It was the Kobo Touch with the update that installed itself when we turned it on, which I guess was just 1.9.10. I remember being surprised that it automatically updated when it was turned on, and assumed it had somehow found an open internet connection and downloaded the newest update.
When I emailed Kobo about the problem, they just asked what book it was and how I bought it. They didn't think to ask what firmware version I had or suggest updating it.
Regardless, my husband found the device very awkward to use. Did the aforementioned update also improve the UI? He had trouble getting around the menus and screens. He's not the most tech savvy guy and has zero to no patience for electronics that don't just work the way he expects them to. I ended up getting him the Sony PRS-T1, an open-box for $15 cheaper than the Kobo, and the ridiculously over-priced case with the built-in light, which he absolutely loved. He liked the extra buttons, since remembering to touch in the middle for menu is totally non-intuitive. No more complaints were heard so I was happy
