Kobo vs kindle

knightstyle

I have had a Kobo for 4 months and it is great. Most books are available for it and loads of good free ones. Plus often you can get a chapter of a book free if you are thinking of buying it.
BUT some/many? books from Amazon are not just the wrong format but DRM protected and cannot be read on anything other than a Kindle. Plus books bought from iTunes cannot be read either.
Having said that I would still go for the Kobo and if he likes puzzles it comes with Sudoko built in and a sketch book thingy that can be used for taking hand written notes.

-TangleFoot-

knightstyle wrote: »

books from Amazon are [...] DRM protected

Last time I checked most other sellers were still using ADEPT.

grizzly1911

prowla wrote: »

On usability, I tried a Kobo, and I couldn't get it to do anything.

With my Kindle I can buy (well actually I haven't paid for a single book as there are thousands of free ones on Amazon) a book on my PC and it will automatically download onto my Kindle via the airwaves.

The only think I don't like about the Kindle is that it hasn't got a cover flow type interface like some of the adverts seem to imply.

I have looked at the free stuff and so far have only found a handful that I would want to try reading a lot is old or dubious fiction.

I like auto/biographies, travel associate dtales and .modern warfare and some horror/action fiction.:(

Victorthe2nd

I don't know about Sarah (original poster) but I'm as confused as I was weeks ago when I too started looking at these! I've been using my sister-in-laws Kindle over the past few days and have to say it is very good. Books download swiftly, there is plenty of free stuff on Amazon and the reading experience is far better than I expected. I love the feel and touch of books and was very reluctant to even try, but.....I am a convert. I've tried Kobos on display in WH SMith and definitely don't like the "none-touch" one which has a rubbish controller thing instead of the Kindle-esque side buttons. The "page turning flicker thing" seems pretty much the same on both devices. The touch screen on the Kobo Touch was great and easy to use when reading one-handed. For me, the decision is probably the Kobo - simply because I can't get library books on a Kindle.....although my library tells me this is being looked at "nationally" with the Library service in discussion with publishers although there is no timescale regarding how long that process will take. Aaaaaargh, this is like VHS v Betamax. (Ooops, showing my age now)

penrhyn

Have a look at a Nexus 7 if you are going to do your reading indoors.
I've only tried the Kindle and Google books apps but it would appear that Nook and Kobo apps are available. You get a £15 credit from Google play if you order direct from Google.


http://www.androidauthority.com/top-5-ebook-reader-apps-for-android-phonestablets-44253/

Victorthe2nd

Hi Penrhyn, I'd love either the Nexus 7 or Kobo Vox, but they are no good for outdoor reading as the screens are too reflective. I know there are anti-glare screen protectors around, plus the new Kobo Vox is supposed to use special glass....however the one I tried the other day (the store thought it had the new glass) was still reflecting and no use for e-reading. I agree though - a combination of a good e-reader and small tablet would be perfect!

Victorthe2nd

knightstyle wrote: »

I have had a Kobo for 4 months and it is great. Most books are available for it and loads of good free ones. Plus often you can get a chapter of a book free if you are thinking of buying it.
BUT some/many? books from Amazon are not just the wrong format but DRM protected and cannot be read on anything other than a Kindle. Plus books bought from iTunes cannot be read either.
Having said that I would still go for the Kobo and if he likes puzzles it comes with Sudoko built in and a sketch book thingy that can be used for taking hand written notes.

Knightstyle - please can you tell me if it is easy to download books directly to the Kobo? Or, do you have to go via a PC? Thanks!!

davholla

Victorthe2nd wrote: »

Knightstyle - please can you tell me if it is easy to download books directly to the Kobo? Or, do you have to go via a PC? Thanks!!

According to this web site

Shop on the move in the Kobo store –
choose from more than 2.2 million
eBooks including 1 million-plus FREE

so I guess yes
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/kobowirelessereader.aspx

I am not sure which to get Kobo touch, normal Kobo or Kindle.

Torkijo

Victorthe2nd wrote: »

Knightstyle - please can you tell me if it is easy to download books directly to the Kobo? Or, do you have to go via a PC? Thanks!!

Hi, Yes, you can. I have the Kobo Touch (Having chosen it over the Kindle Touch) and you can download direct from Kobo Store and some others.

I tend to download onto the pc though and then use Calibre to create a library on the computer and then upload to the Kobo as i have 100's ebooks having trawled free sites and also buying them when on offer or with codes. - there is a thread on here that i started a a few years ago listing the free sites: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1953693

Nexus 7 is great - bought one for my wife, but not if you read a lot or outside - she wanted something like it for occasional reading but also so she can surf and use facebook/email so a tablet made more sense, but if you read a lot, apart from paper e-ink is the only way to go as longer battery and a lot less strain on your eyes.