Canadian with Kobo Kindle Quandary

DeGadgetGirl · 11-08-2011, 11:08 PM

Hey guys! I am being gifted with a new e-reader. (Yes!!!) I already own the old Sony PRS-505 (although I really dislike the Sony book store.) I have two unopened e-readers in boxes on my table and I’m trying to decide which to keep and which to return. My e-reader choices are the Kobo Touch or Amazon’s $79.99 Kindle. I live in Canada and want the best option for Canadians.

Does having a touch screen make the reading experience a lot better? How does it affect your fingers or wrists to be swiping across the screen all the time (I’m a heavy reader with an issue with my wrist from typing.)
I like the Kobo Touch because I can continue to borrow e-books from my local library with it (unlike the Kindle), shop around for deals on novels, pay in Canadian dollars and use the new much celebrated touch screen technology.

I like the idea of having a Kindle because I hear great thing about how seamlessly it works and how pleasant it is to use (no bugs to work out). I am bummed out by the fact that Amazon isn’t offering the Touch model to Canadians and that all I can use a Kindle for is to purchase Amazon books (unless they’re significantly cheaper than anything I can find elsewhere.)

Knowing that I own a PRS-505 which works well (I could sell it though), which model would you get? I have been going back and forth all day and need help figuring out which to return!

Thanks for helping me out.

Much obliged!

Latinandgreek · 11-08-2011, 11:18 PM

If you keep the Kindle you could transfer all of your epub files from the Sony without having to convert. Also, I've found that some Canadian titles are first published as epubs, and then at the Kindle store; in fact, there were some titles that I could only find as epub. They may have later been made available at the Kindle store, I don't know.

Then again, some people have found titles at the Kindle store which were not available in epub format, so ymmv.

I personally like using a touch screen, and the Kobo allows you to simply tap to turn a page, you don't have to swipe.

Personally? I'd probably keep both devices. That way, you get the best of both worlds.

I know, I'm terrible!

DeGadgetGirl · 11-09-2011, 12:05 AM

You read my mind. I was looking at both boxes, feeling like I wanted to keep all of them! <Total Golem, "My precious" moment going on> Hugely impracticable (and not what the gift giver had in mind) - but wouldn't it be nice!

I actually went out today to our local book store and made a list of all the books I was interested in. I came home and looked them up on both the Kobo and Amazon store and pretty much all of them were cheaper in ebook format with Kobo. I thought Amazon was known for their super low prices, but Kobo's offerings were significantly cheaper. I read so much that I have to budget, so this might weigh heavily in my decision.

Thanks for your input!

treadlightly · 11-09-2011, 09:21 AM

I have a Kindle but buy 75% of my books from Kobo with coupon codes and sometimes borrow from the library. If you are inclined to do a little internet research and use software, the format of the ebooks becomes easy to address. If not, keep the reader that matches the more appropriate format for you.

The next consideration would be which method of turning the pages is more comfortable for you. Personally I like buttons and don't want to touch the screen. I read while eating a lot. I find holding the reader with one hand and turning the pages with a tiny press of the thumb is the most comfortable for me. You just have to try them both (maybe in a store?) and see what your hands like best.

treadlightly · 11-09-2011, 09:26 AM

Also keep in mind when comparing prices that currently Kobo charges sales tax and Amazon doesn't, but the Amazon price is in US$.

DeGadgetGirl · 11-09-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treadlightly

Also keep in mind when comparing prices that currently Kobo charges sales tax and Amazon doesn't, but the Amazon price is in US$.

Is the sales tax only 5% or is it the full 18% HST. I googled tax on books in Ontario, but I'm not sure if these rules apply for e-books (although it makes sense that they would.)

treadlightly · 11-09-2011, 11:40 AM

I'm in Ontario and I'm charged 13% HST. I'm not sure if people in different provinces are charged the same or not (i.e. does it matter where the customer lives or that Kobo is based in Toronto?).

Suzanna · 11-09-2011, 11:58 AM

The Touch interface is definitely superior. I have a Kobo Wifi (which strikes me as being similar to the $79 Kindle) and a Kobo Touch. I use the Touch for all my ereading now, and DH and I gave our wifi models to our daughters. I'd find it hard to go back to using buttons for everything. As for swiping ... you can also turn pages by tapping on the page, so no exaggerated wrist movement is necessary.

frddgls · 11-09-2011, 01:03 PM

I have a Kobo WiFi so I can't answer your question about the touch but I can tell you that I am in British Columbia and pay 13% tax on my Kobo books instead of the 5% that I would pay if I bought a physical book in a BC bookstore.

DeGadgetGirl · 11-09-2011, 04:48 PM

Hmmm. I wish the tax wasn't so high. That's kind of silly when it's lower when it's a paper book. Oh well. So far it's looking like I'll probably stick with the Kobo since at this point I can do so much more with it vs the Kindle. Maybe once Amazon offers more to Canadians I'll buy one of their products. Thanks for the help everyone!

BeccaPrice · 11-10-2011, 12:06 PM

Unlike Sao, I definitely prefer buttons for page turning over the touch screen, at least in my experience of using the Sony 350. but then, I resisted the move to computer mice over command line or keystroke commands, too, so I guess I'm a sort of luddite that way.

Bertolt · 11-10-2011, 01:12 PM

I much prefer the touch interface. Clicking a button on my partner's Kindle seems clunky and last century's technology to me. Have you nobody you could ask to look at their ereaders? The acid test is using one. So far I have access to a Kindle or my tablet. Of course the Kindle is much lighter but the tablet page-turning mechanism seems far better to me. I shall be buying a Kobo very soon when I go to the UK.

SmokeAndMirrors · 11-10-2011, 08:05 PM

I have the Kobo Touch. There are actually 2 ways of turning the page: you can either swipe across the screen, or tap on the side (left side to go forward, right side to go back).

I do the tap. It's not a strain at all (and that's saying something, since I have a repetitive stress injury in my hands, wrists, and elbows).

I really like the touch screen. I also like that you can adjust the refresh frequency. I haven't had any problems with mine, and I'm definitely glad I went with it.

DeGadgetGirl · 11-11-2011, 10:18 AM

After hearing everyone's advice I decided to go for the Kobo.

I am SOOO glad that I did. I was worried that it wouldn't be that different from my old Sony e-reader but there's a night a day difference. It's easier to read on and the touch interface is awesome. It's so easy to navigate my way around the e-reader now.

You guys are right: you can simply tap the screen to turn a page OR do the swipe.

I read for several hours last night and had no problem with my wrist as I had feared. The swipe/tap option makes reading with one had really easy, especially if the Kobo is in it's case. I also love that I have access to free ebooks from my local library. I'm on a budget so this will save me some serious cash, since I read a lot.

So far I love it!!

terraskye · 11-13-2011, 07:36 PM

How do you use kobo books with Kindle? I thought kindle only used .mobi formats?

Thanks

11-08-2011, 11:08 PM	#1
DeGadgetGirl Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: None	Canadian with Kobo Kindle Quandary Hey guys! I am being gifted with a new e-reader. (Yes!!!) I already own the old Sony PRS-505 (although I really dislike the Sony book store.) I have two unopened e-readers in boxes on my table and I’m trying to decide which to keep and which to return. My e-reader choices are the Kobo Touch or Amazon’s $79.99 Kindle. I live in Canada and want the best option for Canadians. Does having a touch screen make the reading experience a lot better? How does it affect your fingers or wrists to be swiping across the screen all the time (I’m a heavy reader with an issue with my wrist from typing.) I like the Kobo Touch because I can continue to borrow e-books from my local library with it (unlike the Kindle), shop around for deals on novels, pay in Canadian dollars and use the new much celebrated touch screen technology. I like the idea of having a Kindle because I hear great thing about how seamlessly it works and how pleasant it is to use (no bugs to work out). I am bummed out by the fact that Amazon isn’t offering the Touch model to Canadians and that all I can use a Kindle for is to purchase Amazon books (unless they’re significantly cheaper than anything I can find elsewhere.) Knowing that I own a PRS-505 which works well (I could sell it though), which model would you get? I have been going back and forth all day and need help figuring out which to return! Thanks for helping me out. Much obliged!

11-09-2011, 12:05 AM	#3
DeGadgetGirl Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: None	Thanks! You read my mind. I was looking at both boxes, feeling like I wanted to keep all of them! <Total Golem, "My precious" moment going on> Hugely impracticable (and not what the gift giver had in mind) - but wouldn't it be nice! I actually went out today to our local book store and made a list of all the books I was interested in. I came home and looked them up on both the Kobo and Amazon store and pretty much all of them were cheaper in ebook format with Kobo. I thought Amazon was known for their super low prices, but Kobo's offerings were significantly cheaper. I read so much that I have to budget, so this might weigh heavily in my decision. Thanks for your input!

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11-08-2011, 11:18 PM	#2
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	If you keep the Kindle you could transfer all of your epub files from the Sony without having to convert. Also, I've found that some Canadian titles are first published as epubs, and then at the Kindle store; in fact, there were some titles that I could only find as epub. They may have later been made available at the Kindle store, I don't know. Then again, some people have found titles at the Kindle store which were not available in epub format, so ymmv. I personally like using a touch screen, and the Kobo allows you to simply tap to turn a page, you don't have to swipe. Personally? I'd probably keep both devices. That way, you get the best of both worlds. I know, I'm terrible!

11-09-2011, 09:21 AM	#4
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	I have a Kindle but buy 75% of my books from Kobo with coupon codes and sometimes borrow from the library. If you are inclined to do a little internet research and use software, the format of the ebooks becomes easy to address. If not, keep the reader that matches the more appropriate format for you. The next consideration would be which method of turning the pages is more comfortable for you. Personally I like buttons and don't want to touch the screen. I read while eating a lot. I find holding the reader with one hand and turning the pages with a tiny press of the thumb is the most comfortable for me. You just have to try them both (maybe in a store?) and see what your hands like best.

11-09-2011, 09:26 AM	#5
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	Also keep in mind when comparing prices that currently Kobo charges sales tax and Amazon doesn't, but the Amazon price is in US$.

11-09-2011, 11:40 AM	#7
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	I'm in Ontario and I'm charged 13% HST. I'm not sure if people in different provinces are charged the same or not (i.e. does it matter where the customer lives or that Kobo is based in Toronto?).

11-09-2011, 11:58 AM	#8
Suzanna Living in the past Posts: 432 Karma: 6011289 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Arc	The Touch interface is definitely superior. I have a Kobo Wifi (which strikes me as being similar to the $79 Kindle) and a Kobo Touch. I use the Touch for all my ereading now, and DH and I gave our wifi models to our daughters. I'd find it hard to go back to using buttons for everything. As for swiping ... you can also turn pages by tapping on the page, so no exaggerated wrist movement is necessary.

11-09-2011, 01:03 PM	#9
frddgls Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 44857 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Forma, iPad, Samsung Galaxy A20	I have a Kobo WiFi so I can't answer your question about the touch but I can tell you that I am in British Columbia and pay 13% tax on my Kobo books instead of the 5% that I would pay if I bought a physical book in a BC bookstore.

11-09-2011, 04:48 PM	#10
DeGadgetGirl Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: None	Hmmm. I wish the tax wasn't so high. That's kind of silly when it's lower when it's a paper book. Oh well. So far it's looking like I'll probably stick with the Kobo since at this point I can do so much more with it vs the Kindle. Maybe once Amazon offers more to Canadians I'll buy one of their products. Thanks for the help everyone!

11-10-2011, 12:06 PM	#11
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Unlike Sao, I definitely prefer buttons for page turning over the touch screen, at least in my experience of using the Sony 350. but then, I resisted the move to computer mice over command line or keystroke commands, too, so I guess I'm a sort of luddite that way.

11-10-2011, 01:12 PM	#12
Bertolt Connoisseur Posts: 82 Karma: 1812 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Spain Device: Kindle K4, Kobo mini, Samsung Galaxy Tab	I much prefer the touch interface. Clicking a button on my partner's Kindle seems clunky and last century's technology to me. Have you nobody you could ask to look at their ereaders? The acid test is using one. So far I have access to a Kindle or my tablet. Of course the Kindle is much lighter but the tablet page-turning mechanism seems far better to me. I shall be buying a Kobo very soon when I go to the UK.

11-10-2011, 08:05 PM	#13
SmokeAndMirrors Addict Posts: 280 Karma: 2064388 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: MN, US Device: Kobo Touch, Asus Eee Pad Slider	I have the Kobo Touch. There are actually 2 ways of turning the page: you can either swipe across the screen, or tap on the side (left side to go forward, right side to go back). I do the tap. It's not a strain at all (and that's saying something, since I have a repetitive stress injury in my hands, wrists, and elbows). I really like the touch screen. I also like that you can adjust the refresh frequency. I haven't had any problems with mine, and I'm definitely glad I went with it.

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11-11-2011, 10:18 AM	#14
DeGadgetGirl Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: None	After hearing everyone's advice I decided to go for the Kobo. I am SOOO glad that I did. I was worried that it wouldn't be that different from my old Sony e-reader but there's a night a day difference. It's easier to read on and the touch interface is awesome. It's so easy to navigate my way around the e-reader now. You guys are right: you can simply tap the screen to turn a page OR do the swipe. I read for several hours last night and had no problem with my wrist as I had feared. The swipe/tap option makes reading with one had really easy, especially if the Kobo is in it's case. I also love that I have access to free ebooks from my local library. I'm on a budget so this will save me some serious cash, since I read a lot. So far I love it!!

11-13-2011, 07:36 PM	#15
terraskye Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 9738 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Device: Mine:Kindle 3(wifi)Sony PRS-300(died)His: Sony Prs-300	How do you use kobo books with Kindle? I thought kindle only used .mobi formats? Thanks