Nook STR and Aura comparisons

Antioch · 11-26-2013, 07:54 AM

I've currently got an original Nook STR which is my first and only e-reader and has been going strong for 2 years. My only complaint (well, not really, I have several small gripes but they're all minor) with the device is it's low screen resolution. It's certainly good enough, but I would have preferred a higher resolution to make the text more crisp.

I've recently found the Aura and got it into my head that it may be the device to switch to. The things I'm most interested in about it are the higher resolution and increased number of rendering tweaks (fonts, etc).

I've read through all of the threads here that dissect the Aura and all of it's potential flaws (which I naturally take with a grain of salt because I know we're all perfectionists here) and think I understand everything about the device. However, I was hoping there are some folks out there who have both the Nook STR and the Aura who can help make some direct comparisons to help me understand the differences.

For example: some people have complained about the lower contrast on the Aura compared to the Aura HD. How is the contrast compared to the old-tech Nook? (I think the Nook STR's contrast is fine and reminds me of mass-market paperbacks)
How is the text? Some have complained that it's not crisp, but how is it compared to the Nook STR and it's lower resolution screen?

Naturally I welcome any other comparisons or advice owners of both devices have to share.

Thanks!

toddos · 11-26-2013, 01:44 PM

I'm happy with my conversion from Nook STR (with and without Glowlight) to Aura 6". The light is much, much better than that on the STR Glowlight, and from what I've seen on the internet it's better than the new Nook Glowlight as well (I haven't yet seen one in person). The screen is a bit whiter than the Nook's, but is slightly less white than my wife's KPW1. Overall, at least in my experience, the hardware is much better than the old Nook STRs.

If your library is currently all epub books, I would recommend using the Kobo Touch Extended driver in calibre for syncing. The kepub rendering engine (ACCESS) is light years better than the ancient version of Adobe's RMSDK that Kobo ships with their devices (though it's pretty much equivalent to the version B&N used in the Nook STR). Syncing your books as kepub instead of epub lets you take advantage of that. Of course that means needing to strip DRM, which you should be doing anyway. But if you don't want to strip DRM and you have Adobe ADEPT-protected books, the non-kepub epub experience on Kobo is on par with what you already have. I don't believe Kobo supports Nook's DRM at all, so if your library is all Nook books you'll have to de-DRM.

Antioch · 11-27-2013, 04:30 AM

Thanks for your feedback!

My library is all DRM free epubs (I made of point only getting DRM free books when I decided to dive into e-readers) so I should be fine. I will certainly pick up the Calibre plugin you mentioned.

How do you find holding the Aura? I've gotten used to the rubbery coating and lip on the back of the Nook - it makes it easy to hold. The Aura appears to be smooth plastic without any lips to grab on to and I expect it to be slippery. What's been your experience?

It seems like everything about the Aura is better than the Nook STR from what I've seen in your other comments. Is that true? Are there anythings you liked about the Nook STR better?

Again, thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it!

soulfuldog · 11-27-2013, 09:14 AM

Just in terms of how it feels to hold, the Aura will certainly feel slippy compared to your Nook, but you can always add something like a decalgirl skin to it if you find that. That's just what I am considering doing with my PW.

Lyn2012 · 11-27-2013, 10:07 AM

I can't make a comparison with the Nook, but having used an Aura without a cover for about 6 weeks I can say that I never felt it to be slippery. The patterned back of the 6" Aura adds sufficient traction, (plus it is so light), that it stays in the hand securely, especially when comparing it to the Aura HD which is both heavier and more slippery owing to a smooth back plate.

toddos · 11-27-2013, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_macd

Just in terms of how it feels to hold, the Aura will certainly feel slippy compared to your Nook, but you can always add something like a decalgirl skin to it if you find that. That's just what I am considering doing with my PW.

Also, the bezel is slimmer and the edges are sharper. I needed to adopt a different holding pattern for the Aura, but it's still comfortable. Where I could hold the Nook by the big, thick rubberized bezel (the buttons were stiff enough that I had no accidental page turns like I did with a Kindle 3), I hold the Aura more like a big smartphone/phablet.

Antioch · 11-28-2013, 07:51 AM

I guess it comes down to personal preference, like most things.

toddos, if you still have your Nook, would you be able to take a picture of it next to the Aura so I can compare their text rendering? Several people seem to complain that the Aura is "fuzzy," and if true would undermine my entire purpose for buying a higher-resolution e-ink screen.

Thanks!!

11-26-2013, 07:54 AM	#1
Antioch Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook STR, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	Nook STR and Aura comparisons I've currently got an original Nook STR which is my first and only e-reader and has been going strong for 2 years. My only complaint (well, not really, I have several small gripes but they're all minor) with the device is it's low screen resolution. It's certainly good enough, but I would have preferred a higher resolution to make the text more crisp. I've recently found the Aura and got it into my head that it may be the device to switch to. The things I'm most interested in about it are the higher resolution and increased number of rendering tweaks (fonts, etc). I've read through all of the threads here that dissect the Aura and all of it's potential flaws (which I naturally take with a grain of salt because I know we're all perfectionists here) and think I understand everything about the device. However, I was hoping there are some folks out there who have both the Nook STR and the Aura who can help make some direct comparisons to help me understand the differences. For example: some people have complained about the lower contrast on the Aura compared to the Aura HD. How is the contrast compared to the old-tech Nook? (I think the Nook STR's contrast is fine and reminds me of mass-market paperbacks) How is the text? Some have complained that it's not crisp, but how is it compared to the Nook STR and it's lower resolution screen? Naturally I welcome any other comparisons or advice owners of both devices have to share. Thanks!

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11-26-2013, 01:44 PM	#2
toddos Guru Posts: 695 Karma: 822675 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Nokia Lumia 920 (Freda)	I'm happy with my conversion from Nook STR (with and without Glowlight) to Aura 6". The light is much, much better than that on the STR Glowlight, and from what I've seen on the internet it's better than the new Nook Glowlight as well (I haven't yet seen one in person). The screen is a bit whiter than the Nook's, but is slightly less white than my wife's KPW1. Overall, at least in my experience, the hardware is much better than the old Nook STRs. If your library is currently all epub books, I would recommend using the Kobo Touch Extended driver in calibre for syncing. The kepub rendering engine (ACCESS) is light years better than the ancient version of Adobe's RMSDK that Kobo ships with their devices (though it's pretty much equivalent to the version B&N used in the Nook STR). Syncing your books as kepub instead of epub lets you take advantage of that. Of course that means needing to strip DRM, which you should be doing anyway. But if you don't want to strip DRM and you have Adobe ADEPT-protected books, the non-kepub epub experience on Kobo is on par with what you already have. I don't believe Kobo supports Nook's DRM at all, so if your library is all Nook books you'll have to de-DRM.

11-27-2013, 04:30 AM	#3
Antioch Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook STR, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	Thanks for your feedback! My library is all DRM free epubs (I made of point only getting DRM free books when I decided to dive into e-readers) so I should be fine. I will certainly pick up the Calibre plugin you mentioned. How do you find holding the Aura? I've gotten used to the rubbery coating and lip on the back of the Nook - it makes it easy to hold. The Aura appears to be smooth plastic without any lips to grab on to and I expect it to be slippery. What's been your experience? It seems like everything about the Aura is better than the Nook STR from what I've seen in your other comments. Is that true? Are there anythings you liked about the Nook STR better? Again, thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it!

11-27-2013, 09:14 AM	#4
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	Just in terms of how it feels to hold, the Aura will certainly feel slippy compared to your Nook, but you can always add something like a decalgirl skin to it if you find that. That's just what I am considering doing with my PW.

11-27-2013, 10:07 AM	#5
Lyn2012 Addict Posts: 382 Karma: 1118562 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Middlesex, UK Device: Kobo Aura One, iPhone 8, iPad Pro	I can't make a comparison with the Nook, but having used an Aura without a cover for about 6 weeks I can say that I never felt it to be slippery. The patterned back of the 6" Aura adds sufficient traction, (plus it is so light), that it stays in the hand securely, especially when comparing it to the Aura HD which is both heavier and more slippery owing to a smooth back plate.

11-28-2013, 07:51 AM	#7
Antioch Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook STR, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	I guess it comes down to personal preference, like most things. toddos, if you still have your Nook, would you be able to take a picture of it next to the Aura so I can compare their text rendering? Several people seem to complain that the Aura is "fuzzy," and if true would undermine my entire purpose for buying a higher-resolution e-ink screen. Thanks!!

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