You don’t need the know-how compile the firmware! It’s available to drag and drop from GitHub: https://github.com/nvts8a/libros

DIY is like that. If you look up how to make a birdhouse they will tell you you need a saw, a hammer, nails, drill, paintbrush and something to measure with. Having a 3d printer and a soldering iron nowadays is pretty low entry, you can get into it cheaper that buying the saw, hammer and drill for the birdhouse. You don't have to buy the bambulab printer and the weller / hakko iron. You can print this case on an ender 3 you found in the dumpster. Or pay 10 bucks for someone and they will print it for you. On the other hand you will have a device you can infinitely repair unlike the kindles that are kicking the dust every few year for everyone.

Is that $85 for all parts?

Calculate the extra cost if someone doesn't own a 3D printer (or doesn't have access to one) or soldering gear.

I don't understand, it seems perfectly reasonable - people are just so used to these products being sold at a loss or at cost and subsidised by huge companies.

I would happily pay extra to not be tied to a massive corporation.

Ideally, how would open source hardware look like for you? I mean that as in after it has achieved something akin to mainstream adoption.

There's slowly starting to be more options for this. The reMarkable devices seem pretty good, but they're a little pricey (though, I'm pretty sure they're not owned by Amazon, so it might technically fit your requirement).

Have you installed nickelmenu and koreader? Brings the experience up a couple of levels software side.

It's true. Counterpoint: if you move places a lot (let's say if you happen to belong to a generation of people who will never be able to afford a place - which is a huge amount of people), your library needs to fit into a small tablet sized reader. Can store 5000 books, I do not have the means to move that amount of books every time my landlord decides to make my rent more unaffordable. An ereader fits in my pocket.

On the Open Book GitHub I have collections of free books and short stories that are digital only from Tor.com. That’s actually why I wanted to get an eReader, digital only online short stories are winning Hugo Awards now, and then couldn’t decide and got involved with the Open Book is that I wanted a little device to load up with them.

You're not being an ass. But I think it also depends on the book and the person.

For example: cookbooks I prefer a physical book. IT books I prefer in digital format so I can use the find function.

Fiction books I go either way. I prefer digital because they are easier to get but will browse them at the book store.

Either way having an open hardware solution is very welcome so you aren't trapped behind Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I remember reports of Amazon deleting books off of people's devices.

I have a Kobo with KOReader installed and Calibre with the DeDRM plugin for managing eBooks and it's pretty great! It'll open just about anything you throw at it and is pretty customizable.

I haven't been keeping tabs on this, but if you appreciate the legacy of pine64 (hardware kill switches on phone, Linux everywhere, etc.) They did release an epaper device:

https://www.pine64.org/2021/08/15/introducing-the-pinenote

I think they're saying it's still developer oriented and not quite user friendly yet though

Unfortunately in our late stage capitalism, that wouldn't be a scalable and successful business model, and they'll unfortunately fail as a business.

The one we use is about $15-$20 USD