The Kindle is Dead Long Live the Kobo: Kobo Review Part 1

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Sorry this one took so long my computer decided to not upload it last night. Fun! Let me know your thoughts on the Kobo! Stick around for Part 2 which should be uploaded soon! Thanks everyone!

[@camrodger8638]

I love the Kobo Libre Colour for these reasons. Easy Libby integration making borrowing from the local library quick and simple. Annotation is super simple. Respectful reading experience without adds or being forced to pay to have adds removed from a device that I already paid to own. The Kobo store is much better user experience. And finally, I LOVE the buttons to turn pages. The buttons fall perfectly into place. Since I discovered Kobo, my Kindle rests comfortably in the drawer. Thanks for another wonderful video. The time and effort that you take to make these videos are greatly appreciated.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Thank you so much for watching! I do love the kobo store. So well done!

[@juliebartholomew3278]

I'm currently waiting for my first ever e--reader Kobo Libra colour to arrive today, can't wait

[@sarahkallassy6885]

Can’t wait for part 2! I switched to Kobo too and am loving it so far. It is amazing to have all my books in one place at last!

[@Flushmaster0312]

Tomorrow my Kobo finally arrives and I can switch to Kobo, I'm looking forward to it.

[@ape413]

Kobo is noticeably slower compared to my Kindle Paperwhite gen 11

[@Mrs.DasiyQuack]

I bought a kobo libra colour a week ago and I love it soooo much, highlighting is so much fun and I personally think it's better then my kindle

[@joreneereads]

This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone say the kobo is slower! Normally people seem shocked by how fast it is in comparison. Super helpful and thorough video!

[@ape413]

My Kobo Libra Colour is noticeably slower than my Kindle Paperwhite Gen 11

[@alexz3t899]

my kobo was a lot faster than my 11th gen paper white lol

[@TheKurtLyon]

Looking to step away from the claws of Amazon Kindle. Looking at the Kobo libra color. Thanks a million for taking the time for these two videos. Keep the content coming. Great vibe.

[@vpnconsult]

Love the haptic feedback of the Kobo buttons.

[@mikarikichi]

So glad you have a new video so soon! Found you from the previous one

[@JustJesci]

I love buttons especially when it’s cold outside. When I have gloves on, I don’t wanna take them off just to turn a page so buttons make it 1000 times better!

[@myocoree]

i love ur aesthetic girl keep posting pls

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Oh my goodness thank you ❤️

[@hughmogus.0]

I am so in love with my kobo libra color, it is like the perfect device.

[@gamineglass]

I've been a Kindle user for about ten years and I have no complaints about the reading experience. I do have complaints about Amazon, its business practices and I hate that the Kindle is always pushing me to buy books in which I have no interest. I just ordered the Kobo and I'm excited to use it!

[@codyanderson3118]

Can’t wait for part two!

[@rishichoudhury6409]

First time viewer- thanks for setting the expectations straight in the beginning

[@easterncoyote1]

Thank you for the great video and for all the work you put into it. I love your presentation and your enthusiasm! I have too many Kindles and Kobos which I have been accumulating since e-readers first came out. I go back and forth between the two, but I am currently reading almost exclusively on my new Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara, which is a sweet little device. I like to hear what reviewers like yourself think about Kobos vs. Kindles. Great job!

[@SuperPlastered]

I purchased a Oasis 2nd gen years ago and a KOBO Forma a couple of years later. Kindle is clamping down on allowing people to have choices with the products they buy. It's almost like Amazon doesn't want you to own their own product. I've since transfered all of my books to the KOBO using calibre and won't go back. I'm looking forward to the color KOBO. Great review!!!!

[@msarchieve1749]

Does Kobo lets you own the books you buy from their store?

[@ChristianCarrizales]

Hahahaha, I also used to pronounce Calibre as “kuh-lee-bray” 😂 Great review! My Kobo arrives in 2 days and can’t wait to switch over from Kindle!

[@gamewrit0058]

The main reason I bought a Kindle Paperwhite several years ago was because I can plug it into my laptop like an external drive and copy mobi files from Archive of Our Own (AO3) onto it, to read in bed - or out and about - on something bigger than my phone and smaller than my laptop. The browser and store have always been crap on it, so the titles I have "bought" (licensed - none of us has permanent ownership!) from amazon, I purchased on my computer, then sent to the device. And for tons of other reasons, including their ownership of at least 60% of the world's Internet infrastructure, when I can give my business to someone other than Amazon, I try to.

[@TheKiwibirder]

I just got a Kobo Libre Colour for Christmas, and I love it! I have a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but I wanted an Oasis because I loved the idea of the physical page turn buttons. By the time I bought my Kindle, they had discontinued the Oasis. 😢 The page turn buttons are truly my favorite feauture on the Kobo, because it allows me to hold it and turn the pages with just one hand. I don't understand why anyone would hate the buttons! They make it so much easier to read if you are holding a drink in one hand...or are under the blankets in bed! My other favorite feature on the Kobo is the integration of Libby/Overdrive right in the device. Now that I have a library card, I borrow almost all of my books for free, so that is a big plus. So far, I am really enjoying reading on the Kobo, and if I had to choose between the Kobo and the Kindle, I would pick the Kobo--regardless of the color versus black-and-white issue.

[@juliebartholomew3278]

I'm reading books from the library on my phone and sometimes on my tablet until my first ever e-reader arrive, Kobo Libra colour

[@TheKiwibirder]

@@juliebartholomew3278 You're going to love it!

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

Yes!!! I’m happy to see both videos up!!! Glad to see the new videos!!! I dislike that amazon ecosystem, and only will get the new scribe because of uni; but… if I end up liking my uni book. Then… I’d refund it on Amazon, and get it on kobo!!

[@BinxThinx]

I love my Kobo Kibra Colour! Haha great minds, I uploaded my review yesterday hehe

[@antonio.carloslan]

Thanks for the video! Just one problem: Kobo doesn't have the feature to export all the markings and notes in a single file. This is possible on Kindle... for me this feature is essential and I don't understand why it's not present on Kobo :(

[@yuklimka7251]

I haven't seen this mentioned in reviews, but on my Kindle PW11 I can add keyboard languages which makes searching for books in those other languages convenient. On my KLC I think I'd have to switch the UI language, and the built-in dictionaries are meh at best. I know I can sideload dictionaries, but I'm hoping to see improvements in that aspect. TIL Kobo is going to come out with a white Stylus soon and as a matchy-matchy person, I'm like "Why, Kobo?! Why not have one ready to launch with the white devices?" But I'm learning to let go. After two weeks I like my KLC, but I don't experience the same kind of enthusiasm that others who've transitioned have talked about. My feelings may gradually change as I get to know the ins and outs of the KLC. For now, I'm hoping my 8BitDo pageturner will play nicely with the KLC.

[@calitb]

being able to integrate the reader with Libby is nice, and clearly the kobo wins because of that, but that is not available in every country :(

[@Leonsyeepshideandseek]

I see I'm kinda a background in your videos. Love that. Also I'm ordering a kobo for Christmas.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

😂 yeah I totally forgot about that when filming. Oh yay! Kobos are pretty great.

[@aflores31]

I really wanted to like the Kobo, but I couldn’t get over how the text wasn’t crisp like Kindle. It felt like reading on an iPad :(

[@OkamiRose]

You can always get the Clara b&w. The reason it isn’t crisp is because all color eink screens have an extra layer that dulls the surface. The Colorsoft has this issues too

[@defiantaichi]

I have had my KLC for a month. I have been using it to take notes in class, read manga and get an endless memory cause of google Drive sync. I still like my kindle basic, it fits into my pocket. But I really love my kobo.

[@keithhealing1115]

Page turn buttons! I have a Kindle Oasis (which is brilliant) and a Scribe. The Scribe NEEDS page turn buttons. Amazon now make no devices with physical buttons - and that is a huge turn-off for me. So - the next reader I get will be a Kobo.

[@AryaStarky]

I would have been happy if the scribe had the haptic buttons that the kindle voyage had.

[@shannjess5223]

I have the same experience with annotations it can be frustrating. I never knew there was sticky notes , so thank you for that

[@sophiamoskalo7774]

I must be the only one, but I have never had a problem ignoring and overlooking all those ads on my Kindle.

[@ryokan9120]

No, you're not the only one! The ads never bothered me either. In fact, I barely noticed them. But with that said I would prefer not to have the ads, but I'm not willing to pay money to remove them.

[@LeonC0704]

@@ryokan9120 Hey, go to customer service and ask them to please remove them. You had no idea you purchased the one with ads. They will remove them for free. I've done it with three kindles already.

[@Krystalbrown1105]

I paid to not have ads when I bought my kindle. I’ve had zero issues.

[@tonistroke]

It never bother me ether till they flooded with horrible AI generated book ads that are so unpleasant or totally creep

[@laurient]

I have an older kindle and the battery is on its last legs… I didn’t realize that the new ones had ads!

[@Zero]

get a pop filter for your mic helps with the puff sounds also use equalizer on audio to level it out . great video

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

That's good to know! Being so new to everything I am constantly trying to figure out sound and lighting. I'll definitely be looking into this for future videos. 😊

[@lalawson7]

Thanks for sharing your views and thoughts re KOBO v Kindle. I own both. However, like you, I personally will never totally condemn the kindle simply because they were one of the first on the e-reading platform. They did get somewhat complacent; but hopefully have had a rude awakening by competitors standing on their very established shoulders. I have hope for their the future development of Kindle and believe they will resume leadership in the dynasty of e-readers, if only because they sell good books best. PS: Books can also be borrowed from libraries via the Kindle device.

[@mitrajordan]

You cannot borrow library books with the Kindle in Canada, Australia or the UK. And you cannot use headphones to listen to Audiobooks on Kindle either. These features are disabled in Canada, and these are all features you can use on the Kobo.

[@kabazinga]

you can only borrow from libraries on kindle in usa

[@ComtessedArtagnan]

You may get better result with images in books if you convert them into kepub rather than epub

[@Captain_Yossarian]

I still prefer the basic kindle. I just want a small light pure text ereader. As much like a small novel as possible. Stylus, notes, even analytics on the device are a distraction to me. The high contrast, sharp text, small and matte screen of the basic kindle are biggest priority for my use.

[@AMBIKARANI]

Very comprehensive review. Thanks ❤

[@hughmogus.0]

I didn’t run into the issue with the “new” kindle and Calibre. Seems like there are some workarounds:)

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

That's great news! I'm glad to hear it still works.

[@gaelanubis]

New subscriber ^_^

[@tananario23]

Not buying anything else from Amazon, looking for alternatives.

[@henryg3010]

Same

[@stankybee]

I agree with everything you said here. I absolutely love my Kobo and I definitely won't be going back to Kindle. Amazon is way too shady. I don't agree with their business model.

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

for me kobo is going to be for my personal books mainly, but i see your cons points. I think that kobo will improve on this, because they’re going up against a juggernaut like Amazons kindle; and thus these problems can be annoying.

[@courtneythompson6179]

I love audible especially when it seems like books I want to read from the library have months long wait. I got a buttonless kindle but regret not getting the oasis. I might get it secondhand. I think the whisper sync might be a deal breaker.

[@JustJesci]

What is wrong with kindle? Why is everyone going away from it?

[@camrodger8638]

For Canadians, the move away from Kindle is a “no brainer”. Kindle does not support Libby in Canada, and Canadian Kindles have Bluetooth deactivated. No chance to listen to Audiobooks. Libby is extremely well integrated into Kobo. When searching for a book, if it is offered by your local library it is shown as an option to either buy or borrow the book. I have both Kobo and Kindle readers, but the Kindle spends most of its time in a drawer.

[@gamewrit0058]

One reason is that the Kindle isn't as easy to use for materias purchased or borrowed from elsewhere; plus, it's designed to make it difficult to read or store your files elsewhere; and Amazon has a history of updating or deleting things from readers' libraries with no refund. Additionally, if your account is terminated for any reason, you lose access, and they can delete all your titles the next time the Kindle connects to the Internet. Customers don't buy ebooks on this platform; they buy license rights. I only use mine to access indie titles I can't get anywhere else.

[@ellealine4159]

What the other person said + amazon destroys local bookshops and generally is just really shady

[@BinxThinx]

I talk about it quite a bit in my recent video where I talk about why I got a Kobo Libra Colour too, tldr: they’re not great when it comes to ethics

[@ZT-b2j]

You don't actually own any of the Kindle books you buy for one reason. Amazon can decide anytime to remove books as they please.

[@joshsterkin]

I don't have a use case for a color device, but I did just buy a used 9th gen OAsis for my at-home Kindle, and my PW 11th gen is for going out & traveling... Do you think Kobo is worth switching to for those of us who don't do comics/manga/graphic novels, or need color coded highlighting or writing? Like truly, just an e-reader, is it worth changing?

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Probably not. Unless you're looking to break away from amazon. The devices are similar enough that you really don't need to switch if those features aren't important for you. Imo.

[@TheFonzieCommunity]

I only just noticed this, but… your profile picture is cute; and pretty!!!

[@samrolfe89]

I find it hard to believe that anybody is really bothered about the homepage having books to buy on it. The library tab literally has all of your books without any ads or Amazon forcing you or encouraging you to buy anything. You can avoid the homepage completely if you want to. I feel like getting angry at Amazon's homepage is just a popular argument that people use against the Kindle, but I can't see how anybody is really bothered. It certainly doesn't annoy me anyway, im too busy reading to be annoyed at something that trivial. It's like turning up to a bookshop and being annoyed that they are advertising books in the window.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

That's super fair. I basically spend all my time on the library tab as well. So it's not an all the time frustration. I think it's more about the principle of the thing than the actual thing. At least for me. It also asthetically ugly, which admittedly is a very petty critic 😂. For me I don't mind a bookstore advertising because I'm there to buy books. But on my kindle I'm there to read and with so much focus on ads sometimes it feels more equivalent to ads being placed in a book than being at a bookstore. But you're right that it's super easy to avoid and overall doesn't stop me from using my kindle. 😊

[@prosetheus]

Kobo needs to be much bigger. Letting a massive corp build a monopoly in such an important industry is scary.

[@kiramohrreader]

i have both kindle and kobo. the BIG con for kobo is, the book variety. i wish their variety was amazon. KU offers a lot of "new" popular for free is on KU. Kindle only con is you cannot annotate on it like you can the kobo. i love both, but i reach for my kindle more, because kindle has more books and popular books i want to read.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Honestly same.

[@ape413]

I too recently moved to kobo from long time kindle usage (since kindle keyboard) ALSO because I was disappointed with the Colorsoft drop. Unfortunately, while there are some features I find kobo does better than the kindle, there are some things that I still think kindle is superior. 1) dark mode is much easier to toggle on/off on the kindle (without having to “hack” the device) 2) the screen has way less ghosting, page turns faster and is generally much more responsive on the kindle. I find the kobo a bit more glitchy to use overall. 3) side loaded books syncs with whisper sync (doesn’t sync on kobo) 4) while I’m getting used to the google drive function, I think email to kindle is hard to beat (everyone has an email, not everyone has drop box or google drive) Buttons… it’s nice to have but I don’t NEED it

[@trvnq]

kindle hardware is good af tho especially the 12th gen paperwhite

[@plusmilo]

wohoooo hii from Brunei

[@user-wc6bl4zs4i]

Never keep e-reader video brief!!!!! I love ereader content

[@Tyrathetyrant144k]

I Stan this video, I switched too

[@lemonix_art]

Is the library part for world wide audience or only for usa/canada?

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

Everyone should be able to watch it once it's up. It mostly deals with my frustration with overdrive which, if I understand it right, is what everyone outside the usa/Canada has to use. But I also talk about Libby which I believe is just available for usa/Canada. Since Libby bought overdrive though I'm curious to see if they will try to be better about integrating the rest of the world.

[@wingworldweb]

Not available for countries like Malaysia, even Kobo Plus. My Libra Colour is missing these 2 features, wonder why.

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

I purchased some ebooks for the first time from the Kobo bookstore. I was ripped-off. They ADDED more to the advertised list price. I have since returned to Amazon. They never rip me off. I would check your invoice were I you. Crooks.

[@hiwrenhere]

The UI/UX for Kindle is horrible. I have a Paperwhite and a Libra color and the LC is the one I reach for every time

[@msarchieve1749]

Does Kobo let people own the books they buy from their store and can Kobo books be transferred to another ereader?

[@rashkae1]

Depends. For books that are sold (by the publisher) DRM Free, you absolutely can download an epub of your purchase right on the spot. For books protected with Adobe DRM copy protection, you have to use DRM removal software. However, there is no indication that Kobo is removing the ability to do so easily. (And unlike Amazon books downloaded for USB, the books downloaded from Kobo are not delivered with degraded image quality.) However, even for the books with Adobe DRM, they are compatible with every other e-reader device or platform. Amazon is the only E-reader platform that does not integrate Adobe copy protection.

[@msarchieve1749]

@rashkae1 I was wondering if a person buys an ebook from the Rakuten Kobo bookstore if they own the book. Amazon and Rauketen both sell the same books and have the same free ebooks. I have yet to see a video where a Kobo owner shows the books he or she bought from the Rakuten Kobo bookstore. I love my Kindle Paperwhite 6th generation. I buy physical books and checkout ebooks from the library through Libby.

[@Wavlance]

Is holding the kobo long time comfortable in the hand?

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

I think so. I haven't experienced any fatigue with it.

[@TheKiwibirder]

I read two books in two or three days on the Kobo and did not experience any hand/wrist fatigue at all.

[@aaronc1746]

What was Henry doing?

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

😂 he's a very vocal boy. He likes to stare you down and scream at you until you give him food or attention. But he'll never just come to you for pets. He wants you to work for it.

[@mauishopgirll]

The kindle as a drive issue has already been debunked and clarified. Users may need to read the guidance on how to do it as there was a technical change, especially Mac users. But you can still do it. I appreciate the kindle quality. The writing experience on the scribe is wonderful, I feel like I’m writing on paper. While the kobo is interesting I don’t want another platform as I read on multiple formats and kindles, everything synchs. But if I could no longer get library books I wouldn’t hesitate. I enjoyed your review and the look and aesthetic is really nice.

[@Icedbynay]

If I could sync my reading process on different devices I would runnnn to kobo lol

[@slothsarecool]

Hahah no way, Blame v2 is the first thing I bought on Kobo 😅

[@Cezille07]

Sorry, but it took 4 minutes before finding out WHICH device you're talking about. I think it's vital to add it to the title or at least on the description; I'm looking for reviews on a Kobo device but the Libra was not it. Some chapters would also help to navigate the various discussion points.

[@xLadyDushi]

I am a Kobo girly for sure. I don’t like that Kindle is from Amazon. But sadly the library integration is not available in my country :(. Loved the video ❤

[@JidJibril]

You know you don't have to hold that huge mic throughout the video and rather place a small shotgun mic on you camera, right? Still why? 😢

[@blane1814]

Please come back make book videos I subscribed

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

I definitely plan to. November hit me like a truck but I have a couple videos in editing. Thanks for subscribing 😁

[@blane1814]

@ I understand

[@blane1814]

@ show us books you love and why. And what’s on ur TBR favorites of the month both book related or non book related stuff u are loving of the month 💜

[@GeraldM459]

Amazon is already being flooded with pre-orders for the revised Kindle Scribe and they just came out with a new paperwhite version as well as the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is selling like hotcakes. Nay, nay, the death of the kindle has been greatly exaggerated. But Amazon's eBook ecosystem aside, with things like Calibre, Epubor and the like out there's, the Kindle's demise will be a long time coming I'm afraid.

[@MLW-sy8dy]

She lost me at cali-bray muhahaha! Bye

[@novon246]

Very insight comment. Says more about you than it does anything about this video or topic lol

[@tusharm.8161]

Kindle Paperwhite is the best e-reader ever. Kobo's e books are more expensive than Amazon's. Amazon's ecosystem is the best

[@BinxThinx]

While they destroy the actual ecosystem lol so depends what you consider “the best”

[@AliM-og6ct]

Kobo price matches E books if you find it cheaper. Go between Kobo and Amazon most books are the same prices so maybe it’s regulated by the publisher.

[@Andrei-Rex]

Another deranged woke rant. Just listen to yourself 😂. Making excuses for Rakuten and attacking Amazon. Insanity.

[@Erikooriko]

Hi! I don’t know if anyone has already said this, but you can make the Kobo refresh the page only when you reach a new chapter! Or at least I can do it with the Kobo Libra 2 (the one before the colour) Hope this can help!❤️

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

That's a great tip! Thanks 😊

[@Penpaper]

Informative 🫡👍🏼