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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   2982 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 29, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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What eInk readers do you use? I have an ancient kindle, but I'd like something with better contrast. Ideally, it wouldn't require me to create an account - I could just transfer books to it. My ideals are simplicity of features, speed, being easy to read, and most importantly no annoying bullshit. I never want to install a single software update, for example.

Any suggestions?

Kobo Libra 2, the best e-reader anywhere. It's ad-free, unaffiliated with Amazon, feels good on the hands, and can read almost anything.

Another Kobo chad checking in. I've had mine offline since I bought it, and use Calibre to load ebooks on. Long battery life (hardly unusual with ereaders) and actual page buttons instead of just a touch screen are pluses.

use Calibre to load

Calibre is a fantastic book manager. Sure, it has its quirks, but it just works. Never understood the people who hate it so much.

claims to want contrast; immediately rules out backlit full-color LCD displays

claims to want speed; indicates preference for a display tech with second-long rewrites

What gives? What are you reacting to to call these your needs? This smells like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY_problem .

That said I used a commodity offering from Sony back when they offered them; they're closing their eReader line down, so it's moot-ish.

What a strange critique. I use backlit LCD screens all day for work and my eyes are sore. So yes, I've ruled them out.

It's true that eInk readers have limitations. I'd prefer one where the limitations are minimized as much as possible.

Using your logic, the eInk category shouldn't exist at all.

Right now I'm using a kindle fire, but I loved the kindle paperwhite with no backlight. (Or one you can turn off.)

My girlfriend has a remarkable, which she loves.

I've been using a rooted Nook Simple Touch for about 10 years. All I do is copy epubs to it and read them. Any minor features that I feel it's missing probably are available, but they're so minor that I don't need them enough to work out how to add and configure them. The screen is a bit grey but this is my first and only e-reader so I don't have anything to compare it to. I've never had a problem reading it.

The only major bug is that if I use the thumbnail library viewer rather than the list library viewer it will somehow drain the battery in less than 24 hours. If I don't do that the battery lasts for about two months. Occasionally the touch feature will drift out of calibration but that's fixed in 20 seconds by soft powering off and running my finger round the edge of the screen. I bought a cover for it which has kept it in good condition but the button cover on the button I use to turn the page has been worn through.

Over all would recommend, I'd happily buy another if I lost mine. I've just checked and there have been newer ROMs released since I rooted mine but if it ain't broke why fix it?

Kindle Paperwhite. The version with no ads (amazing that an ad supported version even exists, how tacky, but I digress).

I had to sign into my amazon account when I started using it. And it installed a firmware update or something. After that I've kept it in offline mode. It's simple to use. I just dump all my ebooks into it by connecting via usb to my pc. It's a decent device. Good in darkness as well as direct sunshine. Great battery life.

Thank you. Going with this one as it seems to be the best for the eyes.

Ugh yeah ads on a kindle are annoying as hell. Amazon is so fucking tacky it kills me.

Hey, better to have the option than not though, right?

No. It's not better. Ads are one of the largest evils we endure in our society. Mass psychological warfare leading to a destruction of attention, virtue, and restraint for the chase of short term profits by a class that's already wealthy. I say we ban all but text advertising, and keep it black and white.

Fun fact: that was the "sensible centrist" (literally Neoliberal) position back in the 30's. I was taken aback when I first read it, but now I think they kinda had a point.

Interesting! I'd love to read more about it if you recall where you found that.

I have also read occasional accounts similar to that idea in reaction to the original PR firms from Edward Bernays. Honestly if I could choose one figure to erase from history, he is high on the list. That sort of instrumentalist thinking about how to turn propaganda into a fundamental part of a market economy is truly evil.

Seconding the Kindle paperwhite. There's something about the screen that reduces eye strain compared to a typical bluelight monitor. I've been able to read it as long as I could real paper books.

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