New e-reader, Kobo or Sony or...?

[The Terminator]

Originally Posted by bethany7

Thank you so much for all the replies. I guess I am happy to transfer over USB, though it will be more annoying than simply emailing them to myself... although after a bit of hunting around I've seen solutions such as using Dropbox (can't remember whether that was the Sony or the Kobo though!). Here's another question - which can be hacked the easiest? I love to fiddle with things, and have in the past jailbroken my Kindle 3, so am quite happy to play around. It looks to me like the Sony might have more potential for playing around with, but please correct me if I'm wrong!
The physical buttons are tempting with the Sony, but having them to one side instead of on both like the Kindle is a bit annoying, as it means I have to hold it with my left (?) hand. Better than not having them though I suppose!
I personally quite like the idea of book recommendations, so that sounds good to me. Not sure about sharing to Facebook though... I think my friends would get annoyed, as none of them seem to have e-readers, or even seem to read at all! The gamer in me also likes the reading awards idea and stats!
I guess I just worry that there is a reason that the Kobo is so cheap. Iffy page turns don't sound good - how bad are they?
I guess it does come down to price really. £50 is a lot extra for an e-reader that isn't even linked to a store. I'd like to see the Nook if it gets brought out by Waterstones, but I wouldn't want to buy my books there - they seem extortionate compared to Amazon! Kobo doesn't seem as bad. And also, I don't know if I can wait for it to be released! This lovely weather really makes me want to be outside reading, which I just can't do on my iPad.

Thanks again for all the responses.

Worst case scenario for page turns is that the firmware doesn't work quite right and you have to use swipes until it's fixed. I personally have never had any problems with page turns.

[sporran]

Originally Posted by bethany7

Thank you so much for all the replies. I guess I am happy to transfer over USB, though it will be more annoying than simply emailing them to myself... although after a bit of hunting around I've seen solutions such as using Dropbox (can't remember whether that was the Sony or the Kobo though!). Here's another question - which can be hacked the easiest? I love to fiddle with things, and have in the past jailbroken my Kindle 3, so am quite happy to play around. It looks to me like the Sony might have more potential for playing around with, but please correct me if I'm wrong!
The physical buttons are tempting with the Sony, but having them to one side instead of on both like the Kindle is a bit annoying, as it means I have to hold it with my left (?) hand. Better than not having them though I suppose!
I personally quite like the idea of book recommendations, so that sounds good to me. Not sure about sharing to Facebook though... I think my friends would get annoyed, as none of them seem to have e-readers, or even seem to read at all! The gamer in me also likes the reading awards idea and stats!
I guess I just worry that there is a reason that the Kobo is so cheap. Iffy page turns don't sound good - how bad are they?
I guess it does come down to price really. £50 is a lot extra for an e-reader that isn't even linked to a store. I'd like to see the Nook if it gets brought out by Waterstones, but I wouldn't want to buy my books there - they seem extortionate compared to Amazon! Kobo doesn't seem as bad. And also, I don't know if I can wait for it to be released! This lovely weather really makes me want to be outside reading, which I just can't do on my iPad.

Thanks again for all the responses.

I have the Sony T1 here in the UK, and I too had a look at the kobo Touch,the Sony just felt and looked better, but also and I note you like to fiddle it run's android, so can be rooted, there's more here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=154285
once rooted,you can use Dropbox and a cool .apk file will give you kindle reader so you can read amazon books ,which will sync,if you have the kindle app on your ipad! and a load of other stuff, also you can download library books ( if you have a valid ticket and your area does this!) straight to the reader. It works in Lancashire anyway.
Regarding the buttons,I haven't really needed to use them, as the sony only needs a very gentle swipe to turn the page,oh and you can stick a 32gb micro sd card in, download a load of music,pop in some headphones and listen as you read
Hope this helps in your decision.

[bethany7]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I finally decided to get the Kobo Touch, as I could not afford the Sony, much as I would have liked to. However, so far I am very happy with the Kobo, so don't feel too sad about it. It's very nice to have a touch screen, I much prefer it to the Kindle's interface. I hope I don't regret my purchase. Maybe one day I'll get the Sony

Thanks, everyone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

In my opinion the Sony not having the ability to tap the screen to turn pages (You have to swipe on the Sony) is a deal breaker, on the Kobo you can tap the page.

Before you dismiss swiping, it's a very light swipe. One thing you probably didn't know is that tapping causes more visible fingerprints on the screen then swiping. Just go tap your current screen and you'll see more fingerprints then if you swiped.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by l_macd

The Sony is probably worth a little extra for the extra quality over the Kobo (but not £50!) and it doesn't appear to have the same issues with firmware updates not fixing little niggles, but a lot of people don't like the glossy facing it has (though a skin/cover can negate that), though it does have a 'bonus' of having physical page turn buttons. There's no great support from Sony, both in terms of physical ereader support or in terms of a decent shop linked to it.

As for the "glossy" bezel, it's a non-issue really. My mother and mother-in-law both have the red T1 and the bezel is not an issue. Maybe with black. But not red and white. So as long as you don't go with the black, it's not an issue at all.

[HarryT]

The Kindle Touch is an excellent device. I've had mine since November and love it. It can easily be used one-handed.

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by bethany7

I finally decided to get the Kobo Touch, as I could not afford the Sony, much as I would have liked to. However, so far I am very happy with the Kobo, so don't feel too sad about it. It's very nice to have a touch screen, I much prefer it to the Kindle's interface. I hope I don't regret my purchase. Maybe one day I'll get the Sony

Have you checked the plugin?

I especially like the ability to configure the home menu to my liking and add some buttons to the reading menu.

Hope you'll enjoy your Kobo Touch.

[Pomtroll]

Originally Posted by bethany7

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I finally decided to get the Kobo Touch, as I could not afford the Sony, much as I would have liked to. However, so far I am very happy with the Kobo, so don't feel too sad about it. It's very nice to have a touch screen, I much prefer it to the Kindle's interface. I hope I don't regret my purchase. Maybe one day I'll get the Sony

Thanks, everyone.

Enjoy your new reader. A friend has a Kobo (lives in Canada) & she loves it.

[scrapking]

Originally Posted by bethany7

Thanks for the replies. Idiotically, I forgot to mention that I am in the UK, so can't get the Nook, nor visit a Best Buy

Not idiotic at all. It says you're from the UK right there in the little box in the left hand side of all your messages. I think it's incumbent on the person replying to you not to assume!

Congrats on making the decision, I expect you'll be happy with it.

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

Enjoy your new reader. A friend has a Kobo (lives in Canada) & she loves it.

It doesn't surprise me to hear that your Kobo-owning friend is Canadian. There are more Kobo owners in the U.S. than in any other country, but maybe not for long: Kobo surpassed Amazon/Kindle in Canada about a year ago. In fact, unless I'm sorely mistaken, that makes Canada the only country on the planet where a competitor has launched after the Kindle, yet surpassed the Kindle devices in marketshare. When you read the Kobo section of the forums here and look up the profiles of the contributors, huge numbers of them are Canadian. Of course, it helps the competition that Amazon's e-book store is smaller elsewhere, and that new devices take their sweet time showing up outside the U.S. One of these days Amazon will realise that this is hurting them.

[LuvReadin]

Glad you've got something you're happy with. I'll just mentione a couple of points that are UK-specific, in case anyone else has the same question in the future.

Originally Posted by faithbw

In the US, you download e-book directly from libraries and the Sony Store onto the T1. I'm not sure if you can download e-books directly from the library in the UK though.

Yes, you can - another reason to avoid Kindle, IMO. Both the Sony and the Kobo work with UK libraries, but the Kindle doesn't, and judging from the row brewing with publishers re Kindle lending, isn't likely to do so in the near future. Plus it means paying Amazon an annual fee.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The software on the T1 is better then the software on the Kobo. There are bugs in the Kobo such as the embedded font bug. So really, it's a no-brainer to pay the extra and get the T1. Less bugs, less hassle, more enjoyment.

I bought the T1 because I wanted the extra features, such as annotation and collections. However, if these weren't important, I'd be looking seriously at the Kobo now that the price has come down so much (£49 in Asda currently; think this lasts till 11 April), especially if it was going to be a secondary device.

I recently helped a relative who'd bought the basic Kobo, and I really didn't find any of the issues mentioned by some of the earlier posters. I thought the page turns were fine; the font sizes were limited, but acceptable; and it was easy to find books even without collections. The page numbering was a bit odd in the books that came with it (by chapter rather than book), but normal in any I loaded myself.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Yes, you can - another reason to avoid Kindle, IMO. Both the Sony and the Kobo work with UK libraries, but the Kindle doesn't, and judging from the row brewing with publishers re Kindle lending, isn't likely to do so in the near future. Plus it means paying Amazon an annual fee.

What means paying Amazon an annual fee?

[ProfCrash]

I think he might be referencing the Amazon Prime program which allows Kindle owners to borrow one book a month from Amazon.

Most people use the Prime program for the free 2 days shipping and really cheap over night shipping. The Prime Videos and Book downloads are nice bonuses but not the real reason people join Amazon Prime.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think he might be referencing the Amazon Prime program which allows Kindle owners to borrow one book a month from Amazon.

Most people use the Prime program for the free 2 days shipping and really cheap over night shipping. The Prime Videos and Book downloads are nice bonuses but not the real reason people join Amazon Prime.

That has nothing to do with library lending, however, and (like library lending) is not currently available outside the US (the Prime lending library that is - obviously the Prime programme itself is).

[ProfCrash]

I realize that but the poster mentioned that the Kindle cannot be used in the libraries in the UK and that publishers are upset with Amazon for the lending program it has through Amazon Prime. I am guessing that is what he is referencing as a fee.

Because anyone with a brain knows that there are no fees attached to Kindles and I seriously doubt that anyone in the US is joining Amazon Prime, and paying $79 a year, to borrow 12 books. That would be silly and anyone with a brain would know that.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Yes, you can - another reason to avoid Kindle, IMO. Both the Sony and the Kobo work with UK libraries, but the Kindle doesn't,

Lack of library lending is a major drawback of the Kindle. However, (current Kobo pricing excepted) the price difference between buying a Kindle and a Sony means many people will go for the Kindle even if they are aware of this issue before they buy. Personally, I researched how I could borrow library books and read them on a Kindle, and went for that option. (Though I'd probably just buy a Kobo if I was doing so now).

Also, just how good are UK libraries for ebooks? The libraries in my city don't have them, and the libraries I've looked at don't have an awful lot of ebooks available anyway.

I recently helped a relative who'd bought the basic Kobo, and I really didn't find any of the issues mentioned by some of the earlier posters. I thought the page turns were fine.

I've only looked at the Kobo's in a shop, but twice I've played about with the Kobo Touch & Wi Fi side-by-side, and both times noticed the Wi Fi was a lot slower. It really put me off it. Whereas, as much as I like my Kindle Keyboard, I was very impressed with the Kobo Touch.