Kindle owners should have a Kobo - Page 16

Uncle Robin · 06-15-2020, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

One thing I have noticed is how many books are available in the kobo shop but not in amazon. More and more.

One part of the Kobo Store that doesn't get enough credit (ha!) is the price match guarantee. I tend to buy books on Kobo after confirming they're available cheaper elsewhere, it's been a productive way to save money and accumulate VIP points.

Sirtel · 06-15-2020, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

One thing I have noticed is how many books are available in the kobo shop but not in amazon. More and more.

Where do you live? Because in Europe I have noticed no such thing.

AZBronco · 06-15-2020, 09:05 AM

This is an interesting thread. I'm a current Kindle PW owner (2015 version) and looking to get a new eReader. I was planning to get a Kobo Libra, but after reading this I'm less sure. Reasons I looked to switch:

- I had a Sony reader and still quite a few books I haven't read (they were all protected at the time; Kobo will open them; Amazon won't without me removing DRM)
- Overdrive integration
- Amber light for nighttime reading
- Desire to extract Amazon from my life (I didn't renew Prime this year and feel liberated already)
- Page turn buttons on $170 Libra vs $250 Oasis. My Sony readers had buttons and I liked that. I've never like the swiping/tapping to turn the page on the Kindle.

Concerns that I have in switching:

- I read novels in French to improve my comprehension. I've read in this thread the the French/English dictionary on Kobo isn't very good? Really? Aren't they a Canadian company where supporting both languages is a legal requirement?
- Inability to just e-mail files to myself. Kindle makes it so easy for me to download unprotected books (i.e. Guttenburg) and e-mail them to my account. From there, it's available on everything; if I have a few minutes to read while I'm out, I can pull it up on my cell phone and read then pick up where I left off when I go back to my Kindle.
- Kobo store isn't as intuitive. Considering Kobo is a Canadian company, I expected finding the French equivalent of English novels would be simple. It's easier on Amazon.

Other stuff I've read about mostly aren't that important to me. The Amazon ad vs book cover doesn't really bother me. I don't care if a book is in mobi, epub, kepub, or whatever as long as it looks good (and even Guttenburg books look good on my Kindle). I also don't care about fonts, landscape mode, page numbering, PDFs or firmware updates. I do like to know much time is left in the chapter and book (I assume both handle that well). When I read, I just want to read and the technical stuff should all disappear in the background.

Nightflyer · 06-15-2020, 11:43 AM

- Doesn’t Kobo have like 50% of the market in France? They did a couple years ago. And they were/are sold in FNAC, the largest bookstore chain. I haven’t checked recently. Don’t know how the effects the French/English dictionary.
- There are multiple easy ways to transfer books to Kobo.
- Have you tried searching a French Kobo site? https://www.kobo.com/fr/fr

I can’t imagine being locked down with Kindle/Amazon. And don’t they kind of remove options instead of adding options?

ZodWallop · 06-15-2020, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

One thing I have noticed is how many books are available in the kobo shop but not in amazon. More and more.

And I notice books available in Amazon, but not Kobo. It all comes down to what you are looking for, I suppose.

As a random sample: The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon. Amazon has it for $2.99. Kobo only has an audio version.

jackie_w · 06-15-2020, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

And I notice books available in Amazon, but not Kobo. It all comes down to what you are looking for, I suppose.

As a random sample: The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon. Amazon has it for $2.99. Kobo only has an audio version.

FWIW that book is available at 3.99 GBP at both Kobo and Amazon UK when I do a search from the UK.

JSWolf · 06-15-2020, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightflyer

- Doesn’t Kobo have like 50% of the market in France? They did a couple years ago. And they were/are sold in FNAC, the largest bookstore chain. I haven’t checked recently. Don’t know how the effects the French/English dictionary.
- There are multiple easy ways to transfer books to Kobo.
- Have you tried searching a French Kobo site? https://www.kobo.com/fr/fr

I can’t imagine being locked down with Kindle/Amazon. And don’t they kind of remove options instead of adding options?

One thing Amazon is trying to make much more difficult is getting DRM free eBooks. KFX was invented to add DRM when the publisher didn't want DRM.

ZodWallop · 06-15-2020, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

FWIW that book is available at 3.99 GBP at both Kobo and Amazon UK when I do a search from the UK.

I was checking the US website for each.

Though I have learned just how easy Kobo makes it to buy overseas books. In my case, I only changed my country to the UK and didn't even change my address. I live in county Texas, England I suppose.

JSWolf · 06-15-2020, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

And I notice books available in Amazon, but not Kobo. It all comes down to what you are looking for, I suppose.

As a random sample: The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon. Amazon has it for $2.99. Kobo only has an audio version.

It's available on Kindle Unlimited in the US and UK.

ZodWallop · 06-15-2020, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's available on Kindle Unlimited in the US and UK.

Yes and Kindle Unlimited is Amazon, not Kobo. As I said, it is available at Amazon, not at Kobo (US).

Stevex · 06-15-2020, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Where do you live? Because in Europe I have noticed no such thing.

In Germany.
I‘m sorry I can‘t quote a specific example from memory. Next time I‘ll post again to this thread!!

ETA I remember one now. This was the Adventures of Amir Hamza. On Amazon they had only the abridged version, on Kobo I found the full version.
But believe me it happens often.

MGlitch · 06-15-2020, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I was checking the US website for each.

Though I have learned just how easy Kobo makes it to buy overseas books. In my case, I only changed my country to the UK and didn't even change my address. I live in county Texas, England I suppose.

Were you able to keep using your US credit/debit card, or did you have to switch over to paypal?

I recall you were playing around with this awhile back, just can't recall the outcome

Sirtel · 06-15-2020, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevex

In Germany.
I‘m sorry I can‘t quote a specific example from memory. Next time I‘ll post again to this thread!!

ETA I remember one now. This was the Adventures of Amir Hamza. On Amazon they had only the abridged version, on Kobo I found the full version.
But believe me it happens often.

I see the unabridged version on Amazon too:

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-ha.../dp/B001HL9CDW

Stevex · 06-15-2020, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I see the unabridged version on Amazon too:

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-ha.../dp/B001HL9CDW

This is from memory - although Amazon has the picture of the original edition, when you try to buy the kindle book it has only the newer abridged version.

Skydog · 06-15-2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBronco

This is an interesting thread. I'm a current Kindle PW owner (2015 version) and looking to get a new eReader. I was planning to get a Kobo Libra, but after reading this I'm less sure.

I'm confused. You have a Libra listed in your device profile.

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06-15-2020, 09:05 AM	#228
AZBronco Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: Kbo Libra H2O	This is an interesting thread. I'm a current Kindle PW owner (2015 version) and looking to get a new eReader. I was planning to get a Kobo Libra, but after reading this I'm less sure. Reasons I looked to switch: - I had a Sony reader and still quite a few books I haven't read (they were all protected at the time; Kobo will open them; Amazon won't without me removing DRM) - Overdrive integration - Amber light for nighttime reading - Desire to extract Amazon from my life (I didn't renew Prime this year and feel liberated already) - Page turn buttons on $170 Libra vs $250 Oasis. My Sony readers had buttons and I liked that. I've never like the swiping/tapping to turn the page on the Kindle. Concerns that I have in switching: - I read novels in French to improve my comprehension. I've read in this thread the the French/English dictionary on Kobo isn't very good? Really? Aren't they a Canadian company where supporting both languages is a legal requirement? - Inability to just e-mail files to myself. Kindle makes it so easy for me to download unprotected books (i.e. Guttenburg) and e-mail them to my account. From there, it's available on everything; if I have a few minutes to read while I'm out, I can pull it up on my cell phone and read then pick up where I left off when I go back to my Kindle. - Kobo store isn't as intuitive. Considering Kobo is a Canadian company, I expected finding the French equivalent of English novels would be simple. It's easier on Amazon. Other stuff I've read about mostly aren't that important to me. The Amazon ad vs book cover doesn't really bother me. I don't care if a book is in mobi, epub, kepub, or whatever as long as it looks good (and even Guttenburg books look good on my Kindle). I also don't care about fonts, landscape mode, page numbering, PDFs or firmware updates. I do like to know much time is left in the chapter and book (I assume both handle that well). When I read, I just want to read and the technical stuff should all disappear in the background.

06-15-2020, 11:43 AM	#229
Nightflyer Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 2122502 Join Date: May 2020 Location: Asia (from USA) Device: Meebook M6, Kobo Clara HD	- Doesn’t Kobo have like 50% of the market in France? They did a couple years ago. And they were/are sold in FNAC, the largest bookstore chain. I haven’t checked recently. Don’t know how the effects the French/English dictionary. - There are multiple easy ways to transfer books to Kobo. - Have you tried searching a French Kobo site? https://www.kobo.com/fr/fr I can’t imagine being locked down with Kindle/Amazon. And don’t they kind of remove options instead of adding options?