This is one of the worst site I've visited in years, really. It's plain terrible, obviously the nice look and animations were used to sell the website to clueless executive that never browsed the website, it's painful to watch such a train wreck. This site is a sure way to lose potential customers forever.
Regarding ebooks, I have a strict policy of buying only ebooks without DRM. That strictly limits what I can buy, but I'm adamant (some SF, and that's about it). DRM is evil and must die. So I can't use either Kindle hardware nor app. Plus I religiously use only opensource/free software whenever possible.
Can’t the FSF or other entity file an injunction against the company from selling in other countries by filing the lawsuit with said countries? Based on copyright infringement/licensing infringement (not sure here it would fall)
Again, Not a lawyer, but I feel like corporations have done this in the past
But,
>Pocketbook Color: yes, a color e-ink device for about $200: https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/catalog/color/color-ch
I couldn't find the buy page anywhere to see its price(from India); Is it Geo-locked?
Then, I came from Google to PocketBook's INT site with IN page - https://www.pocketbook-int.com/in/products which seems to have only older products and the buy page lists a single dealer here who doesn't seem to sell that product anymore.
I'm not taking this as a general case, but maybe this explains why not many people are familiar with non-kindle e-book readers nowadays, Someone 'even in India' can order the latest kindle(with their WiFi pre-configured[1]!) while unknowingly tapping a button in the Amazon app when in sleep; Okay there was slight exaggeration, but Amazon commands such a market position now that the linked 16 years ago story looks like gremlin which wasn't fed after midnight 'then'.
[1]https://www.amazon.in/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2...
Otherwise they look very good! Hopefully the tech keeps improving so we can have good color e ink displays that support sketching like the second tablet
Edit: I take it back, this[0] version of the android powered sketch able e ink reader can be used with outside input, which gets me over the issue of no color.
I think I might pick one of these up if I don’t find good software for the iPad Pro that can do this well
By eink standards.
The issue for me is that devices seem to all be touch, rather than have buttons. The eink lag isn’t suited to this as touch without immediate response is not good. I’d prefer buttons.
This niggle aside, those are impressive devices.
As for smaller devices, I really enjoyed the Kobo Mini, all it missed was a frontlight but it was a device that came out at the same time that those features were moving from premium ereaders into budget ereaders. That device is discontinued (even though mine still works fine) and I recommend small devices for anyone reading fiction, people reading non-fiction, especially technical programming books should be better served with larger devices. Reading wrapped source code in a small device sucks.
I have been looking at a small device from Onyx but from what I have learned here is that Onyx appear to be a GPL violator, so I can't really recommend them even though they make very interesting devices. I think that between them, pockebook and Bouye there is a lot of action happening. Oh and there are multiple Chinese e-ink smartphones in the market, which might be tempting to some people but feels like "too early" for me.
Throughout the years I have used almost every single Kindle device all the way up to the Oasis, Kobo Mini and Forma, Nooks, and Odyssey rebranded devices. From that list you can see that I kinda married my choice of device with having some sort of large bookshop behind it. Kobo is the main competitor for Amazon, Nook had B&N behind it, and the rebranded Odyssey device had a large Brazilian shop backing it. I never owned those independent devices that were not being sold without a book distribution channel bundled with it. That was because I really hate Adobe Digital Editions and will go back to pen and paper before using that crap. Lucky for me many of the books I buy are being sold without DRM so I think that I'll soon be able to enjoy those more advanced and open ereaders in the near future. The Pocketbook Color is the one I'm currently interested in.
I think that the most important factor in chosing an eReader is first figuring out what you want to do with it. If you're buying because you're an avid reader that will consume a ton of fiction, the most important aspect becomes not the device but where you get your books from. In this case I'd recommend a Kobo mostly because I think that Rakuten is a better company for the publishing industry than Amazon and want to see more competition. Kobo devices are as good as Kindles. The only feature from the Oasis that I miss in my Kindle Forma is Audiobook support. Having to go to my phone to listen to my Kobo audiobook sucks.
If you're buying directly from the publishers with non-DRM epubs then you can use anything you like (except the Kindle, you can still use it but it require some hops). In this case it is good to checkout what those independent vendors are selling.
If you're interested in buying your first e-ink device, I'd recommend you pick a cheap entry level offer. Don't go spend a lot in a premium device such as the Oasis or the Forma without actually knowing if such devices are for you. I'm OK paying a ton to have multiple premium devices because not only I fancy myself as an author but because books are an integral part of how I see myself and experience the world. Since my younger years all the way to my current 40s, books have always been a constant source of knowledge and happiness for me, so I can burn some money towards devices that makes such experience better.
Some non-Amazon brands you might want to check out:
* Rakuten Kobo: I consider them Amazon main rivals. I really enjoy "Kobo Writing Life" achievement system which gamifies your reading experience; Overdrive which lets me borrow books from my local libraries; Pocket integration that allows me to send articles from the web to my device. https://kobo.com
* Pocketbook: A major European device maker that just released a quite impressive color e-ink device. Be aware that their site sucks. https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/catalog/color/color-ch
* Supernote: A device for those that want to take notes. https://supernote.com/
* ReMarkable: Kind of the gold standard in note taking, really. https://remarkable.com/store/remarkable-2
* Bouye: They make nice ereaders. I coudn't find their site but it is easy to find their devices available in online shops. Never used one.
* Sony Digital Paper: Yes, that Sony, they make some kickasss digital notetaking devices. https://www.sony.com/electronics/digital-paper-systems/t/dig... (so does Fujitsu, check them out as well).
* HiSense: is making ereaders and e-ink smartphones.
Barnes & Noble still selling Nooks and Amazon of course has Kindles. Aliexpress has a ton of devices as well, mostly running unlocked Android, but the experience of using such devices might not appeal to you as they tend to be a bit half-baked in terms of UX.
(disclaimer: affiliated with Holloway)
I haven't owned another e-ink reader, but I've had a couple of Kindles and they offer a lot more than just downloading and storing books (although vacation readers like me appreciate those features too).
- Built in "backlighting" which is actually coming from the sides of the screen. Easy to read in dark rooms or direct sun
- Change fonts and font sizes to suit your preference. Near sighted readers can increase the font size. Open dyslexic is available. Now they're allowing user fonts so you can bring almost any font to the experience.
No web app is going to be better than an e ink screen. Reading a book on your phone is hard on your eyes and reading book on your desktop is way too clunky.
Kobo and Overdrive were both owned by Rakuten. Overdrive was sold to an American investment firm, finalized in June of this year.
anyone who works or partners with Amazon sooner or later wants ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with them
look back to the hearing (Anti Trust) - Jeff Bezos was telling his people to go after their partners like a panther goes after a wounder gazelle
*
At least Microsoft waited until you became a big company to screw you over
Amazon starts looking to screw you over the minute you start making a couple million a year
Pocketbook Color: yes, a color e-ink device for about $200: https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/catalog/color/color-ch You can see the Pocketbook color reading comics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkufktAQC_E&t=0s which beautifully demonstrates its colour capabilities.
Onyx Boox Note 2: 10'' e-ink screen, Android 9.0, touch and wacom digitizer: https://onyxboox.com/boox_note2 It can be used for school/uni/research. Its large screen and notetaking features pair well with annotating fixed-layout formats such as PDFs.
I have some strong opinions about Amazon and its eBook business. I really like their tech but their business practices are not aligned with what I want for myself as an author. I have moved to Kobo for my personal eReader and am using a Kobo Forma which is their answer to the Kindle Oasis. Even though the Oasis hardware with its metal usage feels much more premium than the Forma with its flexy plastic shell, the device is much more open than the Oasis and it is easier for me to use it both as a reader and as an author. I live in the UK and Kobo through its partner Overdrive -- which it owned up until not long ago but I am not sure they still do -- allows me to borrow books from local libraries. I have a couple library cards from different library consortiums and that gives me a lot of catalogs to search and borrow from. Synchronizing with Pocket is also a godsend, every time I see a nice article here on HN that I think deserves more attention and care, I just send it to Pocket and read it from the Kobo in a nice park.
Anyway, this is just some pointers to those here that never experienced ebooks and ereaders outside Amazon. Yes, Amazon brings a lot of value to the table, especially for the readers, books tend to be cheaper in Amazon but that is due to its monopolistic practices and thug tactics. Kindle is not where the innovation is happening, other devices have better hardware and better software, other companies have healthier ecosystems.