Kobo VS Kindle
Head to head, what is the best device for reading eBooks, the Kobo or the Kindle? Looking at comfort, support, ease of use and overall, what device is the victor? I have been reading eBooks since the late 90's and using the old Microsoft reader .lit format and various Palms and Sony Clie as designated eReaders. But the last of my Clie's died a few years back and I was in the market for a designated eReader. So I have put both the Kobo and Kindle through the paces and will share with you the good, the bad and the ugly of both devices and as they go toe to toe round after round, we will see who comes out champ.
In order to write this article I have now read over 30 books on the Kobo and have read 6 on the Kindle. I used two different Kindles - 3 books each on a Kindle 2 and Kindle 3, but have limited comments to the Kindle 3 unless specifically mentioning the Kindle DX. I get Digital review copies from NetGalley and synced the same books with both Kindles and with the Kobo to do some direct side-by-side comparison.
The first thing I looked at was comfort. How was it to hold the device? Weight, feel, and other factors were considered. The Kobo is 26gs lighter than the Kindle 3 Wi-Fi 3G model. Now that might not seem like a lot of weight, but it is more than a tenth of the weight of the Kobo and reading continuously it does make a difference. Second is comfort to hold and use. The Kobo can be held with one hand and pages turned very easily. This cannot be said for the Kindle. Also the Kobo has a quilted, padded rubber back, which is very comfortable to hold and use. The Kindle on the other hand has an aluminum front and a plastic back with a wide gap around the seam. I found this often caught the skin, especially while trying to read one-handed. The Kindle 3 uses the new micro USB jack and it is not noticeable at all. The Kobo still uses a mini USB and it is a little knobby and needs to be avoided when holding the device. Less important to some, but the Kindle only comes in white or graphite; the Kobo comes in porcelain, onyx, metallic silver and pearlized lilac. But overall comfort goes to Kobo.
Next let's examine ease of eBook Library management. Both devices can sync wirelessly with their proprietary book stores. Both can sync with Adobe digital editions. You can use third party software to connect to both and convert and sync DRM free eBooks in an appropriate format, such as Calibre eBook Management software. But the biggest advantage goes to Kobo for its use with local libraries. I have checked numerous local libraries, specifically the Kitchener Public Library and the Kingston Public Library, and both will allow borrowing eBooks to your Kobo but not to your Kindle. Both of those libraries and many more in Canada use Overdrive for its eLending, and they support almost any device except the Kindle. Both support Magazine and Newspaper subscriptions to an equal extent. Capacity is another concern. The Kobo comes with 1GB internal memory and about 900mb available for content, and the Kindle comes with 4GB internal memory and about 3GB available for content. But the Kobo has an SD Card reader and can support up to a 32GB expanded memory. I currently have 179 books on my Kobo and still have almost 800MB free space. I also tested with an 8GB micro SD card and moved the library to it with no discernable performance issues. For management of eBooks and device syncing, the round goes to the Kobo again.
Finally, let's look directly at use of the device. The Kindle OS is much more responsive and page turns or menu selection is much faster. Also, on the Kindle you have the option of rotating the text and having a wider screen to read on. The Kobo OS is a little more user friendly - the menu selection, sorting options and navigation are more intuitive and straight forward. I have a feeling the Kobo response time will improve with OS updates or the next generation or hardware. Both devices have a wide range of font selection and repaginates books in response to your selection. What I like about the Kobo is that it tells you what page out of total pages. The Kindle tells you page in section out of total sections. So that round would be a tie.
As life becomes more and more digital, the need to know what devices to use becomes paramount, as otherwise we spend time and money on something only to switch and learn a new system in a short time. As the proliferation of eBooks is continually expanding and many first-run books now simultaneously release as physical books and eBooks, and the eBook is often cheaper, the decision to use an eReader as a primary form of literary entertainment becomes more important. But in reality there are numerous devices that can be used for reading eBooks - the iPad, a BlackBerry and even the BlackBerry Playbook comes preloaded with the Kobo app, the Nook, the Sony reader and more. At my last count there were over 20 eBook formats and over 50 different eReaders and various models released since 2007 alone.
Shortly after Kobo entered the market, Amazon dropped the price of the Kindle. And Amazon dropped its price again after Barnes and Noble dropped the price of the Nook Book Reader. Recently Kobo announced a price drop to $129CDN.
Also to be considered, Amazon does have a Kindle DX which is a larger screen, thinner body. It is used at some schools now as a sole textbook. If you were going to be annotating texts, making notes or using it as a technical manual, the Kindle DX of Kindle would most likely be the way to go. If you are using the device primarily for leisure reading, or fiction, then I would state go with the Kobo. Kobo is also owned in majority by Canadian shareholders, and just dropped the prince to $129. Yet with all that being said, best bang for your buck and comfort to read, the Kobo wins with a KO over the Kindle.
(Top graphic from PD Gillismith, bottom graphic by Ian Renato Cutajar.)
(First published in Imprint 2011-05-06 as 'Kobo versus Kindle: an e-reader rumble'.)
Note: Last year I wrote a review of the Kobo just before it hit the Market, you can read it here.
Jon S. Lewis is an American writer. He co-authored the Greg Griffins books with Derek Benz. His first solo book Invasion a C.H.A.O.S. novel was released in January of 2011. He has held numerous artistic roles from writing a twelve part comic book series, to doing voice over work. Jon graduated Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Broadcasting. He has also been a web developer, speech writer, worked in graphic design, marketing and many other jobs along the way. Recently he took the time to answer 20 questions for the readers here at Book Reviews and More.
1. If you had not become a writer what do you think you would be doing for a living?
Well, I've been a bit of a vocational gypsy. I've waited tables, painted murals, designed websites, worked on a video game startup, I was an art director, marketing executive and I worked in radio and television. So I'm not sure what I'd be qualified to do. I love public speaking -- especially to tweens and teens. And I enjoy social media marketing, so maybe one of those.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you nurture that dream?
I always knew I wanted to be creative, and writing was just a part of that. I also loved to draw (probably my first love), but for the most part I like coming up with stories regardless of the medium. And to be honest, I just sat down and started writing. No training. No degree (well, my degree is broadcast journalism).
3. Who were some of your biggest supporters and contributors to your early success?
My wife was my biggest supporter -- by far. It's a scary industry, so that she has supported me in this crazy journey of extreme highs and lows has been invaluable. I also have had great support from my editors (Lisa Sandell, Alvina Ling, Connie Hsu and Amanda Bostic), and the agents I've worked with (Nancy Coffey and Lee Hough).
4. What authors influenced your writing style and format?
Well, I'm not sure any authors would want to claim me and I wouldn't blame them. I grew up loving Tolkien, Sendak and Lewis. Right now I like minimalist styles -- writers who are descriptive without being flowery or overwhelming you with adjectives and adverbs. Kate DiCamillo comes to mind. And to some extent, the first HUNGER GAMES book by Suzanne Collins.
5. What advice do you wish an artist had passed on to you early in your career, which you only learned through experience?
Save a ton of money and keep your day job until you have enough that your grandchildren won't have to work. Even then, you might want to double that. Oh, and don't use so many adjectives and adverbs. There was only one Tolkien, and that isn't you. And then, use "said" when modifying dialogue -- and only "said."
6. What does your writing process look like? Takes us through the steps from idea to publishing?
It changes with every book, but it always starts with character. If you don't have a character that connects with the reader, you'll never succeed. Everything else is secondary (by far). Then come up with a great plot that's dictated by who that character really is. It's a lot like creating characters for an RPG or a video game. The more you know about your characters, the more real they will become.
7. What of your books was the hardest to write and why?
INVASION was the most difficult because I put way too much pressure on myself. I was more worried about critical acclaim than writing to my strengths. That happened again with my follow up (which we just titled FLIGHT), but I've learned my lesson. I am who I am, and that's it.
8. What was your favorite book to write and why?
INVASION, for the same reason. It made me grow and become a better writer. It was critical. My goal is to get better with each book.
9. One of the greatest strengths in your books are the characters, they are so solid and believable. The characters you create, are they reflections of people you know, composites of different people you know or entirely your creations?
It starts as a composite of friends, family, and characters from books, TV and movies. But after about 5 pages they start to morph into a unique individual. After the second draft, they are usually fairly unique. Inspiration -- and to some extent -- copying is fine as long as it eventually morphs into something new.
10. I once heard Madeleine L'Engle state that her characters were real to her and almost an extended part of her family, she said once that at the dinner table she sat up and stated "Meg just finished her PhD." Are your characters real to you, do you ever get glimpses of what they are up to now, or once you finish a book is that it?
You know, I've really tried to work on that. I've focused more on action, pacing and fun than I have digging deeper emotionally with my characters, but as a part of my growth as a writer, I'm changing my focus. I hope one day I'll see them in the same light as she saw hers.
11. What were some of your favorite authors in your teen years who helped shape you?
Virtually all of them are fantasy authors, even though I don't read straight fantasy any longer. J.R.R. Tolkien. C.S. Lewis. Frank E. Peretti. Jack L. Chalker. Raymond E. Feist. Joel Rosenberg.
12. What are some of your favorite books and authors now?
An author who is new to me is Paolo Bacagalupi, and he wrote a wonderful book called SHIP BREAKER. I dug Tony DiTerlizzi's WONDLA and WATER WARS by Cameron Stracher. The first HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins was incredible.
13. What books are currently in progress for you? Writing, researching, planning or even just ideas that you would like to work on?
Well, I'm finishing up on FLIGHT (the follow-up to INVASION), and I'm looking at plotting a Dystopian book as well as a humorous book with illustrations (kind of like DIARY OF A WIMPY KID). I do a lot of speaking at schools, and I have a good time making the audience laugh. I'd like that humor to come across more in my books.
14. Do you use a playlist when writing? Are certain books written while predominantly listing to the same music?
Yes, at least in the past. I even have playlists for certain scenes, chapters and characters. However, lately I've needed to write in absolute quiet. It's kind of lame, but it's where I am.
15. What advice would you give to teens today, to your readers, what gems of knowledge have you gleaned in life that you would pass on?
Wow, that's a lot of pressure. I guess I'd give two pieces of advice. Number one, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Okay, so maybe you won't make it to the NFL or the NBA, but someone has to. And somebody is going to cure cancer, or write the next HARRY POTTER or be the first to walk on Mars. Why not you? Number two, if you want to be popular -- I'm talking really popular, like the homecoming king or queen, don't be a jerk. Putting other people down to make yourself look better is for losers. The truly popular people aren't the prettiest or the best athletes, they are the people who treat everyone -- regardless of looks, finances or talent -- equally. It'll take you far in life.
16. A few of your books are available in electronic formats but with that comes bootleg distribution. What are your impressions of ebooks and the distribution of them through torrents and other illegal means?
Personally, if someone is stealing a book (and it's stealing) the truth is that the person who is stealing probably wouldn't have bought it to begin with. So it doesn't really bother me. After all, you can read books at the library for free. I look at it like advertising. If someone steals it, reads it and likes it, hopefully he/she will tell friends - or buy the rest of my books.
17. Some authors monitor torrent sites and have their publishers contact them to remove their content. Do you do so are have someone do so for you?
I don't have time for that. I'd rather hang out with my wife and kids.
18. I once had a university professor state that the true goal of a university education should be to teach one to learn how to think. What would you state should be the goal of higher education and why?
It should be to teach you how to provide for your family, period. It costs too much money and takes too long if that's not the goal. A Master's degree in Creative Writing is a good way to waste tens of thousands of dollars that you likely won't recoup. University-level writing programs don't even tell you how to get published. It's sad, really. I mean, sure. You need to be a critical thinker, but if you are talking about writing, don't waste your money. Get something that makes you marketable -- or teaches you how to market your books or manage your finances. You can learn how to be a better writer if you buy a book on writing from Donald Maass or Noah Lukeman, and that only costs $15.
19. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have 10 books to read again and again, what books would you want with you?
1) The Bible 2) The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller 3) Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders 4) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 5-7) Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 8) Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 9) Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi 10) World War Z by Max Brooks
20. What advice would you give to young aspiring authors and artists?
Just write. Be observant. Take lots of notes on everything you see. Don't be scared. Get ready for lots of rejection and public criticism. Study the business. Get better with each story you write.
Thanks you Jon for taking the time to answer some questions.
Books by Jon S. Lewis:
Grey Griffins :
The Revenge of the Shadow King (2006)
The Rise of the Black Wolf (2007)
The Fall of the Templar (2008)
Grey Griffins Clockwork Chronicles:
The Brimstone Key (2010)
The Relic Hunters (2011)
The Paragon Prison (2012)
C.H.A.O.S. Series:
Invasion (2011)
Alienation (2012)
Domination (2013)
Free Realms:
Free Realms (12 part comic book series.)
Free Realms Book 1 (Issues 1-6) Graphic Novel (2010)
Free Realms Book 2 (Issues 7-12) Graphic Novel (2010)
The Mysterious Journals of J.S. Lewis (????)
Author Profile Interview with Jon S. Lewis.
Angel Burn
L.A. Weatherly
Candlewick
ISBN 9780763656522
This book, previously published as Angel in the UK by Usborne, is finally available to North American Markets. Candlewick press has brought this book across the ocean and I am sure it will be a success. L.A. Weatherly's novel has a strange and unusual plot. The premise is great and the execution very interesting. If this first book is any indication it will be a really interesting trilogy.
What if Angels were real, what if they were coming to earth in greater numbers, what if they could manifest and show themselves to humans? No, what if they needed to feed, and they do so on human energy, leaving behind a wake of death and disease, and the whole time the humans believe it is the best thing in their lives? The Church of Angels is the fastest growing religion in North America; the followers are devout Zealots, who believe the Angels are only here to help us. There is a small but dedicated group of AKs - Angel Killers, who hunt them down and kill them. The only way to kill an Angel is to destroy its halo while it is in angelic form.
The main part of the story focuses around two characters. Willow is a young woman who has always known she is different from other girls, but not the reason why. She can sometimes see the future and help people make better decisions. And Alex is a young man who was never really allowed to be a boy, who has been hunting Angels since before he could drive. The two have been drawn together, at first with a great antagonism to each other, but also being a bit taken with each other. Circumstances have brought them together, and their friendship and relationship begins to grow.
This book is geared mostly for young women, but there is enough action, and guns and cars to keep a young man interested and reading. The romance and time at the cabin in the mountains is a little long, but other than that it is a great novel. I look forward to the next two books; it should prove to be a very interesting series.
(Note: I received an electronic galley of this book through NetGalley, courtesy of Candlewick. The book was read on my Kobo eReader. As per my general disclaimer, free books have no impact on my review.)
Aimee Friedman is an author who specialized in young adult fiction. Yet even though her books are geared for a younger marker she has a large and dedicated adult following. Aimee who wrote her first story at age 5 has always been writing. She also wears the hat of editor for Children's books. Her books are wonderful and we thank her for taking some time to answer some questions for the readers at Book Reviews and More.
1. If you had not become a writer what do you think you would be doing for a living?
Probably a film director or a costume designer-I love fashion, and all elements of storytelling. I'm a big believer in make-believe.
2. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you nurture that dream?
I've wanted to write since I COULD write - probably since the age of five or so. Nothing else gave me quite that thrill or sense of creative bliss. And I wrote all the time-it was my absolute favorite thing to do. So I think just the sheer act of practicing so much-although it didn't feel like practice, only fun-was a great way to nurture my dream.
3. Who were some of your biggest supporters and contributors to your early success?
I was very fortunate to have many wonderful teachers (and in college, professors) who encouraged my passion for writing, and critiqued my work as well. I also owe a huge debt to my parents, of course-they instilled in me a fierce love for books and language, and they always told me they knew I could "do it"-go on and become a published author.
4. What authors influenced your writing style and format?
Growing up, I was a voracious reader-I still am, but I don't have quite as much time to loll about my room and tear through books all day (I miss childhood summers!) I read everything from The Secret Garden to The Baby-Sitters Club, from V.C. Andrews to Virginia Woolf, and I think, on some level or another, everything I've read has influenced who I am as a writer. It's more subconscious than anything.
5. What advice do you wish an artist had passed on to you early in your career, which you only learned through experience?
To not feel as if there was something I "should" be writing-and to not worry too much about labels like "literary" and "commercial." The key is to write what excites you, and to try put all that other "noise" outside your head.
6. What does your writing process look like? Takes us through the steps from idea to publishing?
I like to outline. I basically just write out a fairly broad summary of what I want to happen in the story, but I leave it loose. I leave room for change and twists along the way. A novel is a living, breathing thing-I don't think I've ever written a book that stayed exactly as it was in outline form. Then I'll discuss the outline with my editor, and once I've been given the green light, I'll dive into writing. I write in a very linear way-I start at Chapter One and can't really skip around too much. The first draft is the hardest part for me, because I tend to self-edit as I go, so that takes a while. But once the first draft is done, I'm always happy to revise and tinker. I find revising much easier than drafting, but it's a different process for every author.
7. I once heard Madeleine L'Engle state that her characters were real to her and almost an extended part of her family, she said once that at the dinner table she sat up and stated "Meg just finished her PhD." Are your characters real to you, do you ever get glimpses of what they are up to now, or once you finish a book is that it?
I love that story! I totally relate. I think about my characters all the time-where they would be now, what they might do in a given situation. They become very real to me in the writing process, and they stay with me long after. If possible, I'd continue writing all their stories…but new characters always crop up in my head, too.
8. One of the greatest strengths in your books are the characters, they are so solid and believable. The characters you create, are they reflections of people you know, composites of different people you know or entirely your creations?
Thank you! I've never deliberately based a character on one particular person. They are mostly composites of people I've known, people I've read about, and, of course, myself. There's a piece of me in all my characters-some more than others.
9. What of your books was the hardest to write and why?
Sea Change was challenging to write because it has subtle elements of the fantastical in it, and that was a change of pace for me, even though I love all things paranormal. I knew I didn't want the book to go into full-on paranormal mode (and I wrote it before the paranormal romance genre even really exploded in YA!) but it was still tricky to walk that balance. In the end, I felt that the hard work paid off…I hope!
10. What were some of your favorite authors in your teen years who helped shape you?
Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin, Candace Ransom, Paula Danziger, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Stephen King, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, and on and on…
11. Who are some of your favorite authors or books now?
Michael Chabon, Ann Patchett, Philip Roth, Meg Cabot, Emma Donoghue, Emily Giffin, and on and on…
12. A few of your books are available in electronic formats but with that comes bootleg distribution. What are your impressions of ebooks and the distribution of them through torrents and other illegal means?
I am a die-hard traditional book person (I don't own an ereader yet), but you can't stem the tide. And ultimately I think ebooks are just another format for getting stories into the hands of readers. They also provide wonderful opportunities for interactive elements. I do feel strongly that we need to keep tabs on the pirating of ebooks, and ensure that authors and publishers are compensated.
13. Some authors monitor torrent sites and have their publishers contact them to remove their content. Do you do so are have someone do so for you?
This hasn't happened to me yet.
14. I once had a university professor state that the true goal of a university education should be to teach one to learn how to think. What would you state should be the goal of higher education and why?
It's different for everyone. I loved college-I do think it taught me how to think in a more critical and sharp way, and it really helped me hone my creative writing skills. This is almost more a question for my sister, who is an English professor. I will have to discuss with her!
15. What advice would you give to teens today, to your readers, what gems of knowledge have you gleaned in life that you would pass on?
Oh, boy…I don't think I've gleaned ANY gems of knowledge yet! In many ways, I still feel very much like a 15-year-old inside (no surprise I went into children's books….). One thing I wish I'd known as a teen would be to take things a lot less seriously and to develop a thicker skin-it's hard, at that time in your life, not to take everything that happens to you to heart. But on the other hand, that's what makes it such a rich and interesting time. And, in truth, I still take things too much to heart! That's probably why I'm a writer.
16. You have published some books under pseudonyms, the one know about is Ruth Ames, are there other names you have published under?
Nope, just Ruth Ames so far! But she does have a new book coming out-At First Bite, a companion to This Totally Bites, in November.
17. Have any of your books been optioned for books or TV? If so what ones? If not is there one you would especially like to see done?
My book South Beach was optioned for film, and my novella Working in a Winter Wonderland (in the collection Mistletoe) was as well. Some of my other books are in early development/discussion-of-optioning phases, so I don't want to jinx them by giving away too much! :
18. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have 10 books to read again and again, what books would you want with you?
The Great Gatsby Jane Eyre The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay The Norton Anthology of Poetry Room The Secret Garden Without Feathers The Princess Diaries The Graveyard Book Something Borrowed (Though, come to think of it, if I had an eReader, I could upload hundreds! Hey!)
But the battery would die on the eReader then you would have no books.
19. What advice would you give to young aspiring authors and artists?
Keep writing, keep reading, keep "practicing"-but if it's something you truly love, it will never feel like practice. And stay on course- dreams are absolutely tangible. Go for it!
Aimee thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us here at Book Reviews and More. I look forward to read more of your books in the near future.
Books By Aimee Friedman:
South Beach (2004)
French Kiss (2005)
A Novel Idea (2005)
Hollywood Hills (2007)
The Year My Sister Got Lucky (2008)
Sea Change (2009)
Contributed to:
Mistletoe (2006)
21 Proms
Graphic Novel:
Breaking Up (2007 - with Christine Norrie )
As Ruth Ames:
This Totally Bites - Poison Apple Book 2 (2009)
At First Bite - Poison Apple Book 8 (2011)
Notebook for Fantastical Observations 
