Truth be told I love a physical book. It’s a souvenir from a visit to a book store or a memory to look back on for a book that I’ve enjoyed. But, I find it much easier to read on an e-reader. Why- 1) I can make the font gigantic to accommodate my failing eyes and 2) I can take it with me everywhere.
While, it’s been forever since I’ve written a post if you were around before the hiatus, you know I love the library. I’m on a library board and even ran the Boston Marathon for the Boston Public Library Fund. I also LOVE independent bookstores. I grew up in my dad’s small business, a deli, butcher shop, catering business. I know what a small business means to a family. But, I have also had a Kindle for a VERY long time. I buy more things than I care to think about from Amazon, but I have trouble balancing the way Amazon is cutting the bottom line for Independent Bookstores, so last March- I broke up with my Kindle. I purchased a Kobo and a Boox E-Reader. Why two? I liked different features of each and wanted to give them both a try. Kobo- is amazing for Libby and even Netgalley. Boox is an Android device that allows you to download a number of apps such as Kindle, Kobo, Netgalley, Bookshop.org (to buy from Independent Bookstores) and Libby. I vowed to give it six months and then reevaluate. I put my Kindle on the shelf and committed to exploring the pros and cons of the Kobo and the Boox. In my mind I was doing my part to support small business and take a stand against Amazon.
Between the Kobo and Boox- I preferred the Kobo. The interface is the most similar to the Kindle. The look and feel are also similar. It’s light and easy to use. You can download directly from Libby and easily return borrowed library books directly from the Kobo. Some, but not all NetGalley books are available for Kobo. Lots of pros. But the contrast for the text is not as sharp and then it glitches when you are “turning the page.” As in you tap it to turn the page. It doesn’t and then you tap it again and it goes two pages ahead. Ok- this is small potatoes, but it’s important to note. It doesn’t happen all the time, but often enough to be annoying.
Let’s talk Boox. I like the buttons for turning the page. That is definitely in the pro category. As I mentioned above, the Boox is an Android tablet. You can download a number of apps for reading, so it gives you a lot of variety. Another pro. BUT, and this is a big but- every time you close the screen you are staring over and have to navigate to the app in which you were reading. That’s a major con! The screen also has a lot of ghosting. You can see the text from the previous page behind the fresh page. Another con. Pro- you can purchase books from Bookshops.org and support an independent bookstore. But, I can also do that and read from my iPad or phone. I had really high hopes for the Boox given the variety of apps that it supports. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
Six months went by and I continued to primarily use the Kobo. I gave up on the Boox pretty early into this experiment. Then one day earlier this month, I dusted off my Kindle and it was like being reunited with an old friend. For better or worse, it’s the better device. Do I love what Amazon is doing to independent bookstores- NO, but do I want to use the best device around for reading- YES. Can I continue to shop small, independent bookstores whenever possible- also YES! So after a six month separation my Kindle and I are reunited and it feels so good. The text is sharp, the pages turn quickly, when I reopen the device I don’t have to navigate to where I was reading to continue where I left off. I tried to break up with my Kindle and I failed. Just as my Kindle Paperwhite and I were getting reacquainted- Amazon announced new Kindles. Over the last six months I had given my younger son my Colorsoft Kindle. He loves to read graphic novels and is a voracious reader. In addition to hard copies of books, he frequently reads on the Kindle. He often has more than one book going at a time. Did I need a new Kindle? Absolutely not. Is my Kindle Paperwhite just fine. Yes. Did I in fact order the new Colorsoft Kindle, scheduled to arrive on October 28- absolutely YES! Review to follow. I mean if you are going to make up with a long lost friend, you might as well go all in!