Which kindle(?) to buy for downloaded books (lemmy.pt)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Waker@lemmy.pt to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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Hi!

I want to get more into reading but books can be expensive and bulky.

I thought I'd buy a Kindle (or similar) since those screens are pleasant to read on, but I don't know if there's anything specific I should be looking for piracy wise.

Apparently amazon has added support for epubs so I'm hoping it'll make it easier to load with my own downloaded books?

Also, the version names/models of kindles are crap.

Edit2: I've decided I'll buy a paperwhite kindle (2020 version). I found a 2nd hand one, like new, for 80€ with a screen protector + magnetic cover. This way I'm still not supporting amazon :)

Edit: I seem to have posted this same/similar question yesterday but I have no recollection of doing so. If this is something you're interested have a look at that post.

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[-] Gutless2615@ttrpg.network 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I have a kindle from like a decade ago. It works fine. I just today had the thought as I was carrying it from the beach “why would anyone replace an old kindle?” So my suggestion is get the cheapest oldest model you can. Last week I updated my self hosted ebook library so I have calibre, calibre-web for a nicer front end, and readarr all working in tandem; it’s just about perfect. Books arrive magically on the device once they finish downloading and they download the instant they become available. I don’t know what else I’d want except for maybe a back light. But reading with actual natural light is a pleasure too.

[-] Waker@lemmy.pt 2 points 1 year ago

That sounds amazing. Any chance you have a guide on how you have that setup?

I've seen radarr and sonarr and such everywhere but I've never used them so I don't know where to start.

[-] Gutless2615@ttrpg.network 4 points 1 year ago

Heck yeah I do. https://academy.pointtosource.com/containers/ebooks-calibre-readarr/ This is the exact guide I followed. It's basically idiot-proof.

[-] Gutless2615@ttrpg.network 2 points 1 year ago

Also head over to the /c/selfhosted community it's super active and happy to help you.

[-] Waker@lemmy.pt 2 points 1 year ago

Oh, you bet I'm there already. First community I joined on lemmy haha

I'm actually getting started with docker and containers and such. Still new to it all though.

Thanks for your help!

[-] nicetriangle@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah I have a Kindle about that old and it still holds a charge for quite a while and works as well as when I bought it. It's really one of the better electronics purchases I've made. Does what its meant to well without a lot of frills and has lasted quite a while.

I've looked at the newer models with slight improvements but could not reasonable justify the upgrade at all.

[-] MDKAOD@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

The only feature worth upgrading my PaperWhite for would be better resolution and the warm color frontlighting. If they release a robust color kindle, I'll probably bite but I imagine Amazon isn't doing that because it would be the last kindle anyone buys.

[-] nicetriangle@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Yeah I would also like USB C and I believe the new ones have that too. But those things are all under the threshold of what I think would justify spending ~$150 when my old model still works so well.

I'll likely ride this one out until the battery totally eats it and I'm guessing that'll be a few more years at least given how it's holding up right now. It looks like by then there'll be more options in color e-ink displays which is pretty exciting.