Paperwhite 5 or Libra 2?

[JSWolf]

The Libra 2 works much better with Calibre. The integration with Calibre is excellent.

The Kindle with Calibre so-so. The integration is very poor.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by mbrisco

Something useful for anyone deciding between these: Both the Paperwhite 5 and the Libra 2 have 512MB of RAM. I've seen various online articles say the PW5 had 1GB but can't confirm in my hand that it doesn't, only 512MB. I think Wikipedia say 1GB as well, but they're notorious already.

I don't remember so much hearing about the difference in RAM. I do remember hearing about the faster processor.

[Pajamaman]

If you buy from Amazon, get the Kindle. If not, get the Kobo.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

If you buy from Amazon, get the Kindle. If not, get the Kobo.

DeDRM is your friend.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

If you buy from Amazon, get the Kindle. If not, get the Kobo.

I buy from Amazon and use a Kobo, But I will admit that I enjoy organizing my Calibre library as a hobby aside from reading. That may not be for everyone.

If I had a friend (in the US) that was buying their first reader, I'd recommend the Kindle. I just assume everyone uses Amazon and Kindle is the 800 lb gorilla.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I buy from Amazon and use a Kobo, But I will admit that I enjoy organizing my Calibre library as a hobby aside from reading. That may not be for everyone.

If I had a friend (in the US) that was buying their first reader, I'd recommend the Kindle. I just assume everyone uses Amazon and Kindle is the 800 lb gorilla.

I was going to get my mother a Kobo to replace her T1 (Sony). But she passed away before then.

If I had a friend who was looking for a first Reader, I'd suggest Kobo and help that person setup DeDRM, ADE, and Kindle.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If I had a friend who was looking for a first Reader, I'd suggest Kobo and help that person setup DeDRM, ADE, and Kindle.

And you would be free IT for that friend forever. And the instant they hear about some Kindle feature (Goodreads integration) that friend would think 'why did he talk me into a Kobo?'

You just have to accept that some people don't want to spend as much time tinkering as you and I do. Most people want to use their reader out of the box, as designed.

Having said that, I think Kobo gives a perfectly fine experience out of the box, without Calibre. Public library access is better than on the Kindle. It is a perfectly valid competitor.

The reason I would recommend Kindle (in the US) is because the new Paperwhite 5 is really nice and Kindle is just the defacto reader in the US. It outclasses the Clara and is cheaper than the Libra. The connection to Goodreads and Kindle Unlimited, while not important features to me, may very well be to a generic user. Library access is almost as good as on a Kobo.

Kindle has lots of downsides. Collections suck. Amazon randomly changes covers on books, the ads, etc. But the average user likely won't notice or care.

If buying a reader for myself or my partner where I am going to be in control of both devices, I would buy Kobo.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

And you would be free IT for that friend forever. And the instant they hear about some Kindle feature (Goodreads integration) that friend would think 'why did he talk me into a Kobo?'

You just have to accept that some people don't want to spend as much time tinkering as you and I do. Most people want to use their reader out of the box, as designed.

Having said that, I think Kobo gives a perfectly fine experience out of the box, without Calibre. Public library access is better than on the Kindle. It is a perfectly valid competitor.

The reason I would recommend Kindle (in the US) is because the new Paperwhite 5 is really nice and Kindle is just the defacto reader in the US. It outclasses the Clara and is cheaper than the Libra. The connection to Goodreads and Kindle Unlimited, while not important features to me, may very well be to a generic user. Library access is almost as good as on a Kobo.

Kindle has lots of downsides. Collections suck. Amazon randomly changes covers on books, the ads, etc. But the average user likely won't notice or care.

If buying a reader for myself or my partner where I am going to be in control of both devices, I would buy Kobo.

There are a number of people on MR complaining that they really dislike the newest firmware for the Kindle. I've not tried it so I cannot say. But given that, I would say no to the Kindle. I would not want to recommend something to someone that he/she may not like.

I've never found I was missing Goodreads integration. But for organizing your eBooks, Kindle just cannot do it well at all. Kobo does it so much better.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There are a number of people on MR complaining that they really dislike the newest firmware for the Kindle. I've not tried it so I cannot say.

The new firmware does seem to have turned the home screen into an endless scroll of ads... I mean 'recommendations'.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The new firmware does seem to have turned the home screen into an endless scroll of ads... I mean 'recommendations'.

That's not good. No wonder others don't like it. Would you want to foist that onto an unsuspecting newbie?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That's not good. No wonder others don't like it. Would you want to foist that onto an unsuspecting newbie?

An unsuspecting newbie wouldn't know it should be any different.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

An unsuspecting newbie wouldn't know it should be any different.

And imagine how a Kobo noob would react to “Kobo’s gonna Kobo”!

[Pajamaman]

For me it's the ease of organizing books. I don't even really have to do much with metadata on the Kobo. It automatically organizes books by author, which is the extent to which I want to organize books in Calibre.

I was working with jailbreaked PW2 before, and even with the JB and the tools developed by the community, it was a pain. The Kobo is so easy afterwards.

Also I was very impressed by the Libra 2. Nice screen, nice very orange light, presumably a great battery life. My only doubt is the crashes. I'll have to see how that goes. I may need to downgrade firmware.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

An unsuspecting newbie wouldn't know it should be any different.

I would. And if I am giving support, then no way.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Kindle has lots of downsides. Collections suck. Amazon randomly changes covers on books, the ads, etc. But the average user likely won't notice or care.

And that's what everyone here forgets: We are not average users. We care about things that most users do not care about these things. Most users are just reading a book and then forgetting about it. They are buying the books from whichever company is attached to their device and that's about it. They don't care much about collections because they probably don't have enough books. The covers don't matter because Amazon is supplying them. The "ads" are expected because everything else shows ads.