So my need for a new ereader is mounting...
Looking for suggestions on a decent hackable/FOSS friendly reader, mainly synced via Calibre, ideally with built-in backlight.
I hear Kobo is a good fit, but which model? Any experiences fedi-folks would care to share? Other devices/brands to check out?
@bthall interesting, thanks! I will check it out in detail, but a first glance shows the last news post on the front page was over a year ago, ouch ;)
@bthall @gwmngilfen wow, digitizer support on an e-ink screen large enough to comfortably read pdfs, and with android? Do want.
@ultimape @gwmngilfen Dude, not even just that: HDMI input on one of their largest models (13" diagonal, so still hold-able), enabling it to be a second display for your computer!
@ultimape @gwmngilfen I recommend reading the Amazon reviews for them, though, as some people had high hopes for it and were relatively disappointed. (Mostly with the responsiveness of the tablet/stylus function in third-party apps.)
@bthall So digging into this, the Boox N96ML or CML looks ideal, 10" screenw with light, and MobileRead suggests it ought to be rootable (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Boox_M96). Not super happy with Android 4.0 but that's common enough in ereaders - I'll probably just keep it in offline mode and use Calibre via cable anyway :)
Price tag is steep, but I'm considering it!
@gwmngilfen I got an inkbook classic 2
https://en.store.inkbook.eu/ereaders/inkbook-classic
It runs Android, but no google rego is required. Admittedly, I don't sync it with Calibre; I just manually sync stuff with rsync, but I think its flexibility is a big plus.
Formerly had a Kobo n950. It was OK, but had to hack around its registration policy, it took ages to index my books, and then it died.
@klaatu looks like the Inkbook Prime would be a good contender - I do need the backlight as I tend to be awake much longer than my wife ... ;)
Quick research shows the prime appears to come rooted and able to connect over ADB, so pretty much anything goes.... Looks nice - ty for the tip!
@klaatu @cobra2 @bthall @ultimape
Thanks for all the recommendations. After digging into it, it looks like what i *really* want is the revamped Boox N96 due out later this year (apparently branded as "Boox Canvas"). So for now I've gone simple with a Boox Kepler - will get to know the company's product at a lower price point while I wait for Canvas :P
Thanks! Will let you know how I get on.
I have a kobo WiFi
You CAN sync with calibre. Rsync is faster. It is a little hackable. Works for me though.
No backlight etc. Just barebones and I don't even use the wifi.
@gwmngilfen
Since no one has talked about Kobo, I will. I had a Kobo Glo HD for about 3 years before I dropped it in sea water and it died. My experiences with it were great since it had no problems with Calibre or manual mounting. In fact my favourite feature was sideloading fonts for my books. It had a great display (300ppi) and even backlighting. It is also easy to load KOReader on to it, which is an FOSS e-reader that brings with it additional features. No need to jailbreak.
@gwmngilfen
I think the Glo HD has been replaced by the new Clara HD in the 6" segment. It's also worth considering the Aura H2O and the Aura One, which have 6.8" and 7.8" displays diagonally. Both of these are also waterproof, a feature which might have saved my Glo HD so it seems all the more important to me now than it was before. Aura One also has "night light", which is a yellowish backlight you can use at night for more comfortable reading.
@gwmngilfen I haven't had any of these yet, but they are supposedly some of the most hack-friendly: http://onyxboox.com
I'm hoping to get one of their large screen'd ones somewhere down the line, but they get expensive fast.
I've had a Nook Simple Touch that works OK but isn't super hackable, is small, and is slow. :/