I need a new reader..

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

This is great, I have my eye on the Kobo color since a video I saw this a.m.
I having looked up what the eink means but I think it's probably that you can write on the screen??

eInk is a display technology much like LCD, OLED, etc. Some Kobo devices support writing on the screen. eInk offers the advantage that it is a bistable technology so once you write the screen it will display what was written until a rewrite without needing any power.

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

Does downloading books mean I could share them with my sister? I was always so disappointed I couldn't share them as she has a hard time with tek stuff, and little money to spend.

We are getting into a different discussion here. Unless you are downloading public domain ebooks, transferring an ebook to a device that is not yours is not allowed by the licensing for most ebooks. It is doable but discussions about doing so are not permitted on MobileRead—it attracts the attention of lawyers. However if you want to ask about transferring PD books, there are quite a few people who are more than willing to offer advice.

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by DNSB

eInk is a display technology much like LCD, OLED, etc. Some Kobo devices support writing on the screen. eInk offers the advantage that it is a bistable technology so once you write the screen it will display what was written until a rewrite without needing any power.



We are getting into a different discussion here. Unless you are downloading public domain ebooks, transferring an ebook to a device that is not yours is not allowed by the licensing for most ebooks. It is doable but discussions about doing so are not permitted on MobileRead—it attracts the attention of lawyers. However if you want to ask about transferring PD books, there are quite a few people who are more than willing to offer advice.

Thank you for the info on the e-ink tech. No, I don't want to do anything illegal. I was watching something on youtube about the way to use "developer" options to side load, but I honestly just want to use the tablet as is.

To get real honest, I saw yet another video and wondered why I was spending so much on a stylus, so I cancelled that order. I really wonder if I might have been better off waiting a bit to order the KLC because of color. I don't need the color. Oh well, the pros are it's small but I don't like the way the screen flashes "black" when you turn a page.

I may go with a kindle again, they're less money, I mean the Fire 8 or 10, but their so big. The Paperwhites but I think they are a lot more money.

I know I'll have something that will be just fine. I mean I've been reading these kindle 7s for years, since they first came out around 50 bucks

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

Thank you for the info on the e-ink tech. No, I don't want to do anything illegal. I was watching something on youtube about the way to use "developer" options to side load, but I honestly just want to use the tablet as is.

I don't know if you and your sister like sci/fi or fantasy, but books from Tor and Baen publishers are DRM-free ... those can be downloaded as DRM-free epub from the Kobo site and therefore, potentially can be shared. It's possible to scroll down to book details in the Kobo store and find out if something is DRM-free or not. Here's an example, from a mystery series I have been reading for a while:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wea...the-watermelon

If you scroll down to the end of the page, you'll see the book details, like so:

eBook Details
Valley Publishing Ltd.
Release Date: December 2, 2025
Book ID: 9781778866944
Language: English
Download options: EPUB 2 (DRM-Free)

That's a book that can be downloaded and shared with your sister. There are others, but you'd have to seek out the genres and sorts of reading you and your sister would like.

Technically, even DRM-free ebooks are not strictly speaking, supposed to be shared, but I suspect most authors would not mind sharing between siblings, or between wife and husband, or parent/child. Just don't be sending the ebook to every friend and relative you have or uploading it to pirate sites!

Anything in the public domain can be shared legally, and the public domain contains a great deal of excellent reading. The books on StandardEbook.org tend to be nicely done, but they are not the only source of public domain titles.

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

To get real honest, I saw yet another video and wondered why I was spending so much on a stylus, so I cancelled that order. I really wonder if I might have been better off waiting a bit to order the KLC because of color. I don't need the color. Oh well, the pros are it's small but I don't like the way the screen flashes "black" when you turn a page.

You do not have to buy the official Kobo stylus. There are other third-party styluses that will work. I believe the Metapen M1 or M2 would. I have a Kobo Sage and have both an official stylus (given to me) and a Metapen M1 and they work pretty similarly. The Metapens go on sale every so often, and are considerably cheaper than the official option.

Good luck, and I hope you end up with a reader you love! I'm also up here in the Pacific NW.

I would encourage trying out an e-ink reader of some sort eventually, even if you pick up a budget used one from eBay. Just to see what they are like and whether you prefer it to reading on a tablet or not.

[abbynormal52]

I just lost a bunch of text, but I can't thank you enough for all this info, regarding the styluses off-brand as well. My sis and I love mysteries and your Mayer books are in my library too on Libby!! Save us both money!! I think I'll just keep it simple, for sis and I, and stick with the library books her and I both can get.

I don't want to mess with anything tekkie to be honest, as I have to figure things out, then basically do that for her. We live about 150 miles apart so Libby/Overdrive are the best for us. I can still buy a book once in awhile if I need to.

It will be fun to see what the Kobo Libra colour is like, and I can return it easily if I like it. If not, I'll look at other e-readers, maybe be able to go cheaper, I'll have to wait and see, but again, thank you for your help graycyn, denise

[cgsmom]

Yes, congrats to you. I just got my first Kobo but I went with the Clara Colour, also ordered on Amazon. It came pretty quick.

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

Yes, congrats to you. I just got my first Kobo but I went with the Clara Colour, also ordered on Amazon. It came pretty quick.

If I really don't want the one I ordered, the Clara looks very good to me now, that I've learned a bit more. I watched a video yesterday on the Black and white Clara, I think I'll go look now

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

Yes, congrats to you. I just got my first Kobo but I went with the Clara Colour, also ordered on Amazon. It came pretty quick.

I think the "front-light" setting is better on the Colour, and I do like how the things we see like book covers, look better. Amazon's price is way better for me, on either BW or Colour.

Here's the link on one comparison video. What do you think with having yours now?

My libra colour won't arrive until after christmas, so I can't do a return until then. Just see all I really need on the Clara Colours!

[Frogm4n]

If you haven't seen eink in real life, it might be worth a trip to a Best Buy or Target to see a display model. It is quite different than looking at a common LCD like a phone or tablet. You may be able to compare B&W vs color eink side-by-side, too.

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by Frogm4n

If you haven't seen eink in real life, it might be worth a trip to a Best Buy or Target to see a display model. It is quite different than looking at a common LCD like a phone or tablet. You may be able to compare B&W vs color eink side-by-side, too.

I didn't think to look at Walmart, but they may have some e-inks as well. We do have a target, and I think a Best Buy, I'll check for sure. Thank you, and also if I don't end up doing that, I have my Kindle 7" which still has excellent color, Denise

I have the Libra Colour on the way, so I can check it out against the Kindle too, but I was thinking not to even open the box since I want to spend less money anyway. I'll let you all know what I end up with thought

[bdub]

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

I think the "front-light" setting is better on the Colour, and I do like how the things we see like book covers, look better. Amazon's price is way better for me, on either BW or Colour.

Here's the link on one comparison video. What do you think with having yours now?

My libra colour won't arrive until after christmas, so I can't do a return until then. Just see all I really need on the Clara Colours!

I'd read the Kindle bit of this board, where folks are discussing challenges with the latest firmware. There was an issue with one firmware released by KOBO this year, so I'm not saying they don't problems. But you'll want to read up on what folks aren't liking about this latest release from Amazon.

My wife still has her Kindle, but she now either buys her books from KOBO or borrows them from the library. She didn't like the idea of the indefinite lease for a book, and she did have a Kindle that had 1984 that was taken away. She also spent a lot of time backing up her Kindle library before downloading her books was locked down earlier this year. She'll most likely buy a KOBO when her Kindle dies.

The biggest problem with KOBO is the lack of a 7" b&w reader, and they do cost more than Kindles. However, you can download your book purchases simply from their website.

If you go the color route, check out some of the YouTube videos showing the reading differences between the two. It sounds nice to have a color covers, but do you really need it if the reading experience is worse?

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by bdub

I'd read the Kindle bit of this board, where folks are discussing challenges with the latest firmware. There was an issue with one firmware released by KOBO this year, so I'm not saying they don't problems. But you'll want to read up on what folks aren't liking about this latest release from Amazon.

My wife still has her Kindle, but she now either buys her books from KOBO or borrows them from the library. She didn't like the idea of the indefinite lease for a book, and she did have a Kindle that had 1984 that was taken away. She also spent a lot of time backing up her Kindle library before downloading her books was locked down earlier this year. She'll most likely buy a KOBO when her Kindle dies.

The biggest problem with KOBO is the lack of a 7" b&w reader, and they do cost more than Kindles. However, you can download your book purchases simply from their website.

If you go the color route, check out some of the YouTube videos showing the reading differences between the two. It sounds nice to have a color covers, but do you really need it if the reading experience is worse?

No if the reading is not good on the Colour, I don't want it. The kindle is good to read on using "dark mode" for me, and turning down the brightness. I only read at night.

One review comparing the Colour to the bw Clara seemed to lean towards the color on what they called "frontlight". It's yellowish, like one of my settings on kindle. I don't care for it, just use the dark mode with white text.

Here's the link I meant to put up in a previous comment, but forgot it. This is the review I actually could stand listening to, and watching, this guy seems to the point, feedback welcome here, as always
https://youtu.be/t4E52qYE0_8

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

I just lost a bunch of text, but I can't thank you enough for all this info, regarding the styluses off-brand as well. My sis and I love mysteries and your Mayer books are in my library too on Libby!! Save us both money!! I think I'll just keep it simple, for sis and I, and stick with the library books her and I both can get.

I don't want to mess with anything tekkie to be honest, as I have to figure things out, then basically do that for her. We live about 150 miles apart so Libby/Overdrive are the best for us. I can still buy a book once in awhile if I need to.

It will be fun to see what the Kobo Libra colour is like, and I can return it easily if I like it. If not, I'll look at other e-readers, maybe be able to go cheaper, I'll have to wait and see, but again, thank you for your help graycyn, denise

You are welcome! I think keeping it simple is an excellent way to go! And yes, recommending titles for your sister to check out through her library is a great way to share!

I hope you end up enjoying the color e-ink experience, but if you don't, you can always return, then try a different, black-and-white e-ink device. After that, you'll have a good idea of what will work best for you between e-ink and a tablet.

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by graycyn

You are welcome! I think keeping it simple is an excellent way to go! And yes, recommending titles for your sister to check out through her library is a great way to share!

I hope you end up enjoying the color e-ink experience, but if you don't, you can always return, then try a different, black-and-white e-ink device. After that, you'll have a good idea of what will work best for you between e-ink and a tablet.

I plan to go down to Walmart tomorrow a.m. I always go super early to beat the traffic, including grocery carts. Pretty sure they have a lot on display, including readers I think. Thank you again for all your help, and I'll let you all know what I get, and keep

I will keep my Kindle, for back-up. I've had it a long time. Only reason I bought another was it was so slow, I though a new one would be faster, but it really wasn't a lot.

I'm not sure but I saw one video that said something about these newer Kobos being repairable, something like that. I like that they have the devmode, not sure I'll use, it but I did with my Android and Kindles, denise

[John F]

Originally Posted by abbynormal52

I plan to go down to Walmart tomorrow a.m. I always go super early to beat the traffic, including grocery carts. Pretty sure they have a lot on display, including readers I think.

...

You might want to check them online first. I think it will avoid an unnecessary trip.

[abbynormal52]

Hi John F,

I've a lot of looking and listening on both Youtube and the Amazon reviews, plus the help here. I just think actually seeing the E-reader is kind of a good way to actually see with my own eyes, if it's possible, in a store, I'm very close to Walmart so I thought I'd try there. I need some other things from there anyway, I usually go weekly.

Won't go until the weekend as today, day after shoppers, even very early, may be over-whelming

Thank you though as, I'm not going to fret if I don't get down there though. I have the Kobo Libra Colour on the way, will arrive soon and I can just try it, comparing to the color on my Kindle at least.

I just like the lesser price, to get all I really need, on the Kobo Clara