Should I buy a kindle AND a kobo?

theokij · 11-21-2021, 07:28 AM

I'm looking to buy ereaders for myself and my partner. I was planning on buying the overall best device/platform for both of us but I'm wondering whether I should buy one kindle and one kobo instead, as we're always together and share everything anyway. The new paperwhite is cheaper and I have some old books on the kindle platform but I love that you can use Overdrive/Libby with Kobo and the adjustable brightness slide feature.

It will be annoying if we both want to read a book that's only on one device but would the benefits of having access to both platforms outweigh this? Or can you pretty much get everything on Kobo that you can on Kindle and vice versa?

Also, does anyone know if the auto-rotate feature on the kobo can be switched off on the kobo? I read sideways in bed sometimes and it really annoys me when my phone autorotates.

JSWolf · 11-21-2021, 07:42 AM

I suggest you buy two Kobos. That way you can share the same eBooks and the software is a lot better then on a Kindle. The thing is,what if you both decide you like the Kobo better then the Kindle? Who gets stuck with the Kindle? Also, the Libra 2 has a nicer screen then the PW5.

theokij · 11-21-2021, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I suggest you buy two Kobos. That way you can share the same eBooks and the software is a lot better then on a Kindle. The thing is,what if you both decide you like the Kobo better then the Kindle? Who gets stuck with the Kindle? Also, the Libra 2 has a nicer screen then the PW5.

This was my first thought - us fighting over our favourite ereader! Are there many books that are exclusive to Kindle or are they mostly all available on both platforms?

JSWolf · 11-21-2021, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theokij

This was my first thought - us fighting over our favourite ereader! Are there many books that are exclusive to Kindle or are they mostly all available on both platforms?

Read the following thread about removing the DRM from Kindle eBooks. Once you remove the DRM, you can convert to ePub using Calibre. Also, Calibre is excellent at managing your eBooks on a Kobo Reader.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=283371

Sirtel · 11-21-2021, 11:19 AM

As to autorotation, Kobos can be locked either in portrait or landscape mode (so that it only rotates when you turn it upside down) or not locked at all (so that it rotates when you turn it sideways).

I read my Amazon books on my Kobos all the time. And my Kobo and Google Play books on my Kindle. Thanks to the Apprentices and Calibre.

LDB · 11-21-2021, 08:25 PM

There are a lot of books on Kobo and a LOT of books on Kindle. My thought would be get one of each. In 6-8 months or so you will probably both prefer one over the other. If you both like the same one then buy just the one again and you both have your favorite plus a backup/loaner that also will handle anything the preferred readers won't. Or if it turns out you each like a different one you'll already be set. You'll just have to figure out the sharing for titles that are only on one reader.

ZodWallop · 11-21-2021, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theokij

This was my first thought - us fighting over our favourite ereader! Are there many books that are exclusive to Kindle or are they mostly all available on both platforms?

Yes, there are a fair number of books that are exclusive to Amazon. Mostly indies and Amazon published books. Whether those books are ones you want to read I couldn't say.

But I don't own a Kindle and I buy all my books from Amazon thanks to Calibre and deDRM. Setting it up takes fifteen minutes or so and it' a set it and forget it kind of thing. Converting after that is quick and easy. You can also convert Kobo books and add them to your Kindle.

However, not everybody wants to do that. If you just don't want the hassle, buy a Kindle and a Kobo and just know that if there is a book on one that you want to read on the other, you can do it.

Mihawk · 11-22-2021, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Yes, there are a fair number of books that are exclusive to Amazon. Mostly indies and Amazon published books. Whether those books are ones you want to read I couldn't say.

But I don't own a Kindle and I buy all my books from Amazon thanks to Calibre and deDRM. Setting it up takes fifteen minutes or so and it' a set it and forget it kind of thing. Converting after that is quick and easy. You can also convert Kobo books and add them to your Kindle.

However, not everybody wants to do that. If you just don't want the hassle, buy a Kindle and a Kobo and just know that if there is a book on one that you want to read on the other, you can do it.

how do you convert downloading the ebooks from amazon website? For me is impossible... is a Kindle for pc downgrade mandatory?

DNSB · 11-22-2021, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mihawk

how do you convert downloading the ebooks from amazon website? For me is impossible... is a Kindle for pc downgrade mandatory?

Check the Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre thread mentioned in message #4 in this thread. If you want to use the later versions of K4PC, check message #1265 in that thread for a Windows batch file that will disable KFX downloads. You do need to use that batch file each time you launch K4PC.

ZodWallop · 11-22-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mihawk

how do you convert downloading the ebooks from amazon website? For me is impossible... is a Kindle for pc downgrade mandatory?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Check the Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 and KFX in calibre thread mentioned in message #4 in this thread. If you want to use the later versions of K4PC, check message #1265 in that thread for a Windows batch file that will disable KFX downloads. You do need to use that batch file each time you launch K4PC.

Or just download Kindle for PC 1.17 from FileHippo. It downloads .AZW3 files. You do need to immediately (and I mean immediately) go to tools/options/general and uncheck 'Automatically install updates without asking me'

rcentros · 11-22-2021, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mihawk

how do you convert downloading the ebooks from amazon website? For me is impossible... is a Kindle for pc downgrade mandatory?

I just have an old Kindle and I download to USB specifically for it. These can be bought for about $15 to $20 (or at least you used to be able to buy them for that) — register it on Amazon and that will be the last time you need to use it. (Unless you want to use it as a backup reader.)

JSWolf · 11-22-2021, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDB

There are a lot of books on Kobo and a LOT of books on Kindle. My thought would be get one of each. In 6-8 months or so you will probably both prefer one over the other. If you both like the same one then buy just the one again and you both have your favorite plus a backup/loaner that also will handle anything the preferred readers won't. Or if it turns out you each like a different one you'll already be set. You'll just have to figure out the sharing for titles that are only on one reader.

So buy a Kobo and a Kindle and then pick the one you like best and buy another. That is a waste of money.

rcentros · 11-22-2021, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So buy a Kobo and a Kindle and then pick the one you like best and buy another. That is a waste of money.

So, should he just buy two Kindles then?

LDB · 11-22-2021, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So buy a Kobo and a Kindle and then pick the one you like best and buy another. That is a waste of money.

The question was should a couple buy one of each or not. And if they did would they find they like one more than the other. My reply was get one of each and they could share them and determine which they prefer. If they each like one more than the other they're set with what they have. If they both like the same one they buy one more of that and they're set with what they like most. And the odd ereader out is the backup and catches whatever isn't available on the other platform. Read it again carefully and with an open mind and it will make sense.

Josieb1 · 11-23-2021, 05:10 AM

I have both. I found it awkward to read non Amazon ebooks on a kindle so I keep the two sets of books separate for reading.

11-21-2021, 08:25 PM	#6
LDB Baker Street Irregular Posts: 460 Karma: 9920853 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston suburb Device: Oasis 3, PaperWhite 5, Aura One, Glowlight Plus, Scribe, Sage	There are a lot of books on Kobo and a LOT of books on Kindle. My thought would be get one of each. In 6-8 months or so you will probably both prefer one over the other. If you both like the same one then buy just the one again and you both have your favorite plus a backup/loaner that also will handle anything the preferred readers won't. Or if it turns out you each like a different one you'll already be set. You'll just have to figure out the sharing for titles that are only on one reader. Last edited by LDB; 11-21-2021 at 09:58 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Buy a new Kobo, or try a Kindle	perisiana	Which one should I buy?	17	09-27-2019 11:13 AM
Free (nook/Kindle/Kobo/iTunes) 1 Samuel: Wealth Money Can't Buy [Xtian Bible Study]	ATDrake	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	3	11-15-2016 07:12 PM
Which one to buy kobo touch or kindle (5) basic	arsingh1	Which one should I buy?	7	05-06-2014 01:52 PM
Kindle vs Kobo in Canada? Which to buy?	stodge	Which one should I buy?	57	03-12-2013 02:14 PM
Are pdf novels hard to read on Kobo? Should I buy a Kobo?	ToBuyOrNotToBuy	Kobo Reader	9	01-21-2011 09:39 PM

11-21-2021, 07:28 AM	#1
theokij Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2021 Device: none	Should I buy a kindle AND a kobo? I'm looking to buy ereaders for myself and my partner. I was planning on buying the overall best device/platform for both of us but I'm wondering whether I should buy one kindle and one kobo instead, as we're always together and share everything anyway. The new paperwhite is cheaper and I have some old books on the kindle platform but I love that you can use Overdrive/Libby with Kobo and the adjustable brightness slide feature. It will be annoying if we both want to read a book that's only on one device but would the benefits of having access to both platforms outweigh this? Or can you pretty much get everything on Kobo that you can on Kindle and vice versa? Also, does anyone know if the auto-rotate feature on the kobo can be switched off on the kobo? I read sideways in bed sometimes and it really annoys me when my phone autorotates.

11-21-2021, 07:42 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,670 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I suggest you buy two Kobos. That way you can share the same eBooks and the software is a lot better then on a Kindle. The thing is,what if you both decide you like the Kobo better then the Kindle? Who gets stuck with the Kindle? Also, the Libra 2 has a nicer screen then the PW5.

11-21-2021, 11:19 AM	#5
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,434 Karma: 238916691 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	As to autorotation, Kobos can be locked either in portrait or landscape mode (so that it only rotates when you turn it upside down) or not locked at all (so that it rotates when you turn it sideways). I read my Amazon books on my Kobos all the time. And my Kobo and Google Play books on my Kindle. Thanks to the Apprentices and Calibre.

11-23-2021, 05:10 AM	#15
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,084 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I have both. I found it awkward to read non Amazon ebooks on a kindle so I keep the two sets of books separate for reading.

Advert

Advert