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SensualPoet · 11-07-2010, 08:09 PM

I don't feel forgotten, and I'm an original user (11:15 am May 1st to be precise). The deal I was offered:

• $150 vs nearly $300 for a Kindle (with shipping)
• twice as much on board memory than the leading ePub ereader
• expandable memory through an SD card
• ePub DRM through Adobe for multi-vendor ebook shopping
• local and Canadian content thanks to kobobooks.com
• direct access to public library content on my ereader (legally)
• a stripped down interface -- no web, no social media, no accidental on device purchases
• PDF DRM through Adobe
• access (coming soon) to newspapers and magazine subscriptions

All of the above was true the day I sealed the deal and handed over my cash and remains so today. I got exactly the value for money I signed up for.

Yes, there have been a few struggles: primarily, the font issue which took through the end of June to resolve (it affected ePubs, not Kobo files loaded directly through the Kobo desktop app which, we now know, are loaded to a database and are not actually ePubs). And, newspapers still can't be read (purchased from Kobo) on my OK (Original Kobo) device. But, they are still "coming soon" which is the deal I signed for ... *grins*.

Balancing this: Kobo is a tiny operation relative to its rivals -- I dare say a significant portion of the programming team has posted something here. And they are running a 24/7 global organisation that has had products in market for barely six months and, frankly, by modern corporate standards, have done a bang up job as far as customer transparency goes.

And it is reassuring to note they have been laying the foundation for a much larger vision -- the best guarantee we OK owners have that there will be a Kobo around to support us in the future. Kobo has a fully multi-platform strategy supporting their own devices, cousin devices (Literati et al), tablets (iPad, Galaxy), PCs, Macs, Blackberry, Android, iPhone and localised content for Canada, US, Australia/New Zealand and, I understand, UK. They've managed to survive the industry price cuts from $259 to $139 within 2 weeks of their launch into the US market; they've brought out a K1.5 Wifi model with a faster processor three months after that US launch and in time to fill the sales channel ahead of all important xmas sales. They've done a deal with Walmart in Canada and the US, for heaven's sake! Little Kobo! The Blue Button eReader That Could!

So ... I believe Kobo has delivered everything it promised when I signed up and I am very encouraged that the future is bright for me as an ongoing customer.

11-07-2010, 08:09 PM	#76
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I don't feel forgotten, and I'm an original user (11:15 am May 1st to be precise). The deal I was offered: • $150 vs nearly $300 for a Kindle (with shipping) • twice as much on board memory than the leading ePub ereader • expandable memory through an SD card • ePub DRM through Adobe for multi-vendor ebook shopping • local and Canadian content thanks to kobobooks.com • direct access to public library content on my ereader (legally) • a stripped down interface -- no web, no social media, no accidental on device purchases • PDF DRM through Adobe • access (coming soon) to newspapers and magazine subscriptions All of the above was true the day I sealed the deal and handed over my cash and remains so today. I got exactly the value for money I signed up for. Yes, there have been a few struggles: primarily, the font issue which took through the end of June to resolve (it affected ePubs, not Kobo files loaded directly through the Kobo desktop app which, we now know, are loaded to a database and are not actually ePubs). And, newspapers still can't be read (purchased from Kobo) on my OK (Original Kobo) device. But, they are still "coming soon" which is the deal I signed for ... grins. Balancing this: Kobo is a tiny operation relative to its rivals -- I dare say a significant portion of the programming team has posted something here. And they are running a 24/7 global organisation that has had products in market for barely six months and, frankly, by modern corporate standards, have done a bang up job as far as customer transparency goes. And it is reassuring to note they have been laying the foundation for a much larger vision -- the best guarantee we OK owners have that there will be a Kobo around to support us in the future. Kobo has a fully multi-platform strategy supporting their own devices, cousin devices (Literati et al), tablets (iPad, Galaxy), PCs, Macs, Blackberry, Android, iPhone and localised content for Canada, US, Australia/New Zealand and, I understand, UK. They've managed to survive the industry price cuts from $259 to $139 within 2 weeks of their launch into the US market; they've brought out a K1.5 Wifi model with a faster processor three months after that US launch and in time to fill the sales channel ahead of all important xmas sales. They've done a deal with Walmart in Canada and the US, for heaven's sake! Little Kobo! The Blue Button eReader That Could! So ... I believe Kobo has delivered everything it promised when I signed up and I am very encouraged that the future is bright for me as an ongoing customer.