Button - Single Point of Failure?

cryo-genie · 11-29-2010, 05:03 PM

I have just looked, with quite a bit of interest, at a Kobo WiFi edition at Chapters. Good price (149$ Cdn.) great display etc etc. Almost bought it. What has me concerned is the single button for *everything* design. If you read a great deal (I do) and plan to switch between a large number of Novels, periodicals etc., that means that one little mechanical button will get a lot of wear and tear.
How reliable is it?
If it was available in touch screen, since that involves no moving parts, I would go for it in a heartbeat.

Looking for any button related feedback to help me make this decision. The Sony PRS650, has the same size screen, is touch, but is a whopping 70$ more (on sale).
https://www2.mobileread.com/i/smiliesadd1/iloveyou.gif

erictoma · 11-29-2010, 05:36 PM

Yeah I think you can rely on this pad, it is like a pc mouse. you can select, scroll, click and so on.
Plus Kobo has a virtual keyboard that appears in some areas by itself, it allows you to chose characters to form words.
you don't really need to type anything in Ereaders, except web addresses, password, and searched words.
The problem of touch screen like sony Ereader is that they have a lot of glare, and low contrast.
I think that this Kobo is better then any Sony eReader so far. touch screen technology will just give you headache, low contrast and glare.

jimr · 11-29-2010, 05:55 PM

I wondered the same. I've had my orginal Kobo since the first shipment in May. I've never had a problem with it. I've read over 30 books on it and have done a lot of experimenting with it. The silly little d-pad keeps on clicking and clicking and clicking. I give it thumbs up for durability thus far.

I have heard of a few others whose d-pad has pulled away from the surface of the device, leaving a slight gap. It's covered under warranty though. Given my experience to date, I'd recommend it without hesitation!

pholy · 11-29-2010, 06:41 PM

Just a clarification for accuracy:

Quote:

The problem of touch screen like sony Ereader is that they have a lot of glare, and low contrast.

The glare and low contrast problems apply to the older 600 and 700 models, not the current 350, 650 and 950 models. The new models have a new type of touch screen with no glare or contrast reduction. (But I still haven't bought one.)

erictoma · 11-29-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

Just a clarification for accuracy:

The glare and low contrast problems apply to the older 600 and 700 models, not the current 350, 650 and 950 models. The new models have a new type of touch screen with no glare or contrast reduction. (But I still haven't bought one.)

Even ipads have glare on them ! touch screen technology comes with glare and thus lack of contrast.

Sonny eReaders look really weird even on their websites !

rischa · 11-29-2010, 09:46 PM

The Sony e-reader screens are nothing like an iPad, though. They use the new pearl e-ink and looked pretty awesome in-store. I didn't think there was any glare problems and if anything the contrast looked better than the Kobo (not that the Kobo is bad at all)

Having said that, I'm still enjoying reading on my Kobo and my d-pad is holding up fine.

The Terminator · 11-29-2010, 09:57 PM

I have had my kobo since july and i read a few hours a day and its held up great, plus the one year warranty will cover it if it does bust.

cryo-genie · 11-30-2010, 12:10 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. I really liked the Kobo, but after having another look at both it and the PRS650 I opted for the touch screen, even at the exorbitantly higher price of the Sony. Unlike earlier Sony models, the contrast was excellent and non-glary, even under bright florescent lighting.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

zoran · 12-01-2010, 12:48 AM

Have to admit I like kobo design. Since I type nothing on it, I do
not need keyboard. Some competitors have full kb with all bells
and ropes and dictionaries and... At least I'm not sure where I'd
have a grip on the most famous competitor. Screen is different
story. I cannot put them side by side, so cannot be sure what is
what. Taming stressed new kobo had better screen and I believed
her. I'm positive all of posters have an eye for future device and
value them regarding some of this posts. At this moment I have
one horse on the list top. Cause my reader behaves as I like, not
a time to buy new one. I suppose 2-3 years period is life span for
ereader.

sabredog · 12-01-2010, 12:56 AM

So far the single Dpad button has held up well for me, though for some it has not.

Changes pages very well.

The new Sony ereader's have a pearl screen which is superior to any older e-ink screen. The new Kobo does not have a Pearl screen but is much better contrast and greyscale level wise than the Ko1

zoran · 12-01-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

The new Sony ereader's have a pearl screen which is superior to any older e-ink screen.

Pearl is already high on my list. Another, not mentioned competitor,
has it. On that device people mostly complain on font choice. And
they change it.
Yes, I like to hear all opinions, good and, even more, bad.

11-29-2010, 05:03 PM	#1
cryo-genie Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	Button - Single Point of Failure? I have just looked, with quite a bit of interest, at a Kobo WiFi edition at Chapters. Good price (149$ Cdn.) great display etc etc. Almost bought it. What has me concerned is the single button for everything design. If you read a great deal (I do) and plan to switch between a large number of Novels, periodicals etc., that means that one little mechanical button will get a lot of wear and tear. How reliable is it? If it was available in touch screen, since that involves no moving parts, I would go for it in a heartbeat. Looking for any button related feedback to help me make this decision. The Sony PRS650, has the same size screen, is touch, but is a whopping 70$ more (on sale). https://www2.mobileread.com/i/smiliesadd1/iloveyou.gif

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Conversion Failure	edbro	Calibre	1	02-27-2010 02:31 PM
iPad The Failure of Empathy	kjk	Apple Devices	1	02-05-2010 09:01 AM
water and button failure	ashadocat	Sony Reader	3	09-04-2009 03:15 PM
newsweek failure	alexxxm	Calibre	2	03-04-2009 10:47 AM
Point News button at a different folder or app	nekokami	iRex	3	12-17-2007 12:18 PM

11-29-2010, 05:36 PM	#2
erictoma Banned Posts: 223 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Device: None	Yeah I think you can rely on this pad, it is like a pc mouse. you can select, scroll, click and so on. Plus Kobo has a virtual keyboard that appears in some areas by itself, it allows you to chose characters to form words. you don't really need to type anything in Ereaders, except web addresses, password, and searched words. The problem of touch screen like sony Ereader is that they have a lot of glare, and low contrast. I think that this Kobo is better then any Sony eReader so far. touch screen technology will just give you headache, low contrast and glare.

11-29-2010, 05:55 PM	#3
jimr Member Posts: 92 Karma: 32 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Device: Original Kobo	I wondered the same. I've had my orginal Kobo since the first shipment in May. I've never had a problem with it. I've read over 30 books on it and have done a lot of experimenting with it. The silly little d-pad keeps on clicking and clicking and clicking. I give it thumbs up for durability thus far. I have heard of a few others whose d-pad has pulled away from the surface of the device, leaving a slight gap. It's covered under warranty though. Given my experience to date, I'd recommend it without hesitation!

11-29-2010, 09:46 PM	#6
rischa Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	The Sony e-reader screens are nothing like an iPad, though. They use the new pearl e-ink and looked pretty awesome in-store. I didn't think there was any glare problems and if anything the contrast looked better than the Kobo (not that the Kobo is bad at all) Having said that, I'm still enjoying reading on my Kobo and my d-pad is holding up fine.

11-29-2010, 09:57 PM	#7
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	I have had my kobo since july and i read a few hours a day and its held up great, plus the one year warranty will cover it if it does bust.

11-30-2010, 12:10 PM	#8
cryo-genie Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	Thanks for all the feedback. I really liked the Kobo, but after having another look at both it and the PRS650 I opted for the touch screen, even at the exorbitantly higher price of the Sony. Unlike earlier Sony models, the contrast was excellent and non-glary, even under bright florescent lighting. Thanks to everyone for the feedback.

12-01-2010, 12:48 AM	#9
zoran himself Posts: 576 Karma: 11226 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Have to admit I like kobo design. Since I type nothing on it, I do not need keyboard. Some competitors have full kb with all bells and ropes and dictionaries and... At least I'm not sure where I'd have a grip on the most famous competitor. Screen is different story. I cannot put them side by side, so cannot be sure what is what. Taming stressed new kobo had better screen and I believed her. I'm positive all of posters have an eye for future device and value them regarding some of this posts. At this moment I have one horse on the list top. Cause my reader behaves as I like, not a time to buy new one. I suppose 2-3 years period is life span for ereader.

12-01-2010, 12:56 AM	#10
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	So far the single Dpad button has held up well for me, though for some it has not. Changes pages very well. The new Sony ereader's have a pearl screen which is superior to any older e-ink screen. The new Kobo does not have a Pearl screen but is much better contrast and greyscale level wise than the Ko1

Advert

Advert