question before I buy

[CypressTiger]

Long story short, I'm pretty sure I want a Kobo Touch... unless you think it's a bad idea! I don't read at night more than once or twice a year, I don't like backlit screens and I don't need bells and whistles.

I just want to confirm a few things that were listed on their website before I buy. I'm sorry this is going to be stupid and tedious but I couldn't find answers anywhere in this forum.

Can I open pdf, epub, txt, and html?

Can I use my own folder organization system?

What about Glo or Aura, are the answers the same or different?

I know, stupid. But I don't want to buy it and find that I can't use it with my 5000+ books. I'd be right cheesed since I don't have a ton of money to spare!

[GeoffR]

Originally Posted by CypressTiger

Long story short, I'm pretty sure I want a Kobo Touch... unless you think it's a bad idea! I don't read at night more than once or twice a year, I don't like backlit screens and I don't need bells and whistles.

Note that the Glo/Aura have a frontlight, it is much better than a backlight. It is not just for reading in darkness, but anytime exterior lighting is less than perfect (reading indoors, overcast days, etc.)

Can I open pdf, epub, txt, and html?

Yes, but only epub will give good results.

Can I use my own folder organization system?

No.

What about Glo or Aura, are the answers the same or different?

Same as for touch, although reading pdf books on the Aura HD might be slightly less painful because of the larger screen.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Yes, but only epub will give good results.

To clarify, txt>epub and html>epub conversions will also give readily readable results. PDF>epub conversions are another story; and the vast majority of PDFs are not formatted to be readable as-is on a six inch screen.

[PeterT]

Native Kobo does not support a browser of any type; there is a project (koreader) that does add that ability in.

Frankly though I tend to question the wisdom of buying any reader, and not using it's native abilities the way they were intended. While yes, txt / mobi's canm be read, the experience is not that good.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Native Kobo does not support a browser of any type; there is a project (koreader) that does add that ability in.

Frankly though I tend to question the wisdom of buying any reader, and not using it's native abilities the way they were intended. While yes, txt / mobi's canm be read, the experience is not that good.

Actually the browser is no longer listed as experimental. Not sure if that makes much of a difference from what your saying though. Its really not something you need on an e-ink reader. But lots of people seem to require it.

[Ken Maltby]

The Koreader project started as an alternative PDF reader for Kindles. The Coolreader3 engine components were added to the reader enabling a number of additional formats. While this is a port of the original Kindle project, it's development is proceeding right along with the Kindle version. To some extent all such community supported projects can be described as "experimental", I have used commercial programs that were less ready for prime time than this project. I am using it as the primary reader on my Kobo AuraHD. Keep in mind that this is an addition to the Kobo software, which remains fully functional, in fact you normally launch Koreader using the Kobo user interface.

The port to the Kobo devices has spurred the development of the overall project, and makes Koreader a file browser based reading program for the Kobo devices a reality. It is also a way to avoid the problems the Kobo software has assimilating an existing file based ebook library.

Luck;
Ken

[filmo]

Originally Posted by CypressTiger

I know, stupid. But I don't want to buy it and find that I can't use it with my 5000+ books. I'd be right cheesed since I don't have a ton of money to spare!

5,000 books on a kobo Touch? Comments by someone that has done this. What firmware version are you using? Problems?

[booklover6]

Sounds to me like you would be better off with a Nook Simple Touch.

Folder organization - YES

5,000 books - YES

Price - I got mine for $40 (used)

Formats - epub, pdf

Originally Posted by CypressTiger

Long story short, I'm pretty sure I want a Kobo Touch... unless you think it's a bad idea! I don't read at night more than once or twice a year, I don't like backlit screens and I don't need bells and whistles.

I just want to confirm a few things that were listed on their website before I buy. I'm sorry this is going to be stupid and tedious but I couldn't find answers anywhere in this forum.

Can I open pdf, epub, txt, and html?

Can I use my own folder organization system?

What about Glo or Aura, are the answers the same or different?

I know, stupid. But I don't want to buy it and find that I can't use it with my 5000+ books. I'd be right cheesed since I don't have a ton of money to spare!

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by filmo

5,000 books on a kobo Touch? Comments by someone that has done this. What firmware version are you using? Problems?

You do realize that with a memory card you can stir 30 k+ of books on a kobo. I have currently 4800 give or take on my reader.

Regards

Jack

[Ken Maltby]

What makes the AuraHD worth its price, is its higher screen resolution, screen size, and superior frontlight - all hardware features of the device. With a new version of the AuraHD announced, at a lower price, either that or the original AuraHD at a lower price might provide you with a better device. Much of the Kobo approach to their software design is to be applauded, primarily that they provided a more open, scripted, environment for the devices. Because of this, there are options to get around the very annoying Database ebook management and store tie-in features. (I know that some of you just love those things, and need your reading statistics compiled.) As someone with a large and diverse library of ebooks who is used to managing 8-9 thousand files in a structure that is natural to PC file handling, I personally prefer the Koreader's File Manager.

Luck;
Ken

It looks like the new Aura is only 6".

[Ken Maltby]

Some pictures of Koreader's File Manager (I got the lighting wrong, the screen has the Pearl white background in real life.)

Luck;
Ken

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Some pictures of Koreader's File Manager (I got the lighting wrong, the screen has the Pearl white background in real life.)

Luck;
Ken

Funny how lighting can either improve or degrade on the what the precieved quality is.

[Ken Maltby]

Originally Posted by jackastor

Funny how lighting can either improve or degrade on the what the precieved quality is.

These are from a page in a book, in Koreader but not in the File Manager, but I got the lighting better: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=120

Luck;
Ken

Originally Posted by CypressTiger

Can I open pdf, epub, txt, and html?

PDF, yes. Just be aware that PDF describes the layout of the page so you'll probably find most PDF files difficult to read on the Touch.

EPub, definitely.

TXT, yes. Just be aware that text files are usually fixed width. As such you may find them difficult to read because of awkward line breaks.

HTML, not sure. It can certainly render HTML files retrieved from servers with the web browser. I've never tried it with locally hosted files.

Can I use my own folder organization system?

Sort of. You can copy your folders onto the Touch however you wish, and it will remain intact. (That makes it easy to synchronized collections.) However, you cannot browse for books based upon that folder organization system unless you use thirdparty reading software like koreader.

What about Glo or Aura, are the answers the same or different?

All Kobo devices use the same firmware at the moment, so the answers are the same.

I know, stupid. But I don't want to buy it and find that I can't use it with my 5000+ books. I'd be right cheesed since I don't have a ton of money to spare!

Some people report performance issues with large collections, others don't. It may be an issue with what individuals are willing to tollerate, but it sounds like it's usually depends upon the ebooks loaded. (Kobo's firmware seems to be intollerant of errors in ePubs.)

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

HTML, not sure. It can certainly render HTML files retrieved from servers with the web browser. I've never tried it with locally hosted files.

It does a good job of rendering HTML files that are on the device. The main reason I know is that I sometimes unpack an epub to look at it and leave the unpacked version on the device. The HTML and images get added to the library and display with no problems.