Ot kobo or kindle?

[Nora03]

I'd like to get an e-reader, but can't decide which one to get. Anyone have a Kobo or Kindle? Love to hear what you think - pros and cons.

Thanks in advance.

Nora

 

[potzie2]

If you will be in the US soon I would consider the Nook from Barnes and Noble, it handles multiple ebook types just as the Kobo, but I like the interface better. The Kindle has the name but supports fewer ebook formats.

Our public library has lots of ebook available, but I don't think you can use any of them on a Kindle.

We bought my MIL a Nook as a birthday gift and she absolutely loves it and can't imagine going without it now.

The Nook has wifi which I know the new Kobo has, but it has a separate screen at the bottom for menus and colour book covers so you can select the book that way but it turns into a keyboard when you launch the browser and it's touch screen so if you want to do some light browsing on the internet you use it for that.

I think they have a comparison of the three on the Barnes and Noble website so I would check that out.

If it's really just between those 2 I would go for the Kobo over the Kindle for the file support but that's just me.

 

[gilsan]

I have a Kobo and like it. They are bringing out a new generation Kobo and I would purchase that one. It has wifi and is suppose to be faster than the current kobo. The kobo is slow to turn on and page turns are slow. IMO kobo has a much better selection of titles at better prices than kindle.

I also have an ipad and prefer it to the kobo. There are apps for both kindle and kobo, plus ibooks. The page turning is much faster, you can read without a book light, and it also allows you to surf the web, watch movies, play games, and listen to music. It is however much heavier than the e-readers.

 

[gilsan]

If you will be in the US soon I would consider the Nook from Barnes and Noble, it handles multiple ebook types just as the Kobo, but I like the interface better. The Kindle has the name but supports fewer ebook formats.

Our public library has lots of ebook available, but I don't think you can use any of them on a Kindle.

We bought my MIL a Nook as a birthday gift and she absolutely loves it and can't imagine going without it now.

The Nook has wifi which I know the new Kobo has, but it has a separate screen at the bottom for menus and colour book covers so you can select the book that way but it turns into a keyboard when you launch the browser and it's touch screen so if you want to do some light browsing on the internet you use it for that.

I think they have a comparison of the three on the Barnes and Noble website so I would check that out.

If it's really just between those 2 I would go for the Kobo over the Kindle for the file support but that's just me.

I was under the impression that you could not order books on the nook if you had a Canadian (non-US) address.

 

[potzie2]

You can not order books from the Barnes and Noble site, but they are the same format as the books from the Kobo site so you can buy books from that site, or many others. The ebook format that Kobo uses is the same as the Nook.

If you go to the Chapters site you can see the comparisons of the different readers. The only one that you have to buy the books from the same place as you bought the ereader is Amazon. The rest are interchangeable.

I don't think I can post the link to the page here for the comparison, but it's easy to find on the site.

 

[gilsan]

You can not order books from the Barnes and Noble site, but they are the same format as the books from the Kobo site so you can buy books from that site, or many others. The ebook format that Kobo uses is the same as the Nook.

If you go to the Chapters site you can see the comparisons of the different readers. The only one that you have to buy the books from the same place as you bought the ereader is Amazon. The rest are interchangeable.

I don't think I can post the link to the page here for the comparison, but it's easy to find on the site.

I didn't know they were the same format. I have loaded a couple pdf books onto my kobo very easily.

 

[nat1234]

Here's another one to throw into the picture. I have the sony ereader and really like it. I can get books from the Kobo website as well as from my local library. I've had it almost a year now and I really like using it.

 

[damo]

Here's another one to throw into the picture. I have the sony ereader and really like it. I can get books from the Kobo website as well as from my local library. I've had it almost a year now and I really like using it.

I love my Sony e-reader too. I love being able to download from the library. So simple and so cheap!

 

[Nora03]

Thanks everyone, but OH NO! More decisions.....

I'm off to do some research. I'll watch for more comments.

Thanks again.

 

[aristocat65]

I'm so glad I saw this thread! Now I've decided I need a Kobo.
It looks like the new, improved one is supposed to start shipping anytime in October (doesn't sound like anyone has it yet). It looks to be on par with the nook.
So, now I've ordered $150.00 of Chapters/Indigo gift cards from Airmiles to pay for it and by the time they get here hopefully my Kobo will be in the stores.

 

[nat1234]

I'm so glad I saw this thread! Now I've decided I need a Kobo..

I gave my DD a Kobo for her birthday this past May. Once she got the software downloaded on her computer she was pleased with it. She did find the software a little confusing initially though. The Kobo website is really easy to use when you're buying an ebook, and they're compatible with my sony ereader which makes me really happy. You'll really like the ereader. You'll always have books whenever you want to read.

 

[Nora03]

Natalie,
When you say they're compatible with your Sony ereader, does that mean that you and your daughter can buy and share the same book, or am I misunderstanding this?

The website says that the new Kobo has a built-in dictionary, but I wonder how you access it without a keyboard? It will be interesting to see the reviews once the new Kobo is actually out and in use.

Nora

 

[nat1234]

I meant that I was able to download books for my sony without any difficulties. I don't think that my DD could download the books that I have on my computer because the software used for the sony if the reader library. My other two DD's who also have sony ereaders can download the books that I have on my computer. I haven't really tried to download any of my books on the computer onto my DD Kobo because she doesn't live at home so the question hasn't really arisen as to wheter it would work or not.

 

[bankr63]

Kobo owner and loving it. These are amazing devices for travelling, I only wish more travel volumes were available - seems to be the only category that is under-represented, and to my mind it should be the most popular! Think how great it would be to carry the Unofficial Guide in its entirety in only a few ounces! (anyone listening at UG?)

We have 3 1st gen. Kobos in our family right now, and have tried to share books, but that is not realistically possible. ALL ePub format readers (Nook, Kobo, etc) utilize DRM (Dgiital Rights Management) which lock a purchased book to a specific ID that is authorized for that device. So if I want to "borrow" a book from DW, I must temporarily blow away my entire library to sync her library until I finished with that book. Once completed borrowing her book, I can reload my library. We have found it easier to just swap our devices for a few days (assumes I have a title she also wants to read).

I am impressed with the Kobo software ability to stay in sync between multiple devices. I have my library on my Android phone as well as my Kobo, and as long as I remember to sync regularly (should be easier with the new wireless version), then I can swap from device to device easily.

Regardless of the device you buy, I am sure you will be happy with an eReader.

 

[jakoky]

So glad i found this thread!

aristocat65, yesterday i just did the same thing that i read you have done...i ordered 150 dollars for chapters(with my airmiles) to buy the brand new kobo as soon as it is released! Cant wait to get it...

 

[highland3]

I have it on good authority the new version of the Kobo will be released tomorrow (Saturday)!!!

 

[aristocat65]

aristocat65, yesterday i just did the same thing that i read you have done...i ordered 150 dollars for chapters(with my airmiles) to buy the brand new kobo as soon as it is released! Cant wait to get it...

I can't wait either. I hope my gift cards get here soon. I love using Airmiles for gift cards.

 

[aristocat65]

I have it on good authority the new version of the Kobo will be released tomorrow (Saturday)!!!

 

[alohamom]

Well, I guess I am the spoil sport here. I won a sony e-reader in the summer from a radio station contest. I was thrilled at first but after I downloaded a few books I find I really dont like it as much as a regular book. dont get me wrong, I totally get the ease of travel idea and being able to download whenever rather than running out of books to read (I read alot) BUT it is not backlit and I find these 42 year old eyes cannot read it the same as regular text. Dont know why but it is just different enough to make it a strain. Also, I find the slight hesitation when you turn a page annoying, it is a nano-second too long!!!I know, you are all probably shaking your heads thinking picky, picky but this is my experience and I thought I would add it for the original poster. Right now, I have shoved the ereader in a drawer and not sure when I will take it out again...

 

[jba2]

I got my kobo the first day they came out back in the spring. My first one didn't work so I returned it to Chapters and I had no problems changing it. My second kobo is now not working properly. I'm still waiting to have the issue resolved. I think you will find their level 1 support very helpful but if they can't help fix the problem you're in trouble. Level 2 support is not that helpful and it is near impossible to contact them. I'm now waiting for the 2nd generation ipad to come out as I need a back-lit device.