Paperwhite or Kobo Glo?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

I was less concerned about stripping the DRM than converting formats; I'm enough of a web geek that I instinctively distrust automated conversions, and I'm busy enough that I don't have time to do 'em by hand. I considered a second device to be much cheaper than my time and effort.

As always, YMMV.

I've converted literally hundreds of books between ePub and Amazon's KF8 format. I honestly can't recall ever having had problem with it. KF8 is basically "ePub in a wrapper", so the conversion really doesn't touch the book - all it's doing is adding or removing the wrapper. Works flawlessly.

As you know, DRM removal with "the tools" and Calibre is totally transparent.

[kumaryu]

After using either one of the illuminated e-ink devices, you may find it difficult to go back to the old e-inks. Font support is more flexible on Kobos but the novelty wears off after a while.

I went for the Kobo because I didn't want to be tethered to any single vendor, their desktop software or infrastructure. Kobo tends to be quite "open" and where they're not, there are ways to make it so.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07...4_from_kindle/

I think the screen on Kindle Paperwhites are a slightly better in terms of aesthetics however.

Large number of books on the reader is difficult to thumb through. I prefer to keep the bulk of my library on my PC. Calibre is good for this. Since the devices have to be charged, connecting USB cables never poses much of a challenge.

[flips01]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Keep in mind that every Kindle has an associated @kindle.com email address. Using this (or the various Send To Kindle apps and a browser extension that can send web pages), you can send 'personal documents' to the Kindle (doc, txt, rtf, and pdf with or without conversion to mobi), and there is 5GB of free storage for these. These will then sync and backup annotations just as with stuff you purchase from Amazon.

The availability of this service is for me an important differentiator between Kindle and Kobo (and other ereaders). It is not as important when you move to reading on tablets since there are so many options there.

Yes, and also a @free.kindle.com address, then you get sync between devices for personal content (but highlights and annotations is not easily available for this content on a PC/Mac/Web browser) ...

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by kumaryu

Large number of books on the reader is difficult to thumb through. I prefer to keep the bulk of my library on my PC. Calibre is good for this. Since the devices have to be charged, connecting USB cables never poses much of a challenge.

That's what searching and collections are for.

Seriously, I like to keep unread ebooks on the reader (usually on the card) along with some favorites (in the internal memory). As long as I manage the shelves/collections reasonably, it's not a problem. And as for charging, I use a separate USB charger for that, instead of cluttering my laptop. Handily, I can use the same cord for my Kobo, Kindle, or phone.

[Rizla]

I played around with a Kobo glo and I will say that the screen illumination was very good without any blotchiness or cones of shadow or colors or anything like that. The light seemed to come from the top, but the source was very subtle, not obtrusive at all. I did use it under store lights so I can't say how it would behave in darkness, but it looked okay. Also it is very solid physically and responded quickly.

The homescreen was an advertisement and it handles pdfs very poorly, just like the Kindle / PW, which are two of the reasons why I would buy neither.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Rizla

The homescreen was an advertisement

You only see that when there are no books on the device. Once you add some books, the home screen shows the cover of five books.

[Latinandgreek]

I'm considering purchasing either the Glo or the Paperwhite now that it is available in stores in Canada. They both really seem to be great devices, making the choice very tough. I might just end up waiting for the next generation and see how my husband's PRS-505 holds up in the meantime. Perhaps Sony will have come out with a lit device by then.

[l_macd]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I played around with a Kobo glo and I will say that the screen illumination was very good without any blotchiness or cones of shadow or colors or anything like that. The light seemed to come from the top, but the source was very subtle, not obtrusive at all. I did use it under store lights so I can't say how it would behave in darkness, but it looked okay. Also it is very solid physically and responded quickly.

The lights are along the bottom (same as the Paperwhite), it's just the Nook that has lights along the top (and that seems to be an improvement, when you think how you hold your e-reader, if the lights are along the top of the screen there is more chance of you noticing them the way the screen is angled). The Kobo Glo has that black/grey band along the bottom of the screen, which seems to have been implemented to help hide any shadows or cones of light from the leds (it can be turned off though). It certainly works.

[l_macd]

Originally Posted by kumaryu

Font support is more flexible on Kobos but the novelty wears off after a while.

How about the ability to change the weight, crispness etc of the font to help improve on the contrast? I'm not fussed about the number of different fonts and the variation on the size, but I do think the way you can manipulate the font on the Kobo Glo to help improve contrast is a definite plus over the PW.

[robko]

Originally Posted by l_macd

How about the ability to change the weight, crispness etc of the font to help improve on the contrast? I'm not fussed about the number of different fonts and the variation on the size, but I do think the way you can manipulate the font on the Kobo Glo to help improve contrast is a definite plus over the PW.

It's a benefit, but it only works with pre-loaded fonts (not sideloaded fonts). I do like what it does on the fonts it works on. Lets you make them much darker. My only complaint is that the sideloaded fonts can look a little anemic (thin mainly), as do the built in fonts without bumping them a little. That will vary depending what font and font size you use.

[kyteflyer]

I've made my decision to stick with epubs, so that means the Glo. I'll get it soonish. I have moved all my kindle ebooks to epub format (after de-DRMing) and will likely not get any more.

[voracious71]

I have both. I enjoy them both and use them frequently. I am also one of those weird people who reads more than one book at a time. I've got 3 going right now, two novels, and a non fiction book.

My name is Voracious71, and I am a gadget addict,lol.

[qqqqqqqqqqqz]

Wired Magazine gave the Paperwhite a 9/10: http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/09...le-paperwhite/
They also made a review for the Kobo Glo, but it's not as favorable (7/10): http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/11/kobo-glo/

Based solely on this information, I would go with the Paperwhite. (I know, two reviews is not a good singular basis of comparison.)

[Laine]

I'm female and live in Australia too. I have a Kobo Glo and a Kindle Paperwhite.

IfI had to have just one I'd go for the Paperwhite, but I'm a gadget freak so I like to get anything interesting I can afford.

I must say that organising shelves on the Glo can be a frustrating experience. I don't bother much on the Kindle. Since you can keep books in the cloud and download when you need them it's no hassle.

I must say that by the time a reader is filling up there's usually a new model to get anyway.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by qqqqqqqqqqqz

Wired Magazine gave the Paperwhite a 9/10: http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/09...le-paperwhite/
They also made a review for the Kobo Glo, but it's not as favorable (7/10): http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/11/kobo-glo/

Based solely on this information, I would go with the Paperwhite. (I know, two reviews is not a good singular basis of comparison.)

It's important to look closely at the details of the reviews, too. The only device-related downside that Wired noted with the Kobo was that the light doesn't dim quite far enough for reading in blackness. The rest of the deductions were for retail experience, something that only matters to some users and not to others (for me, for example, it's completely irrelevant).