The review you linked says "You can't read Amazon or Apple ebooks on this e-reader." That would significantly limit the usefulness and desirability of this product to many people.

Kindle owners are an enthusiastically loyal bunch, I don't think the Kindle product line's reputation and user experiences provided over so many years for so many people should be overlooked.

Kobo is made by (or produced for) Rakuten, the Japanese company that bought Overdrive five years ago. It's trying to get into the game with its own proprietary product but Amazon limits native support of its content to its own hardware.

Better to stick with the known product than to go with the knockoff, it's more compatible with the bigger sources of content.

I have a kindle paperwhite and it will not download cloud library from the library. Kindle fire readers will. Pretty much a bummer since I got the paperwhite because it is so good for reading!

What is cloud library?

Another loyal Kindle Fire fan here! I have used them for years and can't say enough good things about them.

I just use my IPad to read books. I have the Kindle app, and a few others. They work just fine.

I have a kindle paperwhite and it will not download cloud library from the library.

I borrow books from the library on my Paperwhite. Most US libraries support OverDrive.

https://www.dummies.com/consumer-electronics/tablets/kindle/how-to-borrow-books-on-your-kindle-paperwhite/

I use The NY Times site Wirecutter for reviews. There is a review for best ebook readers at:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/amazon-kindle-is-the-best-ebook-reader/

i love my iPad and get books from my library and read them on my iPad using the Amazon Kindle app.

If you only want it for reading books and nothing else then I would recommend kindle paperwhite. If you want to do some other stuff online then probably the latest version of Kindle fire.

If you want a full function tablet then iPad if you want apple. If you want Android I really like my Asus. There's a lot of options for Android tablets.

My husband only reads he loves his Kindle paperwhite. It's so lightweight and slim he can take it with him easily.

You can get library books on all of the options listed. You may have to use Overdrive. I haven't done that in a long time. Hubby usually gets his books from Amazon.

The advantage of the Kindle devices for reading over Android or Apple tablets is the battery life and, in the case of Paper White, the comfort of the screen. Less an issue right now while travel is down but for people doing a lot of travel and plane flights or even just running around, the long battery life is incredibly convenient.

Again, in normal times, a lot of soccer moms leave their Kindles in the car. That way they're accessible for the 10 minutes of free time that pop up now and again during the day, that can be spent reading while ferrying the kids around.

I don't know whether when raven above said "you may have to use Overdrive" if that was an expression of inconvenience or dislike or not. Overdrive has an extensive collection, including best sellers and popular books, and if you plan ahead with wait lists and what not, a steady stream of popular books are available. In many places, certainly it's true in California, people are allowed to get cards from multiple library systems in other parts of the state, not just where they live. That increases the pool of available books to choose from.

Or, you can always buy the Kindle version for books you don't want to wait for. Every successful book is available on Kindle and the prices are cheaper than hard and soft cover versions historically were.

Major fan of Kindle Paperwhite. I have had it for several years and love it. I only borrow from the library ; well full disclosure- I did purchase one book for book club last year and it was a promotion for some reason on amazon and I spend $1.99.

One of the great things about the paperwhite is that you can read outside and there is NO glare. I have gotten to the point now where I totally prefer it- it's compact, and totally mobile, fits in my purse. I cannot recommend it enough. Trust me. You will love it.

I skimmed responses above, and didn't see an explanation for the Kindle Paperwhite. This is the model i have, and the screen is backlit, for easy reading in the dark; and is also non-glare so if you're sitting outside reading, the sun doesn't cause a problem. I didn't realize how valuable I would find that feature, until I misplaced my Kindle one day and went to use the Kindle App on my Samsung tablet to keep reading. It's soooo much better on the paperwhite!

LOL Salonva your post wasn't there when I started typing.

The borrowing of ebooks from our library is via cloud library, not overdrive. Cloud library does not work with kindle paperwhite. I don't know why our system does not use overdrive, but it doesn't seem to.

norar, is it a large library system serving a populous area or a smaller sized one?

I have a Kindle Paperwhite that I love. I like to get the one that is wifi and 4g just to make sure that I can always download books. And no ads. Ads bug me.

I primarily borrow from the library as well. I had a Nook for a long, long time. Battery finally started to go. I replaced it with a Kindle Fire. I'm not crazy about that one. The battery doesn't last very long, even in airplane mode, and it has ads. Based on my limited experience, I would get another Nook. I use Overdrive primarily.

Kindle Fire fan here, but it's the only tablet I've ever used so I have nothing to compare it to. I borrow ebooks from my local library through the Overdrive app, which is extremely user friendly. Font size and brightness level can be adjusted in the app. I love the Kindle because it's so multi-functional.

I read books on my Samsung tablet and on a Kindle Paperwhite (which was bought for travel). I get books from Overdrive and read them with a Kindle app on tablet. Also get books from Cloud Library (which is a program offered by some libraries) which download to my tablet not using Kindle. On my Samsung tablet in the settings under Display there is a option to make text brighter for reading outdoors. The difference, of course, between the two devices is that the Paperwhite is strictly a reader and the Samsung tablet is a portable computer.

Elmer, our library is in a town with a population of around 6,000. It is the county library. We're part of a system where we can borrow books from most of the state, either in person or by request and the book is delivered to our library. I just can't get e-books on my kindle!

I use the Kindle app with my ipads. I borrow books from my library through Libby, which sends me to Amazon, which downloads the book ( for free) to my Kindle app.

Just make sure you get one that the screen lights up. I bought my Kobo when they first came out, I still use it but the screen doesn't light up so no night time reading.

norar, it may be that your limited service availability is because you have a small library system. I believe Overdrive is more expensive than its competitors and the others like Cloud are cheaper. A smaller library system may not have the funds to provide the more extensive but more expensive service.

Are there any larger or urban library systems nearby that have Overdrive that you could join? Or, do you have friends or family living in such places whose library card numbers you could use?

I can't thank you all enough for the info you've provided. It's really helpful for me. Sounds to me like the majority are happy with the paperwhite. It also sounds to me like I really need to check our local library apps and make sure whatever I pick is most compatible with their services. It also looks like, if I want audio books with the paperwhite, I'm going to have to get wireless earbuds.

I think I'll talk with my librarians too before I take the leap as I'm sure they have experience with helping patrons access ebooks too.

For audiobooks, I use and recommend small MP3 players. In recent years I've been using SanDisk Clip models. Historically around $30, the smallest (4GB) model itself will hold 15 or more normal size books, plenty of room. They use corded headphones - I use earbuds.

They're small and come with a handy clip to attach to your clothing. You use them by downloading the book (Using Overdrive's program) to a PC, then transfer it (also done by the Overdrive program) to the MP3 player. For Audible books, it works the same way, download to the PC and then transfer to the MP3 player. It only takes a few minutes and is very easy.

For me the advantage of using these small players instead of my smartphone is having the much smaller and more convenient size, a clip for easy access, and no need to add another drain on the smartphone battery. When you want to listen in your car, connect it using a double-ended 3.5 mm cord into the player's headphone socket and the other end into the Aux-in input in your car.

I ordered the paperwhite...I think it will do what I need it to.

Thanks again for all your help. The wisdom in this forum is incredible!

You guys rock!

Oh nice! I am sure you will LOVE it.

(and I am not a tech lover at all. It has gotten to the point where I shy away from actual books. This backlit ,lightweight, non glare,and mobile device IS the best thing since ice cream!).

Let us know how you like it.

I have my kindle paperwhite i bought in 2014..love it. Bought 2nd kindle only cuz i was running ouf of room on 1st.

I separated all my genres on them. Billionaire romances and cowboy romances on 1st and all others on 2nd.

Kindle is the best

You will enjoy it, Annie. I appreciate the lightness, portability. I switch back and forth between ipad and Kindle, each device picking up where I left off.

The only thing I don't like is that for books which have some graphics in the beginning like a family tree or map, they are not as easily seen or accessed as in a "real" book. Not a deal-breaker though. I'm reading Crazy Rich Asians which has several family trees in the front and I'm wondering if I'll have trouble keeping everyone straight.

If you want to see graphics or photos in a larger format, install the Kindle program on your PC (Win and Mac versions available). It will sync to your collection and you should see these visuals more easily on a larger screen.

After the flood we had lost all of our devices including computers, tablets, phones etc. One of my dear friends, who knew how much we read, sent us a Kindle paperwhite and beautiful red leather cover along with an Amazon gift card to buy some books. Such a thoughtful and appreciated gift! My husband loves it so much I gave him full use of it and I was finally able to get a new Android tablet for myself. He has used that paperwhite every single day and night since we got it and it is still going strong. Never a problem with it. He wears cargo shorts and pants a lot and it fits perfectly in the pocket. I ordered him a very nice aluminum stand for it which he loves and uses when he is sitting in his recliner.

I can give you the Amazon link to it if you are interested.

Congrats I am sure you will enjoy it!

Here's the link to the stand.

https://www.amazon.com/TechMatte-Multi-Angle-Aluminum-Readers-Smartphones/dp/B014GCTGFM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but one of the useful features of the Kindle world -buying Kindle devices and buying Kindle books- is that the player can be lost, damaged, or go for a swim with no loss of content for the owner. Your library of Kindle books is kept online and copied to players. No matter what misfortune may occur or if you decide to get a new device, when you register it to your account (or newly install a app on a device), your entire collection can be downloaded again. Nothing is lost.

Yes, elmer, you are correct. As long as you don't delete your books from the cloud they will always be there and available to be downloaded onto other devices.

You can delete a book from any device - just don't delete it from the cloud.

Yes that is the case. He still had all of his books and transferred to the new kindle.

Speaking of cloud, does anyone here pay extra for cloud storage? I ran out a long time ago and am now living dangerously with no back up for the phone or the ipad, though I have a separate drive to back up my pc which is more important. But then I lose the functionality of sharing notes and such. But I've always been too cheap to pay.

Mostly my storage is taken up with photos, and I've not figured out a better way to manage that so I can keep my storage down.

Just wondering if others find it worthwhile....

I'm sure there are better options but I just pay 99 cents each month to iTunes for my photo storage. I should organize my photo files - there's a lot of things that can be deleted and the rest should be labeled and assigned a folder. That's one of those projects that I thought I'd tackle during Corona season but I've procrastinated.

Same here—99 cents/month for additional storage. I don’t know if I really need it with my new device but it’s easy.

Most people need/should have/desire to have backup copies of a number of things, home photos and videos being high on that list. The easiest way to do that is with an external drive. Whether or not you're using an iPhone or Android device that can be set to send photo files to online storage, it's simple to also have a copy on your PC (which should have plenty of room to do so). Add an external drive and you have two external copies.

Copy those folders to a second PC in your home (a simple thing to do over the network or using the external drive) and you have 3 backup copies. Free software is available to sync them periodically.

what is Libby? I am not sure of how to borrow from the library and how long do you get to keep it?

Libby is an app that some libraries use to lend ebooks. (Hillsborough County, FL uses it).

most books can be borrowed for 2 weeks.

What type of device are you using Joann? You just need to have a library card. I believe you can keep a book 2 weeks.

"Libby is an app that some libraries use to lend ebooks. "

Not exactly. "Libby" is the name of the Overdrive company's proprietary software, an "app" on smartphones and tablets a "program" on PCs, that manages downloads, playing, and transfers of content. It works only with Overdrive-sourced content.

Ok Elmer. Sometimes a Quick answer is easier to understand.

How is Libby different then Overdrive

maddiemo, I'm not sure I understand your comment. And whether you understood what I said or not. I'll try rephrasing my earlier comment.

You said "Libby is an app that some libraries use to lend ebooks" and I disagreed. My comment clarified that Libby is Overdrive software for Overdrive content only. Most libraries have content from many different sources in addition to Overdrive, such as Hoopla, RBDigital, etc. Each provider has its own proprietary software, To the best of my knowledge, Libby only works with Overdrive content.

That was all I said, to restrict my comment to what you said and not go on too far. Now I'll go on too a bit further to clarify.

Libby is Overdrive's newest software and the website steers you to using that. It's the first thing mentioned on the Overdrive site. There's also its old software "product", called Overdrive for Windows, Overdrive for Mac, Overdrive for Android, etc, that is still available but isn't what they push. It happens I use the old version (Called Overdrive for Desktop) but that's because I have for 10 years or more and when I tried Libby, I didn't like it.

Okay?

I have used Overdrive on both iPad and Android tablets for years. Have never ever had a problem with it. So wonderful to be able to download a book and return it with the touch of a finger.

I buy books. Those never have a battery problem and can be stored on a shelf and will be readable years later. Books are independent of devices and can be read until they fall apart.

My paperwhite arrived today and it looks pretty good...though I'm still stuck on the ipad for hoopla books. But I downloaded one easily from libby and it came through just fine.

I went out in the sunshine and was shocked at how clearly the print showed. Very nice. And no glare!

Thanks all for your suggestions! Most appreciated!

@jemdandy - My husband and I are both avid readers. We also like to go on vacations, and when we are on vacation, we like to relax and read. If we travel somewhere by automobile, it's no big deal to take physical books along. But for many years we flew to our vacation spot every six months. My husband is partial to historical nonfiction, and when he buys a physical book, he buys it in hardback. So, imagine how much fun it was to take four or five hardback books, each 2 inches thick (or more) in carry-on luggage (because we read on the flights). Yeah. But taking literally hundreds of books on a Kindle Paperwhite doesn't weigh any more than a Kindle with zero books on it. And it weighs less than 7 ounces!