Need help on choosing, kindle or kobo for Canadian

cmleung · 10-09-2011, 11:46 AM

I am thinking to get an e-reader, and I am struggling between the kobo and the kindle. The main features I am looking for are:
- long battery life
- allow me to highlights and notes
- it would be nice if I can subscribe to local newspapers, toronto sun, national post and the globe and mail in particular.
- if there is a calendar app would be even better, but not necessary

I travel a lot and I want a device that is easy to carry and do not always need wi-fi connection. Laptop are just too big and not easy to carry and read on the plane, subway and buses and go train, battery life is another issue. IPad and even the Kindle Fire that are coming out soon, I think are over the top of what I am looking for, pricing is also another consideration.

My dilemma is that, some books from Canadian authors are only available in kobo, and some books are released in US for kindle. I usually get my books from chapters and amazon.ca, and ebooks from ebooks.com read with adobe digital edition, and lately from amazon.ca with kindle reader installed on my laptop. So my ebooks are all over the place at this point, using my laptop still requires different readers software to read them.

I don't care much about borrowing books from the library, I do not like waiting list, and I do pull out old books to read from time to time when I need them.

So what do you have and how do you compare the two?

PeterT · 10-09-2011, 12:05 PM

I am a happy Kobo owner. Sure there are at times technical issues, but they do get resolved quickly.

Papers... Kobo has a service for some that include Toronto Star, National Post, Globe and Mail; no Toronto Sun.

You could utilize Calibre and it's News feature to download and convert papers from various sources to your eReader.

Calibre can be used (with some help from Apprentice Alf) to manage books, and to convert between different formats (ePub / Mobi / .... the list is endless).

dorino · 10-09-2011, 04:55 PM

For what you want, OP, I'd definitely choose the Kobo.

terraskye · 10-09-2011, 07:12 PM

i just bought a kindle 3(keyboard) yesterday as it was on sale at Staples..While I haven't tried the new kobo's, other than playing with the demo, I am happy with my Kindle so far. I don't think you can get Cdn newspaper on it though...but then again it wasn't a must have for me so I never researched it.

I didn't like the 2nd gen kobo as I hated that navigation button but the new touch ones seem a lot nicer. I may get one later for epub books that I can't get through Amazon

Edited to add:

I was wrong..Here is a list of Cdn. newspapers that can be subscribed too on the kindle

cmleung · 10-09-2011, 11:43 PM

Kobo it is, I just checked ebooks.com which I have quite a few books purchased. They do not support Kindle, although it is possible to transfer their books to kindle but it looks like a hassle to me. They went on and explain the Amazon's exclusion policy, I know they want to corner the market and it may be easier to implement and manage with one device with their licensing and purchasing process, it is a pretty short sighted move.

10-09-2011, 11:46 AM	#1
cmleung Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	Need help on choosing, kindle or kobo for Canadian I am thinking to get an e-reader, and I am struggling between the kobo and the kindle. The main features I am looking for are: - long battery life - allow me to highlights and notes - it would be nice if I can subscribe to local newspapers, toronto sun, national post and the globe and mail in particular. - if there is a calendar app would be even better, but not necessary I travel a lot and I want a device that is easy to carry and do not always need wi-fi connection. Laptop are just too big and not easy to carry and read on the plane, subway and buses and go train, battery life is another issue. IPad and even the Kindle Fire that are coming out soon, I think are over the top of what I am looking for, pricing is also another consideration. My dilemma is that, some books from Canadian authors are only available in kobo, and some books are released in US for kindle. I usually get my books from chapters and amazon.ca, and ebooks from ebooks.com read with adobe digital edition, and lately from amazon.ca with kindle reader installed on my laptop. So my ebooks are all over the place at this point, using my laptop still requires different readers software to read them. I don't care much about borrowing books from the library, I do not like waiting list, and I do pull out old books to read from time to time when I need them. So what do you have and how do you compare the two?

10-09-2011, 07:12 PM	#4
terraskye Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 9738 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Device: Mine:Kindle 3(wifi)Sony PRS-300(died)His: Sony Prs-300	i just bought a kindle 3(keyboard) yesterday as it was on sale at Staples..While I haven't tried the new kobo's, other than playing with the demo, I am happy with my Kindle so far. I don't think you can get Cdn newspaper on it though...but then again it wasn't a must have for me so I never researched it. I didn't like the 2nd gen kobo as I hated that navigation button but the new touch ones seem a lot nicer. I may get one later for epub books that I can't get through Amazon Edited to add: I was wrong..Here is a list of Cdn. newspapers that can be subscribed too on the kindle Last edited by terraskye; 10-09-2011 at 07:37 PM.

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10-09-2011, 12:05 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,511 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I am a happy Kobo owner. Sure there are at times technical issues, but they do get resolved quickly. Papers... Kobo has a service for some that include Toronto Star, National Post, Globe and Mail; no Toronto Sun. You could utilize Calibre and it's News feature to download and convert papers from various sources to your eReader. Calibre can be used (with some help from Apprentice Alf) to manage books, and to convert between different formats (ePub / Mobi / .... the list is endless).

10-09-2011, 04:55 PM	#3
dorino I'm odd. Take note. Posts: 325 Karma: 779 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Montana Device: deceased PRS-600, Nook STR	For what you want, OP, I'd definitely choose the Kobo.

10-09-2011, 11:43 PM	#5
cmleung Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	Kobo it is, I just checked ebooks.com which I have quite a few books purchased. They do not support Kindle, although it is possible to transfer their books to kindle but it looks like a hassle to me. They went on and explain the Amazon's exclusion policy, I know they want to corner the market and it may be easier to implement and manage with one device with their licensing and purchasing process, it is a pretty short sighted move.

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