Kobo journey so far...

TheSmitty · 04-16-2024, 03:59 PM

Pardon the ramble but someone might find this interesting, laughable or sad...

I have a rather large kindle library (800+) that I have purchased over the years. I really have nothing against Amazon (big Prime user) but have always wanted a fall back device. I have a Kobo Libra 2 I bought when that first came out and hardware wise I love it. I love the buttons and the device just feels better to me over my other kindle devices. I transferred all my books (after conversion) onto it. Other than some conversion issues, involving headers which I have posted about before, it has worked well.

I read on both my Kobo and my Kindle but different things for different reasons. Typically I read novels on the kindle because I can make use of whispersync which allows me to switch easily between audible book and the ebook. I read history, biographies, etc on the Kobo. Having said that, I prefer my time with the Kobo because of the buttons and I just like it.

Whispersync switching is a big deal, but that alone is not what keeps me on Amazon. I almost always stop reading/listening at chapter breaks anyway. But the other benefit of Audible is that I can buy the audible version at a significant discount if I already bought the ebook. Kobo does not do that unfortunately.

Anyway, while checking out the website of a new (to me) local indie bookstore I noticed they had a menu selection for audiobooks which then led me to libro.fm A revelation that was, I can do their subscription (priced same as kobo and audible basically), and I can download the book to their app AND download the audio files, without DRM, for safe keeping... bonus! I am trying it out now to see what hassle there is, if any for reading/listening to my novels during my commute etc. It is promising. If I do not need whispersync ability then I do not need to buy my ebooks and audiobooks exclusively through amazon. Time will tell.

Having said all that, I have rolled the dice and pre-ordered the Libra Colour anticipating that I may be able to go full Kobo for the ebooks.

It is nice to have options....

Cootey · 04-16-2024, 04:45 PM

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

I don’t do audio books. I never travel anywhere since I work out of the home, and I’d rather read at my own pace. But I have to admit that Amazon does a fantastic job with whispersync. Kobo’s syncing between devices is laggy, and syncing between ereaders and iOS apps is so spotty as to be useless. I don’t have that issue ever with my Kindles and Kindle apps. I can remember back when the iPhone was new that whipsersync was spotty, but Kindle fixed it. I wish Kobo prioritized syncing as much as they’ve prioritized notetaking.

Still, now that I can’t strip DRM off Kindle purchases on my Mac, I don’t buy from Kindle anymore. I’m solely Kobo now for new purchases. But with the backlog of books that I have, I like to keep my Kindle around even though I converted my collection as you did. I like having options, too.

Sirtel · 04-16-2024, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cootey

Still, now that I can’t strip DRM off Kindle purchases on my Mac, I don’t buy from Kindle anymore. I’m solely Kobo now for new purchases. But with the backlog of books that I have, I like to keep my Kindle around even though I converted my collection as you did. I like having options, too.

Why can't you strip the DRM off your Kindle purchases? There are three working methods at the moment, the easiest of which is to use Download & Transfer.

readthinksurvive · 04-17-2024, 01:43 AM

welcome to kobo

i collect free books on both kobo/kindle but kindle tends to have more free cool books!!

DNSB · 04-17-2024, 01:03 PM

For the most part, I find most free books are worth what you pay for them. Even the series starter books that are not perma-free tend to get repeated on a regular basis.

Sirtel · 04-17-2024, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

For the most part, I find most free books are worth what you pay for them.

That's what I've found as well. Most free books just aren't all that good. I gave up on them a decade ago.

Cootey · 04-23-2024, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why can't you strip the DRM off your Kindle purchases? There are three working methods at the moment, the easiest of which is to use Download & Transfer.

D&T doesn’t work for me. I spent quite a lot of time getting it to work and never succeeded. It was simply easier to stop buying from Kindle and do all ebook purchases from Kobo from that point onward.

If you can direct me to a summary of what I need to do, I can give it a try again. I certainly miss the Kindle sales.

DNSB · 04-23-2024, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cootey

D&T doesn’t work for me. I spent quite a lot of time getting it to work and never succeeded. It was simply easier to stop buying from Kindle and do all ebook purchases from Kobo from that point onward.

If you can direct me to a summary of what I need to do, I can give it a try again. I certainly miss the Kindle sales.

Please check your PMs.

04-16-2024, 03:59 PM	#1
TheSmitty Addict Posts: 224 Karma: 1181422 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: DFW, TX area Device: Paperwhite SE, Libra 2, Oasis 3, Boox Note Air 3C, iPad Pro 11	Kobo journey so far... Pardon the ramble but someone might find this interesting, laughable or sad... I have a rather large kindle library (800+) that I have purchased over the years. I really have nothing against Amazon (big Prime user) but have always wanted a fall back device. I have a Kobo Libra 2 I bought when that first came out and hardware wise I love it. I love the buttons and the device just feels better to me over my other kindle devices. I transferred all my books (after conversion) onto it. Other than some conversion issues, involving headers which I have posted about before, it has worked well. I read on both my Kobo and my Kindle but different things for different reasons. Typically I read novels on the kindle because I can make use of whispersync which allows me to switch easily between audible book and the ebook. I read history, biographies, etc on the Kobo. Having said that, I prefer my time with the Kobo because of the buttons and I just like it. Whispersync switching is a big deal, but that alone is not what keeps me on Amazon. I almost always stop reading/listening at chapter breaks anyway. But the other benefit of Audible is that I can buy the audible version at a significant discount if I already bought the ebook. Kobo does not do that unfortunately. Anyway, while checking out the website of a new (to me) local indie bookstore I noticed they had a menu selection for audiobooks which then led me to libro.fm A revelation that was, I can do their subscription (priced same as kobo and audible basically), and I can download the book to their app AND download the audio files, without DRM, for safe keeping... bonus! I am trying it out now to see what hassle there is, if any for reading/listening to my novels during my commute etc. It is promising. If I do not need whispersync ability then I do not need to buy my ebooks and audiobooks exclusively through amazon. Time will tell. Having said all that, I have rolled the dice and pre-ordered the Libra Colour anticipating that I may be able to go full Kobo for the ebooks. It is nice to have options....

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04-16-2024, 04:45 PM	#2
Cootey Absentminded Reader Posts: 1,112 Karma: 6463851 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps	Nice! Thanks for sharing. I don’t do audio books. I never travel anywhere since I work out of the home, and I’d rather read at my own pace. But I have to admit that Amazon does a fantastic job with whispersync. Kobo’s syncing between devices is laggy, and syncing between ereaders and iOS apps is so spotty as to be useless. I don’t have that issue ever with my Kindles and Kindle apps. I can remember back when the iPhone was new that whipsersync was spotty, but Kindle fixed it. I wish Kobo prioritized syncing as much as they’ve prioritized notetaking. Still, now that I can’t strip DRM off Kindle purchases on my Mac, I don’t buy from Kindle anymore. I’m solely Kobo now for new purchases. But with the backlog of books that I have, I like to keep my Kindle around even though I converted my collection as you did. I like having options, too.

04-17-2024, 01:43 AM	#4
readthinksurvive Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 21840 Join Date: Dec 2021 Device: kindle oasis; kobo elipsa/libra; pocketbook 741; SNA4X	welcome to kobo i collect free books on both kobo/kindle but kindle tends to have more free cool books!!

04-17-2024, 01:03 PM	#5
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,546 Karma: 145557716 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For the most part, I find most free books are worth what you pay for them. Even the series starter books that are not perma-free tend to get repeated on a regular basis.