This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Yeah I've got a buttonless reader that I got as a gift and I'm thankful to have it but it sucks. Give me buttons.
Especially as it gets older and slower now I'll give it swipe or tap and wonder, did it register and it's just taking a while...? should I try again? five more times?? oh you've really got to let your finger linger I guess? no? huh that worked last t--oh! It's going! Oh shoot this is way too far.. so now I just have to swipe.. back.., -_-
What's wrong with Kobo?
One never knows. Better to have alternatives today than to hope nothing goes downhill in the future.
If you're honestly asking, one thing I just read is that you need an account to use it. Not sure if that is a downside for many.
There are ways to skip logging-in, as I did it on my Kobo.
You do?
I reset one recently, I would have thought that the account would have been reset like the rest. Anyway it works fine with my calibre archive.
Buttonless ? Fuck that 😅 I want at least a home button and page turning buttons...
Lots of people complaining about buttons, but most people are fine without them.
This thing will fail because of the tiny screen, not because of the lack of buttons.
Sad choice.
I doubt the screen size is an issue for most. The Xteink X4 is about 4 inch and is flying off the shelves right now
Hi, if you don’t mind sharing; What do you feel is the conversion feature from kindle? I am developing on a platform with novels and want to develop user centric features; I have feature where you get assisted highlighting of words with auto scroll so you can “follow the word” and read.
I have the architectural design in place to incorporate tts for example but would love feedback from the reading communities
At least it still raises public awareness about the problems with this tech generally being closed-source, and paves the way for an eventually successful open-source product over the years to come!
I use a Kobo app on my phone. E-Ink would be nicer, but I am going to have the phone with me anyway.
I've heard good things about the xtink stuff, and they have buttons.
I have the xteink X4, and I adore it. Open source firmware you flash onto it yourself (crosspoint), based on esp32, much cheaper than this thing. Tiny device fitting easily into your pocket and so it goes with me everywhere and I use it all the time. Big recommend.
Why buttonless? I like buttons.
Heck, a scroll wheel would be a killer feature so I don't smudge the screen with my disgusting oils
Buttons and scroll wheels cost more than touchscreens at this point… 90s me wanted touchscreens on everything, and me since maybe 2015? has been firmly “bring back buttons”
…whenever they started replacing useful things that SHOILD be buttons always (car) with touch things. Absolutely not bueno.
The cheapest Pockeboot model always had buttons (and touch screen). The more expensive ones are always touch screen only. I never got it. Buttons are a nice feature, why remove them in higher end models?
Why would you pay $150 for a 4.26" ESP32- based eReader when you could get a 4.26" ESP32-based eReader for $70 or less? The XTEink X4 is already available.
I recently picked up an Xteink X4 for $55. Flashed the Crosspoint firmware on it. Crosspoint just works and has no bloat. I love being able to set the device and send books via the self-hosted web interface. Sending books via wifi from Calibre works too.
Buttons on the reader are nice. I actually prefer not having a touchscreen for something so small. I do wish it had a front light though. This turned out to be the less-expensive-non-Android-just-an-ereader alternative to Boox that I was searching for. Loving it so far.
Can it access OPDS feeds?
According to the documentation it does have ODPS. I haven’t tried it out yet.
Front light
And you have open firmware for it: https://hackaday.com/2026/04/05/pocket-sized-e-ink-gets-a-firmware-upgrade/
Why is "buttonless" being said like a good thing?
It’s a fact? It has no buttons. God or bad
Yes, but my point was that it was stated in a way like a feature being touted as opposed just a statement of fact, Maybe my impression was wrong, but "buttonless" immediately put me off from the device.
That screen is absolutely tiny.
I actually just got one of these things (https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4) that has a 4" screen (WITH BUTTONS) for $55 on Amazon and I kinda love it. I think my perfect phone would be something this size with GrapheneOS support and a headphone jack.
Why did I read that as 150 buttholes?
I flashed my Kobo and have a pretty similar experience now. Except with a decent size screen.
What did you flash on your Kobo?
