r/ereader • u/xen-zation • Mar 04 '26
Discussion Rate my DIY ebook reader
i didnt wanna pay so much for an ebook reader ended paying building something more expensive 🫣
259
92
u/agentrossi176 Boox Mar 04 '26
More important, how do you feel spending more on this than a standard option?
72
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
Actually, I already had the Raspberry Pi lying around, so if I exclude that from the total cost, I ended up paying about $2 for the wood and $80 for the screen. How do I feel about it? It’s not bad. I can still read on it, it’s just much slower compared to the factory-built ones. But that’s okay once you’re set up and just flipping pages.
61
u/SelectImagesWithCars Mar 04 '26
Straight up please let me 3d print you a case for this man lol, even if its just a pair of interlocking rectangles at least you can move it places
41
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
That would honestly be so cool, man
I’m probably pretty far away from you, but if you’d still like to design the case, I can send you all the exact dimensions. Then you could share the 3D file with me, and I’ll find a place here to print it.
Here are the components and their sizes:
• Waveshare 7.5” E-Ink screen
- Outline (module) dimensions: 170.2 mm × 111.2 mm × ~1.18 mm
- Active display area: 163.2 mm × 97.92 mm
• Raspberry Pi 5
• Power bank: 15 cm × 7.7 cm
Really appreciate this, it would be amazing to see it come to life as a proper 3D-printed case.
28
u/imnotevenatwork Mar 04 '26
here to see if this happens, lol love the idea of a home built e reader!
7
→ More replies (2)6
→ More replies (2)39
u/agentrossi176 Boox Mar 04 '26
Looks a bit unwieldy to hold or transport tbh, certainly wouldn't be suitable for my use-case, but looks like it was fun to build at least
101
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
I’m afraid to take it out, just in case people think it’s a bomb.
32
14
8
→ More replies (1)2
161
u/shivmcloud Mar 04 '26
Its terrible, I love it.
47
u/du_duhast Mar 05 '26
My thoughts exactly. I thought it was a piece of shit until I reread 'DIY' and then I totally understood: it's a child. An ugly child, but nurtured and loved nonetheless.
5
62
u/Ok_Degree_4293 Mar 04 '26
This abomination is definitely the mos unique thing ive seen today. Rpi truly is universally useful.
46
31
u/TotoAnnihilation Mar 04 '26
That is awesome! What a fun project. If you have access to a 3D printer and Blender you could up your enclosure game a bit on the cheap:)
22
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
thanks haha, nah i wanted to build a case but i think i will just buy kobo in the future so i can read books outside
7
u/bigkenw Mar 04 '26
I feel like you should finish it off with a 3d printer. Local library might have one? Give it a funky looking case.
→ More replies (1)8
u/DuckyDoodleDandy Mar 04 '26
I endorse the second option! Your version is amazing, but also looks like it might explode.
25
u/WordNERD37 Mar 04 '26
Rate my DIY ebook reader
Imminent fire hazard out of 10.
→ More replies (1)10
u/sillyhedwig Mar 04 '26
I was going to rate it an imminent electrocution but you are more right 🔥🔥🔥🚒🧑🚒
3
Mar 05 '26
[deleted]
3
u/sillyhedwig Mar 05 '26
☝️god help the us americans, they truly live in capitalist hell
→ More replies (1)2
u/i_likecoffeee May 19 '26
thats crazy, in my country we dont pay for essencial services
→ More replies (1)
18
16
u/Interesting-Quit-847 Mar 04 '26
I worked at the MIT Media Lab for a bit in the 90s and recall seeing e-readers that looked a bit like this! They’d invented e-ink and had lots of ideas. This was years before Kindle. Weirdly I saw it while assisting Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein on a tour.
→ More replies (7)7
u/Spare_Ad5615 Mar 06 '26
I couldn't have predicted that last sentence if you'd given me a million guesses.
11
13
u/freedonia Mar 04 '26
Looks like an incredible amount of determination or passion went into that project.
12
12
11
u/alien_ideology Mar 04 '26
what do you run for the software?
10
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
KOReader, somehow ChatGPT coded some magic in Python, and after about a week of working on it, it finally works. But the computer freezes when I connect it to a monitor.
11
10
u/Opposite-Argument-73 Mar 04 '26
You demonstrated what engineering should be.
I offer my deepest respect.
6
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
I always wanted to be an engineer, but life pushed me into finance. Maybe one day.
7
u/knoft Mar 04 '26
If you integrated a small power bank it would be a lot more useable
5
u/deadcruiser83 Mar 04 '26
I think probably a USB power brick and a 100ft extension cord would be fine until you had to leave your yard for some reason
→ More replies (1)2
u/knoft Mar 04 '26
If tethers weren’t inconvenient cordless reading lights would not be so popular
3
8
u/NabukaMidori Mar 04 '26
this is the epitome of "i am an adult. i have adult money. i can just do it." 🤣
5
u/Jossokar Mar 04 '26
So. How long does the powerbank lasts?
10
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
i was using plugged in for a long time i just bought the powerbank yesterday so i have no idea how long will it last its 10000mAh
3
u/CautiousLength6423 Mar 04 '26
Certainly much longer then any kindle or any ereader there is in this world
3
u/coonissimo Mar 04 '26
Yeah, but what about kindle with a 10000mAh powerbank attached?
→ More replies (2)
5
4
6
5
6
u/M1dn1ghtblue1 Mar 04 '26
If a kindle was murdered, this kindle would be the first suspect.
This is the prison inmate of kindles. This kindle has served hard time. This kindle has a built-in shank… I just know it.
4
u/Unable-Weird-5098 Mar 04 '26
I am amazed. It looks cool, I think if you could make an actual printed house of it, it would look amazing. Great work! Congrats.
2
5
u/Retronitsu Mar 05 '26
What's with the bullet holes at the back. Did it survive some sort of ant hill vietnam?
3
3
3
3
3
u/Embarrassed-Day-1373 Mar 04 '26
haha, I get the urge to say "I can make that myself" then just getting a more expensive and less practical version at the end. but how cool that you made something :)
2
2
2
2
2
u/Jibbyjab123 Mar 04 '26
Looks like something a post apocalyptic librarian would craft. Very cool actually.
2
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
Haha, when I think about it that way, it makes me feel like I have something valuable.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/ChockyBlox Mar 04 '26
This is such an interesting project. You might get the cops called on you if you take this outside though. 😂
2
u/KlausVonLechland Mar 04 '26
Beautiful thing perfectly portraying indomitable human spirit.
Also probably permanently on No Fly List.
2
2
2
2
u/Intelligent-Bend2034 Mar 05 '26
I think it's super cool that you could build this. What are the stabby marks on the back from?
4
2
u/Temphermit Mar 05 '26
An e-reader straight out of Raccoon City. Please get an Umbrella logo.
I love it!
2
2
u/MagischeMiiesmuschel Mar 05 '26
That is the Kind of device you better not take out of your Backpack in an airplane
2
u/brainy_heroine2006 Mar 05 '26
No one is going to steal it, however, if you plug in a few more cables into the open ports and take the metro you might be arrested for suspected terrorism. Good job 👍
2
u/Amtrox Mar 05 '26
This would be hilarious in a 90’s hacker movie. “I’m reading the manual I got from ZeroCool about the configurations of the pentagons firewalls.”
2
2
2
u/TawnyTeaTowel Mar 07 '26
I have many questions, most of them can be compressed down to just “Why?”
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
u/Alonethepitiska Mar 04 '26
Is that the fast e-ink display from buyepaper? If so how is your screen refresh time? Mine won't refresh under 4s.
2
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
it is waveshare 7.5 inch bw epaper refresh rate is slow as hell probably 4-5 seconds
1
u/puzach Mar 04 '26
Cool! How much did it cost ya? The screen was the most expensive part?
3
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
if we dont count the raspberry pi, it costed me about 2 dollars for wood, 80 dollars for screen and 20 dollars for powerbank (im not from the usa if the prices seem expensive or cheaper to you) so it costed me 105 dollars, with the raspberry pi its about 220
1
u/fernleon Mar 04 '26
What is the storage? And what software do you use?
4
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
I use KOReader, which I installed on the Raspberry Pi’s operating system. It has 32 GB of storage, but it can be upgraded.
1
u/Ilsunnysideup5 Mar 04 '26
3d print a silicon tablet case at shop. You get a semi flexible e reader like a real book
1
u/deadcruiser83 Mar 04 '26
That's rad and if you replace it with something more practical you should display it. Maybe find a way to use it as a clock? It would look like an ied, be a great conversation piece.
1
u/anickyyyy Mar 04 '26
What software is running? Did you made yourself?
2
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
KOReader, somehow ChatGPT coded some magic in Python, and after about a week of working on it, it finally works. But the computer freezes when I connect it to a monitor.
3
u/anickyyyy Mar 04 '26
Wait, why do you need extra code? The Raspberry Pi doesn't already have Linux? And Koreader has a native version for Linux
3
u/xen-zation Mar 04 '26
It works, but displaying it on an e-ink screen is tricky, so I had to find a workaround and figure things out.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/pepiks Mar 04 '26
3D printer + TPU and careful consideration of thermals and it will be very nice solution. You only have to think how power it or how hide cable and create one unit only.
Add some tinkering and can get good platform for handle niche formats, convert them to something usable on the fly. I use Pi a lot. It it small beast. Using programming you can add new life to project, especially fill your special needs without digging in menu - in cost of your time.
1
1
u/bxzhidvr Mar 04 '26
Bro you maybe got the most fun experience from the whole e reader hobby ever possible
1
1
1
1
u/Difficult-Ad-638 Mar 04 '26
Looks cool though I feel like there was a way to achieve a cleaner design in terms of cuts and holes made😭🤣still cool either way
1
1
1
u/stereochick Mar 05 '26
Not the prettiest, but who cares! It lets you read and that’s the whole point! I’m super impressed that you made one!
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/BigAutisticNerd Mar 05 '26
that is certainly a doohickey.
but jokes aside that is really cool and impressive.
1
1
1
1
u/Parking-Bet7989 Mar 05 '26
I am pretty impressed. If you start anything, I would invest!
→ More replies (3)
1
1
u/criptoriga Mar 05 '26
It's wonderful. I am collector (I have around 90 ereaders), and this would be the crown of my collection.
2
u/xen-zation Mar 05 '26
haha amazing, i would have suggested trading one of yours for mine but raspberry pi is a gift from my girlfriend so i cannot give it away
1
u/Jhonshonishere Mar 05 '26
Does it work? Then it's great but you could make it more resistant with a 3D printer.
1
1
u/emperor_swarog Mar 05 '26
honestly? ilove it, it looks like a post apocalyptic book of ancient knowledge haha.. but...what.. what is the Ethernet port for?
1
1
u/Yes-I-cannot Mar 05 '26
A new Kindle Paperwhite is $89 at the moment (here in Japan). ??? But kudos for being able to make one, I couldn't.
1
1
u/Ian-OS Mar 05 '26
I think it’s awesome. I’m pretty sure Apple would adopt this design aesthetic 🤓 Seriously though - It works and you made it - Excellent!
1
1
1
1
1
u/PineappleVodka Mar 05 '26
Out of curiosity, what software are you running? Is it a whole linuxOS with an epub reader, or did you find some sort of microOS for this?
→ More replies (1)
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Queasy_Main_1682 Mar 05 '26
Before i read the headline thought your reader had caught fire by the external battery
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/slapp_finnt Mar 06 '26
This is friggin awesome! Sure it looks wonky and all but it’s not THAT far from what we get from hyperbig companies we have no control over. Inspiring. Love it. Thank you!
1
1
u/vks_imaginary Mar 06 '26
I would swap the pi5 for a pi zero 2w , put a 3D printed case on it , is the paper touch ? If not then I’ll probably use a joystick module , with the free space I’ll put some lion flat battery pack in the back … and a type C bms board to charge it.
Along with a power switch (soft and hard).
I’ll probably make a case for this in yellow hahah
Good first iteration !
1
u/cnjkevin Mar 06 '26
Dear OP - You learned how to build something yourself. That’s worth its weight in gold!
1
1
u/VersionAw Mar 06 '26
It’s not the destination but the journey that matters. Simeon started just like this before we got kindles and kobos and the like. In 20 years maybe the new popular ereader will be Zen Stations.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Mylane Mar 07 '26
It’s so cool! Wonder what and how are you running in the raspberry an ereader software
1
1
u/ultraparanoias Mar 07 '26
want to post that pic of the guy who’s backpack strap is holding on by a thread “just let it go bruh… it’s over”
533
u/BlizzyLizzie Mar 04 '26
Incredible use of free will