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[UltimDan]

Hey Guys,
I've been lurking for some time and really appreciate all the information I found on your forum. I want to first apologize if I do some mistakes, as English is not my main language.

Now to the point. I've created a new thread because I think that this hasn't been totally answered before. If it has, I'm sorry and be happy to read the correct thread and leave this one.

So, I'm torn between the two readers that everybody seems to be torn with
The H2O and the Voyage.

But my reasons are different.

First, I'll need to wait a couple weeks/months if I want the voyage, as it's not available here. (Canada) So that's a point for the H2O, but I would mind waiting if it's really worth it.

Second, the feature that I find the most interesting in the Voyage is the Personal Document and the ability to sync between devices with third party books.

So my real question is, how well is it working? Is it always 100%, or hit and miss?

I plan on reading on my phone during the day and on my eReader in the evening. So that feature is really appealing. As far as I know, there is absolutely no way to do that on a Kobo. I could use the page number to find where I was (I think Kobo show the real page #, unlike Kindle), but I don't know if it would become bothersome.

So, Kindle users, I'm waiting for your answers! Kobo users can give me their impressions if they use a Phone/Tablet and a eReader too.

Sorry for the little wall of text.

Thanks!

Dan

[eschwartz]

Personl Documents syncing works just like it does with book bought from the Kindle Store.
(Actually, with the exception that you can choose either old MOBI, or AZW3 without covers in Cover view. Plus that pesky Personal label obscuring the bottom quarter-inch of the cover. )

Also, neither the Kindle nor the Kobo will show you real page numbers. But the Kindle will not lie to you about it, whereas most RMSDK-based readers will lie and make up pseudo-random guessed numbers.

I say go for the Kindle -- there is nothing to compare with Amazon's synced Peersonal Documents!

(P.S. Don't apologize for using this forum for its intended purpose. )
(P.P.S. Your English is better than some many native English speakers'. )

[UltimDan]

Thanks for the fast answer and kind comments.
I'll feel more comfortable with my writing!

Unfortunately, that's what I was thinking I'll need to wait for Amazon to sell the voyage in Canada. I was thinking on maybe buy used from someone that didn't like it, but I'm too afraid to get a bad screen. Also, as I'm from Canada, shipping would be a pain.

Any Kobo guru want to make me change my mind? I've used the H2O today in store and it was really great for the book I brought and the cbz too. I just wish there was a way to easily continue reading from my phone to my eReader.

[HarryT]

The H2O and Voyage are both very good readers, but if syncing between devices is an important feature for you, the Kindle is clearly the better choice.

[UltimDan]

Thanks! That's really helping me. I just wish Amazon had more love for Canada.

Just a couple questions before being totally set :

How is the search function on both?
I mean, I tend to forget about some characters and need sometimes to search in the book to remember.

I think Kindle can search Wikipedia, is it fast and seamless?

How about self generated x-ray, is it easy to do, working fine?
Can it be done on kobo?

I may buy a Kobo today to test.
I have a rebate for the Aura, it would end up 67 tx in. That would help me wait for the voyage to be available here sometimes next year. (I've heard the PW took 5 months to get here)

[eschwartz]

When you do a global search across your library, the Kindle tends to slow down the more books you have -- but I would expect (without any knowledge one way or the other) that the Kobo is the same -- searching all files is bound to be more resource-intensive.

Searching Wikipedia on the Kindle is seamless, highlight the word/phrase via a tap, and you will get a few options. Default is to show the dictionary, but you can also tap "more" and then "Wikipedia" to search Wikipedia for the word/phrase. I don't know if the Kobo does this, my Google-fu turns up nothing.


self-generated X-Ray files are fairly simple. The whole thing is a total hack, but well-maintained by the MobileRead community here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=245754
The new SQLite format for fw>=5.6.0 is still being tested out though.

You cannot do the same with Kobo. Some effort was put into it (the Beyond The Book) by the Kobo hackers here, but ultimately it turned out to be unfeasible and the project was scrapped.

[JSWolf]

One important thing to note. The H2O is more configurable as to how it looks on screen then the Voyage. The Voyage is rather fixed in it's layout. So take a look at both and see if that is something that's important to you.

The H2O allows more font choices and even your own side loaded fonts. It allows line height to be changed and many more font size choices. Some (on MR) have been complaining that because of the limited font sizes on Kindles, that one size is too small and the next up size is too large.

Personally, I like the larger screen.

[UltimDan]

Thanks for your answers Eschwartz. That's exactly what I wanted to know.

JSWolf : I really understand your point. I'm really really liking the H2O screen. As it's available where I live, I tried it a couple times.

I find it more "book like" to read on the Kobo, because of it's size. Manga where also easy to read and Sharp. If Kobo had the multi-device sync (for 3rd party), Wikipedia search and a more solid firmware, I'd already had bought it.

After some tests, with their respective Android app, I also find that Amazon tend to be more well formated. I converted a book and images where split on two pages on the Kobo app and not on the Amazon one. It may be because I don't know Calibre well enough though.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

When you do a global search across your library, the Kindle tends to slow down the more books you have -- but I would expect (without any knowledge one way or the other) that the Kobo is the same -- searching all files is bound to be more resource-intensive.

The Kobo doesn't have a global search (other than for titles and authors).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by UltimDan

Thanks for your answers Eschwartz. That's exactly what I wanted to know.

JSWolf : I really understand your point. I'm really really liking the H2O screen. As it's available where I live, I tried it a couple times.

I find it more "book like" to read on the Kobo, because of it's size. Manga where also easy to read and Sharp. If Kobo had the multi-device sync (for 3rd party), Wikipedia search and a more solid firmware, I'd already had bought it.

After some tests, with their respective Android app, I also find that Amazon tend to be more well formated. I converted a book and images where split on two pages on the Kobo app and not on the Amazon one. It may be because I don't know Calibre well enough though.

Images don't split across pages on the H2O. So something may not have gone correctly in the conversion. But it is fairly easy to learn what to do to fix thing using the eBook Editor built into Calibre or using Sigil. There are plenty of people here on MR who can help you with your questions.

Also, with the patches for the H2O, you can have things the way you want for an even better reading experience. The Kindle is basically fixed in place in terms of the settings unless you are lucky to get a Voyage that doesn't come with firmware version 5.6.1. You can jailbreak a Kindle other then that firmware and you can modify some things. Yes, syncing is better with Kindles. But I'd go for the H2O for the nice 6.8" screen, the settings, and the fact that it is nicer to read with (IMHO).

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kobo doesn't have a global search (other than for titles and authors).

Wonderful!

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Images don't split across pages on the H2O. So something may not have gone correctly in the conversion. But it is fairly easy to learn what to do to fix thing using the eBook Editor built into Calibre or using Sigil. There are plenty of people here on MR who can help you with your questions.

Also, with the patches for the H2O, you can have things the way you want for an even better reading experience. The Kindle is basically fixed in place in terms of the settings unless you are lucky to get a Voyage that doesn't come with firmware version 5.6.1. You can jailbreak a Kindle other then that firmware and you can modify some things. Yes, syncing is better with Kindles. But I'd go for the H2O for the nice 6.8" screen, the settings, and the fact that it is nicer to read with (IMHO).

The Kindle Voyage does not have a jailbreak, period.We hope that may change someday soon.

But I get the impression the OP is not very focused on the formatting options the Kobo provides.

[UltimDan]

I am under the impression that the Kobo's formatting is really good, but that you can already format anything with Calibre. I'm also thinking that amazon firmware is more mature, but it's up for debate.

The advantage of the h2o is its screen so I could read my Manga without zooming. There is also availability. I'm really tempted by the Kobo, as I could get it for 130 right now, but the voyage seems to have much more functionality. (outside formatting)

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by UltimDan

I'll need to wait for Amazon to sell the voyage in Canada.

People have to wait in the US, too. The product page states Expected to ship in 5 to 7 weeks. for the one with offers, and In stock on December 26, 2014. for the one without offers.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by UltimDan

I am under the impression that the Kobo's formatting is really good, but that you can already format anything with Calibre. I'm also thinking that amazon firmware is more mature, but it's up for debate.

The advantage of the h2o is its screen so I could read my Manga without zooming. There is also availability. I'm really tempted by the Kobo, as I could get it for 130 right now, but the voyage seems to have much more functionality. (outside formatting)

You cannot format things with Calibre. The Kindle has fixed margins and fixed line height. Those are fixed in most cases. The only way to change the line height is to embed my modified version of Charis SIL. Otherwise, the line height remains fixed. Some people have been complaining that the font sizes available on the kindle are too limited as in one size is too small and the next up is too large.

What you have to decide is if syncing is more important or is being able to have the text on screen look as you want more important.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Kindle has fixed argins and fixed line height.

Jon, don't talk rubbish. The margins and the line height on the Kindle are not fixed, as you know perfectly well.

Proof attached.