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Ask HN: EReader for walking outdoors with DRM-free technical ebooks?

5 points by neilv ↗ HN
I've been buying DRM-free dense technical ebooks (EPUB and PDF formats), and would like to read them while walking. I'm not up-to-date on the latest options, since I normally prefer reading from my laptop, so asking HN.

I'm thinking supports easily copying my EPUB and PDF files to it (and without treating them as second-class citizens), lightweight for carrying for miles, non-glare screen, e-ink, optionally some kind of lighting when starting to get dark, non-invasive (e.g., no phoning home to report on my reading, no advertising and dark patterns pushing me to a store), not so expensive I feel too bad if I drop it or it gets lost/stolen.

If it runs open source, that'd be ideal, but I don't want to make a hobby project of this. I want it to arrive at my doorstep, copy some books onto it in 5 minutes, and go for a walk and start reading.

OK if it's an older model that's still available on eBay.

14 comments

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warrenm
I rather like my [ancient] Kobo (still uses a USB cable to load books onto it)

Seems there are several newer models that will connect with wifi

edent
I have a couple of Boyue Likebooks - see my review at https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/09/review-boyue-likebook-p78-e...

Drag and drop files on to it, reads most formats, side-lighting with adjustable colour temperature, no adverts, good battery life, no built-in store (unless you side-load). About £200, although may vary depending on where in the world you are.

It runs Android, but I doubt you'll find a custom ROM for it. But you can fiddle with lots of settings.

t-3
Unfortunately, Boyue seems to have dissolved. I was looking at the p78 when I bought my last ereader (Onyx Boox Poke 3), and thought to get one to replace it, but they are no longer cheaper or easier to find.
f0e4c2f7
I use the kindle paperwhite this way. You can convert from EPUB to a kindle friendly format and send them to the kindle using Calibre[0].

Other open source devices like the kobo seem really cool and I'd like to try one but my kindle is still working some years later so it's all I've used.

[0] https://calibre-ebook.com/

eftepede
Note: nowadays EPUB is a 'kindle friendly format'. Amazon promised to ditch .mobi support (when sending as e-mail or using Send To Kindle apps) on August. They still work (you will have an e-mail with a warning 'in August 2022 it will be gone', lol), but people are encouraged to use EPUB.

I assume there is some conversion from EPUB to 'new mobi' (azw3 maybe, I forgot the name), but it's on Amazon's side. I've sent 20+ EPUBs via e-mail to my Kindle in the last two months and all of them work like a charm, no problems with formatting and stuff.

t-3
Anything will work as long, ereaders are all pretty much the same if you don't connect them to internet. For your use case, I'd get audiobooks, walking for miles staring at a screen is a good way to get hit by a car!

I've tried an Epson AR headset, but tethering, battery, and weight just aren't there yet for all-day ereader glasses, although I think that is a very promising field that will be viable soon.

eftepede
Kindle is the no-brainer solution here, if most of your books are in Epub. I don't have any experience with PDFs on it, though. The simplicity of using it and the possibility to send books via e-mail and get them on the reader in no time is great. Of course you can still use the usb cable to do it, if you don't want to have Amazon account/give them any info.

Plenty of older models should be on eBay. Paperwhite 3 and Paperwhite 4 might be a good start for a used (but still supported and receiving software updates!) cheap option.

fsoteras_xps
I read a lot of books (both technical and non tech books). I have a kindle Oasis 2017 and recently bought a Boox air note , to read tech doc on pdf format that may require paginating going back and forth and review a fair number of diagrams in previous pages or chapter the Boox is way better. The problem is that any 10 inch ereader will be way more weighty that a kindle oasis or paperwhite. So if you are sure that you will mainly read while walking I would go for a 7 inch paperwhite or oasis.
LurkinGrue
Has anyone used the Remarkable 2? Amazon is also releasing the Scribe on November 30 that seems to fill your wish list (except for the calling home).
solardev
If they're big documents (as in formatted for A4/letter-sized paper), go with the biggest one you can find. Something like the Remarkable e-ink tablet or an older Kindle DX.

The UX of the Remarkable isn't great, and the hardware is somewhat inferior to Kindles, but it does the job.

keiferski
I use a Kobo and have been very happy with it. Works well with Calibre but you can also just drag and drop files to the device. Not amazing with PDFs but that’s to be expected for most e-readers in my experience.
eddiecalzone
Remarkable does not have any lighting. Its use case seems to be annotating in a well-lit room.

Kindle does not support epub without conversion.

I have a Kobo Forma. Waterproof, light, great physical buttons, an 8-inch screen, 4:3 aspect (literally same as original iPad mini). Most PDFs I can read in portrait, but the rest are fine in landscape.

Kobo's native PDF support is garbage (as is Kindle's), but the koreader app makes it a joy (multiplatform, for Kobo, Kindle, Remarkable, others). It can strip the margins on the fly, is very fast, and has every config option you can think of.

Multiple ways to sideload, wired or wireless. Bonus: integrated support for syncing Pocket articles.

jotjotzzz
You can use either Kindle or Kobo, they both let you load the files manually. I actually use the iPad Mini 6 for reading technical books. Its screen, color, and ability to zoom is perfect. I use Apple Books to load the epub or PDF.