Best e-reader currently?

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esawers

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#217939 19-Jul-2017 12:27

Which e-reader would you recommend? My Father in law has one of the original Kindles with a keyboard, he could probably do with an upgrade.

We would like to look at an option that can do multiple file formats (epub and mobi). Is there a good option?

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shermanp

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#1825115 19-Jul-2017 12:46

There are few e-ink ereaders available that can do both Mobi and epub I'm afraid, if any at all. Especially not available in NZ. I believe there may be some android based readers that could do both, but they are usually a generation or two behind when it comes to e-ink screen.

As for what's available in NZ, Kobo and Kindle are the main options. I don't think you can go wrong with either TBH, although I must admit I have a bias towards Kobo readers, as that is what I use.

frankv

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#1825143 19-Jul-2017 13:06

If you go to PriceSpy.co.nz you can search on various capabilities. It lists 3 that do both EPub and Mobi (all Kobo).

cshwone

891 posts

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#1825148 19-Jul-2017 13:16

I have one of those original Kindles. It works, and it works well. Why upgrade?

esawers

471 posts

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#1825157 19-Jul-2017 13:23

Good question! and no idea..

I think his light case is falling apart and someone suggested an upgrade would be a good birthday present.

esawers

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1825158 19-Jul-2017 13:23

frankv:

If you go to PriceSpy.co.nz you can search on various capabilities. It lists 3 that do both EPub and Mobi (all Kobo).

thanks!!

Bung

4549 posts

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#1825192 19-Jul-2017 13:42

5 second research came up with Kobo can only read mobi without DRM so can't directly read books straight from Amazon. If you are going to strip DRM then format change can be done at same time.

shermanp

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#1825213 19-Jul-2017 13:57

Yeah, just a note about mobi "support" on Kobo. It isn't much more than a token gesture, and Kobo don't exactly promote it other than a buried in a table somewhere.

I quickly converted a book from my calibre library into Mobi (from epub). I then opened it in Kindle for PC, and my Kobo Aura H2O (running near current firmware)

Kindle for PC:

Kobo 1:

Kobo 2:

That should give you an idea of the level of support for Mobi in the Kobo. Notice the lack of indentation, spacing between paragraphs etc.

dryburn

418 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1825236 19-Jul-2017 14:25

I prefer the kindle. It handle all the books comfortably and never had issues with the way text is displayed.

Kobo on the other hand had a refreshing navigation but didn't handle multiple books stored on the device permanently. Had problems with text and the way they were displayed.

ben28

170 posts

Master Geek

#1825283 19-Jul-2017 14:50

Make sure you check with him . I have a kindle keyboard and love the dedicated page turn keys. He may well have a strong preference for the same.

He would have also been in the Amazon echo system , where getting the books is super simple. Will the formats you want be so easy to find and download? Especially important if if he a bit technically challenged

networkn

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#1825285 19-Jul-2017 14:50

The absolute best e-reader price irrespective, is the Kindle Oasis, but it's eye wateringly expensive (But awesome), the best including value for money in my opinion, is the Kindle Paperwhite.

Gurezaemon

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#1825319 19-Jul-2017 15:20

networkn:

The absolute best e-reader price irrespective, is the Kindle Oasis, but it's eye wateringly expensive (But awesome), the best including value for money in my opinion, is the Kindle Paperwhite.

Another vote for the Paperwhite. The side-lit (not back-lit) screen means it is great for reading in bed with the light out, so as to not wake up the missus. And because the lighting can be dropped to very low levels, there is zero eye strain even when read in pitch-darkness. I do wish it retained the hardware page turn keys of previous versions, but I can live without them.

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networkn

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#1825330 19-Jul-2017 15:29

Gurezaemon:

networkn:

The absolute best e-reader price irrespective, is the Kindle Oasis, but it's eye wateringly expensive (But awesome), the best including value for money in my opinion, is the Kindle Paperwhite.

Another vote for the Paperwhite. The side-lit (not back-lit) screen means it is great for reading in bed with the light out, so as to not wake up the missus. And because the lighting can be dropped to very low levels, there is zero eye strain even when read in pitch-darkness. I do wish it retained the hardware page turn keys of previous versions, but I can live without them.

The phyisical turn keys, from the original keyboard kindle was the thing I've missed the most, and when they released the Oasis, all my prayers were answered, then I needed to start praying for a money tree so I could buy it. Now I have one, you couldn't pry it from my cold dead hands.

allan

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#1825368 19-Jul-2017 16:34

Also have a Kindle Paperwhite and love it. Good price and works just fine.

jonathan18

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#1825657 20-Jul-2017 09:01

A core advantage of an epub-compatible reader is its support for the lending services offered by many (most?) public libraries; this is the reason I went for a Kobo for my son. We can always purchase Amazon e-books and strip/convert them (given there are far fewer options in the Kobo store). That said, I haven't found my son's Kobo (an old-ish model - the Touch) a terribly reliable device.

The holy grail for me would indeed be a device that had full support for mobi and epub...

timmmay

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#1825681 20-Jul-2017 09:38

Kindle Paperwhite. I have v2, my wife and Mum have v3. They're all great.

I use Calibre to convert epub to mobi, then the "send to kindle" tool to get them onto my kindle. You can also email them to your kindle, which goes via Amazon, but the tool is easier.

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