What's the best if in Europe?

Elomboko · 02-12-2013, 08:01 PM

So I'll be getting one next month, from the US. I'm currently trying to decide where to go, which is admiteddly quite hard. I don't particularily want to go with the Kindle because of my distaste for Amazon (plus the much higher price), however if that's the only feasible option I'll go there.

Since I live and intend to stay in Europe, I'd like something that works best in Europe. Things I'm looking for is stable sideloading (so I can get books in my language), a touchscreen (preferably with physical buttons for switching) and the possibility to buy the books from the in-built store.

I've looked at the Nook, and I'm quite interested in it - it looks comfortable, has physical buttons and also there's the backlight version. However, from what I've read - lack of features in Europe, the screen is easily scratchable and it forgets your entire side-loaded collection on a reboot. This make me quite doubt whether I'd like to go with that - what features does it lack in EU and are the other issues realy?

Another possibility is the Paperwhite Kindle. I quite like the higher resolution of it. However, it has got no physical buttons, and a much higher price point.

What other options are available that are *good*? I've heard quite bad things about Kobo's screen, and I've no idea about the rest.

robko · 02-13-2013, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elomboko

What other options are available that are *good*? I've heard quite bad things about Kobo's screen, and I've no idea about the rest.

Not sure where or what you've heard bad about Kobo screens. That's not an issue I've seen brought up to any degree. Take a gander at the Kobo sub-forum here.

HarryT · 02-13-2013, 03:13 AM

Distaste for Amazon? Amazon have the best (English language) bookstore, and by far the best customer service in the industry. Why the distaste?

GeoffR · 02-13-2013, 04:48 AM

If you intend to make use if your local public library you might want to check what devices work there. The advice I got from mine was "anything except a kindle".

Shopaholic · 02-13-2013, 11:20 AM

Sony.

owly · 02-14-2013, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

If you intend to make use if your local public library you might want to check what devices work there. The advice I got from mine was "anything except a kindle".

Yeah, that's basically it. But which country in Europe? There are a few to choose from...

Sweetpea · 02-14-2013, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

Yeah, that's basically it. But which country in Europe? There are a few to choose from...

All countries in Europe have adopted epub. As the OP said his original language, I presume he doesn't have English as his original language and only the Kindle reads Amazon's format and the Kindle only reads the Amazon format.

HarryT · 02-14-2013, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

All countries in Europe have adopted epub.

The Kindle totally dominates the British market. I mean totally - they probably have something like a 90%+ market share.

Sweetpea · 02-14-2013, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle totally dominates the British market. I mean totally - they probably have something like a 90%+ market share.

When talking about ebook formats and ebook readers, I don't put the British with the rest of Europe, simply because they compare better with the American market (same language).

I can say to any British who doesn't read "over the border" to buy a Kindle because he'll probably be able to find all books he wants there. I cannot say to any other European who doesn't read "over the border" to buy a kindle, as he probably won't be able to read any book he buys at his local store on that kindle.

(besides, the British are only part of Europe when they feel like it

)

murraypaul · 02-14-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

All countries in Europe have adopted epub.

Another way of saying that would be that ePub is the prevalent format in countries in Europe that Amazon hasn't yet decided to try to dominate.
The UK was entirely ePub before Amazon turned their sights to us.

HarryT · 02-14-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

The UK was entirely ePub before Amazon turned their sights to us.

More a case of Sony completely blowing it, I think. They had the market sewn up at one point - PRS505 adverts everywhere. But they just seemed to give up and let Amazon take over without a fight.

Rizla · 02-14-2013, 10:25 AM

Still Sony, if you can live without front-lighting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Distaste for Amazon? Amazon have the best (English language) bookstore, and by far the best customer service in the industry. Why the distaste?

A lot of people in the UK don't like huge corporations that avoid paying their taxes.

And then there's that closed business model that doesn't support epub.

HarryT · 02-14-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

A lot of people in the UK don't like huge corporations that avoid paying their taxes.

svenlind · 02-14-2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

All countries in Europe have adopted epub. As the OP said his original language, I presume he doesn't have English as his original language and only the Kindle reads Amazon's format and the Kindle only reads the Amazon format.

All ebook-sellers in Denmark sell epubs, but they are protected using watermarks and are easily and legally converted to the Kindle format.

One ebook seller even has a detailed guide on how to do it using Calibre.

Geralt · 02-14-2013, 11:35 AM

Off topic, but can kindle show these signs (čćđšž - serbo/croatian/bosnian/ languages use it). These are some special Latin alphabet letters.
As for Cyrillic alphabet (А а Б б В в Г г Д д Ђ ђ Е е Ж ж З з И и Ј ј К к Л л Љ љ М м Н н Њ њ О о П п Р р С с Т т Ћ ћ У у Ф ф Х х Ц ц Ч ч Џ џ Ш ш ).

I can read this but can kindle? Really interested.

As for OP question, I think epub reader is better if it cant read special letters of your language.

02-12-2013, 08:01 PM	#1
Elomboko Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	What's the best if in Europe? So I'll be getting one next month, from the US. I'm currently trying to decide where to go, which is admiteddly quite hard. I don't particularily want to go with the Kindle because of my distaste for Amazon (plus the much higher price), however if that's the only feasible option I'll go there. Since I live and intend to stay in Europe, I'd like something that works best in Europe. Things I'm looking for is stable sideloading (so I can get books in my language), a touchscreen (preferably with physical buttons for switching) and the possibility to buy the books from the in-built store. I've looked at the Nook, and I'm quite interested in it - it looks comfortable, has physical buttons and also there's the backlight version. However, from what I've read - lack of features in Europe, the screen is easily scratchable and it forgets your entire side-loaded collection on a reboot. This make me quite doubt whether I'd like to go with that - what features does it lack in EU and are the other issues realy? Another possibility is the Paperwhite Kindle. I quite like the higher resolution of it. However, it has got no physical buttons, and a much higher price point. What other options are available that are good? I've heard quite bad things about Kobo's screen, and I've no idea about the rest.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
3g in Europe?	Diegan	Amazon Kindle	13	02-27-2011 01:58 PM
Hello from Europe	brasselv	Introduce Yourself	11	12-13-2010 03:02 PM
Hello from Europe	Mandanya	Introduce Yourself	8	09-15-2010 01:57 AM
In Europe! Help please!	stardustshadow	Which one should I buy?	41	08-30-2010 05:22 PM
Hello from Europe	j_s7799	Introduce Yourself	9	01-22-2010 08:23 PM

02-13-2013, 03:13 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Distaste for Amazon? Amazon have the best (English language) bookstore, and by far the best customer service in the industry. Why the distaste?

02-13-2013, 04:48 AM	#4
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	If you intend to make use if your local public library you might want to check what devices work there. The advice I got from mine was "anything except a kindle".

02-13-2013, 11:20 AM	#5
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Sony.

02-14-2013, 11:35 AM	#15
Geralt Witcher Posts: 933 Karma: 7321117 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Swamp. Slaying Drowners. Device: Kindle PW2	Off topic, but can kindle show these signs (čćđšž - serbo/croatian/bosnian/ languages use it). These are some special Latin alphabet letters. As for Cyrillic alphabet (А а Б б В в Г г Д д Ђ ђ Е е Ж ж З з И и Ј ј К к Л л Љ љ М м Н н Њ њ О о П п Р р С с Т т Ћ ћ У у Ф ф Х х Ц ц Ч ч Џ џ Ш ш ). I can read this but can kindle? Really interested. As for OP question, I think epub reader is better if it cant read special letters of your language.