Quote:
Originally Posted by kgn
Thanks for the heads up. I had a look around the reviews for this item, and it seems mainly negative. Screen is too responsive and locks up a lot. Poor software. Seems a good price though. Unfortunately, here is Australia there would be no warranty, so I would need a more reliable reader than this one seems to be.
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What's weird about that is that if you check the stats in the Kobo section (there's a thread about overall satisfaction) around 80% of people are totally happy, about 18% are still looking for a couple more improvements, and only 2% are unhappy and regret the purchase.
And that's pretty much why I decided not to pay too much attention to it - all this noise is being made by a very small minority of people. And if you look at the proper reviews, they're fairly positive. I've seen this before in other markets, with other products - I call it "the underdog effect," and it has reasons why it exists. Underdog products usually have fewer features, less availability, less compatibility with different ways of use, and oftentimes (on the marketing end) a poorly-defined target audience. All these things are true of the Kobo.
So instead of looking at it like I look at a Kindle, I look at it like what it is: an underdog product. I asked myself a few questions that are essential with underdog products, and that most people never bother to ask.
1. Who's it for? Answer - it's a simple e-reader. Don't let the touch screen and the wifi fool you. This is designed for READING. That's it. It has some modest social features, but it's clear that this is not a priority of the reader. You may say "so are all ereaders," but with the Kobo, this is even more true than with most. You think the Kindle is simple? The Kobo is even more simple. This suits me fine. My ereader is my escape device. I don't want more features. Hell, I don't even use the wifi - I'm in airplane mode all the time.
2. What usage scenarios has it likely been subject to, and what hasn't it been? This is important. Smaller company means smaller pool means smaller degree of accommodation. And what I mean by this is, what programs are you going to use with the product, what file types, are you someone who is consistent? For example, I knew exactly how it was going to be with me: I was going to do the set-up, and then never touch the Kobo Desktop again. I was going to go to Calibre and stay there. I was going to use ePub's for everything. I am a creature of habit. Because I knew my use pattern would be consistent, I also knew there was little to no risk of me having significant problems.
3. Why am I looking at an underdog product? If you are an "below average" user of technology, you may want to rethink it. Underdog products can be imperfect. They often have gains to be had that make up for that, but they require you to understand what they are and what they're for at the very least, and do some cautious diagnosis at the worst.
I am someone who tends to buy underdog products. The reasons why I buy them are pretty much universal.
1. They are usually unique from other products in some way that is appealing to me.
2. The companies are often more ethical and responsive.
3. They are often more open/free - they have to be to compete with proprietary products.
4. If all of the above are true, then they need more support from users to go from underdog to centerpiece, and when underdog products go mainstream, it's almost always a good thing for everyone.
All of these things are true of the Kobo. What's especially interesting about Kobo is where they are on the scale right now. The ereader market is still unfolding and it could unfold in some great directions with the right support. I am perhaps more willing than most to put up with the foibles of underdog products because I care about these things.
But to be honest, I haven't had any problems with the Kobo. Neither do most other people. I suspect that if your use pattern is reasonably consistent, neither will you.