Pre-ordering Nook Simple Touch or Kobo Touch?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by boswd

also to add to what JSWolf and jtdolphin has said Read multiple reviews from the mainstream such as Cnet, Engadget etc to some lesser known ones as well. My personal favorite reviewer of tech gadgets is actually a member here, Lisa from Mobiletechreview.com. The most unbiased reviews you'll find.

and after all that reading etc. head down to your local stores and play with them see how they feel, how you like how they handle etc. How do you like the user interface. And give them quality time.

and then go from there.

One thing that is seriously lacking in reviews from places like Cnet & Engadget is how is the actual reading software.

[jtdolphins]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One thing that is seriously lacking in reviews from places like Cnet & Engadget is how is the actual reading software.

Completely agree! I have gotten annoyed with a lot of reviews that give scant comment or skip this. I find random reviews on youtube have been more helpful.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by jtdolphins

Completely agree! I have gotten annoyed with a lot of reviews that give scant comment or skip this. I find random reviews on youtube have been more helpful.

I do not trust CNET reviews and others from big companies, at least not 100%. I do not have way to prove it, but there is a chance that those people comments are biased or "forced" to give positive reviews. Also, checking very quickly there is not the same like bringing the device at home and playing with it for one or two days.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One thing that is seriously lacking in reviews from places like Cnet & Engadget is how is the actual reading software.

true, I actually shouldn't have included Engadget, they don't review ereaders for what they are, usually they review it for what it lacks compared to the iPad and other tablets.

Cnet, I like David Carnoy. He's a reader I just don't think he has enough "space" to write everything he wants. but I do like his opinion and is really the only voice for ereaders on Cnet.

David Pogue would be an interesting one to see how he reviews it.

[SilentDuck]

Thank you for all of the advice. I really appreciate it.

I guess I can wait for them to release for reviews... hopefully. It is only a few weeks, after all.

[redbees]

Concerning reviews, I have found those at The eBook Reader (http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/) to be very useful. The site's owner reviews ereaders as such and compares them to each other, rather than treating them as less-entertaining gadgets. The reviews are well-written and thorough, and often include videos plus lists of specs.

ETA: The site doesn't yet have detailed hands-on reviews of either the new Kobo or Nook, but notes that such reviews will be posted when the devices become available. For now, previews of the readers are shown, including specs and the manufacturers' short videos.

[JSWolf]

The nook has a one up on the Kobo as I have not read of any serious bugs in B&N's version of ADE on the old nook. Where on the old nook there are still serious bugs in their ADE that should have been fixed by now.

That said, I'd still like to find out how they both are before I'd consider either one (If I was). For all we know, Kobo's ADE is working properly. But that won't be a known until both are out in the wild and get user reviews or issues posted.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by redbees

Concerning reviews, I have found those at The eBook Reader (http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/) to be very useful. The site's owner reviews ereaders as such and compares them to each other, rather than treating them as less-entertaining gadgets. The reviews are well-written and thorough, and often include videos plus lists of specs.

I just took a look there and found the review for the original Kobo and the Kobo wifi to be sadly lacking. It really doesn't mention much in terms of how ADE is on the Kobo. For example, the embedded font bug. I found that one the first time I ever loaded an eBook onto the Kobo that had an embedded font. It didn't display. And links not working was another thing I found. I found both of these bugs in less then 30 minutes of use. Just by loading a few different eBooks and seeing how they were broken. I wanted to test the Kobo and see if it had history back. So I needed an ePub with endnotes. I wanted to see how Zelda's Three Men in a Boat looked and it looked wrong because the embedded font(s) did not display.

So when are reviewers going to try to put readers through their paces instead of just reviewing the features and not the functionality? I don't care how good the hardware is, if the software is buggy, I don't want it.

[redbees]

JSWolf,

Sorry the site wasn't very useful for you. I based my recommendation on the reviews for the K3, Sony x50, and the Nook Classic. (I have read reviews for other readers there only in a desultory fashion). I found those reviews helpful and more thorough than those I encountered elsewhere, but the information available from owners and daily users of ereaders here on Mobileread is invaluable, and I'd recommend that anyone considering a purchase come here for more in-depth research.

I agree with criticisms above concerning the attitude many tech sites have in regard to ereaders -- that they are less worthy than tablets and other gadgets due to their single-purpose nature. I think Lisa Gade of Mobile Tech Review does a good job with her ereader reviews, not treating them as tablets. (I am not familiar with most other devices she looks at, but I think she is great!)

I, too, would love to see reviews that covered ereaders' functionality more in depth. Is information such as you describe in your above comment available *anywhere* but message boards?

I also agree that I wouldn't want to purchase a new ereader without hearing or reading the experiences of users and the issues that become apparent with prolonged use.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The nook has a one up on the Kobo as I have not read of any serious bugs in B&N's version of ADE on the old nook. Where on the old nook there are still serious bugs in their ADE that should have been fixed by now.

...

Huh? Is there some subtlety in your post that I'm missing?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

Huh? Is there some subtlety in your post that I'm missing?

I'm saying that Kobo has a history of major bugs in ADE that did not get fixed. B&N does not. I'm suggesting to wait for the Kobo and nook to be released so they can be checked out first. Sure, we'll get reviews of the devices, but those reviews will not tell us how good the implementation of ADE is on each device.

Most reviews leave out how good (or not) the reading software is. They focus on other things that are not as important.

[elemenoP]

I used to work for a well-known print magazine that did tech reviews and I can tell you that there were no companies trying to sway the editorial staff, beyond lending them review products. BUT it is certainly true that the review product would go to someone who was only using it for a short time in order to write a review. Not the same as someone who actually wants the device and actually uses it for its intended purpose.

And I agree that the reading software and fonts are not well-covered in reviews.

eP

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

And I agree that the reading software and fonts are not well-covered in reviews.

eP

That's why I don't really bother with these sorts of reviews. I just wait until we get actual users and they can tell us how the software is.