https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-readers

Kobo and Kindles are both e-ink (unless you are talking about a Kindle Fire, which is different)

I think the discussion is about right - they are both good, Kobos are better if you want the Overdrive access to public library books (this is excellent, my kids have used it a lot), Kindles are better if you want easy access to the Kindle store.

By the way, the latest base kindle (not paperwhite) is pretty good - backlit, waterproof. Same for many recent Kobos (Aura/Forma).

Larger screen models (e.g. Kobo Aura/Forma) are great if your kids want to read comics etc 

ok thanks i'm looking into Kobo .... deep breath (usually there are so many models so many generations so many pros and cons ... sigh)

jonathan18:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-readers

 

 

 

thanks according to this chart kobo clara hd is light and good but small ...

Batman:

 

thanks according to this chart kobo clara hd is light and good but small ...

 

TBH. 6" is pretty standard for the mainstream e-readers; the Kobo I've got (6.8", but now not a current model) and the larger Oasis (7") are larger. Screen size isn't really a huge issue unless you plan to read lots of comics or similar on them - in which case a different device is probably best anyway. Text simply repaginates to reflect font choice and size, so a smaller screen just fits less on it and means more screen turns.

I've been debating between the Clara HD and the newer Nia for my kids... 

Batman: I'm confused

Kobo and kindle... They are e ink or not e ink?

Any other contenders?

Thanks

This looks like the cheapest option that has Overdrive and is compatible with Library systems...good reviews too. 

I second that a 6" e-reader is fine. If I ever decide on Kobo I might go up a size but more because I can than because it has any real benefit. I like the idea of a warmer backlight. Keeping the reader light weight would be more important for me.

If you're happy staying in the secure Amazon walled garden, get a Kindle. If you enjoy tweaking/hacking your electronics, do NOT get a Kindle, as I believe modern Kindles cannot be jailbroken.

As others have said, Kobo has integrated Overdrive ebook library lending on all their current models. I'm a Kobo user myself so rather biased towards them these days. Also, Kobo's are the absolute opposite of Kindles as far as open-ness is concerned. There's a pretty healthy dev scene around Kobo devices these days.

What advantages does e-ink have over LCD/OLED? In my opinion, primarily battery life and sunlight readability. Battery life is measured in days or weeks, rather than hours. And if you've ever tried reading on an OLED or LCD screen in the sun, it isn't exactly fun, especially when using sunglasses. With e-ink, the brighter the ambient light, the better, and e-ink doesn't have those pesky polarizing layers to interfere with sunglasses!

thanks guys. i think kobo libra is the sweetspot. will check with wife. man, nobody sells their e readers! bugger all on trademe and facebook!

I have owned both Kindles and Kobos but have settled on the Kobo due to its compatibility with epub format books (you can't load epubs on the Kindle)

Unless you really need the 7 inch screen of the Libra, I would recommend the 6 inch Nia - currently $169 at Noel Leeming

Calibre-web actually implements the Kobo sync protocol to some extent. I don't know how well it works lately, I briefly tried it, but its implementation didn't really suit my reading style.

Kobo's have a browser. It's experimental, and pretty awful to use in practice. If you don't mind plugging in via USB, Kobo devices have extremely good support in Calibre.

Although it's been a since I last worked on it, Kobo-UNCaGED is an implementation of the "Calibre Companion" wireless protocol, which should still work.

I actually have a half finished OPDS client I've been working on, although I've been busy with other stuff the past couple of months, so no guarantee I'll ever finish it.

I hope this helps!