Kobo Touch review: 'flawed (at best) or nightmarish (at worst)'

RockdaMan · 06-16-2011, 06:49 PM

Ouch. I wanted to like this, but ouch!

Positive:

Quote:

The touch response on the Kobo is faster, more immediate than any other touch reader—basically instant.

And the bad:

Quote:

Nearly every software-based feature outside of the actual e-reader is flawed (at best) or nightmarish (at worst). Automatically connecting to Wi-Fi, or even remembering networks, is inconsistent. The keyboard (oddly) is fairly unresponsive, not to mention inaccurate. The device locked up and crashed at least a couple of times. And though the narrower face of the Kobo is aesthetically more appealing than the Nook, I found my thumbs spilling onto the screen—a problem on a touchscreen-controlled device.

I'm not supporting BN, so I guess I'll grab a KSO...

http://gizmodo.com/5812387/kobo-touc...to-love-it-but

SensualPoet · 06-16-2011, 07:22 PM

So Gizmodo wasn't a fan; Crunch Gear was more positive:

Quote:

Superficially similar to the new Nook, but the Kobo is perhaps even simpler, and the form factor is slightly more book-like. If you don’t need 3G or the other perks of the Kindle ecosystem, and just want a straightforward e-book reading device, this Kobo could be a good match.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/06/13...touch-edition/

And this reviewer provided more comprehensive details:

Quote:

Kobo hit a home-run with the Kobo Touch due to the quality build design and the robust functionality! I had the original Kobo e-Reader and the Kobo Wireless. This model seriously puts those two to shame! The touchscreen display should be easier for your average user to wrap their heads around, since almost all hand held mobile devices are touch screen. ... This new Kobo Touch gets everything right and is an upgrade in every way from previous models. The two great functions are the inclusion of a web browser to surf the internet, check your email, and even buy books from other stores directly. Also Reading Life is a very unique program that currently no other e-reader company has sought to implement. ... Another great thing about the Kobo Touch is the slim design; it weighs less and is slimmer than previous models. It maintains the matted back design so it will not slip out of your hands and provides a good grip.

http://goodereader.com/blog/electron...ouch-e-reader/

And, yes, it's true: it doesn't play mp3s. But then, it's a Simple ebook ereader -- that IS the point of it.

At the price point with wifi, touch screen (responsive keyboard, excellent tap response to turn pages), live bookmarking updates across multiple devices (contrary to the Gizmodo review, this DOES work), full epub support including public library access, a decent pdf renderer, and the ability to display deDRMed mobi files ... it's great value and very credible choice.

RainingLemur · 06-16-2011, 07:57 PM

For nothing more than a plain ereader, it looks fine to me.

amward · 06-17-2011, 01:00 AM

I wish they were available in Australia. I might get one and donate the eclipse to DH. i'd certainly like to have a play with one.

cofu11ab · 06-17-2011, 01:40 AM

I just got mine in today, and I'd say that the device is just fantastic for reading. A little limited on the formatting front and the store is a little slow (boh of these which will probably be fixed via updated firmware) but the actual reading experience I found to be nearly identical to the Nook STR.

Sweetpea · 06-17-2011, 04:35 AM

I grow tired of those reviews that will give a reader a bad review because "its store is much smaller than ....".

HarryT · 06-17-2011, 04:40 AM

The fact that the Kobo doesn't support hyperlinks is a killer for me. It makes it impossible to read footnotes in a book - many of the books that I read have extensive footnotes.

Sil_liS · 06-17-2011, 07:55 AM

The article linked in the OP didn't seem that negative to me. I mean it starts by saying that in some areas it is better than the new nook and the kindle 3.

The negative points have to do with features that are not reading specific, and the fact that since it is narrower, his fingers touched the screen. And this last thing made me realize that I don't remember reading a review done by a woman. I am curious if there are in fact any reviews done by women.

boswd · 06-17-2011, 12:28 PM

Cnet seemed to like it just fine.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...?tag=cnetRiver

outlander78 · 06-17-2011, 12:41 PM

Kobo always seems to have a reading-specific bug that keeps me from buying.

Six months ago, when I bought my Sony 650, I spent a month shopping around. The 650 cost twice as much, but had what I wanted. The Kobo lacked a touch screen, but more importantly, could not jump to a page.

Today, Kobo has a competitor for the 650, but if it can't follow hyperlinks in epubs, and still does not have comparable PDF viewing options, then it is still a bad buy.

Kobo is a Canadian company, or at least a Canadian front, and I would love to support it, but they always come up short. I could say the same about their storefront vs amazon.ca, but since Kobo sells epubs and Amazon does not, I can at least say 100% of my purchases have been through Kobo.

taming · 06-17-2011, 01:43 PM

The Kobo Touch does follow hyperlinks in ePUBs--at least for things like endnotes and in newspapers. I haven't tried any others.

charleski · 06-17-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The fact that the Kobo doesn't support hyperlinks is a killer for me. It makes it impossible to read footnotes in a book - many of the books that I read have extensive footnotes.

Where do you get this from? That would be a significant failure to support the ePub standard.

@outlander78: One of the reasons I'm interested in the Touch is that its ability to handle PDFs on a small screen seems better than the implementation offered by Sony.

HarryT · 06-17-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

Where do you get this from? That would be a significant failure to support the ePub standard.

Where do I get it from? I don't know, but it's perfectly true

. Neither the original Kobo nor the new Kobo Touch support hyperlinks.

ficbot · 06-17-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I am curious if there are in fact any reviews done by women.

Mine, from Teleread, June 12..

taming · 06-17-2011, 05:04 PM

Harry, I believe they consider it a beta feature, still, so it is not advertised. Newspapers and magazines supported hyperlinks for the WiFi edtion, as well.

One of the Kobo staff reading and responding in the Kobo forum mentioned it. In this way, it is like other things the reader does--for example, it supported additional file types in the WiFi version, but was never advertised as having that capability.

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06-16-2011, 07:57 PM	#3
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	For nothing more than a plain ereader, it looks fine to me.

06-17-2011, 01:00 AM	#4
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	I wish they were available in Australia. I might get one and donate the eclipse to DH. i'd certainly like to have a play with one.

06-17-2011, 01:40 AM	#5
cofu11ab Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	I just got mine in today, and I'd say that the device is just fantastic for reading. A little limited on the formatting front and the store is a little slow (boh of these which will probably be fixed via updated firmware) but the actual reading experience I found to be nearly identical to the Nook STR.

06-17-2011, 04:35 AM	#6
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I grow tired of those reviews that will give a reader a bad review because "its store is much smaller than ....".

06-17-2011, 04:40 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The fact that the Kobo doesn't support hyperlinks is a killer for me. It makes it impossible to read footnotes in a book - many of the books that I read have extensive footnotes.

06-17-2011, 07:55 AM	#8
Sil_liS Wizard Posts: 4,896 Karma: 33602910 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: PocketBook 903 & 360+	The article linked in the OP didn't seem that negative to me. I mean it starts by saying that in some areas it is better than the new nook and the kindle 3. The negative points have to do with features that are not reading specific, and the fact that since it is narrower, his fingers touched the screen. And this last thing made me realize that I don't remember reading a review done by a woman. I am curious if there are in fact any reviews done by women.

06-17-2011, 12:28 PM	#9
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	Cnet seemed to like it just fine. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-...?tag=cnetRiver

06-17-2011, 12:41 PM	#10
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	Kobo always seems to have a reading-specific bug that keeps me from buying. Six months ago, when I bought my Sony 650, I spent a month shopping around. The 650 cost twice as much, but had what I wanted. The Kobo lacked a touch screen, but more importantly, could not jump to a page. Today, Kobo has a competitor for the 650, but if it can't follow hyperlinks in epubs, and still does not have comparable PDF viewing options, then it is still a bad buy. Kobo is a Canadian company, or at least a Canadian front, and I would love to support it, but they always come up short. I could say the same about their storefront vs amazon.ca, but since Kobo sells epubs and Amazon does not, I can at least say 100% of my purchases have been through Kobo.

06-17-2011, 01:43 PM	#11
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	The Kobo Touch does follow hyperlinks in ePUBs--at least for things like endnotes and in newspapers. I haven't tried any others.

06-17-2011, 05:04 PM	#15
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Harry, I believe they consider it a beta feature, still, so it is not advertised. Newspapers and magazines supported hyperlinks for the WiFi edtion, as well. One of the Kobo staff reading and responding in the Kobo forum mentioned it. In this way, it is like other things the reader does--for example, it supported additional file types in the WiFi version, but was never advertised as having that capability.

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