Kindle - v - Kobo January 2016

Mrs_Constant_Worry

Ok - I am trying to do a crash course about how these work and what is best for my 93 year old Mum. She is used to her laptop so is able to think computer.

I am finding it increasingly hard to take her to library and carry the books she wants and then she is finding it difficult to find books she hasn't read. We only have a small library and you will hear her saying 'read this, read that, etc etc can't this library change their books.'

So it has occurred to me a 'back up' for when she hasn't a book then an e-reader. I have discussed it with her making out I want one and she has said if you are happy with it I will have one.

NOW - choices. I am leaning towards the Kubo as it seems to be good at the presentation of the page. (This is important as she says she prefers a book in her hand.)

I am not that technically minded but am trying to understand the limitations of both. One question that is arising now it seems that the library choice is limited but there are other Free Book options. I have searched via my laptop on our library e-books. (Something that I know will sell the idea to her so like borrowing from the library.)

So questions -

1. Have any of you got a Kubo and compared it to others with a Kindle?
2. Is a Kubo more restricting than a Kindle but better presentation i.e. I read someone said the Kindle Paperwhite was not a good to look at compared to the Kubo.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

JJ_Egan

There are millions of free books for e-readers .

mac.d

If your local library lets you borrow ebooks, then you will need to get a Kobo as libraries in the UK only currently loan .epub format books (the Kindle uses Amazon's own .azw format), you need to be in the US to get Kindle format books from the library.

If you can borrow ebooks from your local library, you'll probably need to be the one who deals with borrowing them as you have to install Adobe software on your computer and download the ebook to it before then transferring the ebook to the Kobo ereader.

If ebooks aren't available from your library, or you are not bothered about utilising this, then either a Kindle or Kobo will probably be fine.

However, straight out the box a Kindle is probably easier to use, especially for non-techy people. Amazon also has the easiest online shop to buy books from, and the biggest (or at least easiest to browse) selection of free ebooks. The big plus of the Kindle is that you can browse the Amazon website via your computer and get your ebooks from there sent directly to your Kindle over Wi-Fi.

Although it is pretty easy to buy books from Kobo, save them onto your computer then transfer them to your ereader via a USB cable.

I'd recommend getting one with a lighted screen, both Kobo & Amazon have lighted and non-lighted ereaders. And there isn't a huge difference between models in terms of which looks better, for example, both the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glo HD will look pretty similar.

You can pay a little more and get a slightly better looking screen (Kindle Voyage) or slightly bigger & better screen (Kobo Aura HD), but most people will probably be happy with the Paperwhite/Glo HD.

Tyler_Du

My wife has a Kindle and has read 100s of free books / novels over the last few years. Super easy to get them direct from Amazon as opposed to downloading and copying to the device.

Oblivion

Kindle Paperwhite or Voyage would be my recommendation. Lovely clear screens in all light conditions and the Amazon free book range is huge.

Robisere

Take a look at Kindle For PC:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page?ie=UTF8&ref_=pd_sl_7y4yguv2ik_b

My wife has Kindle and I have a Hudl2, which works well as a Kindle reader, but I also use K for PC on my desktop (great with a 24"screen!) and my wife uses it on her laptop. Your mum could try out Kindle on the PC first, then buy an e-reader of choice.

bod1467

It doesn't matter what format eBook you get ... use Calibre to convert to to a format that your reader supports.

Yolina

bod1467 wrote: »

It doesn't matter what format eBook you get ... use Calibre to convert to to a format that your reader supports.

Only if there's no DRM on the books though (unless you have the added Alf magic of course )

OP: I'd say take your mum to a shop that sells both Kobos and Kindles (John Lewis is one, if you have one nearby) and let her have a look at and handle the readers, see if she prefers one and take it from there. There are difference between the devices in terms of font choices and the likes. But as mac.d already mentioned, if she wants to borrow library books, then it has to be the Kobo.