Kobo Vs Kindle ~ Your thoughts?

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ChevronX

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#101279 27-Apr-2012 21:27

Looking for an e reader (mainly epub) what are your thoughts for the Kindle vs Kobo and vice versa?

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#616314 27-Apr-2012 22:06

Do a search first.....

Just helped with a Kindle touch purchase and am very impressed. Depending on the tech skill level of the end user, I think it's important to have the support/backup of a decent web system to get content onto the device easily etc and Kindle definitely has this.

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#616317 27-Apr-2012 22:11

Probably neither, althoughj I think the kindle is the better device. I think Consumer did a review recently and rated sonys as one of the top ones.
The problem with the kindle, is that it doesn't, or at least didn't, support overdrive, which is what many libraries use to lend out e books on. Don't know about the kobo. However I believe the sony does work with overdrive.

ChevronX

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#616579 28-Apr-2012 15:21

Mainly thinking about an epub reader for personal use, ideally love an ipad (as I used the first gen one as an ereader when I had one) but abit above the $100-$200 I am willing to pay, another option is an Android tablet however the cheaper ones may have problems with screen quality.

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networkn

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#616585 28-Apr-2012 15:31

Kindle, I am a gadget guy (I spend thousands a year trying gadgets) and the Kindle was the best thing I bought in 2010. It has a few downsides like the library thing, but since I buy my books, I don't personally care. I prefer the Keyboard 3G over all the others I tried. I know lots of people with wireless issues on their touch and the battery life isn't as good. Do NOT buy an Ipad for reading. 1) they are backlit, 2) they are heavy, 3) they are heavy, 4) they are Apple products :)

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#616587 28-Apr-2012 15:38

networkn: Kindle, I am a gadget guy (I spend thousands a year trying gadgets) and the Kindle was the best thing I bought in 2010. It has a few downsides like the library thing, but since I buy my books, I don't personally care. I prefer the Keyboard 3G over all the others I tried. I know lots of people with wireless issues on their touch and the battery life isn't as good. Do NOT buy an Ipad for reading. 1) they are backlit, 2) they are heavy, 3) they are heavy, 4) they are Apple products :)

I agree about an ipad not being the best ebook reader, due to it's backlit screen not being as kind on the eyes. However if you are buying it for other things, then it makes an adequate ibook reader. Also it is better for things like books with diagrams, and picture books, and video books. It does also at least you to use overdrive to borrow books online, which is a huge saving.

Globolt

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#616766 28-Apr-2012 20:48

I got a kindle and I love it. I spent way to long researching what to get and I should have just bought one sooner!. I got the kindle because of its price and everyone on here recommended it. I also used the link so this site gets a cut from amazon. And it was hear real fast!

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ChevronX

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#616910 29-Apr-2012 12:19

I just have the epubs so basically this online library thing does not make a difference to me, Kindle looks the way to go. Just need to decide whether it's worth getting new or older one.

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Elpie

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#616918 29-Apr-2012 12:43

ChevronX: I just have the epubs so basically this online library thing does not make a difference to me, Kindle looks the way to go. Just need to decide whether it's worth getting new or older one.

Go for the Kindle with keyboard. The battery lasts longer than the Kindle Touch. I've had mine for years and just love it.
Note, however, that the Kindle doesn't use the .epub format. This isn't a problem at all if you install Calibre on your computer - it is free, open source and converts most formats. Anything converted into .mobi format can be read on a Kindle, as can pdf's. Calibre is here: http://calibre-ebook.com/

grant_k

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#616924 29-Apr-2012 12:49

Elpie: Go for the Kindle with keyboard. The battery lasts longer than the Kindle Touch. I've had mine for years and just love it.

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My wife has had the Keyboard model with WiFi since early 2011 and it hasn't missed a beat. Battery life is great too.

Gilco2

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#616926 29-Apr-2012 12:58

I have the kindle and love it most of the time. The screen is dark so has to be used in a very bright enviroment. Inside on an overcast day is too dark to read.
I have Adobe Digital Editions for the epub books and read them on the computer as the kindle wont read them, and calibre wont convert them because of DRM so calibre gives the message cant convert due to DRM.

My favourite is Kindle App on my Asus Transformer and I use it with sepia setting and brightness turned down a little and find it very good to read and not hard on the eyes

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#616960 29-Apr-2012 13:41

Love my Kindle and I used calibre to convert all my books after I broke my old MiGear e-reader.

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Elpie

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#617176 29-Apr-2012 23:30

Gilco2: I have the kindle and love it most of the time. The screen is dark so has to be used in a very bright enviroment. Inside on an overcast day is too dark to read.

Your Kindle may be faulty. I've had mine for over 3 years now and have no problem reading on an overcast day or in a room inside when its dull outside.
That said, if you want to read in bed (or on planes), the Kindle lighted cover is fantastic. I use mine as a torch too - especially helpful when staying in hotels away from home.

Another "accessory" I couldn't do without is a waterproof map case. These are available at outdoors and camping stores and are designed to keep maps dry when you are camping or canoeing. There's a size that is a perfect fit for a Kindle and it means there's no danger when reading in the bath. I dropped mine and it was retrieved from the bottom of the bath without a drop of water inside the map case & Kindle totally unaffected by its swim.

Gilco2: I have Adobe Digital Editions for the epub books and read them on the computer as the kindle wont read them, and calibre wont convert them because of DRM so calibre gives the message cant convert due to DRM.

That's the case for any DRM content - you either read it with the software it is restricted to or you find a way to break the DRM. The .epub format itself doesn't have DRM. The restriction is added by the publisher. .epubs are just HTML and a style sheet zipped up.

ChevronX

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#617204 30-Apr-2012 07:08

Does the Kindle store work here?

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Jaxson

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#617211 30-Apr-2012 08:12

ChevronX: Does the Kindle store work here?

Yes, although some of the content on it is not deliverable to our area.

I think it's very important to decide what exactly you want between an electronic book and something that can browse web pages, show youtube videos etc. They really are two different things!

e ink books are intended to simulate real paper books, so they are not glossy and you can't read them in the dark etc. (Although that kindle official case with the led lights is awesome....). They are light and don't strain your eyes, and they recreate that reading pages of a real book feeling.

If you want web content in colour etc, then even a cheap china tablet, like the ainol units with IPS screen etc, would be cheaper and suitable for viewing web pages/pdf's etc. Or the obvious, go and buy a tablet such as the iPAD or Android equivalent etc.

Kindle doesn't do the library loan format you'll find here in NZ. That's not kindles fault entirely, the libraries choose to opt for a format that isn't supported by the market leading device. Having seen the amazon store purchase system, and how quickly and easily (and in some cases how cheaply) it delivers the content to the device, I personally don't see this as a problem. Unless you're a library in NZ that is....

As others have said, you can research this stuff to death, but personally I like the whole kindle ecosystem as such.

iank

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#617568 30-Apr-2012 18:59

Kindle is brilliant and easy to use. Set up an account on Amazon.com, enter credit card details, use one click purchase and away you go. I can read the screen for hours on end with no eye strain and have even saved a large number of technical manuals on it. You can use internet on it but it is not very good, which i suppose that it why they have listed it under expermental in their index.

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