Kobo Clara BW v Kindle Paperwhite

[Graham44]

I have the Kindle Paperwhite signature Edition 11th generation bought late last year but I'm considering going over to the Kobo Clara BW and I would love some insights, particularly if you have both of these yourself, but any thoughts welcome!

Is the Kobo significantly better or worse in some areas?

In particular -

I think the clara screen is smaller 6" v 7" does that make a significant difference?

Whats the build quality like compared to Paperwhite/ kindle?

Whats the software like? The Paperwhite lags a bit on wakeup.

Screensavers, this is actually fairly important to me (silly I know) does the Clara have generic screensavers? I don't like to display my book covers I like a generic screensaver to show.

Adverts - again this is important, does the Clara or any Kobo display adverts? I don't like adverts and this could be a deal breaker

Any help/ advice much appreciated

Oh one more thing, I don't want colour I like my ereaders to be B+W

[Sirtel]

While I don't have a Clara, I can answer some of your questions about the Kobo software in general. For information, I used Kindles for a decade before fully switching to Kobos.

- Kobos are significantly better than Kindles in some areas (integration with calibre, customizability, hackability - no jailbreak required at all, and it's possible to downgrade the firmware version if you happen to dislike an update); but also a bit worse in others - no syncing sideloaded books between different devices and apps, for example

- I have no complaints whatsoever about the build quality of the 3 Kobos I've owned

- the software is a lot more open and customizable than that of Kindles. Older models could be somewhat laggy, but maybe the Clara BW is not. Someone who uses the Clara must answer that.

- Kobo devices display book covers as screensavers, but you can use custom screensavers if you want. I use my own images, for example, as I don't like book covers either

- no ads other than book recommendations on the homepage, which can be disabled with a patch or by enabling the sideloaded mode (the latter loses the homescreen entirely, so that the book library page becomes the new homepage)

[John F]

Originally Posted by Graham44

...

I think the clara screen is smaller 6" v 7" does that make a significant difference?

...

If you are concerned about the size of the reading area, maybe try setting the size of the margins on the paperwhite so the reading area is similar to a 6"? Be aware that a Kobo has a little finer adjustment for line height, margins, and font size.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

While I don't have a Clara, I can answer some of your questions about the Kobo software in general. For information, I used Kindles for a decade before fully switching to Kobos.

- Kobos are significantly better than Kindles in some areas (integration with calibre, customizability, hackability - no jailbreak required at all, and it's possible to downgrade the firmware version if you happen to dislike an update); but also a bit worse in others - no syncing sideloaded books between different devices and apps, for example

- I have no complaints whatsoever about the build quality of the 3 Kobos I've owned

- the software is a lot more open and customizable than that of Kindles. Older models could be somewhat laggy, but maybe the Clara BW is not. Someone who uses the Clara must answer that.

- Kobo devices display book covers as screensavers, but you can use custom screensavers if you want. I use my own images, for example, as I don't like book covers either

- no ads other than book recommendations on the homepage, which can be disabled with a patch or by enabling the sideloaded mode (the latter loses the homescreen entirely, so that the book library page becomes the new homepage)

Thanks for that Sirtel, the syncing between devices is no problem for me, it will be the only device I use, is the custom screensaver ability built in or a 'hack'?

Again is the sideloaded mode a standard tool or a 'hack'?

Sorry for all the questions

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by John F

If you are concerned about the size of the reading area, maybe try setting the size of the margins on the paperwhite so the reading area is similar to a 6"? Be aware that a Kobo has a little finer adjustment for line height, margins, and font size.

Thanks for that idea John F, I just did that, I only have 3 margin settings but I tried the next one down which I think will make it a bit smaller than the Kobo Clara and it seemed fine to me, perfectly readable. I think it will be even less noticeable on the Clara as you won't have a whacking great margin like I did simulating it on the Paperwhite

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Thanks for that Sirtel, the syncing between devices is no problem for me, it will be the only device I use, is the custom screensaver ability built in or a 'hack'?

Again is the sideloaded mode a standard tool or a 'hack'?

Sorry for all the questions

Sideloaded Mode is a simple edit to a text file. Not a hack or patch or jailbreak.

You can actually sync content & reading position on all Kobo Models inc all sideloaded content using Kobo Utilities over USB cable.

I rarely use it.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Sideloaded Mode is a simple edit to a text file. Not a hack or patch or jailbreak.

You can actually sync content & reading position on all Kobo Models inc all sideloaded content using Kobo Utilities over USB cable.

I rarely use it.

Thanks Quoth, I probably wouldn't fiddle with that as I don't tend to look at the homescreen on my devices anyway, I just leave it on the page I'm reading and put it into standby.

Im assuming as I load all my books via Calibre it will still be the same process i.e. connect the Kobo via USB to my computer, select a book in Calibre and then send to device?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Im assuming as I load all my books via Calibre it will still be the same process i.e. connect the Kobo via USB to my computer, select a book in Calibre and then send to device?

Yes. In addition, you can set Calibre to create and maintain collections on your Kobo automatically, based on whatever column you choose, if you wish it.

As to screensavers, that's not a hack. You just create a folder named "screensaver" in the .kobo folder on your Kobo and drag your images to this folder.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

You can actually sync content & reading position on all Kobo Models inc all sideloaded content using Kobo Utilities over USB cable.

I rarely use it.

Yeah, but that's a very clumsy and time-consuming method compared to syncing via wifi.

I've only used it to restore reading positions on my Sage after I factory reset it. Otherwise I find my place manually.

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

As to screensavers, that's not a hack. You just create a folder named "screensaver" in the .kobo folder on your Kobo and drag your images to this folder.

That sounds easy enough!

Even I could probably manage that!

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Graham44

That sounds easy enough!

Even I could probably manage that!

Eh, I'm no techie either (no IT background at all) and I even managed to patch my Kobos (which may seem a convoluted process in the beginning, but is actually rather simple, even for non-technophiles, and there are step-by-step instructions). I never even attempted to jailbreak my Kindles, and I've never rooted my Android phones either. But I've been patching my Kobos for years by now.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Sideloaded Mode is a simple edit to a text file. Not a hack or patch or jailbreak.

...

Is SideloadedMode an official/supported feature? I assumed it was something like InvertMode; it is in the firmware, but not officially supported.

I like and use SideloadedMode.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by John F

Is SideloadedMode an official/supported feature? I assumed it was something like InvertMode; it is in the firmware, but not officially supported.

I like and use SideloadedMode.

I don't think it's officially supported (there's nothing on the Kobo website about it), but it has existed for about 3 years by now. Come to think of it, custom screensavers is probably not an officially supported feature either, but has existed since forever.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Graham44

Thanks Quoth, I probably wouldn't fiddle with that as I don't tend to look at the homescreen on my devices anyway, I just leave it on the page I'm reading and put it into standby.

Kobo also has a nifty feature of hopping directly between 3 most recently viewed books without exiting them, by swiping down from the upper edge of the screen. That's handy if you read several books at once.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Kobo also has a nifty feature of hopping directly between 3 most recently viewed books without exiting them, by swiping down from the upper edge of the screen. That's handy if you read several books at once.

Handy also to hop between a book and an Advanced Notebook relating to the book as it works also in the notebooks, on the models that have that, though I don't bother with Notebooks on the Sage now. I use a 10" Nxtpaper or my phone.