Kindle vs Nook vs.....?

[Kalevala]

Oh, I do not either read books or watch movies on the computer itself. I like the convenience of the e-readers. That said (and partly to wean my left hand back into the paths of righteousness, I'm presently making a point of reading "old tech" books. Presently, Richard Brautigan's A Confederate General from Big Sur.

I would think that e-readers would also be hard on ones eyes?

K

[Karl Henning]

I would think that e-readers would also be hard on ones eyes?

K

I haven't found them so.

[Kalevala]

I haven't found them so.

Are you on the computer much?

K

[Karl Henning]

Are you on the computer much?

K

A fair deal. Do most of my composerly work on it.

[DavidW]

Interesting.  I've only read one book online.  I think (my opinion) that it's too hard on the eyes--particularly if you spend/have to spend a lot of time on the computer (happy to listen to other people's thoughts here).  And, I must admit, I love holding a book. 

K

Yeah, that is not the way to read them! Ereaders use a technology called Eink, the point is that it looks like paper and not a screen. Look at the difference:



And you can read them outside:


They don't need a light to illuminate them like a tablet or monitor would.

[Papy Oli]

Amazon is discontinuing download and transfer. After February 26, no one will be able to download ebooks. I believe this is because so many have been downloading their libraries and switching to Kobo (who has offered far better value on their devices and no ads). I've always been used to downloading books and using them on whatever device I want. I won't tolerate this.

I'm permanently switching to Kobo. If Kobo does the same thing I will give up on ebooks completely. But they might never do something so blatantly anti-consumer as Kindle and Nook have done.

That's bad... So they basically won't be differentiating between an actual purchase of a book and the use of kindle unlimited. You'll own nothing either way as it is stuck in their environment.

As you said, here's hoping Kobo doesn't change their tack in the future. At least, based on what I have seen on reddit, they are offering repair service/parts for their readers and they don't seem reluctant either to have their reader tweakable in many ways (e.g. change of user interface). For now at least.

Maybe I should go and have a look where those purchased KEPUBs actually are, just in case   

[Papy Oli]

For those it might interest (and me to remind myself how I did it  ), In the event Kobo goes rogue "Amazon-style" in the future, here is how to download and export (DRM-protected) content purchased on your Kobo for a possible transfer to another E-reader.

- First you need to install Adobe Digital Editions (https://www.adobe.com/uk/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html) on your laptop. You'll need to authorise the laptop you are using (you do not need an actual Adobe ID for this but it will be limited to this sole laptop).

- Once installed, Go to kobo.com
- Sign in to your Kobo account.
- Go to My Account, My Books, Books. This should show your full Kobo-purchased books list.
- Click the Three dots menu beside each book title
- Click Download
- Click Download file

Each file will be saved in your usual downloads folder and named as "URLLink.acsm" (then URLLink(1).acsm, URLLink(2).acsmetc for each book you D/L thereafter).

Double click a downloaded file. it will now open the matching E-book in Adobe Digital edition in a new window and the title will also show in the "Purchased" subgroup in  the ADE home screen.

Repeat for each purchased books.

To find the "physical" EPUB files thereafter, Open your Windows Explorer, go to : My Documents > My Digital Editions. All your Epubs will be in this parent folder. You can then save them somewhere else and back them up for future export to another E-Reader (which can be done via ADE as well). At least now, you have a "Physical" copy of your purchased EPUBS.

Note: this copy will remain DRM-protected if it was purchased as such. There might be means to remove this DRM protection but my main priority was first to be able to back up such purchases that usually go directly to your Kobo reader (and are not actually showing clearly on the Kobo root either in Windows Explorer).

Hope this helps.

[foxandpeng]

Interesting.  I've only read one book online.  I think (my opinion) that it's too hard on the eyes--particularly if you spend/have to spend a lot of time on the computer (happy to listen to other people's thoughts here).  And, I must admit, I love holding a book. 

K

We are trying not to buy any more physical books, so Kindle is increasingly our direction of travel. Much prefer holding a book, and prefer to have something I physically own (and that can't be digitally altered, updated or revised, in order to accommodate cultural or ideological shifts), but we have more than 3000 books, and can't possibly add any more.

I do find reading the Kindle app on a tablet, to be a satisfying experience. The ability to highlight and tag/save bits is great. Not the same as a book, of course, but a different type of tactile.

[Kalevala]

Yeah, that is not the way to read them! Ereaders use a technology called Eink, the point is that it looks like paper and not a screen. Look at the difference:



And you can read them outside:


They don't need a light to illuminate them like a tablet or monitor would.

Can you read though in low-light conditions?

We are trying not to buy any more physical books, so Kindle is increasingly our direction of travel. Much prefer holding a book, and prefer to have something I physically own (and that can't be digitally altered, updated or revised, in order to accommodate cultural or ideological shifts), but we have more than 3000 books, and can't possibly add any more.

I do find reading the Kindle app on a tablet, to be a satisfying experience. The ability to highlight and tag/save bits is great. Not the same as a book, of course, but a different type of tactile.

Can you add your own notes (like on a recipe)?  I have also seen comments/reviews on Amazon about some of the e-editions of them not being very good (again, cookbooks).

F&P,  you might consider doing some culling of "the fold".

K

[DavidW]

Can you read though in low-light conditions?Can you add your own notes (like on a recipe)? 

Yes, for the past 13 years ereaders have had frontlights. You can read on them in all conditions, which is not true for physical books nor tablets (which you can't read outside). And yes you've been able to add notes the entire time I've been using ereaders (15 years).

[Number Six]

Can you read though in low-light conditions?Can you add your own notes (like on a recipe)?  I have also seen comments/reviews on Amazon about some of the e-editions of them not being very good (again, cookbooks).

You can highlight and add notes. Then when you come back later, you will see an indicator that you've made a note. (Or you can go see all your notes in one place, on your kindle or on the website.) Plus, you can bookmark pages.

I suspect that cookbooks are better on a full-size tablet, as you get more screenspace and color images. In that case, you would just pull the book up on the kindle app on your tablet.

[DavidW]

I suspect that cookbooks are better on a full-size tablet, as you get more screenspace and color images. In that case, you would just pull the book up on the kindle app on your tablet.

Yes, when I cook a recipe from an ebook on my Kindle, I would keep having to turn the page and turn back (the screen is too small). I'm sure on the Kindle Scribe or Kobo Elipsa that is not a problem though.

[Kalevala]

With the ereaders and tablets, do you have to type in a password and can you get timed-out after a while?

I've tried bringing my macbook pro out into the kitchen (rather than trying to locate or reprint a recipe), but then am left with stuff on my hands and trying not to get it onto my computer [should have bought one of those rubber keyboard mats back at the time].

K

[foxandpeng]

F&P,  you might consider doing some culling of "the fold".

K

I don't understand the sentence... the words, but not the thought behind it...

God willing, we're about to move to a somewhat larger house once all the sales go through, so reducing shouldn't be a problem. Still not adding new physical books, though.

[Kalevala]

I don't understand the sentence... the words, but not the thought behind it...

God willing, we're about to move to a somewhat larger house once all the sales go through, so reducing shouldn't be a problem. Still not adding new physical books, though.

What I meant was thinking about which, if any, books that you own that you might find that for any number of reasons that are, for example:  1) outdated (as in like movie guides)/technology (like old Windows program books), etc., 2) old cookbooks/things about nutrition, 3) maybe paperback novels that someone else might still enjoy and could also benefit a charity, 3) Hobbies that you are no longer interested in.  Just some thoughts.  Obviously, I don't know what all you two have collected.  Maybe they are all signed first editions by important writers?  If so, do the research.

At this point in my life, I'm trying to focus more on getting rid of things.  In any event, it's your choice.  And no idea how many books I have--though I have been going through them; between books and records, well it's easy to start letting things own you--in my opinion anyway. 

Best wishes and I hope that you enjoy your new home,

K

[DavidW]

With the ereaders and tablets, do you have to type in a password and can you get timed-out after a while?

Ereaders: No unless you want to. I open my cover and it goes right back to the page I was reading before. When I'm done I just close the cover (it auto-sleeps it).

Tablets: On my iPad, I use the fingerprint on the home button, I think my Apple Watch can also auto-unlock it. On some models, I think it has the camera scan like my phone does (scan your face to unlock it).

[foxandpeng]

What I meant was thinking about which, if any, books that you own that you might find that for any number of reasons that are, for example:  1) outdated (as in like movie guides)/technology (like old Windows program books), etc., 2) old cookbooks/things about nutrition, 3) maybe paperback novels that someone else might still enjoy and could also benefit a charity, 3) Hobbies that you are no longer interested in.  Just some thoughts.  Obviously, I don't know what all you two have collected.  Maybe they are all signed first editions by important writers?  If so, do the research.

At this point in my life, I'm trying to focus more on getting rid of things.  In any event, it's your choice.  And no idea how many books I have--though I have been going through them; between books and records, well it's easy to start letting things own you--in my opinion anyway. 

Best wishes and I hope that you enjoy your new home,

K

Ha. Probably my attempt at humour failed to shine through 🙂. I did understand you really, but was pretending that the idea of cutting back on the herd didn't make any sense to me 🙂

We love our books, thankfully. We've just reached the point where buying any more would be bonkers.

Thanks for your kind words 🙏

[DavidW]

We love our books, thankfully. We've just reached the point where buying any more would be bonkers.

The public library is your friend!

[foxandpeng]

The public library is your friend!

Only if I can keep and highlight the books... 🙂

[DavidW]

I've gone the opposite way of Papy.

When I got bifocals a couple of years back, it opened the door again for physical books, provided the font wasn't too large (nor the size of the book itself). But last summer, I picked up prescription reading glasses, and those glasses fully opened the door. I've been reading more print and dividing my time between physical and digital.

But Amazon's recent move (which was a culmination of many smaller moves, most of which went unnoticed by the public) first pushed me to Kobo. But when I thought more about it, I realized I don't like ebooks and what they now represent. And I'm done.

Things are really different from when I purchased my first Kindle back in 2010. Ebooks were cheap, you could download them and strip the DRM so easily, and Kindles weren't jammed full of ads. Oh, and these devices didn't track literally every single thing that you did. Many back-catalog books I was interested in were out of print.

It is just physical books for the foreseeable future.