The ultimate reading device

Problem 1

Reading on tablets for hours on ends is not easy on the eyes. Persevere, it might even lead to headache or migraine. It takes the joy out of reading.

Screen tech

Source: https://techlomedia.in/guides/lcd-vs-oled-vs-amoled-differ/

Most tablet screens are LCD, LED or something similar. This technology relies on a light source on the back of the screen. The light goes directly to our eyes while we are reading. Using it for short period or watching a video doesn’t seem to be much of a problem. Reading an entire book is totally different. It takes a long time to finish a book. A page of an ebook usually has black letters on white background. Having white bright light shining through your eyes for long period of time leads to eye fatigue/strain. It’s very uncomfortable.

Alternative tech - E Ink

With E Ink tech, there’s no light source shining bright light directly to our eyes. The technology is fundamentally different. Reading text on a screen with E ink technology feels like reading print words on papers. No eye strain whatsoever. The popular example of an ebook reader with E Ink technology is Kindle.

Source: https://wccftech.com/review/amazon-kindle-paperwhite-2018/

Problem 2

The problem with Kindle eReaders is that they are Amazon products. They are tied to Kindle store where ebooks are sold by Amazon. For avid readers, cost of ebooks can pile up. There are other ebook readers in the market e.g. Sony, Kobo and Nook. They are similar to Kindle; they are also tied to their respective ebook stores. You have to pay for the books you want to read.

Public library is a great way to read books for free. These days ebooks are widely available through public library. We no longer need to physically go to a library, pick up the books and bring them home. Millions of free ebooks can be downloaded to your devices over the internet. It is super convenient especially, during lockdowns when public libraries are closed.

More and more public libraries are providing ebook services. Melbourne city library, for example, has several ebook service providers e.g. cloudLibrary, BorrowBox and Libby. These ebook platforms run on Apple, Android and other operating systems. That means free ebooks can be accessed through iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablets or even desktop computer. These ebook platforms, however, are not available on ebook readers such as Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc.

Solution

The best of both world - an Android tablet with E Ink tech

As cloudLibrary, BorrowBox and Libby are apps running on both iPad and Android tablets. If you have an Android tablet with E Ink tech, you can read free ebooks till your heart’s content without eye strain. Boox is such a device.

Source: https://www.boox.com/poke3/

You can even read ebook bought through Kindle, Kobo or Nook ebook store as there’re compatible android apps. As long as there’s an android app for that ebook platform, you can download an app through Google Play Store and enjoy an endless stream of ebooks from unlimited ebook platforms.

Two more thing…

I regularly spend hours reading news and any topics of interest through web browser on a computer screen. Even dark mode was set to reduce white background light going through my eyes, reading on computer screen for long still leads to the same eye strain, eye fatigue as I mentioned above. It is because the same screen technology is used whether it’s a desktop, laptop or tablet computer.

The work around

Install an extension called Pocket on your web browser and install Pocket app on Boox ereader. Using web browser as normal, but when you find long article of interest that reading on computer screen might again lead to eye fatigue, click Pocket extension button on web browser tool bar. The article will be sent to Pocket app on your Boox waiting for you to read without ever worry about eye strain. Also the articles, most of the times, will be stripped of annoying ads and other distractions.

Text size

Having to wear glasses to read is the undeniable corollary of ageing. I find it cumbersome nonetheless. Reading mostly on ebook readers solves this conundrum as text size can be adjusted to the point where glasses are not needed.