MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - half-dead (but twitching) Kobo N647-KBU-B Wireless

naltar · 10-12-2016, 08:34 AM

what can I say...
well, first, thanks very much for the comments and suggestions. In general, this is kind of what I (half) expected (no easy fix).
I have little doubt it's due to heavy use over, well, at least 4 years, and given the cost of manufacturing and price at that time any effort to revive it seems like flogging a dead horse.
Unfortunately I can't look inside the device, as it's about 1500 miles away (and with my skills I'm just as likely to stab myself as to break off a hinge or something). However, it remains an option, as we can get it shipped to a relatively cheap repair shop (device is abroad), and if they can't fix it, they won't charge, so at worst it's just cost of postage.
Getting any replacement would be smarter but there are several obstacles:
1. he likes the stuff he knows well (me too, so I sympathise)
2. he likes hardware buttons (bad luck, given they're out of fashion)
3. there is (in my view) a very, very, very, very limited choice of e-readers that fit his bill (and ours, literally).
- Amazon readers are not an option (I applaud! ;), most of his e-books are epubs, rtfs, htmls, etc. Yes, you can convert them, but it's an extra step. Ultimately though he might have to settle for a kindle :(
- Aura One is apparently great, but not available in Europe yet, and it's a very steep price. Plus he doesn't need waterproofing, but definitely wants something pocketable. No micro-sd slot either (not a deal-breaker, but still)
Of all other e-readers available, the only OK-ish one would be what I use myself (Aura), although it's out of production, and still rather pricey (approx. GBP 130 / USD 160ish, if you can find it). Actually I also miss physical buttons on my Aura (migrated from nook) and find having to keep touching the screen quite distracting and tiresome, and I'm pretty sure he will dislike it too.
- Aura 2... I see it's ok, but actually not cheap at all, AND they skimped on micro-SD slot (he can live with that, but GBP 100 for such a _basic_ reader AD 2016, seriously?)
- Aura H2O, likewise, no slot, waterproofing unncessary (for him), GBP 130. No.
So it looks like we might have be stuck with kindle (shudder), as I don't think there are any decent no-brand Chinese equivalent e-readers available, as you could find if you want a better "budget" mobile phone.

Regards,

n.

10-12-2016, 08:34 AM	#5
naltar Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2016 Device: none	what can I say... well, first, thanks very much for the comments and suggestions. In general, this is kind of what I (half) expected (no easy fix). I have little doubt it's due to heavy use over, well, at least 4 years, and given the cost of manufacturing and price at that time any effort to revive it seems like flogging a dead horse. Unfortunately I can't look inside the device, as it's about 1500 miles away (and with my skills I'm just as likely to stab myself as to break off a hinge or something). However, it remains an option, as we can get it shipped to a relatively cheap repair shop (device is abroad), and if they can't fix it, they won't charge, so at worst it's just cost of postage. Getting any replacement would be smarter but there are several obstacles: 1. he likes the stuff he knows well (me too, so I sympathise) 2. he likes hardware buttons (bad luck, given they're out of fashion) 3. there is (in my view) a very, very, very, very limited choice of e-readers that fit his bill (and ours, literally). - Amazon readers are not an option (I applaud! ;), most of his e-books are epubs, rtfs, htmls, etc. Yes, you can convert them, but it's an extra step. Ultimately though he might have to settle for a kindle :( - Aura One is apparently great, but not available in Europe yet, and it's a very steep price. Plus he doesn't need waterproofing, but definitely wants something pocketable. No micro-sd slot either (not a deal-breaker, but still) Of all other e-readers available, the only OK-ish one would be what I use myself (Aura), although it's out of production, and still rather pricey (approx. GBP 130 / USD 160ish, if you can find it). Actually I also miss physical buttons on my Aura (migrated from nook) and find having to keep touching the screen quite distracting and tiresome, and I'm pretty sure he will dislike it too. - Aura 2... I see it's ok, but actually not cheap at all, AND they skimped on micro-SD slot (he can live with that, but GBP 100 for such a _basic_ reader AD 2016, seriously?) - Aura H2O, likewise, no slot, waterproofing unncessary (for him), GBP 130. No. So it looks like we might have be stuck with kindle (shudder), as I don't think there are any decent no-brand Chinese equivalent e-readers available, as you could find if you want a better "budget" mobile phone. Regards, n.