I subscribe to The Well Apportioned Desk in my feed reader. Site creator Ana Reinert is looking for e-reader recommendations. She wants an e-reader that allows her to “read books” and “libby support” for checking out books from her library. She would also prefer a non-Kindle option, although that is not a requirement. I personally have a PocketBook Color (seen here), PocketBook Inkpad Color (first model, seen here), and a 2018 Kindle Paperwhite (discussed here). I like the Pocketbooks. Pocketbook’s native Linux-based OS is unobtrusive and it is very easy to install KoReader for a much better reading and library-management experience (KoReader is noticeably snappier than the default reading app). I do not use PocketBook’s store at, instead using it for DRM-free books (I use Calibre on my PC to send books to my PocketBook). However, I have tested its built-in Adobe DRM functionality and found that it works as expected for DRM-protected books from the Kobo sore. As a bonus, Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included guide has a positive assessment of Pocketbook devices. Readers should note I have not tried an Android-based PocketBook, so I have no opinion of those. I have no take on Libby functionality since I have never checked out library ebooks (moreover, I was only aware of Overdrive). If PocketBook does not check the library box, I would see if Kobo, which, like Pocketbook, supports KoReader, is a viable option (assuming arguendo that Kobo is preferred over Kindle). Since Ms. Reinert mentioned Onyx Book, I will note that I would stay away from that one due to its tendency to phone home and GPL violations, but I would be interested in Onyx Book if something like LineageOS were available for it.
Recommending the PocketBook Line
For the last few months, I’ve been trying to decide if I should buy a new ereader and, if so, which brand I should purchase. I have been researching options from Kindle, Kobo, Onyx Boox and a few others. My goal is to read books and I check ebooks out from our library so I really want Libby support. ... I could really use some recommendations. I’m leaning away from Kindle (for the most part) but I haven’t ruled it out.