I’ve been a book reader for a long time, but never got into eBooks. I want to try it out next, but don’t want to use any privacy vilotating devices or software. So, those “10 best” lists I found while searching are out, all of the Amazon crap is out.

What’s left? What’s a good device to buy so I can self-host my own eBook library and get into eReading. I would prefer suggestions for devices which just read books and comics and such. I don’t need access to the app stores on it, I think.

Thanks for any ideas.

ETA: I have a Linux PC and an Android phone, if those things matter.

ETA2: Thank you all for these replies. You’ve given me a lot to think about and I appreciate the help!

LAST EDIT: Getting a Kobo Clara Color, 6" eInk dealie-bob! Thanks y’all. Don’t let this stop you from posting your suggestions still. Posts like these help many over time. Y’all rock!

  • madjo@feddit.nl
    2·
    9 hours ago

    I have a Boox Go Color, but most Boox ereaders are good devices. You can have a Calibre library self-hosted and use the Android app “Calibre sync” to access it on your ereader.

  • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    4·
    2 days ago

    I use a boox leaf 2, it has android without google play services OOTB, you can install that if you want and you can side load apps like normal android too. It has a nice crisp screen, adjustable backlight (color and intensity) micro SD slot in addition to the 32gb internal storage. It will open pretty much any eBook format out there, and you can also use kindle app and adobe digital editions for DRM books (if you don’t strip the DRM)

    I highly recommend it.

  • iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee
    121·
    1 day ago

    Just… Another kobo. I don’t actually use calibre though, i just get the books in epub format. Then when you hook the kobo to the PC, it shows as mass storage anyway. Just dump your files, and after ejected it does its cursory file scan, and it shows them properly listed in the device.

    Of course Calibre offers a lot more functionality, so if you want to have a proper library it might make sense to manage your books from there. I’m basically saying no conversion is needed a it natively reads epub.

    • subiacOSB@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 days ago

      You page loads up then it goes away. Not sure what’s up. Maybe it’s my ad blockers. Who knows.

      • Domi@lemmy.secnd.me
        1·
        2 days ago

        Which browser do you use? The only issue I’m aware of is that the videos don’t load on Firefox for Android.

    • Lantier@jlai.lu
      3·
      2 days ago

      I read your blog post. I was interested until I saw the price on the EU store :(

      • Domi@lemmy.secnd.me
        3·
        2 days ago

        I ordered from the global store and paid 530€. Still expensive of course and it comes without warranty but it is cheaper and in stock.

  • Q The Misanthrope @startrek.website
    1·
    15 hours ago

    I don’t have experience with any readers until recently. Did some research and went with. Kobo colour. It has met expectations and I’m using it with no issue.

    I wanted physical buttons.

    I didn’t want an Amazon device.

  • Dragon@lemmy.ml
    5·
    2 days ago

    Instead of self-hosting, I have a device that can hold a large amount of sideloaded material and sync between my PC and device with syncthing. Boox devices work well for this.

  • z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml
    381·
    2 days ago

    Kobo is the answer. It used to require some finicking to get it so you didn’t have to sign up with Walmart, but now that’s supposedly no longer an issue (I’ve had my Kobo for a long time). Install Calibre and the Kobo extension for Calibre. You now can borrow epubs from your local library, purchase them from your favorite online ebook store, or sail the high seas if you don’t give a fuck.

    • 0x0@programming.dev
      5·
      2 days ago

      …and then my Kobo Clara briked itself into a bootloop after i connected it to WiFi.
      Also beware how you buy ebooks from kobo’s store or you won’t be able to un-drm them (i.e. they get locked to the kobo).
      All in all they do tend to be nice hardware and my usual recommendation.

      • z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml
        4·
        1 day ago

        Sorry to hear that. I’ll admit I don’t buy ebooks. Yoho yoho and all that. And yeah, I also never turn on wifi. Have you tried a hard reset?

        • 0x0@programming.dev
          5·
          1 day ago

          The problem with all hard resets is that the reset button’s either:
          a) at the lower back of the device
          b) under the cover

          Whereas mine seems to be c) these is none.

          At least they’ve partenered with iFixit, better late than never.

      • asap@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        23 hours ago

        You can de-DRM books purchased from the Kobo store, I do it frequently. Use Apprentice Alf tools in Calibre.

  • Hylactor@sopuli.xyz
    3·
    2 days ago

    I recently got a Boox Go 6. It’s just a really simple android tablet with a paper type display. So whatever android reading app you use you could probably run it. Strictly in terms of privacy I’m not sure if it’s uniquely well suited. But I would expect it’s better than Kindle or Kobo.

  • utopiah@lemmy.ml
    2·
    21 hours ago

    PineNote (Pine 64) or reMarkable (Pro if you have budget, 2 or even 1 otherwise)

    Both work on Linux proper, the reMarkable comes with Linux out of the box whereas PineNote comes with Android but one can install Linux on it.

    They are mostly to sketch but it is also good to read. You can pretty much use whatever you want on them, including developing your own software. I don’t know if they have Calibre clients because whats I do is… just scp my ePubs or PDFs on there.

    Here are my tinkering notes on both https://fabien.benetou.fr/Tools/Eink but feel free to ask any clarification.

    PS: the Bookeen Diva also does not require any software, namely you can plug it on Linux, it gets detected as a filesystem and you can copy DRM-free content on it. It’s a totally different form factor (much smaller so IMHO not great for comics) and I don’t think there is the same open-source community as the other 2.

    • utopiah@lemmy.ml
      3·
      21 hours ago

      Also a good moment to clarify that DRM sucks, but as a user, or even a consumer, you don’t have to be worry of them (at least technically) because it’s trivial to remove. For example you can use this super convenient script https://pypi.org/project/DeGourou/ to straight up download content that should in theory be “just” for you. The online public library I use, namely https://www.lirtuel.be/ does offer ePub and PDF so I was overjoy… only to realize they meant with DRM. As I had already registered and was honestly pissed at them for not disclosing it from the start I tried DeGourou and… it just worked and is very convenient (you just give it the .acsm then it downloads and remove the DRM, so you get a proper file after). So… yeah, obviously don’t buy any DRM content if you don’t have to but if somehow you must, it’s not that big a deal technically speaking.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    12·
    2 days ago

    I have an old Kindle Paperwhite. I put use Calibre and USB to manage the library, no Amazon connection necessary. Works great.

    • veroxii@aussie.zone
      1·
      2 days ago

      Yeah with ebook readers the actual device doesn’t really matter as long as you use calibre. I also use the same kindle and honestly I’m not even sure if it has wifi. Maybe. Probably. But it never gets used.

  • Arehandoro@lemmy.ml
    1·
    2 days ago

    I have a Remarkable Paper Pro that I love for graphic novels, aside of its hand-writting capabilities. It’s also good for reading books, but the size is a bit too big to carry it without a bag or when out and about. Ideally, I’d like something like the Boox Palma 2, but not sure if I can justify the price + Pen having already another eNotebook.

    • Yingwu@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      51·
      2 days ago

      I think the person asked for e-ink device recommendations. Reading on an Android vs e-ink screen makes such a huge difference

      • Onno (VK6FLAB)@lemmy.radio
        41·
        2 days ago

        There is no mention of e-ink, OP has an Android device, I have an Android device, I read eBooks on it daily, I use FBReader. I’m not sure what all the kerfuffle is about.

        • J_on_Lemmy@lemm.ee
          11·
          2 days ago

          If they wanted to read on a phone/Normal display, they wouldn’t have asked for recommendations.

          • count_duckula@discuss.tchncs.de
            1·
            16 hours ago

            I decided to use my phone to read after my Kindle broke. I use KOReader. I would like to not support proprietary products as much as I can, just my personal philosophy since the last 7-8 years. So far I can’t complain about my setup, and there is one less device to lug around. I do miss an e-ink display sometimes though.

    • Jayb151@lemmy.world
      3·
      6 hours ago

      I got the color one for my daughter who can’t stop reading manga, and we have no more shelves to put physical books. Calibre want super intuitive, and I edited the series name, but the kobo still didn’t group things correctly, but it got sorted. Over all a high recommend

      • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
        2·
        6 hours ago

        Yep! I used to go years without reading any books, now I’ve gone to reading 30-50 a year. Huge improvement for me!