DS Forums

 
 

Kobo or Kindle?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 12-05-2015, 14:58
kaycee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439

I bought a Kobo e-reader some years ago. I've been happy enough with it - but does what it says on the box(!) was relatively cheap, but is very basic.

Now it's definitely wearing out, and I'm thinking of getting a new one - another Kobo or a Kindle?

Would be pleased to know how others think they compare.
kaycee is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 12-05-2015, 16:07
DJW13
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South West
Posts: 3,280
Depends on how you use it really. Do you want to borrow books from the library - I understand that the Kobo can do that, but know the Kindle can't (in the UK).

I have had a Kindle for several years and find it very good - battery life, loads of free books from Amazon (so many that I've stopped downloading any more of them!), easy to download books from Amazon. I've only got a simple one, so no backlight, but I never read in the dark anyway!
DJW13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 17:37
red_amber
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 598
You CAN borrow books from the library on a Kindle. If you go for a Kindle, best to stay away from the basic model, best to at least buy a PaperWhite or if you have a bit more in your budget, go for the Voyager.

If you're thinking of purchasing books anywhere inc abroad, there is a free 3G option which costs a little more (i dont have this) but I find the wifi it comes with sufficient enough.

Sorry, don't know about the Kobo so couldn't comment.
red_amber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 17:41
farmer bob
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: The United Kingdom
Posts: 14,997
If you have a Tablet, you could install the kobo and kindle Apps, get the best of both?
farmer bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 17:53
DJW13
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: South West
Posts: 3,280
You CAN borrow books from the library on a Kindle. If you go for a Kindle, best to stay away from the basic model, best to at least buy a PaperWhite or if you have a bit more in your budget, go for the Voyager.
Most (if not all) UK libraries use Overdrive which lends books in an ePub version which is not directly compatible with the system used by Kindle e-readers (Kindle tablets are OK).

No doubt there are ways of getting round this restriction, but for most Kindle users e-books from the library are not available.
DJW13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 18:31
red_amber
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 598
I'm talking about Amazon's library - I have borrowed books I am reading at the mo.

...if you do a lot of reading as I do, I would advise against using a tablet as an e-reader as it causes eye strain. The front light on the Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for eliminating this.
red_amber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 18:55
jthspace
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 188
I have had a selection of readers over the years from no-name / Kobo / iPad / Kindle / Tablets etc. Overall, I think the Kindle Paperwhite is the best. I use Calibre to convert books to MOBI format, so my old ePub vrsions are converted and transferred with Calibre.

My only gripe is that on the Kindle, if I download a "series", then I have absolutely no idea which book in the series is what as the display does not give you this simple, but vital, piece of information. Unless anyone knows how to display the info?
jthspace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 18:57
dosanjh1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,797
I bought a Kobo e-reader some years ago. I've been happy enough with it - but does what it says on the box(!) was relatively cheap, but is very basic.

Now it's definitely wearing out, and I'm thinking of getting a new one - another Kobo or a Kindle?

Would be pleased to know how others think they compare.
If your happy with Kobo stick with it as they are cheaper. I personally prefer the back light on a kindle as it's softer on the eyes.

TBH there's not a great deal of essential features in e ink readers. The most important things are all about comfort so consider weight,grip,clarity and quality of back light
dosanjh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 19:17
tealady
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: colchester
Posts: 15,352
If you have a Tablet, you could install the kobo and kindle Apps, get the best of both?
Except that a book reader is designed to work in bright sunshine and the battery lasts ages.
tealady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 19:24
tealady
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: colchester
Posts: 15,352

My only gripe is that on the Kindle, if I download a "series", then I have absolutely no idea which book in the series is what as the display does not give you this simple, but vital, piece of information. Unless anyone knows how to display the info?
I've got an older style kindle with physical keyboard and the nearest I have on it is to use the right press of the 4way control button to give more description.
tealady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2015, 19:53
kaycee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
Thanks for all the input above. Will definitely remember backlight - don't know if kobo uses this - will have to have a look.

Thanks again
kaycee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-05-2015, 00:50
gemma-the-husky
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 17,855
I wanted a cheap reader, and saw a nook with glow-light (back lit) for £39 from memory.

Really good. The back light is well worth having.
gemma-the-husky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-05-2015, 17:58
kaycee
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,439
I wanted a cheap reader, and saw a nook with glow-light (back lit) for £39 from memory.

Really good. The back light is well worth having.
Nook? I've not heard of, or seen, that one.
kaycee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 10:05
raymartin01
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,155
I have had a selection of readers over the years from no-name / Kobo / iPad / Kindle / Tablets etc. Overall, I think the Kindle Paperwhite is the best. I use Calibre to convert books to MOBI format, so my old ePub vrsions are converted and transferred with Calibre.

My only gripe is that on the Kindle, if I download a "series", then I have absolutely no idea which book in the series is what as the display does not give you this simple, but vital, piece of information. Unless anyone knows how to display the info?
Click on "Book Description"
raymartin01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 10:12
stud u like
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,101
Nook? I've not heard of, or seen, that one.
Nook is American from Barnes and Noble.
stud u like is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 13:17
IvanIV
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
Click on "Book Description"
It would be nice to have it in overview though, '2 of 4' does not take that much space. When I convert the series with Calibre I put it in the title like that.
IvanIV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 15:13
MissCharleyP
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 446
Always had Kobo and been very happy with them. My Touch gave up totally unexpectedly one day (I confess to reading in the bath so its possible there was some steam damage!). I went and bought a Kobo Mini which was only £30, had it nearly 2 years and I love it! I think they may have stopped making them as they aren't in my local WH Smith anymore - shame as they're perfect for carrying in almost any size of bag and for £30 great value for money!
MissCharleyP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 16:25
raymartin01
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,155
It would be nice to have it in overview though, '2 of 4' does not take that much space. When I convert the series with Calibre I put it in the title like that.
You could also create a small text file listing the books in order and email or upload it to your Kindle.
raymartin01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 17:50
IvanIV
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 25,199
You could also create a small text file listing the books in order and email or upload it to your Kindle.
Lots of workarounds available. I just sent a feature proposal to Amazon about displaying series info in overview. They were all 'how wonderful, we're forwarding it to our team, etc.' I wonder if they do it eventually or sweep it under a carpet.
IvanIV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-05-2015, 20:39
adman50
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 192
Nook? I've not heard of, or seen, that one.
I have a nook simple, which is no longer available. They still do the back lit one & their own tablets. They are original from america via Barnes & Noble. I have been really pleased with mine. They have the same selection of books for purchase as the others. They also work with the epub format
The Nook Simple was rated the best e-reader in several tests a couple of years ago.
There is also a nook app, for ios, android & windows 8.1
adman50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-05-2015, 21:01
c4rv
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 16,218
I've got a kobo aqua HD and really happy with it. The extra screen size makes it easier to read and its still easy enough to hold with one hand. The only niggle I've had with it was trying to read a particular CBR file though it has read other CBR files OK.
c4rv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2015, 08:28
niceguy1966
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,482
Always had Kobo and been very happy with them. My Touch gave up totally unexpectedly one day (I confess to reading in the bath so its possible there was some steam damage!). I went and bought a Kobo Mini which was only £30, had it nearly 2 years and I love it! I think they may have stopped making them as they aren't in my local WH Smith anymore - shame as they're perfect for carrying in almost any size of bag and for £30 great value for money!
I bought a kobo mini a couple of years ago and love it. Sad to hear it is no longer made as I was thinking of getting a second one to stop me and the wife fighting over it.
niceguy1966 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2015, 09:58
jaffboy151
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Woore, Cheshire/Shropshire
Posts: 1,675
Such a shame they stopped making the kobo mini, everyone who sees mine always remarks on how they like the size, I was surprised that they never replaced it with a updated version, it fits great in a bag when I go to the beach on holiday and when at home it sits nicely in the glove box in the car ready for breaks at work, ebook files are so small that you can fit all you ever need into the storage space provided, it will also read mobi files, though some features are missing, I do often find the kobo store to be more expensive for books though then others out there, I use a web site called luzme to compare prices of ebooks from the various stores which helps me get the cheapest price, most often it's Amazon but there easy to convert over to ePub using calibre as others have said, is there any alternative out there size wise to the old kobo mini for sale?
jaffboy151 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2015, 15:13
TelevisionUser
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,927
http://www.which.co.uk/technology/co...ebook-readers/

^^^ There's a discussion of the various ebook readers from an impartial source and if you want to borrow free ebooks from a library then I'd suggest getting a reader that supports the Epub format.

Personally, I use my tablet and apps to view ebooks and I've adjusted the settings to make reading as comfortable as possible: http://www.teleread.com/e-ink/wishin...k-now-it-does/
TelevisionUser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2015, 17:49
Stig
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,379
http://www.which.co.uk/technology/co...ebook-readers/

^^^ There's a discussion of the various ebook readers from an impartial source and if you want to borrow free ebooks from a library then I'd suggest getting a reader that supports the Epub format.

Personally, I use my tablet and apps to view ebooks and I've adjusted the settings to make reading as comfortable as possible: http://www.teleread.com/e-ink/wishin...k-now-it-does/
I think that article from Which is a bit old, but it did prompt me to look up the prices of the Sony and Nook readers to see if they are still available. The Sony is just £39 including the reading light - a real bargain.
Stig is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 16:57.