3 the reason why I favor Kobo over Kindle

I was a agency Kindle supporter. Granted, that was largely as a result of I solely realized about Kobo gadgets a bit over a yr in the past. Even nonetheless, I would used numerous Kindle devices for therefore lengthy that I assumed they had been the way in which to go — I assumed they supplied the perfect of the whole lot relating to e-reader performance.

Then, final yr, I had the possibility to overview a Kobo (a now discontinued mannequin, the Libra 2). Surprisingly, I discovered myself switching sides. I used to be rather more drawn to the Kobo gadget, and despite the fact that I’ve entry to each (my husband makes use of a Kindle), I nonetheless favor selecting up my Kobo over the Kindle. This is why.

1 Higher integration with library apps

I favor to get my books without spending a dime

I learn lots. Not practically as a lot as some, granted, however sufficient that purchasing each e-book I learn all year long can be very costly. Additionally, I need to help my native library. So, I a lot favor to take a look at books as an alternative of buying them. It is a win-win.

Most libraries in the US use OverDrive for his or her e book platforms, permitting you to take a look at ebooks very like you’ll take a look at bodily books (although with out the trouble of bodily going to the library). Kobo and Kindle will let you learn OverDrive books, although Kindle does not make it very straightforward. You both want to make use of the OverDrive app on a distinct gadget or the Kindle net browser to open the OverDrive website. Then, once you discover a e-book, you’ll want to choose “Learn now with Kindle,” which can redirect you to the Amazon web site for much more steps earlier than you get to studying. Plus, some OverDrive titles aren’t suitable with Kindles in any respect, so you might have a extra restricted choice.

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How to get free books on your Kindle and Fire tablet without buying from Amazon

If in case you have a e-book habit like I do, studying can get costly. However now I snag most of ebooks without spending a dime — and nonetheless get to learn them on my Kindle.

Kobo e-readers, however, include OverDrive baked in and able to use. If you seek for a e-book on the gadget, you possibly can decide to solely show choices from OverDrive. Checking a e-book out is so simple as choosing “Borrow with OverDrive” on a person e-book web page. There is no pulling up a browser or utilizing a distinct gadget and no multi-step course of involving a number of web sites or platforms. Utilizing OverDrive on a Kobo is as seamless as shopping for a e-book from the Kobo retailer.

Moreover, when you stay in a distinct nation or your library makes use of a distinct platform, you are out of luck on Kindle gadgets. For instance, though many Canadian libraries use OverDrive, you can’t verify them out on Kindle gadgets as a result of the settlement between OverDrive and Amazon is restricted to the United States. Likewise, some libraries in the US have switched to CloudLibrary, which is incompatible with Kindle gadgets.

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How to get free books on your ereader

Whether or not you employ a Kindle, Kobo, or Boox, you will get free books in your gadget by most native libraries.

2 A extra open and versatile ecosystem

You are not caught with Amazon

Past checking books out from a library, each Kindle and Kobo supply their very own on-line shops with tens of millions of ebooks. For Kindles, that is the Amazon retailer, and you will be restricted to simply that. You’ll be able to’t plug your Kindle into a pc or switch information through a wired connection to side-load information. You should utilize the Ship To Kindle platform, however the file format help is extra restricted than that of Kobos.

Kobo gadgets, just like the Kobo Sage, help a variety of file codecs, together with EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBZ, and CBR Comedian E-book codecs. These can all be side-loaded utilizing a wired connection or cloud sync on the premium Kobo fashions. That provides you extra flexibility so as to add books, papers, and different content material not from Amazon. Plus, you possibly can even side-load customized fonts on Kobo, permitting you to customise your Kobo greater than you possibly can on Kindle. I am an Android person, which ought to let you know that I worth flexibility and customization; it seems that it additionally carries over to e-readers.

3 Bodily web page flip buttons

Extra choices for transferring to the subsequent web page

​​​​​​​ At one level, Amazon supplied an uneven e-reader with bodily page-turn buttons (the Oasis). It discontinued that gadget, although; now, none of Amazon’s choices present page-turn buttons. Not all Kobo gadgets do, however some nonetheless use that asymmetrical design with buttons for turning pages, which I recognize.

I do know these buttons aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, however I like having a bodily button to press to show the web page. The asymmetrical design makes it simpler to make use of the gadget one-handed, which I do lots. I typically maintain the gadget with my left hand (I am right-handed), so with out these buttons, I’ve to unencumber my proper hand to faucet the far facet of the show. Both that or I’ve to place it down to make use of my left hand on the proper facet of the display. Each strategies are much less handy than merely urgent the button the place my thumb is already resting.