Slow death of Kindle? - Page 2

JSWolf · 09-24-2025, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Personally, I find that the EInk reading experience has been poorer ever since additional layers were added in front of the E-Ink layer. With a bare E-Ink screen, the 'ink' looks like it's on the surface of the display. With the added layers, it's some small distance 'inside' the display, making it much less like reading on paper. This is even worse with "flush" screens, where there an actual glass sheet in front of the E-Ink display.

I'd love to have an E-Ink reader that used only an infra-red touch screen and no front light instead of a capacitave touch layer and a light layer and a glass cover.

The Kobo Aura H2O is very clear and sharp. The screen is very nice. It uses IR and has a frontlight. It's also not flush. So that design would be excellent for a new Libra BW.

Sirtel · 09-24-2025, 03:35 PM

I would not want to have an ereader without frontlight these days.

I still have two ancient Kindles with non-touch screens and no frontlight. Sometimes I take them out and compare them to my current Kobos. While their screens do look clearer when the Kobos are unlit, the difference disappears once the frontlight is on. I would not want to read on those Kindles now, unless they were the only option besides paper.

kennyc · 09-24-2025, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I would not want to have an ereader without frontlight these days.

I still have two ancient Kindles with non-touch screens and no frontlight. Sometimes I take them out and compare them to my current Kobos. While their screens do look clearer when the Kobos are unlit, the difference disappears once the frontlight is on. I would not want to read on those Kindles now, unless they were the only option besides paper.

Agree!

rcentros · 09-24-2025, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I just find my place manually, if it's a book I'm currently reading on both Kobos. That's faster than any sync for me anyway, given that I don't keep my ereaders connected to wifi all the time. For the books not yet finished, but not reading at the moment, I too use the calibre sync.

I just sync by remembering the page number so, for the most part, I can read on any eReader based on ePubs. This is the main reason why I don't like KePub.

Sirtel · 09-24-2025, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I just sync by remembering the page number so, for the most part, I can read on any eReader based on ePubs. This is the main reason why I don't like KePub.

I have a very poor memory for numbers, so I could never remember page numbers. That was the case even when I still read paper books. But I have a good memory for the place in the text where I left off and I have no problem finding it. So I can read either kepubs or epubs, it doesn't matter. In fact, I read kepubs on my Sage and epubs on my Libra, and can easily hop from one to the other, reading the same book.

kennyc · 09-24-2025, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I just sync by remembering the page number so, for the most part, I can read on any eReader based on ePubs. This is the main reason why I don't like KePub.

This can't be true....page numbers are different on every different device.

Sirtel · 09-24-2025, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

This can't be true....page numbers are different on every different device.

Not if they use Adobe page numbering system. That's the same everywhere.

cellaris · 09-24-2025, 10:35 PM

Synchronisation is not only for reading positions but also for bookmarks, underlining and notes. You can remember your reading position using your memory or any other method you prefer, but anything you underline on a Kobo Libra 2 will not appear underlined on a Kobo Sage unless it is synchronised. Of course, you can also underline it again using your memory or choose not to underline it again. However, synchronisation is useful and convenient for those who have several e-readers of the same brand. Kobo also offers this feature for books purchased from its store and downloaded directly to the e-reader (Kepub format). If you use the ePub format, you cannot synchronise even if you purchase it from the Kobo store. The same applies if you use content from outside the Kobo store (both ePub and Kepub).

Is it important that Kobo lacks a synchronisation option for external content that is present in virtually every other brand? I honestly don't think so. But not because of what you are saying here, but because I believe that Kobo users behave in the same way as Kindle users: they buy their books from the Kobo store, download them directly to their e-reader and read them. Therefore, synchronisation will be available to them. I think those who load external content onto their e-readers are in the minority (piracy aside). And that is precisely why (and, to some extent, returning to the thread) I believe that Kindle is not in decline because Kindle users are oblivious to most of the concerns that are of such interest in this and other forums (DRM, backups, book editing, e-book format, side loading, etc.). Kindle users buy their books on Amazon and download them directly to their e-readers, and read without any major concerns. That is something that has not changed. And right now, Amazon's ecosystem is unrivalled.

(Needless to say, by "Kindle users" I am referring to a generic type and not to anyone in particular).

Sirtel · 09-24-2025, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellaris

Synchronisation is not only for reading positions but also for bookmarks, underlining and notes. You can remember your reading position using your memory or any other method you prefer, but anything you underline on a Kobo Libra 2 will not appear underlined on a Kobo Sage unless it is synchronised. Of course, you can also underline it again using your memory or choose not to underline it again. However, synchronisation is useful and convenient for those who have several e-readers of the same brand.

Personally, I don't bookmark, underline or annotate, so the lack of sync doesn't bother me in the least. My reading position is all I have to remember, and I find it faster manually than by any automatic sync (yes, I tried the latter when I used Kindles. Too time-consuming, because I prefer to keep wifi off most of the time). Besides, I can always store my reading position in calibre and restore it to any of my Kobos later if I really need it (in case of factory reset, for example).

YMMV.

Quoth · 09-25-2025, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Personally, I don't bookmark, underline or annotate, so the lack of sync doesn't bother me in the least. My reading position is all I have to remember, and I find it faster manually than by any automatic sync (yes, I tried the latter when I used Kindles. Too time-consuming, because I prefer to keep wifi off most of the time). Besides, I can always store my reading position in calibre and restore it to any of my Kobos later if I really need it (in case of factory reset, for example).

YMMV.

Agree 100%. Though I do highlight and annotate material I'm proofing, but I have zero interest in sync that to another ereader (or letting Amazon have a copy). I only want to export it.

I've also used Calibre to save then restore all positions and status when copying to a new ereader. It can't write back highlights & annotations, but I use Kobo Utilities and copy those per ebook to text files for my use. I found the Paperwhite 3 much worse for the purpose of proof reading and annotating.
The DXG was terrible.

kennyc · 09-25-2025, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Not if they use Adobe page numbering system. That's the same everywhere.

Okay. I have no idea what that is??

hmmm....so this? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...=255926&page=2

kennyc · 09-25-2025, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Personally, I don't bookmark, underline or annotate, so the lack of sync doesn't bother me in the least. My reading position is all I have to remember, and I find it faster manually than by any automatic sync (yes, I tried the latter when I used Kindles. Too time-consuming, because I prefer to keep wifi off most of the time). Besides, I can always store my reading position in calibre and restore it to any of my Kobos later if I really need it (in case of factory reset, for example).

YMMV.

That's mostly me as well. I'm realizing more and more that I just use my one reader Boox Go 6 and don't much need to sync with my tablet of phone.
I do sometimes add 'ratings' to stories in anthologies but not a huge deal to preserve them...

joblack · 09-25-2025, 07:32 AM

I have the feeling they don't care about bug hunting anymore.

- The 100 percent not status read bug is open for several revisions. I reported it several times
- It gets really slow with a lot of e-books on the device
- Usability was getting worse.

cellaris · 09-25-2025, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

That's mostly me as well. I'm realizing more and more that I just use my one reader Boox Go 6 and don't much need to sync with my tablet of phone.

I, on the other hand, use synchronisation on all devices where I can. I do it with Kindle, Tolino, PocketBook, Kobo (when I have the option), and with the Android or multi-platform reading programmes I use (AlReaderX and KOReader). I admit that I have always preferred to do things in the simplest and most convenient way possible. I am a "rara avis".

TheSmitty · 09-25-2025, 09:17 AM

Device and UI wise I find the Kindle no better or worse than my Kobo or KOReader. Each has their pluses and minuses. For me the extreme focus on trying to prevent me from backing up my books properly has moved me away from Kindle. I can still accomplish it with Kindle books but the process is no longer as easy as it is with Kobo. So, the the last couple of hundred dollars I have spent on books recently has all been at the Kobo store.

And ultimately in the future I doubt I will jump to buy the latest Kindle reader as a result.

09-24-2025, 10:35 PM	#23
cellaris Evangelist Posts: 429 Karma: 5898631 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Spain Device: Kindle, Kobo, PocketBook, Tolino, Onyx Boox, Bigme.	Synchronisation is not only for reading positions but also for bookmarks, underlining and notes. You can remember your reading position using your memory or any other method you prefer, but anything you underline on a Kobo Libra 2 will not appear underlined on a Kobo Sage unless it is synchronised. Of course, you can also underline it again using your memory or choose not to underline it again. However, synchronisation is useful and convenient for those who have several e-readers of the same brand. Kobo also offers this feature for books purchased from its store and downloaded directly to the e-reader (Kepub format). If you use the ePub format, you cannot synchronise even if you purchase it from the Kobo store. The same applies if you use content from outside the Kobo store (both ePub and Kepub). Is it important that Kobo lacks a synchronisation option for external content that is present in virtually every other brand? I honestly don't think so. But not because of what you are saying here, but because I believe that Kobo users behave in the same way as Kindle users: they buy their books from the Kobo store, download them directly to their e-reader and read them. Therefore, synchronisation will be available to them. I think those who load external content onto their e-readers are in the minority (piracy aside). And that is precisely why (and, to some extent, returning to the thread) I believe that Kindle is not in decline because Kindle users are oblivious to most of the concerns that are of such interest in this and other forums (DRM, backups, book editing, e-book format, side loading, etc.). Kindle users buy their books on Amazon and download them directly to their e-readers, and read without any major concerns. That is something that has not changed. And right now, Amazon's ecosystem is unrivalled. (Needless to say, by "Kindle users" I am referring to a generic type and not to anyone in particular). Last edited by cellaris; 09-24-2025 at 10:43 PM.

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09-24-2025, 03:35 PM	#17
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,829 Karma: 243276973 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I would not want to have an ereader without frontlight these days. I still have two ancient Kindles with non-touch screens and no frontlight. Sometimes I take them out and compare them to my current Kobos. While their screens do look clearer when the Kobos are unlit, the difference disappears once the frontlight is on. I would not want to read on those Kindles now, unless they were the only option besides paper.

09-25-2025, 07:32 AM	#28
joblack Wizard Posts: 1,755 Karma: 4382688 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere on earth Device: Onyx Boox Tab X C	I have the feeling they don't care about bug hunting anymore. - The 100 percent not status read bug is open for several revisions. I reported it several times - It gets really slow with a lot of e-books on the device - Usability was getting worse.

09-25-2025, 09:17 AM	#30
TheSmitty Addict Posts: 333 Karma: 1181422 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: DFW, TX area Device: Kindle Colorsoft, Libra Colour, Voyage, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini 7	Device and UI wise I find the Kindle no better or worse than my Kobo or KOReader. Each has their pluses and minuses. For me the extreme focus on trying to prevent me from backing up my books properly has moved me away from Kindle. I can still accomplish it with Kindle books but the process is no longer as easy as it is with Kobo. So, the the last couple of hundred dollars I have spent on books recently has all been at the Kobo store. And ultimately in the future I doubt I will jump to buy the latest Kindle reader as a result.