Kindle versus Kobo?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by patrik

For most features I probably agree with you. But there is one thing where Pocketbook is way behind, and that is for actual reading.

The stock reading program is old and have few-ish features. It may be good enough for most, but compared to Kobo's reading features it's so far behind it's silly. Especially since Pocketbook has one of the best apps! The android app is excellent and possible the most up-to-date of all available. If they ported that to their e-readers, they would get an amazing product.

I guess I like simple interfaces. For me the stock PocketBook reading program is my main attraction to the PocketBook. I use the Constantia font (which is dark enough without being "bolded" any further) and I like the number of font size graduations (Kobo is good here, too). Also the Kobo (when using ePubs) often doesn't allow me to change line spacing or margins. I'm told I have to "fix" the ePub to get that to work but (in my opinion) the Kobo is too picky.

I've attached an image comparing the PocketBook 615 (Basic Lux) and Kobo Aura 2. (PocketBook on left. — Sorry about the quality of the picture.) In both cases these are set to the narrowest margins the books will display. Same font, as close to the same size as I can get it. (You'll note that the screen is whiter on the PocketBook as well, but it doesn't have a touch interface, so that might be partly why. Both have the same screen resolution, though the PocketBook uses HD Pearl rather than E-Carta.)

[patrik]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Also the Kobo (when using ePubs) often doesn't allow me to change line spacing or margins. I'm told I have to "fix" the ePub to get that to work but (in my opinion) the Kobo is too picky.

I use the kepub-reader 99,9% of the time, the epub-reader is based of an oldish Adobe-renderer, which is good for most things but got some bugs and not as many features. You can choose which one you prefer fairly easily (and very easily if you use Calibre).

If you don't like that the kobo tend to respect css, well... It is easily fixed for those that care enough I suppose.

And to be honest, when I got my first e-reader (a Pocketbook), there was a huge and active community. Today it's almost... only you I almost wrote... Kobo has a fantastic community. davidfor and many others are doing such a good job that it by itself is almost a reason to get a Kobo.

But I do like Pocketbook. I still have my old 903 Pro, and I liked my Inkpad 3. I got a Forma mostly to get some epub 3 support (for my personal creations).

Actually Pocketbook is the one I tend to recommend most, because it's browser is good and with the adobe-drm support you can loan from libraries directly from the e-reader, which is a very common request (in my fb-group (local for my country)).

I'm glad there are several good choices.

[Tomk2]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Are you trying to say that in the USA, a Kindle eInk ereader offers more features and a lower price than the equivalent Kobo device? So comparing a Paperwhite to a Clara HD, a Libra H2O to the current generation Oasis, a Kobo Forma... Well that one doesn't work since Amazon does not have an 8" eInk ereader in their current lineup.

Please note that Richwood said nothing about popularity, just features and prices.

BTW, using the pricing from Amazon.ca and Kobo's Canadian site:

6" devices
Paperwhite$139.99
Clara HD$139.99

7" devices
Oasis 8GB$329.99
Libra H2O$199.99

8" devices
Forma 8GB$299.99

So price wise, a tie on the 6" end, a definite advantage on the 7" devices and no contest for the 8" device.

The kindle experience in the USA has features that Kindles outside the USA do not have. When you add it all up, there is a reason the Kindle dominates market share. I understand what you mean. After all, I think the Nook hardware is best. But I wont buy one.

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[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

My guess would be that most focus on the price. Amazon's presentation doesn't help.

So in other words many purchasers don't understand what 'special offers' implies?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by patrik

I use the kepub-reader 99,9% of the time, the epub-reader is based of an oldish Adobe-renderer, which is good for most things but got some bugs and not as many features. You can choose which one you prefer fairly easily (and very easily if you use Calibre).

If you don't like that the kobo tend to respect css, well... It is easily fixed for those that care enough I suppose.

The reason I tried (and like) Tolinos was that I was looking for a device that could be completely independent of a computer. Since I use Linux and don't have ADE, I can't easily edit ePubs. It's also why I tried the PocketBook 615, although I really can't test the "download from bookstores" feature since this particular 615 has no WiFi ― and, as far as I can tell, even the WiFi versions of the Basic Lux didn't have a browser anyhow. I'm also reluctant to use KePub because of the way it counts screens as pages.

As for properly recognizing CSS, I understand both sides of this argument. But, again, fixing an ePub (when I learn to do it) means more back and forth between a computer and the device, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Originally Posted by patrik

And to be honest, when I got my first e-reader (a Pocketbook), there was a huge and active community. Today it's almost... only you I almost wrote... Kobo has a fantastic community. davidfor and many others are doing such a good job that it by itself is almost a reason to get a Kobo.

But I do like Pocketbook. I still have my old 903 Pro, and I liked my Inkpad 3. I got a Forma mostly to get some epub 3 support (for my personal creations).

Actually Pocketbook is the one I tend to recommend most, because it's browser is good and with the adobe-drm support you can loan from libraries directly from the e-reader, which is a very common request (in my fb-group (local for my country)).

I'm glad there are several good choices.

I do wish PocketBook had a "presence" in the U.S. Online support is hard to find (in English anyhow, if I could read and understand Russian I would be drowned with information.)

At any rate, thank you for the comments. I'm probably going to be asking some questions about PocketBooks on the PocketBook forum. I'm also going to look into the PocketBook app for my phone. (If it's available in the U.S.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So in other words many purchasers don't understand what 'special offers' implies?

The thing is, a Kindle with "special offers" is usable "as is." Most Kindle users don't care if the ads are there or not (the inconvenience isn't that significant). So the "real" price of a Kindle can mean different things to different people. For most, the "real" price is what a Kindle sells for (with special offers) and (since sales come often) it's often what they sell for when on sale.

[Tomk2]

You buy a kindle with special offers because it is less expensive. Later, if you like the device but hate the offers, twenty bucks fixes that for you.

I liked my Paperwhite on sale for about $89, then later paid $20 for add free. After I had removed the ads, I decided I would keep my future twenties and just have a swipe at each start up.

Kindle is basically claiming the device is discounted if you see adds, but is also available at it's TRUE price without them. It's nice to have the option, but I hate adds and decided I will never buy a book that I see as a kindle add. If it makes it more palatable, think of Amazon paying you twenty dollars to ignore their adds.

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[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Tomk2

...I think the Nook hardware is best. But I wont buy one.

I agree. I do buy Nooks, but the Clara HD is my daily device. The 2015 Plus is there for when I want to read in the tub or pool or whatever is wet.

One thing I like better about the Nook vs. Pocketbook is the placement of the buttons. I like the page forward and back on each side. It works with how I hold my reader.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by patrik

I use the kepub-reader 99,9% of the time, the epub-reader is based of an oldish Adobe-renderer, which is good for most things but got some bugs and not as many features. You can choose which one you prefer fairly easily (and very easily if you use Calibre).

What bugs are a problem for RMSDK on Kobo? What features are missing from RMSDK for the average novel? I know the version of RMSDK that Kobo is using is not perfect. But it gives better typesetting then Access (for KePub).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Tomk2

After all, I think the Nook hardware is best. But I wont buy one.

And the nook firmware is not all that good.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

The reason I tried (and like) Tolinos was that I was looking for a device that could be completely independent of a computer. Since I use Linux and don't have ADE, I can't easily edit ePubs. It's also why I tried the PocketBook 615, although I really can't test the "download from bookstores" feature since this particular 615 has no WiFi ― and, as far as I can tell, even the WiFi versions of the Basic Lux didn't have a browser anyhow. I'm also reluctant to use KePub because of the way it counts screens as pages.

As for properly recognizing CSS, I understand both sides of this argument. But, again, fixing an ePub (when I learn to do it) means more back and forth between a computer and the device, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

Does Tolino and/or Pocketbook allow you to shrink margins? Sometimes I find that the margins on an eBook can bee too large. Kobo will not allow me to shrink them. So I have to edit the ePub to fix that and other things like all that wasted space in chapter headings and offset text that's smaller and get rid of line height and some other stupid things.

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What features are missing from RMSDK for the average novel?

Image zooming, pop-up footnotes are the obvious two missing features.

Fairly common CSS which doesn't work in epub but does in kepub:
- font-variant: small-caps
- pseudo selectors :first-letter, :first-line
- ... and probably many more

Font fallback for missing glyphs in the selected font.

[bookyboy]

There really is no perfect choice, at least for me.

I'm very passionate about my Kindle Voyage's, but honestly, what I'd really like is "nook hardware" with "kobo software features" executed at the level of fit/finish/polish of Kindles.

A true "lost soul" in the reader world is that beautiful 7.8" Nook hardware that is trapped in that total dumpster fire Nook software & firmware ecosystem.

[HLS]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Did anyone read what I've written???? There are no "Special Offers" on Kindle ereaders sold in Canada. Logically, this would imply there is no option to shell out money to have those advertisements removed.

Looking at the American site, why would anyone buy a Kindle with "Special Offers" for $20.00 US less and turn around and pay $20.00 US to have them removed? Unless the non-Special Offers variant is not available, why would anyone in the possession of a moiety of their senses go that route?

Before you made the statement about Canada you asked a question like you were surprised about kindles elsewhere else having adds (special offers). I was simply stating that here in the USA we can remove the adds for $20. Not making any comments in re: to Canada. We do not pay $20 to get special offers. We pay the regular kindle price but we have to shell out an additional $20 to have the adds removed.

On the content and devices page on Amazon is where we can pay to get them removed. We can have it put back on but amazon will not gove us our ,money back.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

...what I'd really like is "nook hardware" with "kobo software features"...

It's funny how often that thought comes up on this forum.

A true "lost soul" in the reader world is that beautiful 7.8" Nook hardware that is trapped in that total dumpster fire Nook software & firmware ecosystem.

I dunno. Nook's software isn't as good as Kobo or Amazon. But I wouldn't call it a Dumpster fire. It's basic, yeah. But aside from the release of the Glowlight 3, it's stable and works fine.

I like the reading experience on the Nook quite a bit. And that is the most important.

I wish collections and series for sideloaded books could be managed by Calibre. But the Kindle has the same issues. And at least the Nook can display a book summary without having to open it.

I also wish half the home screen weren't taken up by the store.