Kobo the right choice? - Page 2

ProfCrash · 12-02-2010, 02:14 PM

Is it possible to get yourself a Sony and your Daughter a Kobo? That way you can get yourself the nicer e-reader that you will really enjoy and get your daughter an e-reader that you will be less worried about her breaking.

I get a bit lost over which e-reader can read which companies books.

SensualPoet · 12-02-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I'm confused - I thought to borrow library books all you needed was an ereader that has Adobe epub DRM. Is there something different about the Kobo that makes availability limited?

No, it's the selection of ePubs at a typical library that is limited -- nothing to do with the Kobo. In the scenario, the father-daughter borrow 20 to 30 books at a time every three weeks. It would be very easy to exhaust all ebook items of interest at that rate. It's about having the right expectations for an e-reader.

The Kobo or Sony would work fine for this in Canada ... but two 6" Sony readers are $500 here compared to two Kobos at $300.

J. Strnad · 12-02-2010, 10:14 PM

I love my Kobo and use it to borrow library books. My wife loves hers.

Is it a perfect device? No. But then, none of them is perfect...yet.

I get a lot of use from mine, and my wife does the same with hers.

sabredog · 12-02-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

The Kobo or Sony would work fine for this in Canada ... but two 6" Sony readers are $500 here compared to two Kobos at $300.

Similar down under with 2 x Sony PRS-650 6" ereaders being AU$600 and two Kobo Ko2's at AU$360.

You would be able to buy a third Kobo and a lot of ebooks to read on them with that price comparison.

SeaBookGuy · 12-02-2010, 11:25 PM

I was playing with a wireless Kobo at Borders this afternoon - the display was okay, but it seemed quite sluggish to me. I couldn't get the wireless to connect, so cannot comment on that aspect. The feel and look were fine.

Gentlefather · 12-03-2010, 12:50 PM

Thanks for confirming my understanding that I am choosing between a couple of choices and Kobo is a valid one.

I think if I can summarize the posts accurately, the Sony is a better reader, more expensive, but better. The Kobo is adequate. Both will serve my needs but I may WANT a Sony. I will do some research on Sonys to see if any of them is on sale.

My little local library came a long way, for a small city with 70,000 people (St. Albert), they have around 3,200 ebooks already. I think a couple of readers is a good investment also from the perspective of how much we spend on books each month at the bookstore; ebooks simply cost less. The reason we borrow so many books is because my daughter still read a lot of trashy teens and tweens novels, she can go through 2 or 3 of those a day.

Also it should help to save poor dad's back, on our last Mexican vacation, my little daughter, carried 7 hardcover books in her carryon backpack, in a two weeks span, she read all 7 including the Deathly Hallows three times (okay, I didnt say she reads good books only...). Guess who carried the backpack on and off the planes and through the airports.

ProfCrash · 12-03-2010, 01:52 PM

Check and make sure that there are books available for your daughter on the e-reader. The Harry Potter novels are not available.

Andrew H. · 12-05-2010, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Is it possible to get yourself a Sony and your Daughter a Kobo? That way you can get yourself the nicer e-reader that you will really enjoy and get your daughter an e-reader that you will be less worried about her breaking.

I get a bit lost over which e-reader can read which companies books.

The problem with doing this is that the two readers would be on different accounts and so you couldn't share books. Although if you don't necessarily want your daughter to have access to your books, two different readers might be a good choice.

Although if I were going to get two different readers, I'd get a K3 (for the price, better screen, and larger selection (in the US, anyway)), and Kobo for library access, assuming that the library has what you want.

But, again, you can't share books between two different readers.

pholy · 12-05-2010, 03:40 PM

I haven't tried it.... but I think if you have multiple ADE-enabled devices that they can use the same ADE account. So instead of using the Kobo and Sony desktop software (Neither of which are excellent, IMHO), you buy the epub version and open it with the Adobe software, and then use it to copy it over to each device.

ProfCrash · 12-05-2010, 03:44 PM

If they are borrowing books from the library then not being able to share books isn;t too bad. And the Sony and Kobo are E-Pub. I believe the Kobo can read books from Sony so his daughter would be able to read his books. I doubt he wants to read her stuff.

meromana · 12-05-2010, 03:50 PM

And don't forget, if you run short of library books, there are thousands of free books available from Project Gutenberg, Smashwords, etc. There's plenty of info on MR on this topic, and here's an article I wrote recently about it: Find Free eBooks Online.

--Maria

erictoma · 12-06-2010, 07:46 PM

Two Kobo eReaders might me the best solution.
You could share with her the same library, files and so.
You would call only one customer phone number instead of two.
She would think that her father is not selfish if he bought the same gadget as her.

HarryT · 12-07-2010, 12:08 PM

I would like to point out one significant shortcoming with the Kobo: virtually uniquely among eBook readers, it does not have the ability to follow hyperlinks in a book. That's a real problem if you like to read the type of book that has hyperlinked endnotes.

jsites · 12-07-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I was playing with a wireless Kobo at Borders this afternoon - the display was okay, but it seemed quite sluggish to me. I couldn't get the wireless to connect, so cannot comment on that aspect. The feel and look were fine.

<-works at a Borders.

This is one of the roughest parts of trying to show someone the Kobo Wi-Fi. The free wireless internet service offered in the Borders stores has this annoying "accept terms of service" screen, and sometimes it's downright infuriating trying to get the Kobo Wi-Fis to navigate this screen and accept the agreement. And there is no way to circumvent this screen if you are in a spot with a free wifi service that uses a launch page like this.

If you are just going to use the wifi at home, than it's easy. you can just set the kobo to save your wireless settings.

I've been playing around with eReaders since Borders first started it's ebook initiative a few months ago, and for the longest time, I was totally sold on the Kobo. Was just waiting until I got the money together to purchase one. But then that all changed when we got the new Sony models in. While Kobo readers are good, solid reliable (at first there were issues with the original launch devices, but firmware updates solved that) devices, the Sonys feel more solid, seem to have a faster response time, have a nicer looking screen (better contrast between black and white), plus they've got the touch screen.

They also have a lot of neat features like highlighting parts of books. But the coolest feature is if you are reading a book, and come across a word you don't know, just double-tap it with the stylus, and it launches the built-in dictionary and gives you the definition of the word.

I don't have a reader yet, but my wife bought me a Sony Pocket (PRS350) for Christmas. The worst part now is seeing it wrapped under the tree and knowing i cannot play with it until the 25th.

But whichever device you choose, you should be happy. They are both well-made solid devices, and should give you plenty of reading joy.

wildstar · 12-07-2010, 01:02 PM

You'd be fine going with either the new Kobo or the new Sonys. The Sony's IMO are the better device, with the touch interface and new Pearl e-ink screen. But they are a bit pricier. Then again, if all you do is borrow books than your total cost of ownership isn't going to be that great, so it might be worth it going for the Sonys. I'd suggest you try the Kobo, the Sony 5" and the Sony 6" first before deciding. Personal preference is a big factor when buying an ereader, especially given that you will be spending hours holding it, looking at it, and turning pages. Good luck.

PS the Sony 5" comes in Pink if your daughter is into that sort of thing :-)

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12-02-2010, 02:14 PM	#16
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Is it possible to get yourself a Sony and your Daughter a Kobo? That way you can get yourself the nicer e-reader that you will really enjoy and get your daughter an e-reader that you will be less worried about her breaking. I get a bit lost over which e-reader can read which companies books.

12-02-2010, 10:14 PM	#18
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	I love my Kobo and use it to borrow library books. My wife loves hers. Is it a perfect device? No. But then, none of them is perfect...yet. I get a lot of use from mine, and my wife does the same with hers.

12-02-2010, 11:25 PM	#20
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I was playing with a wireless Kobo at Borders this afternoon - the display was okay, but it seemed quite sluggish to me. I couldn't get the wireless to connect, so cannot comment on that aspect. The feel and look were fine.

12-03-2010, 12:50 PM	#21
Gentlefather Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: none	Thanks for confirming my understanding that I am choosing between a couple of choices and Kobo is a valid one. I think if I can summarize the posts accurately, the Sony is a better reader, more expensive, but better. The Kobo is adequate. Both will serve my needs but I may WANT a Sony. I will do some research on Sonys to see if any of them is on sale. My little local library came a long way, for a small city with 70,000 people (St. Albert), they have around 3,200 ebooks already. I think a couple of readers is a good investment also from the perspective of how much we spend on books each month at the bookstore; ebooks simply cost less. The reason we borrow so many books is because my daughter still read a lot of trashy teens and tweens novels, she can go through 2 or 3 of those a day. Also it should help to save poor dad's back, on our last Mexican vacation, my little daughter, carried 7 hardcover books in her carryon backpack, in a two weeks span, she read all 7 including the Deathly Hallows three times (okay, I didnt say she reads good books only...). Guess who carried the backpack on and off the planes and through the airports.

12-03-2010, 01:52 PM	#22
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Check and make sure that there are books available for your daughter on the e-reader. The Harry Potter novels are not available.

12-05-2010, 03:40 PM	#24
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I haven't tried it.... but I think if you have multiple ADE-enabled devices that they can use the same ADE account. So instead of using the Kobo and Sony desktop software (Neither of which are excellent, IMHO), you buy the epub version and open it with the Adobe software, and then use it to copy it over to each device.

12-05-2010, 03:44 PM	#25
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	If they are borrowing books from the library then not being able to share books isn;t too bad. And the Sony and Kobo are E-Pub. I believe the Kobo can read books from Sony so his daughter would be able to read his books. I doubt he wants to read her stuff.

12-05-2010, 03:50 PM	#26
meromana Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 11430 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: my laptop	And don't forget, if you run short of library books, there are thousands of free books available from Project Gutenberg, Smashwords, etc. There's plenty of info on MR on this topic, and here's an article I wrote recently about it: Find Free eBooks Online. --Maria

12-06-2010, 07:46 PM	#27
erictoma Banned Posts: 223 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Device: None	Two Kobo eReaders might me the best solution. You could share with her the same library, files and so. You would call only one customer phone number instead of two. She would think that her father is not selfish if he bought the same gadget as her.

12-07-2010, 12:08 PM	#28
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,548 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I would like to point out one significant shortcoming with the Kobo: virtually uniquely among eBook readers, it does not have the ability to follow hyperlinks in a book. That's a real problem if you like to read the type of book that has hyperlinked endnotes.

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12-07-2010, 01:02 PM	#30
wildstar Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 631 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Kobo 1, Kindle 3	You'd be fine going with either the new Kobo or the new Sonys. The Sony's IMO are the better device, with the touch interface and new Pearl e-ink screen. But they are a bit pricier. Then again, if all you do is borrow books than your total cost of ownership isn't going to be that great, so it might be worth it going for the Sonys. I'd suggest you try the Kobo, the Sony 5" and the Sony 6" first before deciding. Personal preference is a big factor when buying an ereader, especially given that you will be spending hours holding it, looking at it, and turning pages. Good luck. PS the Sony 5" comes in Pink if your daughter is into that sort of thing :-)