Kindle for iPad vs. Kobo for iPad

You all should know by now that I just love reading eBooks. The main reason is because of the dictionary function. I don't know many words, especially big words and most authors that I read use big words about 80% of the time. The second reason is I get to read at night, with all the lights off and need not worry about getting up and switching off all the lights before bed. Thirdly (not a big deal), it is light and not bulky.

My first ever eBook application that I've downloaded on my iPad is the Kobo app. I don't consider iBooks as my first application because I never used it before until I had to download "Reckless Endangerment", which Kobo do not sell.

Kobo for iPad
The thing I love about Kobo for iPad is that I get to search for discount codes on the web, which makes purchasing eBooks that much cheaper.  If I'm lucky I get to find 25% codes most times. There's one time around end of last year, they had this 40% discount codes with unlimited use per account! So just imagine the amount that one can save. Note: The discount codes only works for non-agency books. Meaning if the publisher is Simon & Schuster, you won't be able to apply the discount code during your check out. Click here for the link that explains more about how the discount works and there's always an updated discount code shared in that forum too. You don't have to be a member to get the discount code but you do have to be a member to make comments or ask questions in the forum.

The second thing that I love about Kobo is the award system that they have in place. I always try to read as much as I could to unlock the all the achievement awards but there are some which I just come seem to unlock it. Up to date I've unlock 35 awards out of 40 awards. There are other hidden awards too but I'm not sure how to unlock it.

The third thing I like about it is the statistics that they provide you with to let you know what was your total reading hours, hours per book, pages per hour, pages per session, etc. I just find it interesting being able to know how many hours it took to finish a book. Though it's not a necessity at all. I mean reading is not like a competition about who finish first but the fact you understand the book when you're done with it. You can finish it in an hour and not get story at all. So it doesn't matter if you're a slow reader, as long as you understand the book, that's what matters.

What I don't like about this application is the loading time. It takes awhile to load the application and it takes awhile to load each new chapter. It can be frustrating sometimes when the application just crash while trying to load a new chapter and you're just so deep into the book. A total turn off if you ask me.

Overall, I love this application a lot. I've saved a lot using this application. 

Kindle for iPad
Generally, if you're a smart shopper you could get books relatively cheap books on Kindle as compared to Kobo even with discount but sometimes Kobo with discount will be much cheaper. It really depends on the promotion that Kindle offers. With Kindle, there's no such thing as discount codes. The price listed is what you have to pay. I usually calculate how much it cost on Kobo and how much it cost on Kindle, which ever is cheaper, that's my choice.

Unlike Kobo, Kindle doesn't offer any awards or statistics on your reading. I find it more interesting with the awards system. It's like you get something for reading but not actually getting anything, if you know what I mean. I love being awarded for something and know that I've achieve something. I don't know about you. It's a matter of preferences.

What I love about Kindle is the loading time, which is why I'm totally hooked on this application. I find this feature more important than anything else. With Kindle, there is no waiting time at all. The page just loads immediately even when going through new chapters. Total thumbs up.

However, what annoys me about this application (maybe because I've been using Kobo for so long and had this function) is that I can't close the damn book when I'm done with it. On the library, to show you that you've finished the book, the book will have a 100% tag at the top of it. Some people may like this but I don't. I want to be able to close the book!

My verdict:
The winner for me is definitely Kindle for iPad. Although it lacks all the bells and whistles that Kobo for iPad provides, it has what I find a most important feature for an eBooks, that is the loading time. 
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How to get cheaper price in Kindle?
What you have to know is that some books are relatively cheaper in the US store as compared to the Australia, or UK store, vice versa. Very rarely you could find all three stores selling at the same price even after exchange. Usually one store is cheaper than the other, or at least that's what I've seen for the books I've purchased. Here's the story: Initially, I purchased Just for Now by Abbi Glines from Amazon Australia, I didn't know about the different prices across the three different stores. I assumed that being Amazon and all, it'd have sold the same thing for the same price after exchange rates and all but no that's not it. In the Australian store, Just for Now cost $8.49 and in the US store, it only cost $1.99! And yes both are Kindle version, yet the difference are $6.50!! WTF?! So what I did was immediately applied for a refund. No way am I going to pay for the same book with such a huge difference in price from the same store except in different country (yet there's no shipping cost since it's a bloody eBook. I'd understand the differences if it includes shipping charges but there's none)! Don't they know that the Australian dollar is much more stronger than the US dollar, with that I'd expect it to be cheaper, if not the same price as the US store. Just for your information, Kobo selling Just For Now for $7.99 and discount codes are not applicable because it is published by Simon & Schuster UK. Obviously, the cheapest is $1.99 from Amazon US store. 

Now the really question is how do I get that price since I only have an Australian debit card? Well, my fellow friends, what I come to learn is that unlike Apple store, where you have to have a US debit/ credit card, as well as, US address to be able to use the US store. With Amazon, all you need is a US address and bam! You'd just have to pay $1.99 for the same exact book that they charge for $7.99 or $8.49 in Australian stores! Now that's what I call a "smart shopper". Again if you're from US, just link an Australian home address with your Amazon account to check the price differences, which ever is cheaper, get that!

How do you do that? Hover your arrow on Your Account, then click on Manage Your Kindle. On the left hand side of the screen you'll see Your Kindle Account, somewhere down you'll be able to see Country Setting click on that. Then you'll see Current Country and Actions. Below Actions, you'll see Change. Again, click on that. If you don't already have a US address or Australia address, then fill in the space provided. If you already have a US address or Australia address, pick either one and click Update. Once you've update it, continue your search like you normally do and you'll be able to see the price differences. With that, you'll be able to save a lot!

How to back-up Kindle eBooks or have it transferred to other eReaders?
Read my post on Back-up Kindle eBooks. It contains step-by-step with screenshots on how to back-up your Kindle eBooks and convert Kindle eBooks to a format that suits the format of the your eReader, which is not a Kindle.

I hope this post helps you. If you have any questions, just comment below and I'll answer any of your queries.