Ereaders are tablet-like devices whose function is to read ebooks, books in digital format. There are several models on the market, but the main choice is often limited to Kindle or Kobo, the most popular and purchased eReaders by users.
These devices are quite similar, but at the same time they offer some different features and functionality.
These devices are quite similar, but they offer some different features and functionalities. Here are some useful hints to understand which eReader to buy, to choose if it’s better Kindle or Kobo.
eReader: what is it and how does it work
The eReaders are electronic devices for reading ebooks, digital books that offer a number of advantages over their paper counterparts. For example, they can be downloaded at a lower cost, they can be saved in the internal memory or on a flash drive or external hard drive, and depending on the reader used they offer additional services, such as online vocabulary search and note taking. Ebooks are available in two main formats, ePub and AZW.
EPub is an open standard, created on the basis of the PDF protocol and mainly used for digital books with a lot of text, but with few images and non-advanced graphics. AZW, on the other hand, is a file type developed by Amazon for Kindle, capable of supporting even complex graphic elements. La scelta del formato degli eBook è fondamentale, poiché ogni eReader è compatibile soltanto con alcuni standard, quindi bisogna necessariamente acquistare il dispositivo adatto alla visualizzazione dei file desiderati.
eReader Kindle: caratteristiche tecniche
Kindle è l’eReader ufficiale di Amazon, progettato appositamente per leggere gli ebook scaricabili sul sito di e-commerce. Si tratta di un apparecchio di buona qualità, in grado di leggere il formato AZW dei libri digitali in vendita sul portale, da non confondere con il Kindle Fire poiché quest’ultimo non è un lettore di ebook, ma bensì un semplice tablet con schermo LCD a colori.
Su Amazon sono disponibili vari modelli del Kindle, fra i più popolare e apprezzati, in ordine crescente di prezzo:
- Kindle versione base: il giusto compromesso per chi cerca la funzionalità ma ha un budget ridotto
- Kindle Paperwhite: impermeabile, con illuminazione frontale a ampia memoria interna
- Kindle Oasis: for those who aim for the highest quality and have no budget constraints
As for general features, the Kindle have a front lighting system, to read in the dark without external lights, touchscreen technology on new devices, good resolution and optimal contrast. In addition to this they have support for 3G Wi-Fi networks, to access the Amazon Unlimited service with over 1 million ebooks available, a battery life of up to 4 weeks, an internal memory from 4 to 32 GB, they are waterproof and support various formats such as AZW3, PDF, PNG and JPEG, except for ePub.
Kobo eReader: features and technical aspects
Kobo is an eReader made in 2010 by a Canadian company, now a direct rival of Amazon in the field of devices for reading digital books. These devices have a 6 to 7.8 inch display, similar contrast to the Kindle thanks to the E-Ink Carta technology and the touchscreen system. L’illuminazione consente la lettura al buio, tramite la funzionalità ComfortLight regolabile, altrimenti è possibile optare per i modelli di fascia alta con sistema PRO, con 8 LED RGB e 9 LED bianchi.
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Con Kobo si possono visualizzare ebook in vari formati, ePub, PDF, JPEG, BMP e RTF, inoltre è possibile scaricare i titoli sia dallo store ufficiale, sia quelli presenti nelle librerie multimediali di Mondadori e Feltrinelli. Inoltre attraverso l’applicazione Kobo, compatibile con iOS, Android, Windows e Mac OS, si possono utilizzare servizi cloud e sincronizzare la lettura degli ebook su altri dispositivi, come smartphone, tablet e pc. Connectivity allows you to connect with Wi-Fi networks, however, 3 and 4G are not supported.
Kindle or Kobo, which one to choose?
After seeing the features of the two reading devices you need to figure out which is better, Kindle or Kobo? The answer depends mainly on the ebooks, in fact, those who want to download from Amazon Kindle Unlimited must choose the Kindle, compatible with all formats present in the store of e-commerce, while to view digital titles Mondadori, Feltrinelli or other eBooks with ePub files you must buy the Kobo.
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Technically, the two eReaders are quite similar, but with Kindle you can enjoy a greater choice of products to download, while Kobo is able to read even files with DRM protection, a protocol for copyright not integrated in the Amazon device. On lighting, the Kindle’s system is slightly better, although the Kobo’s is also excellent, and both have a USB port and Wi-Fi connectivity, although the Kindle’s is more advanced and complete.
A final option is the ability to exchange ebooks for free, a feature only present on Kindle for Amazon Unlimited customers, but with Kobo you have a wider freedom of choice of platforms and files you can read. In conclusion, it is difficult to know which one to choose between Kobo or Kindle, in fact, even the prices are almost the same, so you have to consider the type of ebook you want to download, where to download it and which is the most suitable solution for your digital reading needs.
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