Kobo mini in 2023

[Buster1780]

Hello,

I am thinking of buying one Kobo mini (size preference) in a couple days.
The seller said she cannot register it using Kobo desktop program. Wi fi registration doesn't work as well. I know that Kobo mini is now unsupported by Kobo but is there anyone have similar experience and could make it work?
- Maybe using previous version of Kobo desktop (like year 201x)?
- Worst case scenario if I cannot register, will I be able to just drag an drop .epub book I obtain from somewhere else and read it without registration? (The seller said PC can recognize the mini when connected with USB)

Thank you!

[John F]

Originally Posted by Buster1780

Hello,

I am thinking of buying one Kobo mini (size preference) in a couple days.
The seller said she cannot register it using Kobo desktop program. Wi fi registration doesn't work as well. I know that Kobo mini is now unsupported by Kobo but is there anyone have similar experience and could make it work?
- Maybe using previous version of Kobo desktop (like year 201x)?
- Worst case scenario if I cannot register, will I be able to just drag an drop .epub book I obtain from somewhere else and read it without registration? (The seller said PC can recognize the mini when connected with USB)

Thank you!

Don't forget to consider the state of the battery.

Is the battery life still acceptable? Can the battery be swapped out?

[-stepan-]

Originally Posted by Buster1780

Hello,

I am thinking of buying one Kobo mini (size preference) in a couple days.
The seller said she cannot register it using Kobo desktop program. Wi fi registration doesn't work as well. I know that Kobo mini is now unsupported by Kobo but is there anyone have similar experience and could make it work?
- Maybe using previous version of Kobo desktop (like year 201x)?
- Worst case scenario if I cannot register, will I be able to just drag an drop .epub book I obtain from somewhere else and read it without registration? (The seller said PC can recognize the mini when connected with USB)

Thank you!

You need to download the latest firmware for Kobo Glo and upload it to the e-book. I have Nia and Mini, both with the penultimate firmware - the one up to 4.38. Both work the same. Except that the Mini doesn't behave well in the heat - it slows down a lot if it's about 35-40 Celsius in the sun. Well, pages turn slower, screen refresh is worse compared to Nia. And so, because of the size, you can safely take it. Changing the battery is not a problem for the Mini.

[Quoth]

See also old Sony PRS350 for a 5″. Much smaller with same screen. Collections work with calibre.

And various versions of the P47L, a 4.7″ elongated eink. Available from Denmark, China, Amazon. New and €70 to €100 including shipping. Mine (from Denmark) had 8G storage rather than 2G. Amazon Germany currently under €70. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...93#post4361493
No Collections or Series, but very easy to use and bright despite having no touch or frontlight.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by -stepan-

You need to download the latest firmware for Kobo Glo and upload it to the e-book. I have Nia and Mini, both with the penultimate firmware - the one up to 4.38. Both work the same. Except that the Mini doesn't behave well in the heat - it slows down a lot if it's about 35-40 Celsius in the sun. Well, pages turn slower, screen refresh is worse compared to Nia. And so, because of the size, you can safely take it. Changing the battery is not a problem for the Mini.

I think an earlier fw for Glo than current.
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

Go to bottom of page and click button for older versions
Possibly 4.37.21586 Kobo4 (not 3 as that's only Touch)
https://cdn.kobo.com/downloads/firmw...4.37.21586.zip

[Calenorn]

None of which would be necessary if Kobo would only produce a new Mini with modern firmware and screen.

[DNSB]

[QUOTE=Quoth;4378436]I think an earlier fw for Glo than current.
https://pgaskin.net/KoboStuff/kobofirmware.html

The last firmware release for the Mini was 3.19.5761-s which should be installed for the operating system updates (the bits and pieces in the upgrade directory). After that, you can update to the Kobo4 4.38.21908 firmware which seems to work fairly well if slowly on my Mini.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

None of which would be necessary if Kobo would only produce a new Mini with modern firmware and screen.

What is the sales & profit potential of a new 5" ereader?

As for modern firmware, my Mini is running 4.38.21908.

[Calenorn]

What else does Kobo have to offer as a new feature?

How many sales are being driven by making the ereader body out of recycled plastic?

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The last firmware release for the Mini was 3.19.5761-s which should be installed for the operating system updates (the bits and pieces in the upgrade directory). After that, you can update to the Kobo4 4.38.21908 firmware which seems to work fairly well if slowly on my Mini.

My bad. I got the impression that the 4.38.21908 (Glo version) was a bit iffiy and you needed the one before that. Well, that's good!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Calenorn

What else does Kobo have to offer as a new feature?

How many sales are being driven by making the ereader body out of recycled plastic?

Hmmm... A 13.3" ereader, a colour ereader, an ereader with multiple case colours, an ereader with dual screens, an ereader with an 8 core processor, colour eInk screen with on screen touch, latest generation eInk controller, 2GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage, etc.

How much is the additional cost for making the ereader case out of recycled plastic. Ghod knows you see a lot of items proudly advertising their post consumer content. Oddly quite a few people seem to be influenced by greenwashing.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmm... A 13.3" ereader, a colour ereader, an ereader with multiple case colours, an ereader with dual screens, an ereader with an 8 core processor, colour eInk screen with on screen touch, latest generation eInk controller, 2GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage, etc.

How much is the additional cost for making the ereader case out of recycled plastic. Ghod knows you see a lot of items proudly advertising their post consumer content. Oddly quite a few people seem to be influenced by greenwashing.

And adjustable colored lighting, Remote page turner, wireless charging, email books to reader, ...

[PennyDred]

...music manuscript tools including perhaps an auto page turn, an external sd card slot, a decent out-of-the box pdf reader that provides a nice income for NiLuJe and contibutors to retire comfortably!