Paperwhite alternative... kobo?

meth · 11-02-2016, 10:46 AM

What I need:
*backlight
*More than 2gb of space

What I'd like:
* expandable storage
* Maybe something bigger than 6" screen
* Native .epub reading capabilities
* decent pdf capabilities
* flat front screen.. where hairs, dust, crap don't get caught
* Under $200 US

Not really looking for a tablet, but something with e-ink. 90% of my books are side-loaded and are usually in .epub format, so I'm not really bound to a certain bookstore.

I currently have the 5th gen Paperwhite with 2gb of storage. Unfortunately, I read a lot of technical books where the average size is ~80mb each, so storage fills up too quickly. That, and I'm apparently unlucky with Kindles as they die in about a year's time (I believe I'm on my 8th).

So I've kind of narrowed it down to a Kobo Aura H20, or the Kobo Aura? Should I look into a Nook Glowlight Plus (have they fixed the blotchy back lighting from the initial Glowlight models), or any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

soulfuldog · 11-02-2016, 02:02 PM

If you want something slightly bigger than the standard 6" screen and with an SD Card slot, then the Aura H2O is probably your best bet. The other options you list (Aura and Glowlight Plus) are both 6" and neither has expandable storage, so wouldn't be any different from your Paperwhite. The H2O doesn't have a flat front screen though, you get that with the slightly bigger Aura One, but lose the expandable storage.

ottdmk · 11-02-2016, 04:39 PM

I agree with soulfuldog, the H2O is probably your best bet. If you'd like the even bigger Aura One (7.8"), keep in mind that it has 8GB storage. While it doesn't have a secondary ssd slot, 7GB+ (the OS takes up some room) will hold a lot of books.

ZodWallop · 11-02-2016, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

The other options you list (Aura and Glowlight Plus) are both 6" and neither has expandable storage, so wouldn't be any different from your Paperwhite.

The (original) Aura does have a micro SD card slot.

The original Aura has:

Backlight
More than 2gb of space
Expandable storage
Native .epub reading capabilities
Flat front screen.. where hairs, dust, crap don't get caught
Under $200 US

I never read PDFs on my eink devices, so I can't say how the Aura handles them.

Having said all that, the H20 has the larger screen you are looking for and can get wet. I like my Aura just fine, but I agree you might want to look at the Aura H20.

radius · 11-08-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The (original) Aura does have a micro SD card slot.

It's been a long time since I've seen an Aura, but doesn't the microSD card stick out a little bit after insertion? That would prevent me from using it as I'd always be worried about accidental ejection and losing the tiny card.

JSWolf · 11-08-2016, 10:39 AM

It's microSD and they do not stick out.

ZodWallop · 11-08-2016, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radius

It's been a long time since I've seen an Aura, but doesn't the microSD card stick out a little bit after insertion? That would prevent me from using it as I'd always be worried about accidental ejection and losing the tiny card.

Sorry to disagree with JS, but yes, the SD card does indeed stick out of the bottom of the original Aura. Others have commented saying the same. Very poor design decision. I have popped the thing out while reading once.

Since I bought the official sleep cover case for it, I haven't had that problem, as the case is slightly larger than the device and it's bulky enough that I hold it that way.

barryem · 11-08-2016, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radius

It's been a long time since I've seen an Aura, but doesn't the microSD card stick out a little bit after insertion? That would prevent me from using it as I'd always be worried about accidental ejection and losing the tiny card.

I've never used a card in my Aura but I just plugged one in to see and it sticks out less than 1/16". I think if I wanted to keep a card in it I'd put some tape over it. It's not enough to snag on anything but accidental ejection might be possible.

Barry

ZodWallop · 11-08-2016, 01:39 PM

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a pic of my Aura with the SD card. It doesn't snag on things. But since the SD card is on the bottom of the device and you often hold it at least partly by the bottom, you do have to be careful.

I will say, don't let it put you off of purchasing the device. I only popped the card out once, and it doesn't go rocketing out (the device wasn't built by Samsung), so you likely won't lose the card. You just have to figure out how to hold it. Purchasing a case alleviated the problem for me.

11-02-2016, 10:46 AM	#1
meth Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Pandigital Novel	Paperwhite alternative... kobo? What I need: backlight More than 2gb of space What I'd like: * expandable storage * Maybe something bigger than 6" screen * Native .epub reading capabilities * decent pdf capabilities * flat front screen.. where hairs, dust, crap don't get caught * Under $200 US Not really looking for a tablet, but something with e-ink. 90% of my books are side-loaded and are usually in .epub format, so I'm not really bound to a certain bookstore. I currently have the 5th gen Paperwhite with 2gb of storage. Unfortunately, I read a lot of technical books where the average size is ~80mb each, so storage fills up too quickly. That, and I'm apparently unlucky with Kindles as they die in about a year's time (I believe I'm on my 8th). So I've kind of narrowed it down to a Kobo Aura H20, or the Kobo Aura? Should I look into a Nook Glowlight Plus (have they fixed the blotchy back lighting from the initial Glowlight models), or any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

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11-02-2016, 02:02 PM	#2
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	If you want something slightly bigger than the standard 6" screen and with an SD Card slot, then the Aura H2O is probably your best bet. The other options you list (Aura and Glowlight Plus) are both 6" and neither has expandable storage, so wouldn't be any different from your Paperwhite. The H2O doesn't have a flat front screen though, you get that with the slightly bigger Aura One, but lose the expandable storage.

11-02-2016, 04:39 PM	#3
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	I agree with soulfuldog, the H2O is probably your best bet. If you'd like the even bigger Aura One (7.8"), keep in mind that it has 8GB storage. While it doesn't have a secondary ssd slot, 7GB+ (the OS takes up some room) will hold a lot of books.

11-08-2016, 10:39 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,745 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It's microSD and they do not stick out.

11-08-2016, 01:39 PM	#9
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,478 Karma: 111164374 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a pic of my Aura with the SD card. It doesn't snag on things. But since the SD card is on the bottom of the device and you often hold it at least partly by the bottom, you do have to be careful. I will say, don't let it put you off of purchasing the device. I only popped the card out once, and it doesn't go rocketing out (the device wasn't built by Samsung), so you likely won't lose the card. You just have to figure out how to hold it. Purchasing a case alleviated the problem for me.

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