What to buy?

Berniece McKee · 05-31-2021, 10:29 PM

Hey! Guys, I want to consult about the e-book and gadgets. I'm going to buy my first book, I want to know which one will be most satisfying for me. I use iOS and the most convenient format for me is pdf.

DNSB · 05-31-2021, 11:43 PM

I would not recommend purchasing a pdf file to use on an iOS device. iPadOS with the larger screen might be a choice but even on the largest screen iOS device, a pdf file with it's fixed page size is going to be a pain in the posterior.

As to which book would be most satisfying to you? Sorry but I don't read minds. You haven't even suggested a genre that you might be interested in. So a recommendation for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects by Mary Wollstonecraft might not be what you wanted.

Pajamaman · 05-31-2021, 11:54 PM

I think he means he wants to buy his first ereader. I could be wrong.

Ereader are not great at reading pdf. The best are onyx and likebook. The next best is the kobo. Don't get a amazon.

Why do you need to read pdf?

JSWolf · 06-01-2021, 06:36 AM

Are you willing to drop PDF in favor of reading ePub?

Michal Jancik · 06-03-2021, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I think he means he wants to buy his first ereader. I could be wrong.

Ereader are not great at reading pdf. The best are onyx and likebook. The next best is the kobo. Don't get a amazon.

Why do you need to read pdf?

Although not the fastest e-reader, Pocketbook offers better functionality for PDFs (PDF reflow etc) than KOBO.
In addition, it has better file explorer, which is important, especially if you have multiple file formats.

JSWolf · 06-03-2021, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

Although not the fastest e-reader, Pocketbook offers better functionality for PDFs (PDF reflow etc) than KOBO.
In addition, it has better file explorer, which is important, especially if you have multiple file formats.

The thing is, Kobo doesn't need a file explorer as long as you have the metadata correct.

Michal Jancik · 06-03-2021, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The thing is, Kobo doesn't need a file explorer as long as you have the metadata correct.

I also meant navigation not just search. I own both devices and PB has a much clearer file explorer. ( and the posibility to scroll the last document on the main screen.)

JSWolf · 06-03-2021, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

I also meant navigation not just search. I own both devices and PB has a much clearer file explorer. ( and the posibility to scroll the last document on the main screen.)

Kobo has the scroll bar so you can scroll to the last eBook in the list.

Can genres and series be populated with side loaded eBooks on a PB?

Michal Jancik · 06-03-2021, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Kobo has the scroll bar so you can scroll to the last eBook in the list.

Can genres and series be populated with side loaded eBooks on a PB?

Do you mean to view explorer horizontally? I don't think so, at least I didn't try.

If I'm not confused, Kobo doesn't even allow folder navigation.
Here is a short example of file explorer:

Time : 8:22
https://youtu.be/grqBdJ86HWo?t=503

Requirements and preferences are different for each user, I do not think that there is absolute truth "what is beter".

Quoth · 06-03-2021, 08:53 AM

I don't need folder navigation on my Kobos, not even with 2000+ books.
However my Boyue Likebook Mars would be useless with out file navigation (it has KOReader navigation, its native "Library" navigation and a decent file-manager. It's quicker and easier to find a title, author, series or collection on the Kobo.

KOReader can be installed on the Kobo, I assume then it has the inbuilt file navigator.

EVERY Android device I have and various filemanagers and ereader apps are ALL worse for finding a book than the Kobo with Authors, titles, Collections and Series setup properly via Calibre. Kobo is better than Kindle too, as frankly collections & Series are a mess on it and can't be controlled by Calibre. Amazon's Cloud manages it, poorly.

DNSB · 06-03-2021, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

KOReader can be installed on the Kobo, I assume then it has the inbuilt file navigator.

KOReader can also search using the calibre metadata.db file on a Kobo device which is being used with calibre.

JSWolf · 06-03-2021, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

Do you mean to view explorer horizontally? I don't think so, at least I didn't try.

If I'm not confused, Kobo doesn't even allow folder navigation.
Here is a short example of file explorer:

Have you actually used your Kobo with a current version of Calibre and the proper plugins to manage the Kobo?Are you using the current 4.26.x firmware?

DNSB · 06-03-2021, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

Although not the fastest e-reader, Pocketbook offers better functionality for PDFs (PDF reflow etc) than KOBO.
In addition, it has better file explorer, which is important, especially if you have multiple file formats.

Ghod knows we went enough rounds with this years back. Basically, Kobo's search capability let me find books with fewer keytaps than trying to use KOReader's file explorer capability. @Ken Maltby and I had several discussions around that topic.

JSWolf · 06-03-2021, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Ghod knows we went enough rounds with this years back. Basically, Kobo's search capability let me find books with fewer keytaps than trying to use KOReader's file explorer capability. @Ken Maltby and I had several discussions around that topic.

I agree that Kobo's native eBook organization is very good. KOReader's eBook management is so-so.

Quoth · 06-04-2021, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

KOReader can also search using the calibre metadata.db file on a Kobo device which is being used with calibre.

Yes, it can sometimes, otherwise it would be nearly useless. Important to manually copy those if copying files on to an ejected sd Card. But still not as good as the Kobo for organisation.
I have a Sony PRS-350, Kindle DXG. Kindle KK3, Kindle PW3, Kobo original H2O with "latest" FW, and Kobo Libra with older FW as well as the Boyue Likebook Mars. More than 2000 books on Kobo Libra and Mars, so I can compare. I wonder to companies test so called "Libraries" with even 200 books never mind 2,000 books.

So I'm in a position to compare. All are "managed" via Calibre and USB. There is no need at all on Sony, Kindle or Kobo to ever navigate folders.

05-31-2021, 10:29 PM	#1
Berniece McKee Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2021 Device: none	What to buy? Hey! Guys, I want to consult about the e-book and gadgets. I'm going to buy my first book, I want to know which one will be most satisfying for me. I use iOS and the most convenient format for me is pdf.

05-31-2021, 11:43 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 48,175 Karma: 174315444 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	I would not recommend purchasing a pdf file to use on an iOS device. iPadOS with the larger screen might be a choice but even on the largest screen iOS device, a pdf file with it's fixed page size is going to be a pain in the posterior. As to which book would be most satisfying to you? Sorry but I don't read minds. You haven't even suggested a genre that you might be interested in. So a recommendation for A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects by Mary Wollstonecraft might not be what you wanted. Last edited by DNSB; 05-31-2021 at 11:47 PM.

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05-31-2021, 11:54 PM	#3
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,874 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	I think he means he wants to buy his first ereader. I could be wrong. Ereader are not great at reading pdf. The best are onyx and likebook. The next best is the kobo. Don't get a amazon. Why do you need to read pdf?

06-01-2021, 06:36 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Are you willing to drop PDF in favor of reading ePub?

06-03-2021, 08:53 AM	#10
Quoth Still reading Posts: 15,004 Karma: 111111255 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I don't need folder navigation on my Kobos, not even with 2000+ books. However my Boyue Likebook Mars would be useless with out file navigation (it has KOReader navigation, its native "Library" navigation and a decent file-manager. It's quicker and easier to find a title, author, series or collection on the Kobo. KOReader can be installed on the Kobo, I assume then it has the inbuilt file navigator. EVERY Android device I have and various filemanagers and ereader apps are ALL worse for finding a book than the Kobo with Authors, titles, Collections and Series setup properly via Calibre. Kobo is better than Kindle too, as frankly collections & Series are a mess on it and can't be controlled by Calibre. Amazon's Cloud manages it, poorly.