Kobo Touch vs. Sony PRS-T1; advice appreciated!

[sonyreaderfan]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You are mistaken . You can download any Mobipocket book or PDF file, for example, directly from the browser.



Google, no, since they use the ePub format which the Kindle doesn't support, but Overdrive, yes, at least in the US where Overdrive are now supplying Kindle-format books.



Yes. When you highlight a word on the Kindle you can either look in up in the dictionary, or search for it either in Wikipedia or on Google.

I stand corrected.

For the Overdrive OTA borrowing, I believe on Kindle you have to use a computer first to borrow a book from the Overdrive website, then send the book to Kindle wirelessly. The Sony T1 has a Overdrive app that lets you access its website and borrow and download, just like buying from the Sony or Kindle ebookstore from the device.

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by robko

I think what Scion was trying to say is that the Kobo features (i.e. search/annotations) tend to come out first for the native Kobo books and then get updated to work on e-pubs. E-pubs do work fine on Kobo's.

Sorry, I misread it - thanks for clarifying that.

Originally Posted by SCION

Also, endnotes still appear to be problematic (with no explanation) in sideloaded books. Not aware if this has been fixed in the recent firmware updates. Thanks again.

They seem to be a problem on a lot of devices - I suspect it's the fault of the formatting rather than the device. TBH, it wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me, although it's nice to have.

Thanks to the other posters for pointing out the various features. I probably wouldn't use the RSS/Dropbox access, but nice to know it's there. The word checking I might well use, though.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Google, no, since they use the ePub format which the Kindle doesn't support, but Overdrive, yes, at least in the US where Overdrive are now supplying Kindle-format books.

Exactly - they're not available in the UK and for some reason, there seems a reluctance to offer them in the UK, even though the Kindle accounts for the majority of ereaders sold, thanks to a very effective marketing campaign.

Originally Posted by polly

That's how the computer will see the Sony, too. The adjustment is with Calibre. Go to Preferences/Saving Books to Disk. In the middle is the "Save template" text box. Calibre uses Python, so {} ]puts the variable in its own folder and / creates a subfolder. For example:

{tag}/{author_sort}/{title} - {authors}

should give you a top folder for the tag, with author folders inside the folder, and then each title in its own folder. With your reader attached to the computer, select Save to Disk and then navigate to your Cool-ER.

Oh I see - I didn't really understand the meaning of those curly brackets, but this is now clear!

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

The Sony T1 has a Overdrive app that lets you access its website and borrow and download, just like buying from the Sony or Kindle ebookstore from the device.

UK libraries are set up the same way, it seems - the Sony can connect either directly or via a computer, and then the book is downloaded onto it. There was some talk at first about having access only through the libraries' own computers (in other words, the person would visit the library, go to a terminal, and download the book, which would defeat the whole purpose of 'remote borrowing', but thankfully reason prevailed.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

For the Overdrive OTA borrowing, I believe on Kindle you have to use a computer first to borrow a book from the Overdrive website, then send the book to Kindle wirelessly. The Sony T1 has a Overdrive app that lets you access its website and borrow and download, just like buying from the Sony or Kindle ebookstore from the device.

If you use the non-Javascript version of the Overdrive website, you can download a book directly from the Kindle. You can't use the Javascript site for the sole reason that its "Download" button tries to open a new browser window, and the Kindle's browser doesn't support multiple windows.

[sonyreaderfan]

@HarryT: I got my information (or misinformation) about Kindle being able to access Dropbox from this blog: http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...ks-over-wi-fi/

"How to Use Dropbox with Sony Reader PRS-T1 for Transferring eBooks over Wi-Fi
...
P.S. For those wondering if the Kindle can do this with its web browser, it can’t (not unless you hack it). You can login and view the list of files and everything, but the Kindle cannot open links that trigger new windows, making it impossible to download any files from Dropbox."

I find the site to be very authoritative but if they are wrong you should email them and let them know.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

@HarryT: I got my information (or misinformation) about Kindle being able to access Dropbox from this blog: http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/201...ks-over-wi-fi/

"How to Use Dropbox with Sony Reader PRS-T1 for Transferring eBooks over Wi-Fi
...
P.S. For those wondering if the Kindle can do this with its web browser, it can’t (not unless you hack it). You can login and view the list of files and everything, but the Kindle cannot open links that trigger new windows, making it impossible to download any files from Dropbox."

I find the site to be very authoritative but if they are wrong you should email them and let them know.

We may be talking slightly at cross-purposes. I was talking about downloading Overdrive library books. I'm pretty sure that Dropbox can be used from the Kindle's browser, but ask in the Kindle forum to confirm this - I haven't tried it personally.

[log]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm pretty sure that Dropbox can be used from the Kindle's browser, but ask in the Kindle forum to confirm this - I haven't tried it personally.

You were so fast to mention in an authoritative voice how the Kindle also supports dropbox earlier in this thread even though it was off topic, and you didn't know for sure?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by log

You were so fast to mention in an authoritative voice how the Kindle also supports dropbox earlier in this thread even though it was off topic, and you didn't know for sure?

I don't know for sure, in the sense that I haven't personally done it, but I have no reason to suppose that other people are lying when they report that they have. There is a detailed tutorial, with screenshots, showing how to do it, here.

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by sonyreaderfan

There are couple of features exclusive to T1 worth mentioning. One is that you can download books from Dropbox and some RSS book websites, using the reader's web browser.

I do this all the time with my Kobo and it works very well. In fact, I prefer to send books to my Kobo this way, after first saving them to my dropbox folder with calibre.

[luqmaninbmore]

Originally Posted by log

You were so fast to mention in an authoritative voice how the Kindle also supports dropbox earlier in this thread even though it was off topic, and you didn't know for sure?

I download books from Dropbox on my Kindle (first gen!). It works well, but the interface is not as quick as my Kobo (but the K1 is several four years older than the latter, so that's not surprising).

[mrklaw]

what is your timeframe for buying, and when is library important to you?

I'm in a similar boat - have a kindle 3 and lookign for something for my wife. Consdering a T1 or kobo as more epub friendly, so my son can borrow things from the library.

Although kindle doesn't support overdrive in the UK yet, it does in the US, and surely its only a matter of time to come to the UK? Although the level of integration with the T1 sounds really good.

Another thing giving me pause is how good the wifi delivery is with kindle - I can email books directly to it over wifi. The kobo and T1 have wifi but they don't really leverage it fully IMO.

[LuvReadin]

Originally Posted by mrklaw

what is your timeframe for buying, and when is library important to you?
I'm in a similar boat - have a kindle 3 and lookign for something for my wife. Consdering a T1 or kobo as more epub friendly, so my son can borrow things from the library.
Although kindle doesn't support overdrive in the UK yet, it does in the US, and surely its only a matter of time to come to the UK? Although the level of integration with the T1 sounds really good.
Another thing giving me pause is how good the wifi delivery is with kindle - I can email books directly to it over wifi. The kobo and T1 have wifi but they don't really leverage it fully IMO.

Assume this one is for me!

Timeframe not really important - I've got an ereader already, so I don't need another one, but I have used it much more than I ever thought I would, and the OH is casting lustful glances at it! Not sure what you mean by 'when is library important', but um, pretty well all the time, TBH. I have been reading mainly out-of-copyright books since I got the ereader, and enjoying them very much, but it would be nice to get some from the library - not even so much because I want specific books, but because I feel really, really guilty that I haven't been in there for weeks, and I used to be a regular borrower, so I really want to support the library.

Your point about your son is exactly that - also, I have a sort of gut reaction against getting a Kindle. The whole marketing campaign and proprietary format smack of Microsoft-type bully-boy market cornering, and it immediately gets my back up. Not sure about the whole library thing in the UK - all the UK libraries that are currently offering ebooks offer them through Overdrive, which indicates that they've got a deal with them. And yet, Overdrive aren't offering Kindle books in the UK, and couldn't tell me when that might happen - to me, that means there's a glitch somewhere with the copyright. UK and US copyright are different, and in general, the UK copyright is stricter, and the publishers more against the whole notion of things being free of copyright, so just because it's cleared in the US doesn't necessarily mean it's then going to be plain sailing in the UK. Even if it wasn't, I'd still be reluctant to get a Kindle for the reasons given above.

For me, wifi is no big deal. I'm quite happy to download to my computer, add the books to my Calibre library, and then add to the ereader. Even though I devour books like other people devour chocolate (shame that smiley isn't available!), it's still a pretty rapid process, - the only thing I could see me using the wifi for would be looking up words online.

Update on the whole decision thing - I went shopping yesterday, popped in to WS to see the Kobo, and the Sony shop to see the T1, and I'm afraid it's there is no happy ending for me and the Kobo - I am in love with the T1!: sweethear: As Polly said, the screen is lovely, but what really surprised me was the weight - it's feather-light. Not too impressed with the stylus (and clearly, neither was the assistant - he hadn't seen it before because they'd only just had the stock in and he had to open a new box) - TBH, my pound-shop ones look better! Even so, I think the decision's probably made, unless some other manufacturer brings out a super-duper one for Xmas!

[Rizla]

From what I've seen, the T1 kicks the other devices butts. Sony has always been a little ahead of the curve and has a deserved reputation for quality (and higher price!) though I don't know from personal experience if the latter holds true for the T1.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

From what I've seen, the T1 kicks the other devices butts. Sony has always been a little ahead of the curve and has a deserved reputation for quality (and higher price!) though I don't know from personal experience if the latter holds true for the T1.

Take a look at the Sony forum here before making a final decision. Quite a number of people seem to be experiencing freezes/crashes with the T1.

[gari189]

Had a look at the Kobo Touch today in WH Smith and it just looks a bit un-inspiring. Went to the Sony shop and bought a T1 instead - just looks a more classy product. Hopefully Sony will sort out the bugs....

[Broccoli]

The Kobo Touch and Sony T1 both offer touch. The Sony has been hacked which means it will offer more useful functionality than the Kobo Touch. In Canada the Sony ereader goes for $169.99 while the Kobo Touch goes for $139.99 so an approximate (without considering different taxes) difference is $30.

However, there is $25 discount on all Sony products offered at the Sony store that are over $100 (Promo code is SONYLOYALY ). With free shipping, my sony ereader costs $144.99 plus tax. For Canadians the choice is, pay approximately $5 extra for a the Sony T1 compared to the Kobo Touch.