New to e-reading, Kobo or Kindle?

[barryem]

Originally Posted by iBurger2

But why? Could you elaborate?

I like the Kindle interface more than the Kobo interface. Kobo does have more features but they aren't features I care about that much and they don't work on every book unless I buy the book from Kobo. Bolding the font is nice but not very important and it doesn't work on more than about 25% of the books I try. If I want the font bolded I'll do that in Calibre before loading the book, although I really don't care that much.

On the Kindle everything works every time just the way you expect it to work. On the Kobo things work a lot of the time and sometimes they don't. It's rarely a problem on the Kobo since the really important things work. Pages turn. Books load. But with the little stuff I always wonder what will work and what won't.

Forgetting the unreliability, the Kindle features are easier to use and make more sense. They're right there where I need them. I don't use most of the Kindle's features but the ones I do use I never have to think about. They're just there when I need them.

The Kindle dictionary is excellent. The Kobo dictionary is also pretty good.

The advantage, to me, of the Kobo's are the reduced size and weight. I have Kobo Auras and they're even smaller than my Kindle Voyage. Holding them is a bit more comfortable.

Oh yeah, battery life is better on the Kobos, although it's so good on the Kindles I don't think that matters. They're both rated the same but having a bunch of readers means not using them a lot and the Kindles self discharge much faster. That's true with or without Wifi on.

But the real difference is the store. I buy my books from Amazon and it has a much better store, much better sales, better selection of obscure and older titles, and it's just a lot easier to shop, with more information and easier browsing, either on the device or on it's website. If I only had a Kobo I'd still buy my books from Amazon.

One other reason I like Kindles more, and this isn't quite a fair reason, is that my Kindles have 3G. I can access Wikipedia for reference while I read no matter where I am. However that's not true with the Wifi Kindles. That's why I buy 3G.

Barry

[Barbara1955]

ALL of my e-books come from amazon No Problem since ALF came along!

[litemotif]

@Katie1,
Really sorry to see that you lost two beloved pets in such a short period of time.

[Dr. Drib]

I enjoy both.

I like my Kindles because the firmware is very, very stable and I've never lost an ebook from them.

I like my Kobo because I can take it almost anywhere with me and not worry about someone stealing it - because (strangely enough), no one seems to know anything about the Kobo line and they could care less.

Both readers are very good for what they do, which is reading.

However, never put one in your back pocket.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

However, never put one in your back pocket.

And STOP buying clown pants. They are way too big on you. They look silly.

[John F]

Or...

I carry them in my pocket, in my back jeans pocket or coat pocket, no cover, for quick transportation, and haven't had any screen problems; I've even sit on them a occasionally.

These are with Kobos (and my phones), I haven't done it with Kindles.

[booklover6]

I personally would NOT recommend the cheap $50 Fire as a reading device. I think it has a terrible display. (I bought one for my daughter when she was 10. I am unlikely to buy another at any price).

I personally love the screen of the Kindle Voyage above all others. But it should be noted that I am not using a font that was shipped with the device. (In other words, it is a hacked device).

I love the software on the Kobo the best, used in conjunction with Calibre and the Kobo Utilities plug in, and also with a side loaded font.

If I had to choose just one, it would be the Kobo Glo HD.

As I am in the US, I have Kindle Unlimited, which I use on my Voyage.

Still waiting on one of those two companies to offer a waterproof 6" device. My credit card is ready. (Those are the only 2 companies I will buy from at this point).

(I only bought the Voyage because I broke my original Kobo Aura, and the Voyage was the closest in size and screen type (i.e. flush) plus I got the 5-payment deal).

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And STOP buying clown pants. They are way too big on you. They look silly.

[KevinBurke]

I have been buying ereaders since the Sony prs-500. I had different Sony ereaders then switched to Kobo. Kobo is the true heir of Sony though I liked Sony's software and the ability to write in the book with a stylus. Sony's software and hardware was superior to Amazon, at the time, only thing Amazon had going for them was the store and to pander to non-techies.

Sony ereaders , at the time, and now Kobos will appeal to the more techie and hardcore reader crowd, not casual readers.

The extra features, that the Kindles, lack (though, kindles can have some features Kobos don't ) will tend to appeal to hardcore readers etc...

The only good thing about Kindles is the Amazon store but I personally don't care about that.

Now, when I say techies I don't mean Kobos are hard to use for non-techies and what I say might apply mostly to the higher end Kobo models.

[RZetlin]

With its large presence in Canada, I have always stuck with Kobo.

Kobo is seem to be only company in North America that is willing to try new features with their eReaders (6.8" H2O & 7.8" Aura One).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RZetlin

With its large presence in Canada, I have always stuck with Kobo.

Kobo is seem to be only company in North America that is willing to try new features with their eReaders (6.8" H2O & 7.8" Aura One).

And waterproof as well as better front lighting (at least on the H2O).

[KevinBurke]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And waterproof as well as better front lighting (at least on the H2O).

Yeah, the waterproof and dust proof aspects, as well as more font support, the lighting will appeal to hardcore readers.

Honestly, I haven't been keeping up on these things but the voyage might have somewhat superior dpi to the H20 but, if true, its really like a non-factor ereaders reached a sastisfactory level , a while ago, so now such improvements offer diminishing returns as improved screen quality is no longer a good reason to upgrade. That is part of the reason why I stil just have a Kobo Aura HD.

You guys probably know more than me on this stuff but in terms of sheer numbers of books Amazon does not have an advantage really e.g. more formats supported and Kobo supports both its native store and google books etc..

Amazon books may have a price point advantage --especially in different parts of the world.

Anyway, if one is not already locked into the Amazon system then I say go with Kobo e.g. voyage vs H2O.

[JSWolf]

You don't have to be locked into Amazon or ePub because of Apprentice Alf and the tools for removing the DRM. The only time you are locked into Amazon is if you end up with a KFX eBook from Amazon.

[JSWolf]

By the way, do you still wear your clown pants so you can break your Voyage in your back pocket?