Whatever happened to cheap eReaders? – Terence Eden’s Blog : technology

[–] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Side note -

I literally have the reader pictured in the thumbnail. It is a Kindle keyboard from 10+ years ago at this point. It still works fine. At one point the original battery went to shit, and it cost very little to get an aftermarket replacement and install it myself.

I keep it offline and read 100% sideloaded .epub books from various sources. The lockscreen ads don't even try to display anymore.

Sure it isn't backlit or waterproof but it still functions flawlessly as a generic reader. Old tech like this is awesome. Why not get a decade of use (or more) out of something that still works?

[–] maxsettings@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago

I have a similar model I picked up at a garage sale for 5 dollars. Best bang for buck tech purchase I ever made. They really don’t need wifi or software upgrades to function well when all I do is transfer epubs over usb once a year.

[–] sol@lemm.ee 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I had the exact same experience with that model. The screen eventually cracked (I think I had it in a backpack that I was a bit too rough with). It was easy enough to replace the screen with one I found on AliExpress, but unfortunately the replacement then cracked a few weeks later. I don't know whether it was because the replacement screen was poor quality or because once I had taken the device apart the screen was less protected, but I figured I wasn't going to throw good money after bad. I ended up getting a second hand Kobo Aura on eBay which has served me well.

eReaders have gotten some new features like backlights but I don't think the technology has fundamentally moved on all that much.

[–] CidVicious@sh.itjust.works 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's definitely iterative but the newer eInk screens are higher res and color. Dunno how refresh rates compare on the color screens.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 1 points 7 months ago

Much faster and less prone to ghosting.

That said, I never took much issue with it. I didn’t have any of the very first e-readers so I’ve no idea if they’d bother me, but my first e-reader, a Kobo Touch from 2011 worked just fine and the refresh rate and ghosting wasn’t a problem.

I think the biggest pro with modern devices (to me personally) is that they’ve gotten more compact. I like how slim and comfortable my Boox Color 7 is.

[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The kobo colour goes for less than $160 regularly. It is water proof, has front ligths, usb-c, and it can display color. I'm considering it for an upgrade from my, bought used 8 years ago, kindle. With Kobo, and ereaders track record in general, it will probably last twice that and still work. I consider that extremely cheap, specially in a market that usually expects people to dump a thousand dollars every two or three years for a phone. E readers have some of the best cost to utility ratios of electronics.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I just paid $140 for a Clara BW, and I'm considering the Libra Color the next time it goes on sale (my kids like comic books).

[–] CidVicious@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

They were subsidizing them to establish an ebook marketplace. They're no longer doing so.

I still have my Kindle Keyboard. It still works but the front lighting on new ereaders is a big upgrade. The software was pretty primitive back then too.

[–] Coldgoron@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago

My very early gen, Nook glowlight is still going somehow. I even bought it used for 50 bucks about 10 years ago. The battery is still decent and backlights fine and I am able to keep it offline. Im not sure what I would do if it croaked.

[–] CatZoomies@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Still using my Nook Glowlight Plus 2015. Haven’t needed to change the battery as battery life is still exceptional. I will be sad when I have to swap the battery one day as I’ll need to break the water resistant seal they manufactured this with.

Haven’t felt any desire to upgrade as this device does exactly what I need: store a shitload of books without distractions.

[+] orcrist@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

[deleted]

[–] drmoose@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Samsung tab a9 is legit good and its 8" and costs like 100$. I use it as an e-reader with a matte screen protector and it's awesome!

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah the iPad mini is the only one I’ve found that doesn’t suck. I wish Android would offer something decent in 8” but they’re all made to be bottom barrel with extremely low end hardware.

[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

He blames patents (Eink isn't a patent troll) although Eink patents expired 7 years ago.

The problem is even without patents, the underlying tech of making the eink particles is hard.

[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I still have my kindle thats over 10 years old.

I got a Kobo and its awesome as well. Ironically, because wallmart couldn't be bothered to use good components they made it extremely repairable.

The best place to find a good working ebook reader is to either use an old phone (which is not really eink, but without wifi modern phones can last a bit). Or go to a thrift store and find a decent one for 10$ or less. Just make sure it turns on and you should be good!

I like the authors recommendation of something VERY cheap like a 10$ reader...but its probably not viable if Im honest. Sounds like a lot of e-waste that would occur.

[–] Yingwu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 months ago

Still, e-ink is so much better than a regular screen. If one is really strapped for cash sure, but for one's eyes sake I'd say e-ink is a worthwhile investment if one likes to read. A phone can't compare.

[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Actually quick question, how did the author pull in all those resources on the comment section? That is pretty awesome!

[–] Obelix@feddit.org 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

There is a hint of how he did this here: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/06/12000-comments/

[–] anotherandrew@lemmy.mixdown.ca -1 points 7 months ago

"I moderate heavily. If someone is rude or abusive, their comment isn't published. Unless it's really funny." :-)

[–] Pxtl@lemmy.ca 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I wonder if Android Wear wouldn't work as an OS basis for this - lower power requirements, probably allows black-and-white screens. The problem there is that Android Wear is absolute hot garbage that can't decide if it's stand-alone or companion to your phone.

Why is not just targeting raw AOSP instead of Google Android not considered? It seems like you could use modern hardware with that... is it the lack of Play Store that's the dealbreaker?

[–] Yingwu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 months ago

I don't really know how they do it, but some do run newer Android versions like Android 14 (Meebook M8, Bigme B7). Anyway, the lack of Play store isn't really a consideration in China, it's only for foreign markets they have to include the Play store. This also means that China has many more Android e-ink brands than are available to us (which mostly are Boox, Meebook, Bigme or Hisense).

[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Is the price of an eReader that big of a deal? They practically pay for themselves with use over time, and they last a ridiculous number of years.

My first Kindle was the K3 Keyboard for $140 in 2011. It finally died in late 2018 after nearly 8 years of use. I regrettably binned it, as I didn't know you could replace the battery at the time. Shame, I really liked that thing.

I bought a Kindle PW4 for "cheap" ($80 or $90?) in 2019 to replace it, but I hated it after spending some months reading on a larger tablet, Replaced it with a "premium" Boox Nova 2 eReader for $310, and I still use that one today. I plan to just get a cheap battery replacement when it kicks the bucket, as it's easily user serviceable and a new battery for it is less than $15.

I also got a Kindle Paperwhite Signature in 2023 for $135 as an "upgrade" to the Boox, but it was more a sidegrade. I use both of them alternatingly today.

So I've on average paid about $48 a year on eReaders. Seems reasonable considering how many books I've gotten for free or very deep discounts via stuff like Bookbub, as well as "free" Prime First reads and Kindle Unlimited books I read over the years as a Prime subscriber, Project Gutenberg and Standard eBooks, as well as digital library access.

I've paid more than $48 in one month for subscription services at times that I used less than my eReaders, which see use daily. And you don't have to be like me and buy multiple, you can buy one reader and use it pretty much indefinitely so long as the battery is user replaceable, so the upfront cost is sort of irrelevant over a long enough time span.

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The overpriced nature of subscription services is not a good reason to justify paying more for relatively inexpensive hardware. The fact that you can buy new ereaders for $100 suggests that the $400 models are vastly overpriced. Companies are feature-creeping them so they can increase the price.

[–] tomkatt@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

This is a weirdly aggressive take without considering variables. Almost petulant seeming.

6” readers are relatively cheap no matter the brand, but cost goes up with size. $250 to $300 is what a 7.8” or 8” reader costs, but there’s not a single one I know of at 6” at that price.

There’s 10” and 13” models. Are you saying they should cost the same as a Kindle?

Not to mention, regarding Kindle, Amazon spent years building the brand but selling either at cost or possibly even taking a loss on the devices as they make money on the book sales. Companies who can’t do that tend to charge more.

Lastly, it’s not “feature creep” to improve the devices over time, many changes are quality of life. Larger displays for those that want them. Frontlit displays, and later the addition of warm lighting. Displays essentially doubled their resolution allowing for crisper fonts and custom fonts to render well. Higher contrast displays with darker blacks for text. More recently color displays as an option.

This is all progress, but it’s not free. Also, inflation is a thing and generally happens at a rate of 2% to 3% annually or thereabouts during “normal” times, and we’ve hardly been living in normal times over the last decade and a half.

[–] DigDoug@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's crazy. I bought the then-current basic model Kindle for $90 NZD in 2012, which still works. I recently started looking for a new eReader with USB C and without the rubberised coating that slowly turns back into oil. The cheapest I've found is over $200.

[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

The current ad-supported basic Kindle is $109 USD, which is just $12 more expensive than it was back in 2012, adjusted for inflation (it was $70 in 2012, which would be $97 today).
It could be cheaper today, but Amazon has clearly pulled back from selling them at a loss hoping to get the costs back from ebook sales.

[–] DigDoug@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Yeah, I didn't consider that the exchange rate in 2012 was really good. With the new price and today's exchange rate, it would be $180 NZD, which isn't the end of the world, but feels kind of wrong because electronics generally get cheaper the longer they're on the market.

That being said, it isn't just Kindles. Kobos used to be ridiculously cheap, and now they're the same price as Kindles if not more.

[–] pixelpunk@feddit.org 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I still use my Pocketbook Lux 3. It must be about 10 years old now and still works beautifully (even the backlight). One battery charge usually lasts me weeks, even with heavy backlight use. They are made in Europe (Switzerland) and run some flavour of Linux. They‘re not rock-bottom bargains, but the cost of the entry-level model seems quite fair in my opinion (€107). https://pocketbook.de/

[–] philpo@feddit.org 1 points 7 months ago

Tbh, the current ones are pretty fantastic - and I find 100€ for the B/W verso and 140€ for the colour one still "reasonably cheap".

So far they have eaten anything I gave them to read, work with calibre web (sadly only for download,not sync, but that's not PBs fault), support the German Onleihe (public library ebooks... fantastic system getting you hundred thousand of books,often for less than 20€/year or even free) and the battery is rock solid.

So,I don't really understand the point of the discussion. I am an absolute early adopter with E-readers and can't remember any cheaper offers on readers that weren't Amazon's "bait" ads to sell you kindle unlimited,etc.

[–] idefix@sh.itjust.works -1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I gave up on eReaders after 2 bad experiences with Kindles. I still have the last one I bought but it keeps on rebooting after a couple of minutes and couldn't find a way to fix it.

I had a look recently and they're all 180€+ now. Back to real books then.

[–] cecilkorik@lemmy.ca 0 points 7 months ago

Kobos are pretty nice. They're not cheap, as you pointed out, but you can get an older or used one for quite a bit cheaper and it's just as good. They run Linux. It's almost completely open, and anything that isn't might as well be. That said you really don't need to open it up much, just enough to install something like koreader which basically completely replaces the OS on the thing. It does everything I would ever want to use my ereader for ... granted that's pretty much just "read ebooks".

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