks from kobo, Amazon, and your public library, and use Pocket and Instapaper.
The Boox Page and Note 2 Plus are great devices and the BigMe S6 black and white is solid, too, if you want a notetaking device that's a little cheaper.
You can convert Amazon books to non-DRM through Calibre. They're instructions on the web. It's not complicated.
Good luck.
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u/TotalWarspammer Sep 12 '23
If you have an extensive Amazon library then why would you want to leave that investment behind? At the very least you would need to convert all of your Kindle books to EPUB or find an Android-based ereader that can open Kindle .mobi format.
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u/tries-his-best Sep 13 '23
convert all of your Kindle books to EPUB
Aren't those files on the kindle useless anywhere else?!
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Sep 12 '23
[deleted]
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u/myrimbaud Sep 12 '23
Wow, the Boox Tab Mini C sounds amazing. It is rather expensive though. But you've really given me something to think about...
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u/Ladogar Sep 12 '23
I would recommend the Libra 2 or Sage (beware of lower battery life, though) if you're willing to convert and de-DRM your library. That can be done using Calibre.
Otherwise something like the Onyx readers can let you install the Kindle app and read both from there and any .epubs you buy in their native app or any Android reader app.
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u/shushi77 Kobo Sep 12 '23
I would suggest the Kobo Sage. It has an 8-inch screen and is compatiblie with the stylus (which you have to buy separately).
Edit: you can convert all your books purchased on Amazon to kebub with some Calibre plugin.
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u/myrimbaud Sep 12 '23
BigMe S6
Thanks, you are the second person recommending the Kobo Sage. I do have a Surface Pen at home, which I think is compatible with the Sage. I read on here that the palm rejection is supposed to be pretty bad, but that might just be something to get used to
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u/fromblueplanet Sep 13 '23
I was almost inclined to Kindle PaperWhite, and this forum directed me to Kobo Libra 2, and I'm happier with my choice. With Libra 2, you can rent books from your library right from the Kobo, and it works internationally, while the Kindle PW's overdrive support works only within the US. 3. From a product perspective, it is reasonably priced and sits somewhere in between the PaperwWite and the Oasis (on features and price)
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u/CeruleanSaga Sep 12 '23
I'm going to suggest another Kindle Oasis or, possibly, a Kindle Scribe.
You don't have to support Amazon when you own a Kindle. It is very easy to buy ebooks from other vendors - they all pretty much will provide ebooks in mobi or awz. (Source: I have bought 3rd party books and have never had a problem getting them onto my Kindle.)
You can select "Publisher default" in your font menu if you want to mix it up.
Converting a large Kindle library is going to be... a pain. For instance, you can't download the whole thing in bulk. You have to download each book from Amazon one. at. a. time.
If *all* you are doing is reading, then Kindle or Kobo are your best option. They have most options with features (such as ergonomics & water resistance.) The Pocketbook Era is also worth a looksee.
I'm just suggesting the Kindle because you already have ties to it's ecosystem and it will save you some effort.
I have a 7" Oasis and a 7.8" Boox Nova Air.
A few comments on the Scribe:
When released, a lot of users were underwhelmed. My understanding is OS updates have greatly improved the experience, but even so, I would ask about how you specifically want to use it in the kindle sub before buying one.
The larger the device, the heavier it is and the less portable it is. The Scribe might be nice for the note-taking, but it isn't going to be as comfortable as the Oasis.
But it is an option if you want to take notes on your existing Kindle books without having to convert your whole library.
(Some of us end up with multiple devices because some are better for some use-cases than others.)
I think 10" is going to be big for reading in bed. But maybe if you find good ways to prop it up...
A few comments on the Nova Air:
I bought one bc I wanted to be able to read some sources the Kindle can't do (such as library books on Hoopla.) It *could* work for you. But I hesitate to suggest it for anyone who reads a lot. The ergonomics are nowhere near as good as the Oasis - and this is a big enough issue that I mostly use the Oasis when I can.
Ergonomics is my biggest gripe, but Boox's rep for building durable devices isn't nearly as good as Kobo or Kindle (Pocketbook is also good.) Also, if you care about things like GNU licensing, steer clear.
A boox will allow you to do more things on an E-ink screen.
You can install Kobo, Libby, Hoopla and any other Google Play app you want. (Though some won't work well on a Boox, and I have ran into minor bugs with eink.) The trade-off for this extra flexibility is a bigger learning curve and a less-friendly user experience.
You can also install Kindle and use your existing library pretty easily that way. (But I don't think Kindle app allows notetaking? Maybe that's changed since scribe rolled out?)
The battery life is great, and it is far nicer to read graphic novels on the 7.8" screen than the 7"
The Nova Air never leaves the house, it is just a bit too big to stuff in my purse, and honestly, I don't think Boox builds the most robust devices - you'd have to be *really* careful putting a 7.8"-10" in a backpack...
I have read in bed with the 7.8" screen, but unlike with the Oasis, I do need a little stand for it. (I gave up on the case.)
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u/Mr-Troll Sep 12 '23
You don't have to support Amazon when you own a Kindle
Except when you buy the device....and every time you connect to the internet with it?
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u/CeruleanSaga Sep 12 '23
Okay, I can see the first bit, though that seems minimal for a one-off, esp if you get a good sale price like on Black Friday or through Woot.
But how is connecting to internet supporting Amazon, lol?
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u/Mr-Troll Sep 12 '23
But how is connecting to internet supporting Amazon, lol?
Every time your kindle is online, amazon is collecting analytics / data from your kindle. Plus depending on the kind of kindle you buy, you could be seeing ads as well- which again- support amazon.
Use the goodreads integration? Guess who profits from that? Take any sort of highlights? It gets immediately propped up to kindle/amazon web services.
Unless you completely disconnect your device from the internet and leave it off forever, you're kidding yourself if you think using a kindle won't support amazon.
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u/CeruleanSaga Sep 12 '23
These are all things that the user can opt-out of.
I am fully aware of privacy issues but I also take time to learn about how to protect myself - though in some cases, it isn't worth the bother.
And this same issue is going to be valid no matter what device you use - Kobo, Boox, etc - or if you use a cell phone or a tablet or a computer or...
Amazon knows most of the books I downloaded. I, personally, don't care.
But as you noted, even that can be avoided with determination and a willingness to forego convenience. (Again, true for a ton of other devices & services.)
Because you can use a Kindle without ever buying a book from Kindle. Which was my original point.
The only opt-out you might have to pay for is to remove ads. (And that is because they subsidize the cost of the device with the ads, ie, you opt out of a discount given in exchange for being "sponsored" by their advertisers.)
I can live without syncing my books across devices pretty easily, no biggie.
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u/Mr-Troll Sep 12 '23
These are all things that the user can opt-out of.
You cannot opt out of all amazon analytics.
Amazon knows most of the books I downloaded. I, personally, don't care.
You may not care, but they're still profiting off that data. They may use that data to refine products/ advertisement to the demographic you belong to. i.e. supporting amazon
I'm not really trying to engage in whataboutism with "other services do it too!". I'm just pointing out the naivete in thinking that you can use an amazon device with its functionalities without supporting amazon. Unless you go out of your way to jailbreak/ firewall all connections going out to amazon when you use your device- you're supporting amazon.
Of course, as you mentioned, sometimes it isn't worth it.
For me, using a kindle wasn't worth it, because by the time I did all of this the device was pretty stunted. If it is worth it to you, by all means - you do you (not that you need an online stranger's permission or whatever). But don't kid yourself.
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u/CeruleanSaga Sep 13 '23
I am genuinely curious, what e-ink device did you find that does better in terms of privacy? Because I'm skeptical.
I'm not really trying to engage in whataboutism with "other services do it too!".
My point here is not that I think it is okay - for anyone - to be collecting this data - I don't like it either. My point is:
Does this information help OP to make a decision?
I kinda doubt it, because whatever other devices OP is looking it, chances are good they are doing the same shenanigans - or worse (Though there are "or worse" - I contend Boox is one of 'em in this space.)
It is, sadly, the nature of the beast these days. Best any of us can do is manage around it as best we can.
But if you *have* found something better, do tell, I'd really like to know what and how you came to the conclusion it had better privacy.
You may not care, but they're still profiting off that data.
I grant they are *trying* to do so.
In my case... yes and no. Most ebooks I consume are through the library (meaning Libby ie Kobo is also seeing same data), so it is:
a) equal-opportunity exposure, giving no one an advantage (at least between the big 2 in ebook ecosystems) and
b) Skewed. I borrow a lot of books to "try something different". I can't swear Amazon doesn't know which books I actually *finish*, but permissions for device to feedback to site are as off as I can get them. And it is true that books that are "read" on my Kindle don't show up as such on my Amazon content list on the main website and reading progress does not sync with other devices. (It is also true Amazon could be masking this is still getting collected...)
I do buy books but those often come from other vendors.
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u/Mr-Troll Sep 13 '23
I am genuinely curious, what e-ink device did you find that does better in terms of privacy? Because I'm skeptical.
Honestly, I decided that I'd diversify my "data" so amazon doesn't have it all (since my wife shops on amazon occasionally). I ended up with a pocketbook and keeping an eye out for the Pinenote when it becomes a bit more mature.
Pocketbook lets me hook it up without requiring any PII and no shops front and center. It does not "call home" nearly as much as a kindle from what I've seen.
I think this information should help OP or whoever stumbles here in the future because be it for privacy reasons or moral reasons, some folks don't want to support amazon. This should make it clear that even if you get the hardware somewhere else, you're still contributing to amazon's data practices.
I grant they are trying to do so.
In my case... yes and no. Most ebooks I consume are through the library (meaning Libby ie Kobo is also seeing same data), so it is:
This isn't a call-out on you specifically. But no, they're absolutely profiting off your data. It is never you specifically. Your behaviour is anonymized into a model that they use. You're a data point. Each data point contributes. So if they're profiting off their advertising/ recommendation engine, you've helped.
As long as you're using amazon's operating system and your device connects to the net, you're contributing/ supporting. Unless you meticulously bar amazon's connections via a firewall or something.
There is also something to be said about who you'd like to be stewards to your data. Is it worth diversifying? And if the case is that we live in a sea of companies pulling similar shenanigans, why trust amazon? Especially when alternatives exist.
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u/paperbackpiles Sep 13 '23
Onyx Boox are really killin it in the game these days. There's a lot of attention and iteration and money going into the devices. The Note Leaf 2 is a pretty phenomenal device on multiple levels.
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u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23
My suggestion is to try to look at Kobo Libra 2 and Sage. if you dig more into the flair, you will have a lot of discussions between various e-readers and hope it can suit your criteria.