Long “Which eReader is best for me?” Query

[Debbie]

Hi all,

I have a Kobo Clara 2E that I bought to read ebooks from US public libraries via Overdrive/Libby. Kobo integrates well with Overdrive if you only have access to one library, but I use cards at several libraries. It’s mildly annoying to have to log into a different library with each book, and it’s a real problem if I have books from different libraries signed out at the same time. I’ve tried multiple times to use Adobe/ADE via my mac laptop to sideload library books onto the 2E without success.

Other negatives I have found with the 2E:
— Page turning and other interactions with the screen (such as logging into different Overdrive libraries) are slow.
— I prefer the interface of reading with the Libby app compared to the Kobo device or the Kobo app.
— It supposedly syncs my place in the book with the Kobo iOS app, but that doesn’t seem to happen automatically, so it is annoying to switch between reading on the 2E and reading (the same book) on my iphone or ipad.

Things I like about the 2E:
— It’s lightweight
— Screen is great for reading
— Battery life is great

So I am considering alternatives. My dream list would be:
— Runs Libby app (or, not quite as good, can integrate with multiple public libraries via Overdrive/Libby)
— Ideally also runs other apps that public libraries use, like Hoopla and CloudLibrary, though I use them much less often than Overdrive/Libby
— My place in a book will sync with the same book in the same app on my iphone/ipad.
— Decent battery life (say, at least a week with 1 hr/day reading)
— Updatable as needed and will be usable for at least a few years.
— Relatively lightweight
— I’m undecided about size but I think I would lean towards smaller rather than larger
— No ads. I don’t care if it shows me a bookstore, but I don’t want it to push it or any other products
— Relatively easy to make it relatively difficult for me to check email or texts, browse the web, or play games
— black and white

Things that I don’t care much about in either direction:
— Bookstore. I don’t often buy ebooks, and I have Calibre for use when needed.
— Mic or audio; on the rare occasion I would listen to an ebook I would do it on my phone.
— Ability to take notes
— Ability to read manga, comics, graphic novels
— Price, within reason

I actually read books quite comfortably on both my iphone and ipad, but it is so easy to get distracted on them that I would prefer a dedicated device. I considered getting a second ipad and just removing all other apps, but that’s still kind of heavy and the battery doesn’t last as long as on eInk devices, plus it seems like overkill. But it’s still an option. I am not interested in a Kindle.

I have your average reasonably-smart-person’s knowledge of computers/tech, and I am comfortable troubleshooting within more-or-less normal usage, but unfortunately I’m not that good at going much beyond fairly standard uses for a device. (Examples: several years ago I tried to run Linux on a formerly-Windows laptop without success; I don’t understand discussions I’ve seen online about “rooting” devices; my failure with sideloading books onto my Kobo.)

So after some research it seems that an Android eInk device on which I only put ebook related apps might be a good plan for me. I’ve looked into Boox devices, but I’ve seen mixed reviews by users. Concerns seem to be: (1) battery life (2) quality of the device/support - some people say it breaks easily and support is not good and (3) the longevity of the Android OS. As you can tell I live in an Apple universe. iOS can be updated for years after a device is launched, but the comments I’ve seen about Boox devices suggest that the Android OS that most of them use is relatively old and also can’t be updated. Is this correct??

I’ve also seen some comments about Pocketbook eReaders but haven’t found much info regarding how they would handle my concerns about accessing multiple Overdrive libraries.

What thoughts do you guys have for me? I’d love to hear your opinions on what I’ve already thought through, or anything else I haven’t considered.

Thanks!
Debbie

[JSWolf]

Given that you want to run Hoopla, CloudLibrary, and Libby, you would need to get an Android based reader. I suggest you get an Onyx Boox Poke5. It's Android with a 6" screen and if there are the apps available for Android, you can side load them.

https://shop.boox.com/products/poke5

[Aleron Ives]

There are essentially two routes you can take. If you want to go the Android route and use Libby directly, you can get a Boox Poke 5 (6") or Boox Page (7"). There are two types of updates that apply to Boox devices -- the Android version and the Boox version. Onyx releases new software regularly, and old devices receive updates for many years with new features (and new bugs).

The Android version, however, never gets updates, because Android updates are tied to the SoC, and Onyx uses old hardware to cut costs. If a Boox device ships with Android 12, it will always be Android 12. This limits your ability to install new apps, but you can continue using the device with existing apps indefinitely.

The other route you can take is to use Calibre to manage your library loans. Libby allows you to download ACSM files, which you can load in Calibre via the DeACSM plugin. AFAIK the plugin also supports library loans, so you can return books you've finished directly from Calibre.

Since you're loading the books into Calibre, it doesn't matter how many libraries you use, and you can bypass the sluggish performance on the Clara 2E by converting your books into KEPUB to access the faster reading engine on Kobo devices.

The Calibre method is less convenient, since you can't sync library books directly to your device, but it's free, and it avoids the hassle of having to learn Android.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

There are essentially two routes you can take. If you want to go the Android route and use Libby directly, you can get a Boox Poke 5 (6") or Boox Page (7"). There are two types of updates that apply to Boox devices -- the Android version and the Boox version. Onyx releases new software regularly, and old devices receive updates for many years with new features (and new bugs).

The Android version, however, never gets updates, because Android updates are tied to the SoC, and Onyx uses old hardware to cut costs. If a Boox device ships with Android 12, it will always be Android 12. This limits your ability to install new apps, but you can continue using the device with existing apps indefinitely.

The other route you can take is to use Calibre to manage your library loans. Libby allows you to download ACSM files, which you can load in Calibre via the DeACSM plugin. AFAIK the plugin also supports library loans, so you can return books you've finished directly from Calibre.

Since you're loading the books into Calibre, it doesn't matter how many libraries you use, and you can bypass the sluggish performance on the Clara 2E by converting your books into KEPUB to access the faster reading engine on Kobo devices.

The Calibre method is less convenient, since you can't sync library books directly to your device, but it's free, and it avoids the hassle of having to learn Android.

I'm going to stop you here and now. ePub eBooks do not cause a sluggish performance. That's just wrong. So please don't push this incorrect information.

[Debbie]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

There are essentially two routes you can take. If you want to go the Android route and use Libby directly, you can get a Boox Poke 5 (6") or Boox Page (7"). There are two types of updates that apply to Boox devices -- the Android version and the Boox version. Onyx releases new software regularly, and old devices receive updates for many years with new features (and new bugs).

The Android version, however, never gets updates, because Android updates are tied to the SoC, and Onyx uses old hardware to cut costs. If a Boox device ships with Android 12, it will always be Android 12. This limits your ability to install new apps, but you can continue using the device with existing apps indefinitely.

Thanks for all this. Calibre is a thought, but it does add an extra step.

I hadn’t understood that there are both Android updates (which won’t happen on a Boox device) and separate Boox SW updates (which will happen for some time), so that is helpful info for me. If I am content downloading Libby and a few other book-reading apps and using them as-is for a few years, are there security, speed, or other issues that go along with being stuck on Android 11 or 12?

[Aleron Ives]

Originally Posted by Debbie

If I am content downloading Libby and a few other book-reading apps and using them as-is for a few years, are there security, speed, or other issues that go along with being stuck on Android 11 or 12?

You're at the mercy of whoever makes Libby. When the Libby developers decide to drop Android 12 support, you would lose library access and would need to buy a new device (or switch to the Calibre method to avoid buying a new device).

You should also verify that the reading apps you want to use work properly on an e-paper screen. As an example, the Kindle app has page-turning animations that you may not be able to disable, and the animations are meant for LCD, so they look ugly and cause extra ghosting on Boox devices.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Debbie

Thanks for all this. Calibre is a thought, but it does add an extra step.

I hadn’t understood that there are both Android updates (which won’t happen on a Boox device) and separate Boox SW updates (which will happen for some time), so that is helpful info for me. If I am content downloading Libby and a few other book-reading apps and using them as-is for a few years, are there security, speed, or other issues that go along with being stuck on Android 11 or 12?

As long as the app isn't updated to need a newer version of Android, you'll be good.

Libby works with Android 7.1+.
CloudLibrary works with Android 2.2.2+
Hoopla works with Android 6.0+

So I see that you'd have no problem with an Onyx Boox Reader running Android 11.

[Quoth]

I think the minimum now for Playstore connection / App downloads is Android 5.x.
The 4.0 went over a year ago. The 4.4 or something like early this year.
Android 12 is still common on new devices (October 2021)
Few devices ship with later than Android 13 (14 is October 2023).
Some financial apps don't work on Android 8 (common on ereaders) but do on Android 10 (2019).

At least one Android 10 phone I have got a security update not long ago.

Libby is working currently on Android 8.0
Borrowbox works on an older Android 8.0 tablet, but stopped working a year ago on same Android 8.0 on a Boyue eink (though Libby, Playbooks etc work).

Many phones and tablets get Android security updates and vendor updates, but Android version updates are rare.

The Android eink ereaders tend to be more awkward, slower and worse battery run time than dedicated ereaders and far less compatible than LCD/OLED tablets and phones with Android. Even some apps that install and run are useless on Android eink because of 100x slower screen refresh and greater latency. You can use Gboard handwriting recognition on maybe Android 7 (text edit in free Jota), but it's unusable on eink.

I've a Hauwei Android 5.x phone that's very usable with Playstore and has x3 battery life of the Android 8 phone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I think the minimum now for Playstore connection / App downloads is Android 5.x.
The 4.0 went over a year ago. The 4.4 or something like early this year.
Android 12 is still common on new devices (October 2021)
Few devices ship with later than Android 13 (14 is October 2023).
Some financial apps don't work on Android 8 (common on ereaders) but do on Android 10 (2019).

At least one Android 10 phone I have got a security update not long ago.

Libby is working currently on Android 8.0
Borrowbox works on an older Android 8.0 tablet, but stopped working a year ago on same Android 8.0 on a Boyue eink (though Libby, Playbooks etc work).

Many phones and tablets get Android security updates and vendor updates, but Android version updates are rare.

The Android eink ereaders tend to be more awkward, slower and worse battery run time than dedicated ereaders and far less compatible than LCD/OLED tablets and phones with Android. Even some apps that install and run are useless on Android eink because of 100x slower screen refresh and greater latency. You can use Gboard handwriting recognition on maybe Android 7 (text edit in free Jota), but it's unusable on eink.

I've a Hauwei Android 5.x phone that's very usable with Playstore and has x3 battery life of the Android 8 phone.

I did read someplace about disabling all the rubbish that runs with Android on an Onyx Boox. So that would help the battery life significantly stopping all the rubbish that runs at start that's not needed.

[Quoth]

On the Boyue Likebook Mars you can disable the Google Framework entirely, but it's still worse run time than a Kobo Sage, and "sleep" is dramatically poor compared to Sage or any Kindle or Kobo. You have to power off if not going to use it for a day or two.

[Debbie]

Thanks all for the input, plus thanks to the person who made and posted the comparison table at https://comparisontabl.es/e-readers/ which was super useful.*

I think at the moment I am going to try to get more used to my Clara 2E, since I already have it. But I now have a better understanding of Android in general and the Boox devices in particular, in case I do decide to go that route.

*I see the creator is Guido Lobbrecht, not sure if it was he who posted it or someone else.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Debbie

I actually read books quite comfortably on both my iphone and ipad, but it is so easy to get distracted on them that I would prefer a dedicated device. I considered getting a second ipad and just removing all other apps, but that’s still kind of heavy and the battery doesn’t last as long as on eInk devices, plus it seems like overkill. But it’s still an option.

Before I even got to this paragraph, I was wondering whether you've seen and handled an iPad Mini. It's a lovely little ereader for those who want full Libby/Hoopla capability, highly responsive handling, and are not wedded to e-ink. Very portable, less fragile than an eink device, battery life maybe isn't the same but is still very good. I've usually bought Apple certified refurbs for the discount but still full warranty.

The mini 6 weighs 297 grams. If you're not in a rush, they're well overdue for a bump, and hopefully any new one would have the M1 or M2 chip. Mind you, I'm still running the mini 4 and it's just fine for reading.

[DNSB]

For what it may be worth, one nephew just picked up an iPad Mini (256GB, A15 chip, 293 grams, WiFi only, 8.3" 2266-by-1488 display. He added an Apple Pencil 2 to the package and a 3rd party keyboard/case. He's only had it for a week but so far he's been very happy with it as he gets ready for his 3rd year at university.

[Debbie]

Originally Posted by meeera

Before I even got to this paragraph, I was wondering whether you've seen and handled an iPad Mini. It's a lovely little ereader for those who want full Libby/Hoopla capability, highly responsive handling, and are not wedded to e-ink. Very portable, less fragile than an eink device, battery life maybe isn't the same but is still very good. I've usually bought Apple certified refurbs for the discount but still full warranty.

The mini 6 weighs 297 grams. If you're not in a rush, they're well overdue for a bump, and hopefully any new one would have the M1 or M2 chip. Mind you, I'm still running the mini 4 and it's just fine for reading.

I hadn’t thought of the Mini, actually. Do you have other apps on it, or truly just use it for reading? And how do you find the battery life to be when used just for reading? My regular ipad (with regular usage, not just reading) lasts a day or maybe two; I’d like to have at least a few days on whatever I’m using for reading.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by Debbie

I hadn’t thought of the Mini, actually. Do you have other apps on it, or truly just use it for reading? And how do you find the battery life to be when used just for reading? My regular ipad (with regular usage, not just reading) lasts a day or maybe two; I’d like to have at least a few days on whatever I’m using for reading.

I have other apps (I don't have much of a distraction issue), so I couldn't tell you how long the battery lasts while just reading, with wifi/bluetooth off etc.