An eReader that doesn’t lock you into a format doesn’t mean much when ebooks from Google, Kobo and Amazon locks you into their DRM.

But let’s say you happen to strip the drm find a DRM free source of ebooks like on Humble Bundle and want an eReader and are looking for options.

From looking into myself you have a few options depending on the screen.

eInk:

• Kobo (Clara 2e/HD)

• Android eInk tablet (Onyx Boox/Boyue)

LCD:

• Android Tablet (with KO Reader)

• iPad (mini)

• spyware fire tablet

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For ease of use the Kobo is probably the best if you are just looking for something the integrates well with everything. But you will need Calibre on a host PC to store and manage your library since Kobo doesn’t do that for you.

iPad would be my second choice mainly because of the native apps for each drm. If you dont want to use the native apps, tutorials are limited but the Book app can read any ePub well, and you can sync books with iCloud. That said if you don’t want iCloud its a pain in the but todisabled, but iTunes can be used to manually add books to the Book app (or adobe digital editions)

Android is the most flexible but takes more work. A Samsung tablet will be the easiest to buy and run. And each eBook store does have a native app. That said DRM free is where Android shines, KOReader is a fabulous eReader app that supports so much that even the eInk android devices use it. The GUI isn’t the best but its functionality is the best.

This also applies to android eink as well. However do not expect software support more than what’s already installed. For a phone/tablet this would be a killer (have a likebook stuck on Android 4 with a dead play store) however since ebooks are offline the devices are still usable. If you want anything official… Good luck.

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Amazon

While you will see a general consensus that Fire Tablets and Kindles should be avoided I have looked into them and this is my two cents on them.

Kindle - are surprising more usable then a Kobo without an account, but the majority of its features are locked out if you don’t have an account. With Calibre you can convert ePubs to Amazon’s format since they are rebadged ePubs and the Kindle will read it even if you are not signed in. However I personally don’t like the amount of work is needed to use it beyond what Amazon wants you to use it for. And especially out side of the USA the lack of Audio book functionality is irritating.

Fire Tablet - is the most useful of the Amazon devices. It can be used without an account with a lot of work and diligence during the checkout. Since its an Android Tablet you can install all but Googles DRM and even then Adobe Digital editions works on it. SD card storage upgrades are a nice bonus too for comics lovers or audiobooks fans. But you will be missing features until you sign in.

And here’s the thing, you may want an Amazon device, logged in since you will have a Serial Number which maybe used to “improve” the usability of your Amazon ebooks on non Amazon devices. Especially when the old gen of tablets go on sale. 😉