What's so bad about a Kindle?

HolyAura · 12-10-2019, 12:19 AM

Hi, am thinking of getting another ereader. I understand from my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo but in what way is that so? Doesn't a Kindle have more features like Goodreads and X-Ray? I only read fiction books and use the in-built dictionary, note-taking and highlighting a lot so I would just like to clarify what would suit my needs better, Kindle or Kobo? Overdrive is not that important for me too.

Sirtel · 12-10-2019, 12:47 AM

It's inferior only in the sense that there are fewer customization options and you can't patch it like a Kobo. OTOH Kindles have some features Kobos don't have, like global search and the option to sync non-Amazon books across apps and devices. I have several Kindles and a Kobo and I like both. Each has something the other hasn't. I wouldn't say either one is inferior.

JSWolf has a different opinion, but he has always been rabidly anti-Kindle.

davidfor · 12-10-2019, 01:03 AM

I'm a little confused. You state from "my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo". Doesn't that already mean you already know why?

Honestly, there is no way I would categorically state one was inferior to the other. They both do things the other doesn't (email books to Kindles and have them sync, Kobo does series info and collections can be managed). They both do some things better than the other (more font/reader settings in Kobo, better dictionaries in Kindle).

From the list of things you mention:

Reading fiction - The real differences here will be in the navigation. Both are perfectly capable of displaying text to the screen in a very readable way. The problems now tend to be badly formatted books, which both will suffer from. There is a difference in the reading settings (fonts, size, margins and line spacing) but, how often do you actually change these? And unless you have real bad luck and what you want is exactly in the middle of what is available, you will probably find something suitable.
In-built dictionary - It is well accepted that Kindles have better dictionaries. But, if in your use of your Kobo, you have never not found a word, then a better dictionary isn't useful.
Note taking and highlighting - both do it. I have no real issues with how it is done on a Kobo, except that I the actual highlighting can be a little slow, so I just need to be careful. I've never tried these on a Kindle, so I don't know.
Goodreads and X-Ray - Neither are available on Kobo's, so the only choice is a Kindle if they are something you want. I don't actually know what Goodreads function a Kindle supplies, but if you just want to sync your reading status to Goodreads, then you can do this with a Kobo via calibre.

Personally, I am firmly in the Kobo camp. On the occasions I have used a Kindle, I have found it a frustrating experience. But, how much that is to do with how well I know the Kobo UI and little I know the Kindle UI, I don't know.

And, as @Sirtel sort of implies, if @JSWolf chimes in, just ignore him. Or tell him that you think Nook's are the best ereaders ever produced.

Sirtel · 12-10-2019, 01:20 AM

I would add that X-ray isn't available for sideloaded books, so if that's something you're interested in, you'll have to purchase from Amazon. Personally I don't find the X-ray such a big deal, but I'm sure opinions differ.

Uncle Robin · 12-10-2019, 01:32 AM

As noted above, what's "best" is really a matter of personal taste. I got my first Kindle c. 2011 and went through several before discovering Kobo last year, and now would never go back. That's because for me, the areas where Kindle outshines Kobo don't matter. Most notably, the dictionaries. I'm at a loss to know why Kobo apparently makes having mediocre mini-dictionaries a badge of honour/point of difference, but as I always have superior alternatives at my fingertips on my phone, it doesn't trouble me. X-Ray is "much ado about (almost) nothing" for me, and Goodreads integration is just another ill-disguised data-grabbing exercise by Amazon. None of those features appeal to me as much as the 6.8 inch screen on my H202, which cost me little more than a 6-inch Kindle Paperwhite would have, and far less than the 7-inch Kindle models. But of course, your mileage may (and likely will) vary.

HolyAura · 12-10-2019, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

I'm a little confused. You state from "my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo". Doesn't that already mean you already know why?

Sorry, wrong use of words. Should have said "I heard that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo".

But hey, guys, thanks for all the info, guess I should stick to Kobo.

rcentros · 12-10-2019, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyAura

Hi, am thinking of getting another ereader. I understand from my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo but in what way is that so? Doesn't a Kindle have more features like Goodreads and X-Ray? I only read fiction books and use the in-built dictionary, note-taking and highlighting a lot so I would just like to clarify what would suit my needs better, Kindle or Kobo? Overdrive is not that important for me too.

I think Kindles are fine, especially if your comfortable buying books from Amazon. They come with a better dictionary (at least for English speakers, the Oxford English Dictionary with an American variant) have more features (most of which I don't use, like GoodReads and Xray) and, for a Linux user like me, they dispense with the need to use Adobe ADE. I do, occasionally use the Kindle Lending Library that comes with a Kindle. Kindle's limited ability to set margins is kind of a pain.

Kobos are more customizable. Patches are available and are relatevely easy to configure -- and margins, line spacing and font size are more adjustable, especially if you're using the native KePub formatted books. KePub and ePub are treated differently on an unpatched Kobo. KePub has (what I consider) a weird page numbering system (one page per screen, which changes depending on font size, margins, etc). But, other than that, the Kobos do a nice job of flowing text in KePubs (I use it without header, footer or progress bar). ePubs aren't quite as good (a lot of pages with a lot of white space at the bottom, and you're often unable to adjust the line spacing and/or margins ePub unless you DeDRM it and fix the ePub. Kobos, in general, same to require a bit more "tinkering." They're more persnickety about ePub settings or font settings. (More precise those who like Kobo will say but, again, this requires more "fixing.")

I was pretty happy with the Kindles, but I've mostly looked elsewhere lately because I don't want Amazon to have all the eBook business.

HolyAura · 12-10-2019, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

KePub has (what I consider) a weird page numbering system (one page per screen, which changes depending on font size, margins, etc).

Yes, I actually prefer KePub's page numbering system.

It tells me exactly how far I am through the chapter/entire book. I'm just gonna stick to Kobo, the only Kindle feature that I can really use is the better dictionary, and I can easily use my phone for that. I was initially thinking about the Kindle because of the X-Ray function, but I buy my books from Kobo, and as @Sirtel said that X-Ray is only for Amazon-purchased books, I'll just stick to Kobo. There's a much better font customization anyways

rcentros · 12-10-2019, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolyAura

Yes, I actually prefer KePub's page numbering system.

It tells me exactly how far I am through the chapter/entire book. I'm just gonna stick to Kobo, the only Kindle feature that I can really use is the better dictionary, and I can easily use my phone for that. I was initially thinking about the Kindle because of the X-Ray function, but I buy my books from Kobo, and as @Sirtel said that X-Ray is only for Amazon-purchased books, I'll just stick to Kobo. There's a much better font customization anyways

Sounds good. I (personally) like my Tolinos best. Choice is good.

SusanReads · 12-10-2019, 08:19 AM

I actually find the quality of the Kindle better than that of any Kobo Device I've tried. I know that lots of people will disagree with me, but Amazon makes the best screens. And I just love that I can see time left in book in the left corner and percentage in the right corner.

I do love that Kobo is open source and you can patch almost anything. But I also know that once I've patched everything I wanted I got used to it, and I still like using my Kindles more.

So Kindle inferior? Not to me.

Deskisamess · 12-10-2019, 09:03 AM

I prefer the wireless delivery (of non-Amazon books) and better dictionary of a Kindle. I had a Kobo Glo HD, and used it about a year. I got tired of not having a way to "send" books to the device wirelessly, unless it was a book purchased from Kobo.

I'm very "techie" and knew how to get books to the device. I just got tired of it.

You can add fonts to the newer Kindles, and they are just easier to use, especially for non-techie users. Also, my Kobo seemed to lock up much more than my Kindles ever have.

The one feature the Kobo offered that was something I miss on a Kindle is the swipe up/down on the left edge of the screen to adjust the front light. That's a nice feature, and Amazon has made light adjustment more tedious with the newer options. It's certainly not a hardship, but the Kobo method was very nice.

JSWolf · 12-10-2019, 10:04 AM

The one thing a Kindle is missing that a Kobo is not is the ability to manage collections with Calibre. Given that you are not in the US, if you have access to Overdrive or RBDigital at your library, the eBook are not compatible with a Kindle.

If jailbreaking a Kindle is something you want, then right now, it's a crap shoot. You could get a Kindle where you can jailbreak or you could get a Kindle where you cannot jailbreak.

j.p.s · 12-10-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I would add that X-ray isn't available for sideloaded books, so if that's something you're interested in, you'll have to purchase from Amazon. Personally I don't find the X-ray such a big deal, but I'm sure opinions differ.

A number of X-ray generators for non-amazon books have been developed by mobileread members.

The 2 most popular and currently maintained/supported seem to be:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=245754

and

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=273189

I haven't tried either one since I don't do windows.

kacir · 12-10-2019, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I know that lots of people will disagree with me,

I will ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanReads

but Amazon makes the best screens.

Amazon does not manufacture screens at all. They buy them from the same very limited number of manufacturers as everybody else

JSWolf · 12-10-2019, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacir

Amazon does not manufacture screens at all. They buy them from the same very limited number of manufacturers as everybody else

Amazon, Kobo, nook, Pocketbook, Likebook, and others all get the screens from eInk.

12-10-2019, 12:19 AM	#1
HolyAura Groupie Posts: 195 Karma: 201170 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Singapore Device: Kobo Clara HD	What's so bad about a Kindle? Hi, am thinking of getting another ereader. I understand from my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo but in what way is that so? Doesn't a Kindle have more features like Goodreads and X-Ray? I only read fiction books and use the in-built dictionary, note-taking and highlighting a lot so I would just like to clarify what would suit my needs better, Kindle or Kobo? Overdrive is not that important for me too.

12-10-2019, 01:03 AM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I'm a little confused. You state from "my experience that a Kindle is inferior to a Kobo". Doesn't that already mean you already know why? Honestly, there is no way I would categorically state one was inferior to the other. They both do things the other doesn't (email books to Kindles and have them sync, Kobo does series info and collections can be managed). They both do some things better than the other (more font/reader settings in Kobo, better dictionaries in Kindle). From the list of things you mention: Reading fiction - The real differences here will be in the navigation. Both are perfectly capable of displaying text to the screen in a very readable way. The problems now tend to be badly formatted books, which both will suffer from. There is a difference in the reading settings (fonts, size, margins and line spacing) but, how often do you actually change these? And unless you have real bad luck and what you want is exactly in the middle of what is available, you will probably find something suitable. In-built dictionary - It is well accepted that Kindles have better dictionaries. But, if in your use of your Kobo, you have never not found a word, then a better dictionary isn't useful. Note taking and highlighting - both do it. I have no real issues with how it is done on a Kobo, except that I the actual highlighting can be a little slow, so I just need to be careful. I've never tried these on a Kindle, so I don't know. Goodreads and X-Ray - Neither are available on Kobo's, so the only choice is a Kindle if they are something you want. I don't actually know what Goodreads function a Kindle supplies, but if you just want to sync your reading status to Goodreads, then you can do this with a Kobo via calibre. Personally, I am firmly in the Kobo camp. On the occasions I have used a Kindle, I have found it a frustrating experience. But, how much that is to do with how well I know the Kobo UI and little I know the Kindle UI, I don't know. And, as @Sirtel sort of implies, if @JSWolf chimes in, just ignore him. Or tell him that you think Nook's are the best ereaders ever produced.

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12-10-2019, 12:47 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,983 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	It's inferior only in the sense that there are fewer customization options and you can't patch it like a Kobo. OTOH Kindles have some features Kobos don't have, like global search and the option to sync non-Amazon books across apps and devices. I have several Kindles and a Kobo and I like both. Each has something the other hasn't. I wouldn't say either one is inferior. JSWolf has a different opinion, but he has always been rabidly anti-Kindle.

12-10-2019, 01:20 AM	#4
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,983 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I would add that X-ray isn't available for sideloaded books, so if that's something you're interested in, you'll have to purchase from Amazon. Personally I don't find the X-ray such a big deal, but I'm sure opinions differ.

12-10-2019, 01:32 AM	#5
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,662 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	As noted above, what's "best" is really a matter of personal taste. I got my first Kindle c. 2011 and went through several before discovering Kobo last year, and now would never go back. That's because for me, the areas where Kindle outshines Kobo don't matter. Most notably, the dictionaries. I'm at a loss to know why Kobo apparently makes having mediocre mini-dictionaries a badge of honour/point of difference, but as I always have superior alternatives at my fingertips on my phone, it doesn't trouble me. X-Ray is "much ado about (almost) nothing" for me, and Goodreads integration is just another ill-disguised data-grabbing exercise by Amazon. None of those features appeal to me as much as the 6.8 inch screen on my H202, which cost me little more than a 6-inch Kindle Paperwhite would have, and far less than the 7-inch Kindle models. But of course, your mileage may (and likely will) vary.

12-10-2019, 08:19 AM	#10
SusanReads Addict Posts: 216 Karma: 1228988 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Clara BW	I actually find the quality of the Kindle better than that of any Kobo Device I've tried. I know that lots of people will disagree with me, but Amazon makes the best screens. And I just love that I can see time left in book in the left corner and percentage in the right corner. I do love that Kobo is open source and you can patch almost anything. But I also know that once I've patched everything I wanted I got used to it, and I still like using my Kindles more. So Kindle inferior? Not to me.

12-10-2019, 09:03 AM	#11
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	I prefer the wireless delivery (of non-Amazon books) and better dictionary of a Kindle. I had a Kobo Glo HD, and used it about a year. I got tired of not having a way to "send" books to the device wirelessly, unless it was a book purchased from Kobo. I'm very "techie" and knew how to get books to the device. I just got tired of it. You can add fonts to the newer Kindles, and they are just easier to use, especially for non-techie users. Also, my Kobo seemed to lock up much more than my Kindles ever have. The one feature the Kobo offered that was something I miss on a Kindle is the swipe up/down on the left edge of the screen to adjust the front light. That's a nice feature, and Amazon has made light adjustment more tedious with the newer options. It's certainly not a hardship, but the Kobo method was very nice.

12-10-2019, 10:04 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The one thing a Kindle is missing that a Kobo is not is the ability to manage collections with Calibre. Given that you are not in the US, if you have access to Overdrive or RBDigital at your library, the eBook are not compatible with a Kindle. If jailbreaking a Kindle is something you want, then right now, it's a crap shoot. You could get a Kindle where you can jailbreak or you could get a Kindle where you cannot jailbreak.