New e-reader wanted

[mrsterryn]

Anyone bought one recently ?
I do like my Amazon Kindle unlimited however I can't use my VPN on it

 

[kookaburra75]

MrsK and I have been happy with our Kobo e-readers. Hers is the newer of the two and went with the Aqua, more for the larger screen than the ability to survive slipping off her lap while sitting by the pool (that's a story for another day).
The Kobo store has an extensive range. I use Calibre to manage the library on my reader as I have an 'odd' collection of books from different places.
I haven't tried putting a VPN on them though. The web browser app works ok

 

[Daver6]

Just curious why you need to connect via a VPN on your e-book reader?

I'd be surprised if any come with inbuilt VPN clients. If you're dead set wanting to connect via a VPN, you might need to have the VPN connection initiated at the router level.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I have a very old Kindle. I hadnt used it for two years, The battery was D E A D. I tried re-charging it, nothing happened. I read the instructions on how to re-boot a dead Kindle - tried it three times, Nothing happened. Left it plugged into the power. Nothing happened. I said to it I will try this one more time - and did the reboot thing and plugged into back into the power and BINGO the green charging light came on ! Has worked ever since !

 

[Julesmac]

I'll see your very old Kindle and raise it. We're moving house and I've just unearthed it; like yours it's not been used for a couple of years. I've now fully charged it, and bought some books from Amazon which haven't downloaded. I guess I'll try You tubing. My ability to drive anything vaguely technical is less than zero. Or possibly just buy a new one. for my forthcoming trip o/s

 

[Pushka]

We had the original kindle bought from Amazon in 2009. Have no idea where it is. I used it relentlessly, used Calibre to organise an extensive book collection then never read most of the books on it. We’ve had various models over the years. Back in the original days you used to be able to surf the net using the browser, and because it was a 3G model using AT&T that was a world wide browser when overseas. Amazon worked that out in the next models and the browser was shut down. It was fun while it lasted. Must think about updating ours. Trouble is I spend a lot of time on holidays doing TR‘s and not reading. I just get bored with reading these days, or maybe it’s tiredness from ageing eyes and I lack concentration. I used to read so much.

I saw my first kindle in 2008 on a boat in Halong Bay Vietnam and the American who had it told me all about it. I had to have one. It was the next year that Amazon released the kindle for overseas shipping and as I’d been haunting Amazon waiting for it, I got one of the first ones released.

 

[jb747]

......used Calibre to organise an extensive book collection then never read most of the books on it.

I use an iPad, but that sounds very familiar. I still use Calibre on the PC and laptop. I truly hate Apple Books. It is possibly the most crash prone, unreliable, programme that I’ve ever come across.

 

[Pushka]

I use an iPad, but that sounds very familiar. I still use Calibre on the PC and laptop. I truly hate Apple Books. It is possibly the most crash prone, unreliable, programme that I’ve ever come across.

I like the iPad too for reading but the screen is an issue in bright sunlight and it can get heavy to hold on those hot summer days around the swimming pool. Plus there’s the temptation to just check what’s happening on the internet and then I’ve wasted an hour or so instead of reading.

Along with Apple Books I loathe ITunes. Hate it.

 

[love_the_life]

I use my iPad mini - it doubles as an eBook reader plus any other iPaddy thing I need. I like the size of it. I found the larger iPad too big for my hands and uncomfortable so at home I use a MacBook Air for computing stuff and the iPad mini for most everything else.
Have had a Kindle and a Sony eBook reader in the past and I find the iPad is much easier. I take it and the phone and that's it when travelling. I suppose one thing is that I tend to read free books rather than buying stuff through iTunes (though I do have a few purchased books).
Oh and I changed the background to be grey with white text.

 

[Lynda2475]

Why not invest in a decent tablet then you can easily run a vpn, and cover of multiple fundtions i.e. e-book reader, browsing, IFE) (movies, music), GPS naigation, email all i n one device.

I recommend an android tablet over a ipad, and if you get 4G variant, you can put travel sim in it and even make calls if needed, The newer samsung galaxy tablets are significantly lighter than ipads and have brilliant battery life.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I'm a fan of the Boox range of eReaders and note takers. Not the cheapest but I really like it for taking notes and marking up pdf and ebooks.

 

[Julesmac]

Kindle was an absolute Godsend for me when travelling - I'm a voracious reader and usually have 2 books on the ago- at the moment there are 6 next to my bed, waiting for me. I often find it difficult to sleep in Y so on one trip to the US I re read Lord of the Rings, on another it was C S Forester's Hornblower series - around 20 books, & Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series.The Kindle was invaluable; imagine the cost in excess baggage. But I think it's time to upgrade

 

[tgh]

I recently bought a Kindle Oasis as my old mate had a blown pixel that was annoying.
It's fine , but if price was a factor the old style kindle is not that much different.
Can't imagine travelling without it.

 

[redbigot]

My old Nexus 7 Android tablet is my usual reader, either Kindle or Moon Reader Pro, plus have access to anything else I need via wifi. VPN is PIA when using wifi.
I also have a newer Teclast M30 with Boost sim when I need it for downloading books where I don't have or don't want to use wifi. Not as light as iPad or Samsung, but cheap and does a good job.
I also have a several years old Kindle, but seldom use it now.

 

[AV8]

Early 2019 when in USA received email from Amazon re special offer to replace Kindle - there was a list of stores in various states as well as "pop ups" - trade in/update kindle and new cover all for less than $100 US - bargain!

 

[Chicken]

Why not invest in a decent tablet

A tablet uses LED screen, they burn power, you need to recharge it daily if not more often. eBooks use e ink, 1 charge lasts a whole month or even more.

 

[redbigot]

A tablet uses LED screen, they burn power, you need to recharge it daily if not more often. eBooks use e ink, 1 charge lasts a whole month or even more.

It depends on what else you use if for and how long you are reading. My Nexus 7 on flight mode and several hours reading a day lasts for 3-4 days.

But charging devices is not usually an issue unless you are well off the beaten track.

 

[Ekka]

We had the original kindle bought from Amazon in 2009. Have no idea where it is. I used it relentlessly, used Calibre to organise an extensive book collection then never read most of the books on it. We’ve had various models over the years. Back in the original days you used to be able to surf the net using the browser, and because it was a 3G model using AT&T that was a world wide browser when overseas. Amazon worked that out in the next models and the browser was shut down. It was fun while it lasted. Must think about updating ours. Trouble is I spend a lot of time on holidays doing TR‘s and not reading. I just get bored with reading these days, or maybe it’s tiredness from ageing eyes and I lack concentration. I used to read so much.

I saw my first kindle in 2008 on a boat in Halong Bay Vietnam and the American who had it told me all about it. I had to have one. It was the next year that Amazon released the kindle for overseas shipping and as I’d been haunting Amazon waiting for it, I got one of the first ones released.

My first sighting of a Kindle was on a QF flight from BNE to SIN in, I think, 2010, as the bloke next to me in J had one, and I though what a nice bit of machinery so I ordered one as soon as I got home. It arrived in September and was terrific for a while, and the browser was slightly useful, but difficult even then. My son has several Kindles and other readers, and has assumed ownership of this early - and real - Kindle.

I read a great deal, and have read at least as many books as others who have contributed, have four on the go at present, and have done for several decades, but I never took to Kindle or the like although I tried; to me a book is a book is a book. I don't mind taking half a dozen disposable books to the the UK or the US, as I'll give them away when I finish them and replace their weight with souvenirs and clothing.

I use an iPad, but that sounds very familiar. I still use Calibre on the PC and laptop. I truly hate Apple Books. It is possibly the most crash prone, unreliable, programme that I’ve ever come across.

 

[Lynda2475]

A tablet uses LED screen, they burn power, you need to recharge it daily if not more often. eBooks use e ink, 1 charge lasts a whole month or even more.

Depends on what you are using it for, if only reading ebooks and email then very low power usage. My latest Samsung Galaxy easily last 3-4 days if just email and browsing. It is only game play (games apps such CPU and power) and leaving the GPS on (so easy to turn the gps and wifi off when not needing it, which you dont to read a downloaded ebook) that really drains the battery requiring a recharge after aout 36 hours.

Each to their own, but for me reducing number of devices I take on a trip is just as important. I no longer travel with a camera, my phone does a fine job, unless Im diving/snorkling in which case waterprrof camera comes along. Just as I dont bring books, an e-reader or a laptop because i have my Tablet which replaces all 3 of those things for less weight and space. My power bank is able to fully charge my tablet and phone from dead to full power twice each on one charge - so that covers about 72 hours of heavy usage. Ive never been left with flat phone or tablet on a long haul journey.

My latest tablet has excellent battery life compared with its two predecissors (and lasts twice as long as my colleagues ipad when both of us are netflixing on a flight) and modes specifically for e-reading that use less power.

 

[RB]

Mrs RB is also very happy with her Kobo-