[Cootey]

I'm returning my KA1.

I have to admit that Kobo customer support (situated in Jamaica) is horrendous. Assuming we can hear each other over the bad connection, the accents cause problems on both ends. I have called Kobo four times today. Two failed connections while on hold, a disconnect after a 33 minute tech support session, and finally a very frustrating 30 minute call later, and I may or may not be getting an exchange of my defective KA1. Took me an hour between the two connected calls, and two factory resets, before I was told that my item would be exchanged. I am still awaiting their email to put things in motion.

I've never had a single problem with my Kobo Mini. Not a one. But my Kobo Aura ONE has the 0% lighting bug, forcing me to fight with the Kobo to keep the backlight on, even if Auto lighting is turned off. The Night lighting coverage is red orange on the upper left side and a dim greenish yellow on the lower right. And my KA1 fails to respond to sleep covers. If I take the KA1 out of the case, sometimes I can trigger sleep or wake if I wiggle the cover around the right edge. Again, my Kobo Mini works like a champ, sleep cover and all.

I had purchased a $10 sleep cover off Amazon, so to see if it was at fault I tested it on my Kobo Mini, which wakes and sleeps as expected. The Kobo Mini's sleep cover can't trigger waking or sleeping on my KA1 either. So there's a problem with the magnet sensor, too.

Aside from those three things, I loved the reader. Overdrive integration is amazing, which isn't a surprise considering Kobo owns them now. The larger screen is gorgeous. The device feels wonderful in my hands. I like the textured back. I hope to have a new one in ten days or so.

I can say that the backlight coverage is better on my Kindle Paperwhite (6th gen) even though it has fewer lights. I suspect the smaller screen is a help there.

Does anybody else have similar findings?