I'm desperately searching for an e-book reader and i wonder if someone here has a good answer. I'd like a something I can root and or at least run arbitrary userland code on. I want a size that's good for edc in a small backpack or handbag, maybe 7 - 11", pen support would also be really nice, does any such thing exist?

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eldridgea 21 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I got a Boox Go Color 7 as a less locked in alternative to my Kindle a while back, and overall I've really enjoyed it.

It's apparently rootable, although I haven't done that personally. It's Google Play certified so anything from the Play store works, and side loading Android apps works too. I use it with the open source KOReader app and in tandem with Calibre Web Automated. I did a writeup[0] with some details if you're interested.

[0] https://blog.eldrid.ge/2025/03/12/self-hosted-ebook-manageme...

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icedrift 19 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Onyx violate GPL with their linux-based OS. I'd go Kobo or remarkable over them for that alone

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nunez 19 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's an easy process; I wrote up how to do it: https://gist.github.com/carlosonunez/a0ec3f02576867329bc313b...

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j4nkest 20 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I second this, been using an Onyx Boox tablet for a year and a half for uni. It's great for reading and taking notes and it fits nicely in my laptop bag on top of my laptop.

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chrneu 21 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

You have a cool blog.

	▲	eldridgea 18 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Thank you!

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lknuth 20 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I habe a "Pocketbook Verse Pro" that runs Linux. No need to root, you can copy ARM executables to the SD card and run them (that's how I use Syncthing on it). KOReader also works on it.

	▲	vlowrian 19 hours ago \| parent [-]
		+1 for the PocketBook. I have an Era and use it with KOReader and Calibre. Installation was as easy as copying a folder onto the device. I also wrote a short write-up about my experience with PocketBook devices and KOReader, for anyone who's interested: https://tc3.eu/posts/pocketbook-era-with-koreader/

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ThrowawayR2 21 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

If you don't require an e-ink display, the least effort route might be the MS Surface Go 3 tablet running Windows or Linux (https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installa...).

The Remarkable 2 has an e-ink display but is rather underpowered as an e-reader. It does have an SDK for building apps: https://developer.remarkable.com/documentation/sdk

	▲	marcus_holmes 21 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Love my Remarkable 2, but my main use case for an e-reader is reading in bed at night, and it just doesn't work for that (form factor and lack of backlight, though the newer ones do have a backlight). However, for reading technical docs or workshop docs in daylight, it's great.

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komali2 21 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The Kobo Libra Color is within your size range and has pen support. You can run Koreader on it and some other things, it's not like, a linux device though. I do think you can run arbitrary scripts through the program that manages alternative readers like Koreader or Plato.

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j45 20 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

You must check out the Supernote line

https://supernote.com/

	▲	codethief 16 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The important thing to know here is that Supernote nowadays allows sideloading apps, like any other Android device.