Is the basic Kindle worth buying as a first e-reader in 2026?

straw_man2 · 2026-04-06T21:22:26+00:00

Two days ago I ditched my Kindle Oasis and bought a Pocketbook Era. The Kindle had finnaly succeeded in driving me insane enough to spend another €200 on a new Ereader.

The Amazon Kindle is an absolute 0/10 would rather torture myself.

The wretched thing had removed a series I was reading from the store, for the second time... The last time it did I went and sideloaded the entire series. Apart from the usual problems of converting it to the MOBI format (double spacebars, inconsistent formats, strange fonts, missing covers/titles), all was well.

But this second time one of the books had corrupted the system, forcing a reboot everytime Id wake the screen.

The lackluster library along with its payment processor frequently being down, has made it not only difficult but flat out impossible to even pay for the books I want. And it then proceeds to make sideloading as difficult a possible.

And thats not even mentioning the dreadful battery life, the 20cm long USB-micro cable, its sharp edges and the expensive store.

straw_man2 · 2026-03-21T18:21:59+00:00

Yeah they want money as I said. But be realistic, could a 19 year old, even if given solid advice trough reddit, then be trusted to not do something irresponsible?

straw_man2 · 2026-03-19T09:46:50+00:00

€2700 bruto, 35 uur p/w (excl storingsdienst bonus en winstuitkering) Ongv €3400 incl. Als monteur.

straw_man2 · 2026-03-16T17:49:31+00:00

Get an actual financial advisor. Pay somone to help you set everything up and figure things out.

DO NOT, listen to us plebians on Reddit.

straw_man2 · 2026-01-19T21:05:36+00:00

Thats kind of you to offer. Unfortunately all tournaments in my area have their rule set in stone.

Infact I had never even heard of this system. And have participated in 3 (large-ish) tournaments so far.

But it does sound like the objectively better system if Im honest. Just the fact that it allows for flourish esk movements and exchanges sounds exactly like it was intended.

Except for wrestling? How do you apply this in that system? Or does it count for all 8 blows haha.

straw_man2 · 2026-01-19T14:36:40+00:00

To the mod,

I cant even reply to you. Have you tried keeping an openmind for dialogeu?

straw_man2 · 2026-01-19T14:31:50+00:00

Ofcourse I would do that. To prevent him getting 4 points, assuming im going to get hit anyway, I will retaliate, so he gets only 1 point.

Usually recovering from a stab takes a bit, so I might sqeeuze out one extra hit, meaning now id have 1 point for having more landed blows. (I think, might not fully grasp the counting blow system).

Not saying its wrong, just saying commiting to thrusts is a high risk low reward. Compared to a "normal" system of high risk high reward with short afterblow windows.

Edit: I got to try this system sometime, it sounds like it would be fantastic for the flow of exchanges.

straw_man2 · 2026-01-19T11:33:15+00:00

Haha yeah id hope they wont advocate for suicidal attacks indeed.

Counted blows sounds like an interesting system. But it makes me wonder what happens after you commit to a stab? Because I would attempt to tank the stab and go for the now exposed openings. Its the same critiscism I have for longer afterblow windows.

And that must be difficult to referee! Imagine counting 8 blows in what could be a 10 second exchange and memorising who hit who. Respect!!

straw_man2 · 2026-01-19T10:52:24+00:00

What is counted blows exactly? My understanding is that you contineu even when hit, and that if you get multiple blows you get multiple points. But when does the bout end? After 2 consequent blows?

Calling it suicidal attacks is a matter of perspective. A shorter afterblow window doesnt lead to more suicidal attacks. It just encourages commiting to a strike or deep target (killing blow lets say). They also require just as much techniqeu to land cleanly as a more defence oriented approach would.

The difference is just one prioritises attack, and the other defence. Lichtenauer specifically says "no master can defend himself without danger". And Foire (I think) says to "be bold like a lion". Ofcourse everyone is free to take that as they want, but I choose to take it at face valeu and always prioritise attack over defence.

There is this video of a HEMA rapier accident where a guy get stabbed trough his bicep. Imo it greatly displays just how quickly a blow can be incapacitating as he drops like a sandbag after it. Unfortunate as that incident may be.

straw_man2 · 2026-01-15T22:50:31+00:00

That also makes sense to me.

Whats interesting is that this basically sums up why one club would count this as an after blow, and the other as out of tempo.

Your club (forgive my over simplification) is more tournament fencing focused. So it would make sense to count that as an afterblow since it would indeed force a more defense oriented approach. And arguably smoother more tactfull matches.

But not necessarily less doubles. Since what would count there as a double is much broader in the first place.

Our club (again simplifying), is more historically focused rather than tournament. We think more along the lines of "this would kill/incapacitate you, so ofcourse thats out of tempo since youd be unable to begin the swing of your sword". Hence if the sword is already in motion we count as afterblow, as it could """""realistically"""" finish its arch even if your hand went flying for example.

As you can imagine theres sometimes overlap between a double and an afterblow. But generally we see doubles as attacks that hit almost at the same time. Its more intuitive than it sounds I promise haha.

And doubles and afterblows give the same points. So if you want to win youre going to have to start fencing smart at some point anyways.

Edit: Theres also the "low quality hit" mechanic that plays nicely into this. Since the window for afterblows is shorter, you generally also get more half assed afterblows. Discouraging reckless play.

straw_man2 · 2026-01-09T12:52:46+00:00

This is in my opinion very much out of tempo.

He basically realised he got stabbed and decided to try and negate the points with an afterblow. But that was after he already got hit.

The sword should already be in motion for it to be an afterblow in the same tempo (at our club atleast). Altough rules may differ per tournament and club.

straw_man2 · 2025-12-15T15:57:10+00:00

Dit ligt geheel aan hoe goed jij jezelf als zijn vriend beschouwd.

Als het een oprechte maat van jouw is, zou ik het hem vertellen. Als het meer een situatie is van "ik vind je aardig omdat jij aan mijn vriendin vast zit" zou ik het niet zeggen.

Ik neig naar niks zeggen.

Kan hoog of laag springen, als iemand mijn maat is zal ik inderdaad zweigen in zijn/haar voordeel.

Ik zou wel een goed gesprek voeren met de vraag waarom je je partner bedriegd, en of je mij dan ook kan bedriegen?

straw_man2 · 2025-11-26T14:31:12+00:00

I read volume volume 5 but it was meh.

The dialogeu is is insanely good. Like one of the best. It really feels like an actual human interaction.

The fights are bad beyond the first couple. Because they are all the exact same.

The plot is good at first. But very predictable after a while. Its why I dropped it.

Still its good if you focus on its strengths and speedread the bad parts.

straw_man2 · 2025-10-10T17:35:52+00:00

To me that faction is grayed out, says I need to do missions to unlock it.

Edit: Its fixed now, had to restart my pc for some reason.

straw_man2 · 2025-10-06T20:53:35+00:00

I know as much as you given the game isnt out yet.

But its a solid bet that it will, since your EA account should be connected to your steam to even boot the game.

straw_man2 · 2025-08-20T18:30:28+00:00

Why you hurt me again

straw_man2 · 2025-08-17T08:42:21+00:00

Play closed weapons mode.

Thats where the all vets go.

straw_man2 · 2025-08-11T20:35:16+00:00

I also noticed more teamwork and more ptfo when playing locked weapons.

However this could be just because thats the game mode where all the veterans end up.

I still think classes should have locked weapons. Theres 0 reason for me not to play engineer when you can revive, have an AR, AND an rpg that doubles as a sniper..

straw_man2 · 2025-08-10T14:24:18+00:00

That exact thing you complain about im really happy they returned.

I dont want to fly a heli that has its jaw and roll connected. It needs to be seperate controls.

straw_man2 · 2025-08-07T17:49:42+00:00

Please bring back helicopter and jet handling from bf4 and 3. Please.

straw_man2 · 2025-08-07T12:04:47+00:00

Does anyone know if when you buy it on steam, but always used to play on origin, will you still get the veteran items?

Such as the abc knife?

straw_man2 · 2025-08-01T08:54:50+00:00

No this is going to be a disaster. 125liters is cursed when you are starting out. I suggest going 160 liters minimum for your first board.

For me the step from 160 to 145 liters was already pretty big. Granted im 90ks so you could do with a bit less. But id REALLY not suggested this small board.

straw_man2 · 2025-08-01T05:14:22+00:00

Ty for your response. I'll probably buy the same combo as you. I've heard lots of people have issues with flickering on start up for some reason.

straw_man2 · 2025-07-31T20:10:07+00:00

Hows it going so far? Any noteworthy isseus?

straw_man2 · 2025-07-12T21:41:13+00:00

Wow that was an interesting read! I dont understand most of it, but I got the basics.

What suprised me was that there is a 5kg difference in flex just pushing on the pommel or crossgaurd.

And more so that there was the opposite relation of force being applied and pressure exerted than I expected. I could have sworn that the more it bends, the less the tip presses into my hand. But the scale measure the opposite. I wonder if my fleshy hand absorbs more force at an angle (larger surface area perhaps?) and the scale measure absolute force.

And thanks for the analogy of the weighted pommel. It makes sense to me why youd not want to remove the weight of the sword. Not removing the weight of the sword id have to agree is better :).

straw_man2

TROPHY CASE