Requirements:

  • Able to pirate books and load them on
  • Nice if it can integrate with my arr stack (Sonarr, Radarr, etc)
  • reasonably priced
  • not locked down to anything

That’s it really just a simple e-reader that I can add what I want.

Edit: this is the first post where I got a lot of comments where I wasn’t too overwhelmed to reply to them all. Hard when you wake up to so many replies but trying to be better thanking people for their input.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
    0·
    5 days ago

    The reader should mount as a USB drive, you put files on it like epub, PDF, or HTML in your own directory structure, and you can browse this and read the files. Nothing else needed.

  • philpo@feddit.org
    0·
    5 days ago

    Don’t get the Kobo,it works only mediocre with Calibre Web and other “web based” “personal librarys” - and Kobo is forcing Kepub down users throat more and more. Kobo only looks good if you come from the hellhole that Kindle has become,tbh.

    I would highly recommend looking into Pocketbook and especially Onyx if your goal is a more “free” approach.

    • mbfalzar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      0·
      5 days ago

      What’s the issue with Calibre Web? I add book to shelf on Calibre Web, and hit Sync on my kobo, and the kobo downloads the book and populates it in my library. What’s the thing I’m missing or that’s not working right?

  • jacksilver@lemmy.world
    0·
    6 days ago

    I saw Boox called out, but not the Boox Palma². I just got it and it’s been pretty nice. The major draw is the form factor though as it’s phone sized making it pretty portable.

    It runs android and I’ve set it up to work with AudioBookshelf and Komga

    AudioBookshelf, while designed for audiobooks, allows you to download books for offline reading and seemed the best all in one for books self hosting. It also has a native android app.

    Komga seems pretty amazing for manga and comic books (haven’t settled on an app, just using the browser now). The e-ink display isn’t the best for reading this medium, but it’s not terrible for black and white comics.

    Since both of those are self-hosted solutions they could integrate with readarr pretty easily (although audiobookshelf’s folder structure can be frustrating).

      • jacksilver@lemmy.world
        0·
        4 days ago

        It’s really great software, and the android app is great (given it supports offline mode). I just wish the folder structure was simpler/flexible. Makes me tempted to try to make a pull request, but haven’t done something like that in ages.

  • cfi@lemmy.world
    0·
    6 days ago

    Regardless of what reader you go with, look into KoReader, a custom reader app that you install on top of existing firmware. Offers a lot of features that stock firmware doesn’t, like OPDS catalog connections

  • WandowsVista@lemmy.world
    0·
    6 days ago

    +1 to Kobo as well, although I’m admittedly unfamiliar with the pirate apps (arr).

    no issues downloading books and adding/editing my library with calibre and you can connect it to your library card to rent ebooks if you’re feeling frisky.

    or you can bypass the login steps and change out the firmware and add games and other utilities. it’s as customizable or not as you want.

    lots of refurbished options through rakuten and ebay

  • phlaym@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    0·
    6 days ago

    I‘m very happy with my Pocketbook Era. Nice device, works with the onleihe system my library uses. Would buy the exact same one again

  • dbx12@programming.dev
    0·
    7 days ago

    I see you’re coming from a .de domain so chances are you might have a Thalia (store) in your area. I’ve bought a Tolino Shine about 6 years back and I really like it. Sure, you can buy them online too, but I liked the option to try it out before I buy.

  • steal_your_face@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    7 days ago

    I have a kobo Libra 2. Its the first ereader I’ve bought and it’s super nice. I use calibre to load my books. Looks like kobo only has refurbished units of it now, though.

  • UnfairUtan@lemmy.world
    0·
    7 days ago

    I bought my first e-reader a month ago, it’s the Boox Go 7 and I’m really pleased so far. The fact that it’s also an android tablet let’s me download apps for Mangas, music, etc.

  • DrownedRats@lemmy.world
    0·
    7 days ago

    Kobo was on my short-list not long ago. They seemed like the most polished non-amazon option to me. I haven’t switched for now because my old kindle 2 is still clinging to life and because of it being long out of support from amazon I just keep it disconnected from the internet and sideload whatever I want.

    With that said though, now that some decent kindle jailbreaking options are available, an old second hand kindle from eBay might actually be a very good option.

  • Skydancer@pawb.social
    0·
    7 days ago

    Portability is key for me. Others here have recommended the Boox Palma, but for the price difference I’d have to go with Moann’s Inkpalm Plus.

    Arr stack integration for e-readers is going to be Readarr linked to a Calibre instance, as described here.

    • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      7 days ago

      Yeah, Readarr is unfortunately the black sheep of the Arr stack. Ebook torrents are notorious for failing/stalling, and the Readarr team has had some major issues with their metadata server in the past year or so, meaning adding new authors/books is often impossible.

      It can be nice for tracking what you’re missing, but I end up using manual searches for most of my ebooks. Ebooks tend to work best with direct downloads, (Z-Library, Anna’s Archive, etc) so an Arr service reliant on torrents is spotty, at best. It isn’t even actively being developed, and the devs still attached to the project have even said that it will likely stagnate and fall into disrepair unless a serious dev is willing to take over the project.

  • truxnell@aussie.zone
    0·
    7 days ago

    I recently somehow broke my Boox page, and I replaced it with a PocketBook Era. It’s my favourite device, great battery life, integrated with calibre like a dream and the OS is really nice to use after fighting android on the Boox.

  • BioMyth@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    7 days ago

    I like the Kobo options a lot, I have a device from them that was the Kobo Aura HD from Ebay that was $50 dollars in great condition. Kobo has better support for loading whatever you want on it without any annoying issues and it is running linux under the hood and has a lot of expand-ability because of it. These days I use a kindle paperwhite 4 and honestly, it just isn’t as well thought out. It is waterproof & has a higher resolution display but I found the Kobo OS was faster & the device with buttons had a much better design overall. So, I wish I had gone for an up to date Kobo alternative when I upgraded. So, go Kobo, don’t look back, & get second hand if you want to save some $$$.