Ask Lemmy

Caveat: I haven't purchase or used another e-reader since I bought my first one (Kobo) ~15 years ago.

My Kobo still works and the battery still lasts like a week or longer before needing a recharge.

I don't think I've run into a book file it can't read, but I mostly stick to epubs and PDFs.

I'm pretty sure it has an online store, if that's important.

For your requirements, I have no idea if a planner has been implemented in the last decade, but I would suspect Kobos can read Libby library books (not sure what they are though). I believe my ~15 year old Kobo has a sync feature, but I don't use it. So that's probably available as well. For easy on the eyes, I'm assuming brightness settings, which Kobo had and I used on occasion (they may have adaptive sensing now).

I recall Kobo used to be marked as the "open" platform, so unless something has significantly changed, Kobo shouldn't lock you in or charge you a subscription fee.

Best of luck. Hope you are able to find an e-reader that works for you.

Edit: Just found this website with a bunch of Kobos compared. It looks like some have Dropbox sync and "Dark Mode" (I assume for easier on the eyes).

I know it's not for everyone, and I myself enjoy tinkering, but I bet finding a used Kindle who's firmware stopped being current and jail breaking would be a solid choice.

I just jail broke my older Kindle paper white 7the gen (2015), not even a week ago. I didn't use it that often because it was always sluggish and can't stand non snappy UI.

Holy hell this thing is sooooo much better now. I use KOReader only, and have a launcher shortcut that kills Amazon's "framework" before launching, which stops all of their software from running in the background.

The UI is responsive, more customizable, drains less battery, and instead of ads while sleeping, it displays a blacked out version of the book cover I'm reading.

It also got me started with Calibre to sync and manage epubs instead, and KOReader has a built in tool to connect and sync the books.

It wasn't difficult, but it was time consuming making sure I understood everything first, and didn't miss a step. They even have an app store for jail broken Kindles now that made installing anything needed after jail breaking much much easier. I'd be surprised if someone hasn't made a planner to download.

I was able to use the older WinterBreak exploit, and the current and sadly already patched exploit is called AdBreak.

I like my Kobo Libra H2O, it's still chugging along nicely since 2019 (I think?) and fits my needs perfectly with my Calibre lib

Onyx Boox, runs on Android so you can install whatever apps you want.

I have a Kobo Libra Color. It doesn't have an actual planner but it has a notebook that I've actually considered using as a Planner before.

Another Kobo fan here. Got the Libra 2 for physical page turn buttons. No subscriptions. Haven't accessed Libby but it's an option. Can sideload with no issues. Doesn't have a planner unfortunately. Great device, had mine for three years so far and hoping I never have to buy another one.

If you are in Europe: Pocketbook.

Reasonably open plattform, good support, works with almost everything.

Another vote for Kobo here. I have a Clara 2e that i really like. It can use Overdrive to get books from the library, or you can just load books yourself either over USB, or download documents using its built in web browser. The browser would also let you look at an online planner, I guess? There isn't one built in. The slow screen updates make using the browser pretty impractical for the most part, though.

My wife really likes her kobo aura (edition 2?). She was and is using it with overdrive and a library card. During Covid we had applied for cards from multiple counties to have more holds. Switching from card to card was annoying. I have recently started collecting an ebook library, starting with her overdrive wishlist. I use calibre to load the books, and that’s been great

I bought her a Kobo Clara BW for this Christmas, and I plan on adding our library to it and setting up the library cards before I wrap it

For kobo users, where do you get your books now that Amazon has stopped you from downloading and converting into epub?

Just for the record, I'm using kindles since their keyboard version came out, and never paid any subscription fees or bought an e-book from Amazon. But I can understand the sentiment, and the touchscreen-only platform development was a horrible choice of directions. It could be argued if a reader needs a full keyboard, and the always-free internet also turned to shit thanks to "development" of the internet, but I loved the first Kindle.

I'm using a boox. I dislike their built-in library tools, but it's just an e-ink android tablet, so I installed a simple launcher and download whatever apps I want, including Libby.

I was gifted a Kobo Clara2E by my wife and I'm very happy with it.

My Kobo Clara screen froze entirely so I opted for a second hand e-reader for €50, a Tolino. It’s got a backlight and I can load Libby books on there which is all that I need.

I will give the Kobo one more chance though once I make it to a repair café.

P.S. Hopefully this post lasts longer than my one on Lemm.ee and works for those searching the Fediverse/Lemmyverse for the same question 🙃

I always get down voted for this but just get kindle and turn on the airplane mode the moment you receive one.

I think Kindle is the only thing that will last for decade(source: mine did) at a ridiculously cheap price range subsidized by their bookstore we won't use.

Id recommend looking for a used one online you can get one as low as 10$