Recommend me an e-reader plz?

[stirlinggaz]

Hi all,
As all local libraries are closed with this covid 19 crap, my elderly mother can't get access to her usual supply of paperbacks.
I think I've convinced her to get some sort of e-reader, something like a kindle.
Any suggestions?
Has to be simple enough to use (she's in her 70's) so doesn't need to be the latest all singing & dancing specs, just needs to be capable of downloading books so she can read them at her leisure.

TIA.

cheers,
GAZ

[Hawkeye1250FA]

kindle paperwhite.

Ronseal.
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[yen_powell]

[kgm]

I prefer a normal kindle as it causes less eye strain for me Vs paperwhite when reading for a long time, I just use a clip on light if needed. Basically comes down to whether the backlight is important to you and whether it'll cause you eye strain.

[Polarbear]

Kindle.

Even when I read a book on my computer I use the Kindle app as well. Everything is seamless. Amazon kindle books are easy to buy and there are plenty for free. OK some are utter shite but I've read others that I've enjoyed, and of course the classics are free.

It's the whole shebang. Amazon have got it nailed.
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[hedgehugger]

Another vote for the Kindle, but I dislike my paperwhite. I want buttons. (I am way too tight to buy an Oasis though)

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Kindle Paperwhite, and spend the 10 minutes it takes to talk to customer services on the chat to remove adverts, if you buy it cheaply during a promotion.
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[stirlinggaz]

Thanks all!
I was pretty sure you guys would say kindle paperwhite
& I've watched a few youtube reviews & they say same as you guys. Theres a few "seller refurbished" 8 or 9th gen on ebay for half the price as a new 1 so kinda settled on that.

cheers,
GAZ

[WD Forte]

I'll suggest considering audiobooks as an added alternative option
I have tons of them collected over the years and
often have one playing as I can tinker/do other things while listening

You can down load many for free from the 'usual places'
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[Ayrton]

I've had 2 kindles (one of the original ones with buttons and now an Oasis) and I dont think I'd buy any other e-reader. There is also a sale on right now.

I found I didnt really need a backlight on my original one since I almost always used it in bed where I had good light, but reading it on a bus or something was quite difficult sometimes. The Oasis has a totally different backlight to the paperwhite though and is a lot more soft, which is why a lot of people say the paperwhite causes eye strain.

I just wish they kept buttons for turning pages on all the models, which is why I spent more for the Oasis. The touch screen is nice for selecting books but I find it horrible for changing pages and just annoys me when I accidentally touch it when trying to hold the kindle.

[iooi]

Kindle.
But reverse the screen. So you have black blackground and white text.
Can read in total darkness with no eye strain.
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[stirlinggaz]

[WD Forte]

Ahh right, OK then

Never had a Kindle or dedicated ereader so ask out of ignorance.

If money is a bit tight would say a 10" tablet be of use as an alternative?
I bought one for £45 and it has 1080p screen
8GB RAM 64GB external mem with wifi, dual sim etc but I use as a hand held
media device mostly and cant fault it for the price.
If you put ereader software on that would it hold up well?

If you have a Kindle are you tied into its proprietry ( paid for)
file types or will it play whatever you bung at it?
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[hedgehugger]

The Kindle plays a few file types, but not epubs. Luckily there is an excellent file converter (Calibre), so you can convert epubs (one of the most common ebook filetypes) to something the Kindle can read.

You can read on a tablet, but in my view it is the same as reading a book on a pc monitor. The glare gets you.
A Kindle can easily be read in direct sunlight, which is a huge bonus when reading outside. A tablet on the other hand, you need shade, or a tent, or hide under your coat.

[stirlinggaz]

[Tarmacsurfer]

Just a thought, if she has a library card the Kobo e-readers support "overdrive" - effectively allowing you to browse and borrow books digitally once it's set up.

I've been through most of the readers on the market, imported a few to try as well as the usual Amazon suspects. I settled on the Kobo Forma. While it's not the cheapest toy on the shelf I love the larger format screen (actually feels like a page, unlike the smaller displays) and it's so light that even with a case it's easy to read for hours at a stretch.

If you're on Amazon Prime and she'll be part of it then the Kindle isn't a bad shout though, even without "Kindle Unlimited" there's still a fair amount of free material.
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[Jmoan]

Are there any separate screens that work like E-readers to use instead of the main screen on a tablet?

[Tarmacsurfer]

Just noticed while checking Amazon for something, the basic Kindle is reduced to £49.99 at the moment and they're also running a two month trial of Kindle Unlimited (Spotify/Neflix for books, pretty much).

Thought it may be of interest /shrug
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