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Ansileran · 07-08-2013, 11:37 AM

I haven't purchased and Aura (yet ^^) but I got to test one today in a store. Here are my impressions (Vs. Kobo Glo and Sony PRS-T2, which I also tested).

Format:
- Screen size: I love the size, this is the main reason why I am looking into it. It's much closer to a pocket book size than the standard 6". Perhaps enough to comfortably read mangas on. It also felt squarer (4:3 ratio?) than other readers but that might be just an impression.
- Back: it didn't feel that slippery to me. Actually, the light weight was the main reason for almost dropping it when I lifted it from its magnetic stand... The design really isn't that pronounced (I had to check that it indeed had ridges afterward because I didn't notice). It also felt very comfortable whichever way I held it (portrait mode, forgot to check landscape): left hand, right hand and hand at the bottom (I figure this is how I would hold it most of the time, at least it is with my PRS-505). My fingers always end in one of the "grooves". It might not be so for people with bigger hands/ longer fingers...
- Weight: quite light (compared to the PRS-505) but I could tell the difference with the Glo so I guess it depends what one is used to. No problem holding it in one hand.
- Screen background unlit: the Sony was in another store so I couldn't compare the two and they didn't have a demo Touch. Both the Glo and the Aura looked as dark as my PRS-505. Not disturbing for me because I'm used to it but I would have expected it to be better somehow...
- Frontlight: much less disturbing than the Glo, even in a well lit environment. I liked the fact that it remembered the level I set it at.
Firmware:
- Reactivity: I was amazed by how fast it is. Of course, it doesn't compare to my PRS-505 but it seemed the page turn was instant (refresh at every 6 pages). Both the T2 and the Glo seemed slower. Menu reactivity is definitely much better.
- Library: very easy to browse and shelves management seemed fine to.
- Home screen: now that was confusing. I'm not used to this kind of screen and found the clutter of images disturbing.
- Tap zones: I haven't read the manual nor checked the settings on the device. The bottom tap zone was a bit hard to get and sometimes I accidentally turned the page instead...
- Dictionaries: that was a bit disappointing. Selecting a word, a window popped up (in the right language) but just under my finger and disappeared as soon as I removed it. Once I managed to keep it opened, I checked the translations. The device actually tried to look the French word in an English-French dictionary! No wonder it didn't find anything! Apparently the firmware doesn't check the language of the text before looking for a translation and will search for results in the first dictionary it finds. Ergonomy was better than the PRS-T2 though: there you had to switch to tapping on a very small button at the bottom of the screen to get to the next page. Swiping didn't work.

All in all, I liked it and might still get one, despite the fact that it doesn't support Chinese...

07-08-2013, 11:37 AM	#465
Ansileran Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 614774 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: China, Yunnan, Kunming Device: Sony PRS-505, Kobo Aura HD, Cybook Odyssey HD	I haven't purchased and Aura (yet ^^) but I got to test one today in a store. Here are my impressions (Vs. Kobo Glo and Sony PRS-T2, which I also tested). Format: Screen size: I love the size, this is the main reason why I am looking into it. It's much closer to a pocket book size than the standard 6". Perhaps enough to comfortably read mangas on. It also felt squarer (4:3 ratio?) than other readers but that might be just an impression. Back: it didn't feel that slippery to me. Actually, the light weight was the main reason for almost dropping it when I lifted it from its magnetic stand... The design really isn't that pronounced (I had to check that it indeed had ridges afterward because I didn't notice). It also felt very comfortable whichever way I held it (portrait mode, forgot to check landscape): left hand, right hand and hand at the bottom (I figure this is how I would hold it most of the time, at least it is with my PRS-505). My fingers always end in one of the "grooves". It might not be so for people with bigger hands/ longer fingers... Weight: quite light (compared to the PRS-505) but I could tell the difference with the Glo so I guess it depends what one is used to. No problem holding it in one hand. Screen background unlit: the Sony was in another store so I couldn't compare the two and they didn't have a demo Touch. Both the Glo and the Aura looked as dark as my PRS-505. Not disturbing for me because I'm used to it but I would have expected it to be better somehow... Frontlight: much less disturbing than the Glo, even in a well lit environment. I liked the fact that it remembered the level I set it at. Firmware: Reactivity: I was amazed by how fast it is. Of course, it doesn't compare to my PRS-505 but it seemed the page turn was instant (refresh at every 6 pages). Both the T2 and the Glo seemed slower. Menu reactivity is definitely much better. Library: very easy to browse and shelves management seemed fine to. Home screen: now that was confusing. I'm not used to this kind of screen and found the clutter of images disturbing. Tap zones: I haven't read the manual nor checked the settings on the device. The bottom tap zone was a bit hard to get and sometimes I accidentally turned the page instead... Dictionaries: that was a bit disappointing. Selecting a word, a window popped up (in the right language) but just under my finger and disappeared as soon as I removed it. Once I managed to keep it opened, I checked the translations. The device actually tried to look the French word in an English-French dictionary! No wonder it didn't find anything! Apparently the firmware doesn't check the language of the text before looking for a translation and will search for results in the first dictionary it finds. Ergonomy was better than the PRS-T2 though: there you had to switch to tapping on a very small button at the bottom of the screen to get to the next page. Swiping didn't work. All in all, I liked it and might still get one, despite the fact that it doesn't support Chinese...