Best ereader for epubs

[barryem]

Originally Posted by Care

I was also looking at the kobo aura because they are on sale right now. But I read a review that the battery life isn't good.

I also have a Kobo Aura. All in all I've had 3 models of the Kobo and it's by far the ones I like best. I've never bothered to check the battery life but it seems to be as good as the others.

Now that they've reduced the price of the Aura I've been tempted to get another one. I do most of my reading on a Voyage so it's just an urge. But it's strong enough that I have to fight it.

Barry

[JSWolf]

The battery life of my H2O is excellent. I get a long time with the H2O between recharges. More than 2 weeks for sure.

[Care]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

You'd be better posting for feedback on the Kobo Mini in the Kobo forum. I was tempted to buy it to replace my Sony 350 when it was first released, but didn't bother in the end as although it was nice enough, the screen hadn't been improved any (pearl 800x600) and a couple of weeks battery life and fairly average speed meant it wasn't really any improvement on my old 350. Worth getting second hand to give you an idea of how you would get on with a Kobo though, and handy to have a back-up or portable ereader once you've chosen a new model.

The Kobo Aura I would avoid. It's far from rubbish, and it's nice and small, but its probably been the least successful of the Kobo readers, let down mostly by a poor screen. Kobo's one and only attempt at a capacitive touch screen ereader.

I did post in the kobo forum here and people seemed to like both. I bought the Aura though as we were going away and I wanted one to read while away. Plus I wanted the light. I did notice after sitting a bit when I went to turn the page a had to swipe instead of tap. Is that what you mean about the screen?

Originally Posted by barryem

If you listen to the Audible book on your phone you can choose to either use the Audible app or the Kindle app for listening. Either one can do it. Either one can sync your position with your e-ink Kindle. Other apps, while they might be better in other ways, won't sync.

I also went through a few years where reading was difficult. I had already listened to quite a few audiobooks before that so it was a natural to just dive all the way into them. I listened almost exclusively for nearly a decade.

As soon as I could read again I got my Kindle and I haven't heard an audiobook since. That was about 6 years ago. I still buy one from time to time by a favorite narrator and I suspect I'll eventually listen a bit again, but so far I haven't.

None of this syncing or even listening on apps was available when I was doing it. I listened with MP3 players. Now I'd use my phone, probably with the Audible app. I have played a bit with the Android Audible app and I think I'll like it. It has just the right features and they work well. The interface is kind of a nightmare but I can live with that.

Barry

Good to know thanks. Because I have mainly epubs I decided to go with a kobo. But the syncing is cool. But I borrow books from the library and it wouldn't work anyway. I do love my audiobooks though.

Originally Posted by barryem

I had a couple of Kobo Minis way back when and I liked them. As soon as I got a Paperwhite I stopped using them. I just sold them to a couple of neighbors a few weeks ago and they're loving them.

I found a couple more on Amazon for just $30, factory refurbished, and bought them. I've sold one to another neighbor and expect to sell the other soon. I live in a retirement home in a rural area so even though these people love to read they're slow to adopt technology. I try to act as a pusher.

Both of the Mini's I bought recently were perfect. I got their last ones but I'm sure more will show up.

Barry

That's nice of you. Do you find the mini to be too small?

Originally Posted by barryem

I also have a Kobo Aura. All in all I've had 3 models of the Kobo and it's by far the ones I like best. I've never bothered to check the battery life but it seems to be as good as the others.

Now that they've reduced the price of the Aura I've been tempted to get another one. I do most of my reading on a Voyage so it's just an urge. But it's strong enough that I have to fight it.

Barry

Nice to know you like it best since I just bought one (or technically my hubby did to surprise me so I can read while away). I like it so far. It's nice and small and light. I do miss the actual buttons like I had on my nook simple touch. I used to just hold it near the button and push when needed. I haven't found a comfortable position yet while laying down but I'm sure I'll find one.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The battery life of my H2O is excellent. I get a long time with the H2O between recharges. More than 2 weeks for sure.

That's great. So far mine hasn't really budged but I only used it with the light for less than an hour. I liked the idea of the H20 but it was a bit bigger than what I wanted.

[robko]

Originally Posted by Care

That's great. So far mine hasn't really budged but I only used it with the light for less than an hour. I liked the idea of the H20 but it was a bit bigger than what I wanted.

Realistically, the light has a very minimal drain on the battery. Even with the light at full it's only going to have a small impact on your battery life. If the light makes it easier for you to read even in a well lit area, leave it on.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by robko

Realistically, the light has a very minimal drain on the battery. Even with the light at full it's only going to have a small impact on your battery life. If the light makes it easier for you to read even in a well lit area, leave it on.

No need to have the light on full. Way too bright. Even 1/2 is too bright (IMHO). Under 1/2 depending on what feels/looks good is what I would go for.

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by Care

I did post in the kobo forum here and people seemed to like both. I bought the Aura though as we were going away and I wanted one to read while away. Plus I wanted the light. I did notice after sitting a bit when I went to turn the page a had to swipe instead of tap. Is that what you mean about the screen?

The Kobo's touch screen never seems quite as receptive to me as the Kindle's (double page turns or not registering a touch) but no I meant that the screen seems a little yellow & dark compared to the likes of the Kobo Aura HD & Kindle Paperwhite (and obviously even more so with the more recent H2O). Also there were faint scratches visible along the top part of the screen and my biggest gripe was that there seemed to be a dark line along the top. I confess to being a lover of the best possible screen so I might be a bit picky though.

I don't recall the battery life being a particular issue, and often wondered if it was people who maybe had poorly formatted books on their Aura that was causing the battery to drain quickly?

Now that you've bought one I hope you are happy with it though, its still a pretty nice ereader, especially for the price if you got it on sale.

[JSWolf]

I've had a double page turn with my H2O that was not my fault. It never just turned multiple pages with a proper single page swipe.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by Care

That's nice of you. Do you find the mini to be too small?

I'm fine with the size of the Mini. I wanted the front light. I wish there was a Mini with a light.

Actually I do most of my reading on a Kindle these days but I have some Kobo's and if I didn't have the Kindles I'd be perfectly happy with them. I'm sort of a gadget lover and I like having multiple devices.

I'm reading my current book on my Kobo Aura, probably because of this thread and a couple others like it. I'm enjoying it. All in all I prefer the Voyage but this thing has a lot going for it. And it feels better holding it for lengthy sessions than any other ereader.

What I wish for is ereaders becoming divorced from book sellers so there'll be a competition to make the best device, not just the best service. Then there should be lots of excellent devices to choose from and we could all find whatever it might be that we want.

I also want to win the lottery and even though I never buy tickets I think my chances of winning are better than for the above wish to come true.

Barry

[Care]

I prefer the brightness at about 15%, sometimes lower. That is if I am in the dark. I didn't use it much at all, only about two hours, but I is still at 100% battery.

Soulfuldog, I don't notice any lines at the top of mine, just a faint line around the bezel, although it's not really a line I guess. I personally do not care about the screen the way you do. I know it is very important to most people though. But the way I look at it is that my books don't have an amazing "paper white" print. For covers sure, but the pages are not by any means white and perfect. In fact my books look a lot less perfect than any of the readers I have had.

Barryem, I was thinking of getting the mini for my purse. Do you know if sideloaded books will sync between the kobos?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Care

Barryem, I was thinking of getting the mini for my purse. Do you know if sideloaded books will sync between the kobos?

No. Only Amazon offers syncing of sideloaded books.

Well, and some smartphone/tablet apps can sync through your Dropbox account, but I hardly think that is relevant here.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by Care

Barryem, I was thinking of getting the mini for my purse. Do you know if sideloaded books will sync between the kobos?

I'm not aware of any way to sync books on the Kobo. I only read side-loaded books on mine. I don't have any Kobo books. But I've never actually looked for a way to sync them so I can't be sure.

Right now I'm reading my current book on my Koba Aura and sometimes on my phone using Moon+ reader, so any syncing I do has to be manual. That's fairly trivial to do. At the end of a session I make a mental note about what chapter I'm in and something about what's going on or where I am in that chapter. When I begin a new session on a different device it only takes a few seconds to find my place.

With the Kindle I can sync non-Amazon books as long as I send them to Amazon for downloading.

The problem with Amazon's sync is it begins to be a habit and after doing it for a few books I find myself hesitating to read on the Kobo without automatic syncing. When I notice that I usually make a point to read one to break the habit. Syncing is a nice feature but a very unimportant one.

Barry

[Care]

Ah thanks. I didn't think s but figured I would ask since things change so fast with technology at times. I have to sync my book and audiobook sometimes anyway, no biggie.

I don't have a lot of Kobo books, only a few, same with Amazon. But I have more NookBooks and just found out I can't download them anymore. How frustrating.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

No. Only Amazon offers syncing of sideloaded books.

Amazon allows syncing of side loaded converted ePub?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Amazon allows syncing of side loaded converted ePub?

Yes, why wouldn't they?

Are you suggesting they would forensically analyze PDOCs for evidence that they once passed through the EPUB format, and randomly reject them for that reason?
And are you suggesting that such an attempt would be successful?

[barryem]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Amazon allows syncing of side loaded converted ePub?

If I convert a book from epub I can (and usually do) convert it to mobi and send it to Amazon and then download it to read it. As long as I do this it let's me sync. If I simply sideload it doesn't sync them.

Barry