08-05-2013, 03:37 PM | #1 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 39
Karma: 12026
Join Date: Jul 2013
Device: Nook Simple Touch
|
Look for a new ereader
I am interested in an ereader to replace my Nook Simple Touch. While I love the design of the device and the physical page turn buttons, I've found that both the hardware and software are very glitchy. I've already had the device replaced once and am having to replace it again. I'm also unhappy with B&N's lousy tech support and the direction their software is taking (I went so far as to revert to an older software version after they got rid of the page numbers in the table of contents).
Now I'm at a loss for what ereader to buy. The Kindle Touch is out because I prefer the epub format to the mobi/azw format, and because I find the device uncomfortable to hold. The rubberized contoured back of the NST is one of the biggest selling points of the device. I'm interested in the Kobo ereader but because I live in the U.S. there doesn't seem to be a way of looking at one in person to see if it's comfortable to hold, and check out the software. Here are some things I'm looking for: 1) An E-Ink device. 2) Touch screen (a must). 3) Page numbers for all books. I like having them in the table of contents but if not, I'd like for there to be some other easy way of telling how many pages are left in a chapter without having to navigate to the next chapter to see what page it starts on. I also want to be able to see how many total pages are left in the book. I prefer dynamic page numbers like those found in iBook or Stanza for the iPad/iPhone but the static Adobe ones are better than nothing. 4) Epub support 5) If the device has a light for night reading I want the ability to turn off the light when I'm not using it. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. Last edited by witchkitten; 08-06-2013 at 02:45 PM. |
08-05-2013, 03:49 PM | #2 | |
Bookaholic
Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Quote:
Also many Indie booksellers across the US carry Kobo devices. There's a store finder on this page... http://www.kobo.com/indie |
|
Advert | |
|
08-05-2013, 03:55 PM | #3 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 39
Karma: 12026
Join Date: Jul 2013
Device: Nook Simple Touch
|
Quote:
Thank you for the link. I saw the Family Christian stores but the closest one is far from me, however, there seem to be several close indie stores. Last edited by witchkitten; 08-06-2013 at 04:54 AM. |
|
08-05-2013, 04:19 PM | #4 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,812
Karma: 26912940
Join Date: Apr 2010
Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet
|
You might try a Kobo mini when they are on sale for $40 which seems to be often.
Small but easy to read on and very comfortable to hold. Kobo software is possibly the glitchiest but I still use mine and they are overall not unendurable. Helen |
08-05-2013, 05:33 PM | #5 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 39
Karma: 12026
Join Date: Jul 2013
Device: Nook Simple Touch
|
Helen, what do you mean by glitchy. What sort of glitches have you experienced?
I actually went to look the Kobo at an indie retailer near me and I was impressed. I didn't think anyone made dedicated ereaders with dynamic page numbers but that's what the Kobo had. I love how customizable it is in terms of fonts and margins, and the fact there's the option of forcing non-justified text to justify. Also, I was happy that it showed the number of pages left in the chapter, and I actually prefer having a total percentage read to having the total number of pages, though it would be nice to have both. Of the three ereaders I've tried (Nook, Kindle, Kobo) the Kobo is the closest to Stanza (RIP), which was my favorite ereading software. I also though it was comfortable to hold. The rubberized material is so much better than the hard material used by the Kindle Touch. My main gripe with the Kobo is that it didn't always register my finger taps to move the pages backwards or forwards. I don't like to swipe so that's something I have to think about. Also, the top and bottom margins at the lowest setting were larger than I'd like. My Nook fits a lot more words to a page with the same font and font size. The software wasn't as intuitive as my Nook, which of the three ereaders I've tried is the closest to the iPhone, but I'm sure I'd get used to it. The store I went to only had the glo and the mini. I'm interested to see the Aura too. Hopefully one of the other local retailers has one on display. Last edited by witchkitten; 08-06-2013 at 02:42 PM. |
Advert | |
|
08-05-2013, 06:02 PM | #6 | |
Wizard
Posts: 4,812
Karma: 26912940
Join Date: Apr 2010
Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet
|
Quote:
But it and all Kobo readers are missing basic reliability and functionality that we take for granted in other readers. There are numerous threads in the Kobo forums detailing these problems and the partial solutions that those outside of Kobo have worked hard to develop. Each firmware revision fixes one thing and generally breaks something else and/or introduces a whole new problem. We have one or more fairly active, very long threads for the latest 2-3 and an overall kobo Bug thread which is also very long and not complete by any means. Nothing to that extent in any of the other device forums. I have a mini and an Aura and they are both nice, although I think I like the mini better. I still would recommend a mini to all but the extreme technophobe because of the nice hardware and the very good price. For a while I was very annoyed at the double triple page turns, the back button being taken away, the extremely slow opening of the shelf menu, the poor or non functioning or random sorting functions, but I have mostly gotten over it I don't use the dictionaries or wifi so no problems there. 99% of the time I am reading a book and the only problem I have with that is the double/triple page turns, which haven't severely strained my thumb yet. Helen. |
|
08-05-2013, 06:21 PM | #7 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 39
Karma: 12026
Join Date: Jul 2013
Device: Nook Simple Touch
|
Quote:
Last edited by witchkitten; 08-06-2013 at 04:54 AM. |
|
08-06-2013, 12:52 AM | #8 | |
Fanatic
Posts: 556
Karma: 3531054
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Germany
Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2
|
Quote:
My own experience with the Kobo Glo is that it works fabulously. I have no double or triple page turns (I had those with the Pyrus mini until a firmware update fixed them) and I haven't bumped into any software glitches, though I have pretty low expectations: I side-load books and shelves via Calibre, and read them. I'm not doing any actual organizing on the device, don't buy books through it, and don't search through my library. Calibre is used for all of that. My only two "issues" with the Kobo Glo are the lack of physical page-turn buttons and the light switch that is impossible to find in the dark. (I go back and forth on the desire for buttons, mostly for "reading on the back and holding the device in one hand above my head", so I picked up a Bookeen model, but I think they are mostly/only available here in Europe, and I haven't received it yet.) Overall, though, I'm satisfied with the Glo. |
|
08-06-2013, 03:05 AM | #9 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 39
Karma: 12026
Join Date: Jul 2013
Device: Nook Simple Touch
|
Quote:
Last edited by witchkitten; 08-06-2013 at 04:55 AM. |
|
08-06-2013, 04:29 AM | #10 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
I know you said that you're not really interested in the Kindle, but I really would consider the Kindle Paperwhite. It has a great "reading time" feature which shows you the time left to finish either the current chapter or the current book, and it's trivial to convert between ePub and the Kindle's KF8 format using Calibre. The firmware is rock solid with no real bugs, and Amazon's support is second to none. Plus, of course, Amazon have the best bookstore around.
|
08-06-2013, 08:50 AM | #11 | ||
Addict
Posts: 382
Karma: 1118562
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Middlesex, UK
Device: Kobo Aura One, iPhone 8, iPad Pro
|
Quote:
Quote:
I am looking to replace my PW and am waiting to see the specifications of the upcoming Sony T3 and new 6" Kobo. My previous Sonys (300,350,650) have always been a pleasure to use and integrate very well with Calibre. Although if the T3 turns out not to be front lit, then I will choose the Kobo. |
||
08-06-2013, 09:14 AM | #12 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
08-06-2013, 11:26 AM | #13 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,476
Karma: 14328611
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3
|
I don't have a Glo but I do have an Aura and on the whole I'm quite happy with it. I've yet to have any problems with the hardware or software and I can only assume that the Glo is just as good. I think Kobo owners tend to be a pretty passionate bunch which is both good and bad. If you want to see the bad just watch them fight in whatever the latest firmware thread is. If you simply want to organise your books and read then you'll be fine. If you want toI turn your books into a wall of tiny text with absolutely no line spacing whatsoever then you may have to look elsewhere.
|
08-07-2013, 01:47 AM | #14 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 5,700
Karma: 66666666
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
|
Nope! It's easy to fix the line spacing issue using Calibre.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Kobo eReader N647-KUS-B Digital eReader - Onyx $39.99 + $5.00 shipping | Brainphart | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 0 | 08-18-2012 12:51 PM |
Kno ereader starts shipping today – Huge thumps as monster ereader hits doorsteps | wannabee | News | 63 | 01-04-2011 12:49 PM |
Unutterably Silly eReader-Spotting / eReader in Film und Fernsehen | beachwanderer | Lounge | 1 | 04-29-2010 04:26 PM |
eReader (pdb) purchased ebooks on B&N eReader on iPhone? | bthoven | Reading and Management | 5 | 12-23-2009 06:52 AM |
Fictionwise eReader Sale & eReader for Blackberry beta | AnemicOak | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 6 | 03-23-2009 03:08 PM |