I’ve got a kindle keyboard 3 and want to know if there’s anything better out now. My main requirement is being able to load in my own content and have a nice cover/case

I don’t care about apps or web browsers, but it would be nice to have something that is easy to sync or upload data to.

  • LowtierComputer@lemmy.world
    14·
    2 years ago

    Try the kobo brand of ereaders. You have access to an online library and can download through Wi-Fi, but can also load your own books in many many file formats.

    I bought the waterproof version to read at the beach, while paddle boarding, in the bathtub.

    • boatswain@infosec.pub
      7·
      2 years ago

      Kobo is also great because you don’t even need an account. That takes away some of the convenience features OP was asking for like syncing, but I love the fact that I don’t need to hand over any personal information to Kobo in order to read my books; nobody knows what’s on my bookshelf but me.

      • optissima@lemmy.ml
        1·
        2 years ago

        Newest version does require a sign up the first time, but you can remove it immediately

          • optissima@lemmy.ml
            1·
            2 years ago

            I set one up in September and before the sideload would process it required an initial login

            • Yote.zip@pawb.socialEnglish
              1·
              2 years ago

              You can circumvent this by connecting to a router that has no access to internet. It will connect to the router, fail to connect to the internet, and then you can tell it to skip the initial setup and enable sideload mode.

    • tankplanker@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 years ago

      While I really dislike Amazon I can email ebooks including pdfs and epubs direct to my kindle, I don’t even need to go get it and plug it in and I can do this from my phone if I want.

      If I have something really funky I can use calibre to convert and then email, or if it’s really big I can always plug it in and transfer directly.

      There are a lot of reasons to not like Amazon products but the kindle is actually pretty good considering who makes it.

  • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.world
    13·
    2 years ago

    With eReaders I’d not upgrade before either:

    1. They genuinely break.
    2. You need a function your current one does not have.

    I’m rocking a Kindle Paperwhite 11 now, but only because my previous Voyage broke sadly. :( Loved that thing with the pressure-sensitive rim.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      9·
      2 years ago

      +1 for “use it until it breaks”

      Though I don’t use it as much nowadays now that I work from home most of the time, I’ve had one kindle model or another for about a decade at this point, and I used them constantly when commuting. I prefer to keep that particular device sleek and minimal, so I don’t use a case. This tends to result in it eventually getting banged up a bit after a while, but the things are generally quite robust and I tend to just ignore any purely cosmetic damage unless it’s a screen issue. I’ve gone through 2 kindles in that fashion, and I’m on my 3rd. Also, I generally only buy them when they’re on sale, and always go for the lowest memory paperwhite model (I use it for books exclusively, since I have a phone, and I will listen to audiobooks on that if I want to).

  • ThenThreeMore@startrek.websiteEnglish
    11·
    2 years ago

    Any Kobo ereader

    Much better for loading your own content than kindle as it supports more formats natively. You can also load alternative ereader applications to it via niclemenu opening it up further.

    They also natively support borrowing books from your library through overdrive.

  • TheRealKuni@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 years ago

    The newest Paperwhite from Amazon has a few things to recommend it.

    The light is built in, and is still not technically a backlight.

    It can produce warmer light to help you sleep and keep the pages more sepia toned.

    It’s water resistant.

    And it finally has USB-C.

    I like to load up my own font choices and I can send whatever book I want to it, but if I own the audible and kindle version those sync between one another. So I can listen in the car and read before bed and won’t lose my place.

    I really love mine. YMMV.

      • TheRealKuni@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        Yeah, it’s really cool! Audible picks up where you left off on the Kindle, and the Kindle will ask if you want to jump to where you left off on Audible. I’ve only run into one series where it didn’t work.

        (Also buying the Audible narration for a Kindle book you already own is way cheaper than buying the Audible narration outright. Sometimes the Kindle + Audible is cheaper than the Audible.)

  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
    4·
    2 years ago

    I’ve been seeing a lot of good stuff about PocketBook. They support all major ebook formats. They’re also good if you’re privacy focused, though it comes at a price. Their privacy policy makes them the only brand I’d ever consider. Here’s a few links depending on your needs and budget:

    • Basic Lux 4 has a 6" monochrome display. This is their cheapest option.
    • InkPad lite is their biggest display at 9.7". An all-around solid, affordable option from them.
    • Era is a 7" monochrome display. I’m drawn to this one due to the functional bezel.
    • InkPad color 2 is a 7.8" color display. One of their most expensive options.
    • boatswain@infosec.pub
      3·
      2 years ago

      I already mentioned this elsewhere, but if you’re concerned about privacy, you might consider Kobo as well; you can use their readers without having a Kobo account at all. That removes the store of course, but as long as you’re ok with side loading your books, you’re good.

    • Ravi@feddit.de
      1·
      2 years ago

      TIL: There are couloured ink displays now. Not sure if this is really necessary for my purposes though.

        • Ravi@feddit.de
          1·
          2 years ago

          Yeah I thought so too. But I’m not reading any comics or mangas, just plain old text books. But it’s great, that the technology is there.

  • °˖✧ ipha ✧˖°@lemm.ee
    3·
    2 years ago

    I used a kindle keyboard for a long time and I think the new front lit ones are a big improvement, especially in low light (I use a kindle oasis.) I can’t speak for sync improvements though since I keep it completely offline and transfer everything though calibre.

  • subtex@lemmy.ml
    3·
    2 years ago

    Wow that’s an amazing run you’ve given that kindle! I used to have that one as well, years ago.

    If you are sticking in the Amazon/Kindle world, then a new Kindle (whether you go with the base Kindle or the Paperwhite) you’ll have a much faster experience for sure. The newer eink readers now can do several page turns without any real visual flash of the refresh. It’s a small thing but very nice.

    The Paperwhite has a backlight which is helpful for night reading. You’ll also get dark mode in the new software (not sure if your keyboard kindle has stayed up to date with software updates or not). Also there’s waterproofing.

    The base kindle just loses the light and the waterproofing.

    If you’re not going to stick with Amazon, take a look at the Kobo readers. They’re a great alternative to people not stuck in the Amazon world.

  • outbound@lemmy.ca
    3·
    2 years ago

    I’ve got a Meebook M6 that I’m very happy with. Its basically an e-Ink Android tablet with and SD slot and Google Play, so you can load the Kindle app or whatever you want if you’ve got that stuff. Most importantly, I use the Moon+ Reader app and load .epub/.cbz/etc formats plus it does an awesome job of reformatting .txt/.pdf/.lit. Bonus for me: Moon+ also supports custom fonts, so I can use Dyslexie.

  • cow@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 years ago

    The kindle paper white is nice but it’s Amazon. I have one that I keep in airplane mode and load books over usb.

  • jacktherippah@lemmy.world
    2·
    2 years ago

    Kinda unrelated: has anyone used an e-ink Android reader? I want to use one for comic books with Tachiyomi. Is that a good idea?

    • SilentStorms@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      2·
      2 years ago

      Yeah, I’ve got the Boox Leaf2. It’s fantastic. I haven’t tried larger format Western comics, but manga is great in Tachiyomi. You might want something bigger that 6" for large comics. It’s also great for pirating books straight on the device lol

      The catch is that it’s quite a bit more expensive than a Kobo or a Kindle, and battery life while good isn’t as great. I found it was an well worth the upgrade.

  • Frater Mus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    I’ve got a kindle keyboard 3 and want to know if there’s anything better out now

    Better in what way?

    KK3 + calibre is hard to beat. I own a paperwhite and some kind of nook (thrift store pickup for $10) and prefer the K3 experience the most. I typically end up using the paperwhite more because I am often in low-light conditions.

    When these die my perfect ereader would be

    • eInk
    • android-based so I could run my preferred reader (FB Reader)
    • google play supported so I could choose my own browser
  • metaStatic@kbin.social
    1·
    2 years ago

    I have a kindle paper white 6th gen and my first case expired a few years back, you can still get great cases for it with hard plastic instead of rubber, which is why my first case died :(

    I would probably shop around for non-amazon stuff if it ever dies but it is the absolute minimum standard I would accept.