And a smartphone should allow you to install apps, like Android apps on iPhone...

It's not an e-reader, it's a Kindle.

Even so.

An audio player that played proprietary files by exactly one record company would be obvious bullshit.

Somehow publishing has allowed itself to be squeezed into the e-reader equivalent. The result is a predictable lack of quality in both hardware and software - never mind consumer choice and delivery options.

You're wishing the Kindle wasn't a Kindle. Amazon clearly has 0 interest in making an open-ish e-reader.

Yes, you can dislike the Kindle, but to say it's a bad e-reader is like saying a bicycle is a bad car.

Going with your logic, it's correct to say that it's a bad e-reader, because it's not an e-reader but a Kindle.

What you all guys mean by Kindle? I have one for like a decade and I don’t get it. It’s not a strong brand of itself like iPhone (which is also smartphone).

All I can tell about it is that it’s a mediocre reader and that’s it. I don't upgrade it to any other reader because it just works, so I’m going to keep it till it won’t.