e-reader for the granparent generation?

[alexo]

Hello people,

I am looking for recommendations for an e-reader suitable for an older (70-something), non-technical person.

Requirements toe to eyesight:
* Big screen (I'm thinking 8-10")
* High contrast and easy on the eyes (e-ink)
* Ability to easily change fonts and font sizes.

Other requirements
* Can work with foreign fonts and languages (Russian in particular; right-to-left language support is a big plus)
* Can display lots of formats (TXT, PDF, DOC/RTF, HTML plus the common e-book format)
* Easy transfer of files from a PC to the e-reader.
* Long battery life.

All the above requirements are "must have".

Please help.

Thank you.

 

[snoturtle]

Only one I can think of that has a screen that big is the Kindle DX

not sure on its file support though

 

[Ravynmagi]

Could a 6 inch e-ink screen with just the font size enlarged be better for an elderly person? Seems like a lighter sized device would be more comfortable. A Kindle DX for example is more than twice as heavy as a the basic Kindle.

Not sure anything will meet all those "must have" requirements though.

 

[alexo]

Could a 6 inch e-ink screen with just the font size enlarged be better for an elderly person? Seems like a lighter sized device would be more comfortable. A Kindle DX for example is more than twice as heavy as a the basic Kindle.

Not sure anything will meet all those "must have" requirements though.

I think that 6"
devices using
large fonts will
not fit as many
words on the
screen, making
it uncomfortable
to read.

OK, I was exaggerating but you get my point.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I think that 6"
devices using
large fonts will
not fit as many
words on the
screen, making
it uncomfortable
to read.

OK, I was exaggerating but you get my point.

If it were me, I'd rather have a more comfortable e-reader that I had to change pages on more frequently than a heavier e-reader that I didn't use because it was uncomfortable to hold for long periods.

 

[gorcorps]

If it were me, I'd rather have a more comfortable e-reader that I had to change pages on more frequently than a heavier e-reader that I didn't use because it was uncomfortable to hold for long periods.

Are you 70 years old?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Are you 70 years old?

I'm 37. And hell, I wouldn't want to read books on a Kindle DX. I can't even imagine it for someone twice my age.

 

[corkyg]

If it were me, I'd rather have a more comfortable e-reader that I had to change pages on more frequently than a heavier e-reader that I didn't use because it was uncomfortable to hold for long periods.

I echo this position. And, lest you wonder, no, I'm not 70 - wish I were! I'm 81! The basic Kindle is just fine. Font is clear, sharp and very adjustable. Pages turn at the touch of a button. It is also easy to carry.

Cheers!

 

[Ravynmagi]

Problem is, I don't know of any devices that meets all the requirements. Kindle DX is large enough, but it can't read epub files (you have to convert them).

Nook supports epub, but it seems like it doesn't do TXT or HTML files.

I don't know anything about the ease of use of the Kobo, but it apparently supports all the file formats you mentioned. But it's 6 inches like most e-readers.

 

[quikah]

My 82 yr old grandmother borrows my mom's base kindle to read on when they travel together. She enjoys using it quite a bit. She has good eyesight though, so YMMV. Also, she doesn't manage any of the books, my mom does all that.

 

[zerocool84]

New Kindle's are supposedly coming out September 6th so wait and see.

 

[cl-scott]

It's unlikely the Kindle will ever support ePub, so what you could do though is set up some pretty generic and safe defaults with Calibre, and teach them how to drag and drop files into Calibre, start the conversion, and then use Calibre to load files onto the Kindle. They really don't need to do much beyond click a few buttons. Yes, Calibre has an... Interesting.... UI, but it's free and gets the job done for the most part. Not even sure, to be honest, if there are any alternatives to Calibre free or otherwise. Print off some instructions, get them laminated, and just tape it to the desk near their computer or something. I've had success doing that sort of thing for an office full of technologically challenged social workers to make backups of data every week, encrypt it, and store it on a flash drive.

 

[Bonesdad]

I echo this position. And, lest you wonder, no, I'm not 70 - wish I were! I'm 81! The basic Kindle is just fine. Font is clear, sharp and very adjustable. Pages turn at the touch of a button. It is also easy to carry.

Cheers!

Ditto...I'm 50 and need to adjust the font upwards myself (not huge mind you!) I really like my Kindle Touch

 

[alexo]

Thank you for your replies!

So far I'm leaning toward the Onyx Boox M92

 

[Thump553]

Highly reccommend the Kindle Touch and I'm in my fifties. Crystal clear text, adjustable font size, super simple controls and the battery lasts for weeks at a time. Plus there are tons of free ebooks available.

Unless the grandparent is nearly blind I'm sure they will prefer light weight and convenient size over big.

For the Onyx are they going to have to go through the hassle of converting formats for the books?

Also, check to see what type of ebooks their library offers for free.