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Comment by ashton314 | Hacker News Reader

I've had a kindle for years now. A while back I jailbroke it and stuck KOReader which has been so awesome. (Custom fonts? Yes please! Gestures for going to the TOC or bookmarks or back in history? Absolutely!)

Problem: it was a lot of work getting my kindle to this state. I'm terrified to turn on WiFi for fear Amazon will send an OTA update and nuke KOReader from orbit.

So, when this kindle dies, I am thinking I'd like to get something that KOReader runs on without any of the shenanigans I had to go through. Would folks here recommend Kobo? Seems like a nice equivalent.

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Have been using various Kobo's for years with KOReader now, it's basically as simple as copying files on the device to install it. There is no need to jailbreak it; it's an open device. Also, I haven't heard any mention of covert update to worry about. So yes, I would absolutely recommend a Kobo for your use case.

A few months ago, I attempted to do install KOReader on a kindle, and the experience is definitely not for the faint of heart. Plus, I can't use the wireless capabilities for the reason you mentioned. It was (one) of the reason I wanted to install KOReader in the first place, but live and learn.

> it's an open device

I actually also own a kobo and have been running KOReader on it for a couple years now, but my memory is that when I first got it I booted it up and it requested to be connected to the internet, then wouldn't allow me to progress without logging in through a 3rd party (there were many offered, walmart.com was the first option listed). I remember having to do something weird to bypass that (removing a .db file I believe after connecting via commandline?), and then ending up in a state where I don't need to connect to some company's cloud login but I also can never connect this device to wifi, ever, or it will do that again.

Are they more open these days?

you had to connect it as a usb drive to insert a row for a fake user in it's sqlite database

I remember that now. It really is frustrating that this is what passes for a really open device in the e-reader space. I would pay a 3x markup easily for the same device running KOReader natively (not sideloaded through nicklmenu after starting up the proprietary operating system) if it would just let me use the device like I own it without authenticating with a 3rd party just to its most basic functionality.

You don't need to authenticate with anything and it's even easier to do since a firmware update - just add a line to the config file:

https://old.reddit.com/r/kobo/comments/mt2f30/how_to_bypass_...

Connecting it to wifi afterwards isn't a problem, to tbe best of my knowledge.

Firmware downloads: https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

> it's an open device.

non-obvious but you just use it like a usb device ereader when you receive it:

  - connect to computer with usb-c
  - mount as usb drive
  - edit .kobo/Kobo/Kobo eReader.conf adding SideloadedMode=true
  - remove .kobo/KoboReader.sqlite
  - reboot, then just use kobo as usb drive from then on, no account necessary

got one and use it more than my remarkable because it has a backlight for indoors (in addition to e-ink for outdoors)

I love my Kobos (see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39993062). When they die, I'll replace them with another Kobo. It's so easy to get things onto them. For my Libra, plug it into a computer (or iPad) with a USB cable and it shows up as a drive I can drag files onto. The Elipsa supports Dropbox and Google Drive so I can add files those ways, too. It also has built-in Libby integration that lets me reserve and download library books from the device itself.

Of course they make it very easy for you to buy books from their own store, but I've never felt like they made it artificially hard to ad content through other methods to benefit their own book sales. That's different from what my friends tell me about their Kindles.

I have an Oasis 2 (2017 or so timeframe). What would be a good option that's similar to it? I love the screen size, the flush screen (I understand the Oasis is glass rather than plastic), and the page turn buttons are all pretty important to me.

KOReader sounds interesting and the built in Libby support is kind of rad sounding.

I think that'd be the Libra 2. The screen's the same size, although not flush, and it has the nice page turn buttons. I can't vouch for their other models.

KOReader sounds cool but I've been happy with the built-in software. I know me, and I specifically don't want other knobs I could be playing with instead of just reading the thing.

Got it, thanks!

It seems it's between two devices, the Libra 2 and the Sage, but I keep hearing the Sage has worse battery life (sort of the downfall of the Oasis for me as well). I just like using Calibre since I get a lot of epubs from places like HumbleBundle and other book bundles. These always have issues with the Kindle, like covers going missing.

I'd love to get something a little less fickle for my use case and it does sound like the Kobo devices might get me there. I just really like the Oasis from a materials, size and general usage.

The Sage looked nice but the price premium for a stylus wasn't worth it to me for a device I wanted to use purely for reading. Obviously there's a market for such a thing so I'm not saying it's bad, just that it didn't might my own needs.

Calibre works well for the Libra 2. I have a plugin that automatically reformats epubs as kepubs (see https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Kepub). That's not a hard requirement but it improves the reading experience a little bit. The biggest difference I notice is that it makes page numbers handle font size changes more accurately. If I halve the number of words that'll fit on the screen, the reader shows that the number of pages in the book has doubled. Also, the current page number increments every time I turn a page, not just when I cross an invisible page boundary.

It's not a dealbreaker not to have those things, but they're nice and worth the 30 seconds to enable in Calibre.

Nice. I think I might keep an eye on potential rumors of a Libra 3 or something like that given that the Libra 2 came out in 2021, that's nearly 3 years old.

But that gives me time to save a few buckets as well. For now the Oasis is working well enough, just it'd be nice to get away from some of the paper cuts.

Same here with me and the color versions here. If and when I need to replace what I have now, or maybe a software update makes me want to throw them out a window or something, then I'll take a look at the new options. It's highly unlikely I'd get rid of my currently working and mint condition and known-good readers before that.

I liked my Kobo, but it bricked itself after only about a year. I took it apart, and a voltage rail was shorted out. I didn't even finish the first book I put on it!

I read at a similar pace.

Ouch. I'm a couple years into my Libra. I'd be seriously bummed and annoyed if it died that quickly.

The KO in Koreader was originally for Kobo though ofc now it can run elsewhere. :)

I started Using it on a Kobo Aura but now I use a Boox Onyx which just runs the Android version of Koreader installed via f-droid or side loaded APK.

I have a Boox note. I can’t help the feeling that it’s not entirely legit, but it’s Android, connects to any service I want (including a Calibre library), has a great display, is great for notes, and is all around fantastic. It’s not a tablet replacement but it IS a replacement for the stuff I do most often with a tablet (read and write). I thought the 10.3 inch display would make for a hefty reader, but it’s perfectly fine.

Btw, I started out using it with KOreader but have ended up just using the built-in reader because it does everything I need. The smaller Boox devices are great too, but their USB plug placement decisions are sometimes VERY WEIRD (my Note Air has a hole in the case spine to allow me to plug in with the cover closed, for example—not a dealbreaker, just odd).

I love the black and white boox as a low tech device. I do a lot more reading and a log less mindless scrolling on my boox tablet. There's also grayscale chrome and firefox plugins if you want to see what it's like.

Same. I almost never use the browser in the first place. I think I’d say the same thing you did but changing the focus to: I love that the b&w boox has made me understand that a low tech device serves my most important needs.

I have a Note as well, and I use it for sheet music. With MobileSheets and a foot pedal, its a phenomenal device for both practice and performance

The not entirely legit part might be their GPL violations. AFAIK, they still are out of compliance.

Kobo is good. I'm also fond of Pocketbook readers, and KOReader runs there too.

The main difference is that Kobo has its store available, so you can buy and read on the device. I'm more into managing my own ebook library from multiple sources, using Calibre, so I don't need the built-in store; you might want it though!

I’ve been happy enough with my Kobo Aura One in its stock state that I’ve never toyed with KOReader or similar. Plug it in, it mounts as USB mass storage, I drop in ePubs, PDFs, etc and it reads them perfectly. No third party software required, “just works”.

I have had koreader on my Kobo Aura One for years without any problems. I haven't needed to mess with it or update koreader or anything which is nice, don't even remember how I installed it.

I migrated from Kindle to kobo many years back to keep physical buttons. It's been a strict upgrade for me, though your fear of an update nuking koreader from orbit remains an issue. I just keep mine in airplane mode to avoid updates and a reinstall is only a few minutes if I forget.

I was in the exact same position as you.

I had a kindle voyage which I jailbroken to put Koreader on. Because of the micro USB and lack of water proofing I decided to upgrade (the device was around 8 years old).

I got a Kobo Clara 2E, installing Koreader was very easy and works very well. Absolutely recommend.

I've got a Boox Note Air2 and it's amazing. Android, can send books through bluetooth, has a shop (that I've never used) and can install Android apps.

Also the screen seems huge and the weight is pretty good. I even got it with 25% discount :-D

FYI I've been running multiple jailbroken Kindles connected to WiFi with KOReader for a few years now. Just install renameotabin and you're good to go. You can even register it like a normal Kindle.

I'm in the same boat too...

One thing i'd absolutely need on a new (non-color) device is the light sensor like my current Kindle Oasis(3?) has.

The Pocketbook devices all lack one (they only adjust lighting based on time and such...)

The original Kindle Touch had gestures. It was also faster for dictionary lookups than my current Paperwhite, which is over a decade newer...

I've been very happy with koreader on my Aura H2O since... 2014? Wow. So that's a yes.

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