Kobo Aura H2O vs Paperwhite (New) vs Voyage(Renewed)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

As for the $20 ... I look at it this way. I can pay the extra $20 when I buy the eReader or later when (if) I find them too obnoxious, but I understand that I agree to them for a price discount when buying. But even with the ads I've still got a good eReader.

The thing about that argument is that Amazon seems to get to have their cake and eat it to.

When people compare the big 3 readers, Kobo Aura Edition 2, Nook Glowlight 3 and Kindle Paperwhite they are usually mentioned as costing about the same: $120.00. But only one of them requires a surcharge to remove ads.

Then if you grumble about the ads, you hear 'yeah, but you get a price discount for buying one with ads.'

So why can the small fries market similar devices and it's the 800 pound gorilla that has to use ads to subsidize their cost?

I think Kindles are fine readers. But the $20.00 to remove ads always sticks in my craw. To me it makes Amazon feel like money grubbers.

[barryem]

A number of people in this and other forums have reported that they've called Kindle support complaining about the ads and they were turned off at no charge. It's worth trying.

Barry

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think Kindles are fine readers. But the $20.00 to remove ads always sticks in my craw. To me it makes Amazon feel like money grubbers.

I guess you may have a point (now anyhow). When Amazon first started the ad-subsidized scheme, they dropped the prices of e-Readers way down from what they had been originally. With lack of competition I guess they've been easing their prices back up while keeping the subsidy "tax."

Also, I've never paid more than $49 for a Kindle (new or used) so I consider an additional $20 to go ad-free (something I've never done yet) to be reasonable. Maybe I would feel differently if I had paid more for the device in the first place.

Also, when shopping, I've always been (pretty much) a "take-or-leave-it" kind of shopper. If I don't like the price of an item (or the conditions attached to buying it) I just "leave it."

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

For the record, the Kindle French to English dictionary ain't great. It doesnt give the infinitive when you click on a past participle. It frequently can't find a word. I also end up selecting the line instead of the word. It's good, but it ain't stellar.

I use goldendict with custom dictionaries on android devices including a Nook ST. It is far superior to the Kindle dictionary in French and English, and the interface is better. I appreciate not everyone knows how to set it up, but it is possible to have a much better than Kindle dictionary on an e-reader. I know because I have both. The Kindle is a good option, but there is better.

P.S. I have a Nook and I don't live in the USA. I find it extremely interesting. And in the USA I think the Nook is an excellent option if you want buttons, a red night light and only want to pay $100 and not have ads.

P.P.S. The $120 Voyage refurb is attractive, but it is really $140 because it comes with ads. Personally I don't like ads. I strip all that crap out, and I don't expect to pay $20 bucks to not have ads on a device I paid for. I like my PW2, but B&N really have taken a swipe at Amazon. I hope the NG3 has an impact and Amazon stop pretending that buttons are premium (ridiculous!) and that they reduce the PW price to $100 without ads to match the Nook GL3.

Yes, but at least you can easily add an additional dictionary to the Kindle if you don't like the one on the device. Are any of these acceptable? https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n...nid=2941120011

Shari

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by barryem

A number of people in this and other forums have reported that they've called Kindle support complaining about the ads and they were turned off at no charge. It's worth trying.

Barry

Yes, I was the one saying that the ads feel kind of cheesy. But even so, calling to gripe about the ads and getting them removed for free feels underhanded.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Also, when shopping, I've always been (pretty much) a "take-or-leave-it" kind of shopper. If I don't like the price of an item (or the conditions attached to buying it) I just "leave it."

Oh, I don't disagree. I think Kindles are nice readers, but I've never purchased one. While the ads aren't the only reason, I will say they are part of it. They irritate me on the Fire tablet I own as well. So I share your 'take it or leave it' mentality.

But if I can't gripe about something that doesn't impact me and I'm not overly concerned about, what is the internet for?

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The thing about that argument is that Amazon seems to get to have their cake and eat it to.

When people compare the big 3 readers, Kobo Aura Edition 2, Nook Glowlight 3 and Kindle Paperwhite they are usually mentioned as costing about the same: $120.00. But only one of them requires a surcharge to remove ads.

Then if you grumble about the ads, you hear 'yeah, but you get a price discount for buying one with ads.'

So why can the small fries market similar devices and it's the 800 pound gorilla that has to use ads to subsidize their cost?

I think Kindles are fine readers. But the $20.00 to remove ads always sticks in my craw. To me it makes Amazon feel like money grubbers.

I agree to the nth with this entire post. I fault the review sites in particular for not making a point of the ad-free price of the devices. It's not a fair comparison; at a minimum, when comparing pluses and minuses across devices, the $20 surcharge is a honking huge minus.

For me, the surcharge is lose/lose. With lower end devices, that $20 is a colossal percentage of the selling price (like OEM cases, but that's a different rant). With the more luxe devices, it's just cheesy to have a premium product used as a billboard.

I think of how the assumption is that the Glo HD was discontinued because Kobo couldn't produce it to sell at the market price point of $120 without losing money and scaled back to the Aura Edition Two. Perhaps had $140 been the set point, the Glo HD would still be sold. And think of the device B&N might have produced to sell for $140!

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I guess you may have a point (now anyhow). When Amazon first started the ad-subsidized scheme, they dropped the prices of e-Readers way down from what they had been originally. With lack of competition I guess they've been easing their prices back up while keeping the subsidy "tax."

Amazon also used to have buttons as standard features, then made them a 'premium' feature *cough*. I think Amazon need some healthy competition in the US market.

Notably, Kindles outside of the US come without ads.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by shalym

Yes, but at least you can easily add an additional dictionary to the Kindle if you don't like the one on the device. Are any of these acceptable? https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n...nid=2941120011

Shari

Oh, yeah. Sure. I'm just making the note that Kindle is not the best dictionary experience possible on an e-reader, which is usually given as a given. The dictionaries are good on the Kindle, but there are better if you use Android. But, as I said, it's not as easy and not for everyone.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Yes, I was the one saying that the ads feel kind of cheesy. But even so, calling to gripe about the ads and getting them removed for free feels underhanded.

I agree. The ads are a stealth-tax. Personally I wouldn't feel bad about getting them removed for free, if possible and legal. You are too good, and perhaps need to dial down your guilt a bit. Amazon is not a little old lady

However, from a recent post...

Originally Posted by NoSohoth

I tried disabling the Special Offers before performing the jailbreak, but it seems the customer support doesn't do it for free anymore.

So you'd be lucky...

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

I agree. The ads are a stealth-tax. Personally I wouldn't feel bad about getting them removed for free, if possible and legal. You are too good, and perhaps need to dial down your guilt a bit. Amazon is not a little old lady

I have Catholic and Jewish inlaws, so guilt is part of day-to-day existence

My thing with the ads is you knew what you were getting into when you bought the Kindle. If you don't like the ads, either don't buy a Kindle or 'Roger... Pay the two dollars.'

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Oh, I don't disagree. I think Kindles are nice readers, but I've never purchased one. While the ads aren't the only reason, I will say they are part of it. They irritate me on the Fire tablet I own as well. So I share your 'take it or leave it' mentality.

But if I can't gripe about something that doesn't impact me and I'm not overly concerned about, what is the internet for?

Ads don't bother me unless they are intrusive. (Looking at certain websites) Like you and rcentros, I can just as easily leave something as buy it if I don't like the price or what a company is doing. If it is a company that the manager sets the pricing policy, then I just stay away until they replace the manager (example: pricing the base of a crockpot one price, the crock a second price and the lid a third price. Or a tote one price and it's lid another price.)
It doesn't take long before a sign pops up, under new management.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

My thing with the ads is you knew what you were getting into when you bought the Kindle. If you don't like the ads, either don't buy a Kindle or 'Roger... Pay the two dollars.'

I agree. Unless you were deceived by the seller, you got what you paid for. It seems wrong to renege on the deal (or renegotiate) after the fact.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by issybird

I think of how the assumption is that the Glo HD was discontinued because Kobo couldn't produce it to sell at the market price point of $120 without losing money and scaled back to the Aura Edition Two. Perhaps had $140 been the set point, the Glo HD would still be sold. And think of the device B&N might have produced to sell for $140!

I see your point, but for most (I'm guessing) the ads are not a major issue. So, since they'll never pay the $20 "surcharge," the cost of the Paperwhite is $120 to them. But you're right, reviewers should more strongly make the point that the $120 (in the Paperwhite example) is for a device subsidized by ads.

Personally the ads never bothered me, until I got the 8th Generation Basic Kindle. And the only reason they bother me on that device is because they thwart the auto-on feature when opening the cover. (Which now affects all current models of Kindles. So it is a bigger deal now.)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I see your point, but for most (I'm guessing) the ads are not a major issue. So, since they'll never pay the $20 "surcharge," the cost of the Paperwhite is $120 to them. But you're right, reviewers should more strongly make the point that the $120 (in the Paperwhite example) is for a device subsidized by ads.

They should be more honest and list the price as $140 ($120 with ads). At least when comparing against other readers.