New Device Recommendation

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

The only concern I have about the Libra 2 is the price. I see that a Nook Glowlight 4 is about $50+ less expensive. Are you guys familiar with Glowlight series and how it might fall short of the Libra? I'm not even seeing any Kindle devices that I might find interesting at this point.

In the end, only you can decide if the price is too much or not, but for a device that will last many years, the Libra 2 is not exorbitantly priced, imo. If, for example, you ended up getting 7 years use out of it, you would have paid $7 extra per year compared to the other device which you have already acknowledged is inferior in terms of what you're looking for. If greater reading pleasure is worth $7 a year, you may have your answer.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Most dedicated ereaders are only black-and-white. They don't show any colors.

Nitpick: they do 16 levels of gray, or 14 levels of gray if you don't count black and white.

They do a barely passable job of displaying images in those 16 levels of gray.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I'd suggest the new Libra 2: 7 inch, waterproof, 32GB storage, excellent screen quality, handles epubs and is easily customizable

I agree with this 100%.

[LDB]

I've been a Kindle reader for over 13 years. A few years ago I got a Kobo Aura One and a Nook just to see what else there was. I didn't take the time to learn them and they barely were used. Last year I started reading the A1 and I like it better than my Kindle. It has a larger screen which is a significant improvement to me and is properly shaped. The only thing it doesn't have is buttons.

The just released Kindle Paperwhite is a very nice device. It is properly shaped and has a larger screen. But again, no buttons.

Of the currently available devices I'd lean toward the Kobo Forma for the added screen size and then the Libra 2 for added memory and lower price. I'd have to weigh them against the new PW which basically matches the L2 in most ways although no buttons and smaller storage.

I don't think there's a single good answer but I'd personally stick to Kindle or Kobo I think. Good luck with your decision.

[JeffGeorge]

It is done. I decided to give the Libra 2 a try. It'll be a few days before it arrives, though, so I'll have to wait to fire it up.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

The only concern I have about the Libra 2 is the price. I see that a Nook Glowlight 4 is about $50+ less expensive. Are you guys familiar with Glowlight series and how it might fall short of the Libra? I'm not even seeing any Kindle devices that I might find interesting at this point.

It has a smaller screen and is not waterproof. Also the Nook software is much less customizable than the Kobo software and the Glowlight 4 has limited storage for sideloaded books. Still, if buying books from B&N is important to you, the Glowlight 4 won't be a bad option. Be aware, though, that if you decide to get another brand in the future, you may not be able to read your B&N books on that. For this reason I would not buy any books from B&N. They can only be read on Nooks and in the Nook app.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by theducks

Calibre has 2 extra plugins available that make it even BETTER than regular.
Kobo Utilities and Kobo Utilities Extended.
Why not switch over to the Plugin Index and find those (links) and read their first post descriptions.

BTW I just ordered a Libra 2
<rant>Personally, I am tired of ever higher walled gardens , some being done under the guise of better security. I buy from a vendor because they have what I WANT, and at a price I am willing to PAY and not because I must

And it arrived Sunday. 1 Day turn around by Walmart. Wow!

Still playing with the button positions, but I did notice that they can't be configured independent for Portrait and Landscape.

[JeffGeorge]

I already received the case I ordered for my Libra 2. It's smaller than I thought it would be. Reader should be here by Wednesday.

[JeffGeorge]

Just opened up my Libra 2. Not overly impressed so far. Seems slow to respond when typing something and the display looks about the same as my decade-old Nook SimpleTouch. Hopefully it will grow on me. With a Nook you could also get free books that were in the public domain through Barnes & Noble. I don't see such an option with the Kobo store.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

Just opened up my Libra 2. Not overly impressed so far. Seems slow to respond when typing something and the display looks about the same as my decade-old Nook SimpleTouch. Hopefully it will grow on me. With a Nook you could also get free books that were in the public domain through Barnes & Noble. I don't see such an option with the Kobo store.

Well, it's eink, like your Simple Touch was. Your 7" Nook was LCD, which is very different.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

With a Nook you could also get free books that were in the public domain through Barnes & Noble. I don't see such an option with the Kobo store.

You can locate free books by sorting by price low to high, clicking on the Only free items checkbox, etc.

[JeffGeorge]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You can locate free books by sorting by price low to high, clicking on the Only free items checkbox, etc.

I don't have those options on when I click on the Discover button on the main Kobo screen.

My Discover screen is broken into three main entries at the top: eBooks, Audiobooks, and OverDrive, with a full-width search box under that. Then there are a few graphics scattered over the rest of the page: Recommended, Trending Now, and Featured eBook Savings. At the bottom right are a couple more boxes, Top Picks and Categories. But no matter what I select I don't have detailed filter and search criteria like you are showing. I also didn't seem to be able to find things in Overdrive library access based on just what's available. There doesn't to be any way for me to filter my results on anything.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

I don't have those options on when I click on the Discover button on the main Kobo screen.

My Discover screen is broken into three main entries at the top: eBooks, Audiobooks, and OverDrive, with a full-width search box under that. Then there are a few graphics scattered over the rest of the page: Recommended, Trending Now, and Featured eBook Savings. At the bottom right are a couple more boxes, Top Picks and Categories. But no matter what I select I don't have detailed filter and search criteria like you are showing. I also didn't seem to be able to find things in Overdrive library access based on just what's available. There doesn't to be any way for me to filter my results on anything.

The image that @DNSB posted was from the store in a web browser. I don't like looking for books on the device as the interface is terrible and slow. I only use the store on the device if I know exactly what I want or choosing from my wishlist.

I think there was a way to filter to free books on the device, but, it isn't there now. Or I might be confusing it with the Android app. That had a free book list the last time I looked.

[JeffGeorge]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The image that @DNSB posted was from the store in a web browser. I don't like looking for books on the device as the interface is terrible and slow. I only use the store on the device if I know exactly what I want or choosing from my wishlist.

That makes more sense. I agree that the interaction on the device is terrible and slow. I'll try the Web-based store instead as I experiment with this device. Thanks!

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by JeffGeorge

That makes more sense. I agree that the interaction on the device is terrible and slow. I'll try the Web-based store instead as I experiment with this device. Thanks!

I've had 4 different Kobo devices since leaving the Amazon nearly 4 years ago, and I think I've bought one book on any of them. MUCH less painful on the website.