There's already been choice in the 10.3" eInk note pad segment, Kobo Elipsa, Fujitsu Quaderno, Boox Note and Note Air, Likebook P10W, Supernote A5X, etc. It's just such a niche thing combined with most of the devices being Asian focused and remarkable heavy online marketing that makes them seem like the only option.
The Kobo Sage is slightly cheaper (in the US) for a comparable product. Still over $200, but not a lot if you get a Sage on sale and buy via Rakuten for an additional rebate.
I've had a Kindle Oasis (the non-ad-supported version) for a couple years. A couple months ago I got a Kobo Sage.
Same in both Oasis and Sage:
- Screen quality
- Battery life (in my experience; this doesn't match the actual specs of the products though)
- "Waterproof"
Differences:
Favoring Kobo Sage:
- Screen is a bit bigger without a significant penalty in size and weight
- Compatible with a pen and has built-in drawing/OCR/note-taking capabilities
- Really easy to borrow eBooks from library via OverDrive
- Easier to side-load and sync free eBooks
- Slightly cheaper (US)
Favoring Kindle Oasis:
- Slightly lighter weight and more compact
- More responsive buttons (touch screen is same responsiveness)
- Amazon's book purchasing and browsing features are a bit easier to use
- Amazon selection is better
- "Family" sharing
- Built-in free cellular wireless data for Amazon downloads and browsing
I'm happy owning both devices. If I had to choose one or the other, then:
eReader only: I'd choose Kobo only because library borrowing is so much easier. If my local library didn't have OverDrive, then I would choose the Kindle + Amazon Unlimited in a heartbeat.
eInk tablet: Kobo, no question. The Kindle is an eReader. Amazon hasn't made any effort to make it anything more. It simply doesn't make sense to me to compare any eInk Kindle to the Kobo, MatePad, ReMarkable, Boox, etc.
My partner likes eInk tablets for note taking and diagramming, not for e-reading. He has both a ReMarkable 2 and a Boox. The ReMarkable is fine, but He much prefers the Boox because it's easier to use without a subscription. But, now that my partner has used my Kobo Sage, he is unsure whether he'd buy a Boox over a Sage. He says it's a very close call and it would probably come down to price.
Well, the difference between Kindle Paperwhite and Oasis is just one inch - but you need to pay twice as much. You could say only the former is subsidized - but wouldn't it be in Amazon's best interest to make reading experience more comfortable?
Its in Amazon's best interest to offer either convenience or lower price, which is what they do at the cost of treating labor poorly and harvesting usage data.
It's comfort and convenience subsidized through suffering
> Its in Amazon's best interest to offer either convenience or lower price, which is what they do
Not necessary. AFAIK, it is very often the case they just force vendors to not offer lower prices elsewhere, or else face non-promotion on Amazon, reducing sales significantly.
