Kobo Wifi and PDFs

DazzleSP · 06-23-2011, 12:22 AM

Hello,

I have found a cheap local 2nd gen Kobo. I was impressed with the Touch and its handling of PDFs (real time panning) but don't have the money to shell out on a retail one.

So, knowing that the Kobo Wifi is not the ideal companion of the PDF reader, I was wondering if in general you users could achieve some level of satisfaction with that model when it came to reading more complicated files despite its sluggish speed.

I have downloaded a lot of public domain philosophy texts that come either in PDF or txt formats. I also have a biology textbook which I should probably just forget about reading on a Kobo Wifi.

What are some ways you users have found for getting around hurdles. I also hope to not spend 3 hours reformatting PDF files in OpenOffice by hand. For example, I have downloaded from the Ubuntu Software Centre a program that removes all formatting when copy-pasting from PDF files to make nice and clean paragraphs. This works well for all-text documents, but less so for more complicated files.

So what have you found, and, were you satisfied? I guess this thread is more for those who read more than straight text novels, etc. I also use Ubuntu as main choice but have a net-book with Windows 7.

PS. Since I would be new to Kobo, could someone let me know if I would need to make any firmware updates from a Kobo wifi straight from the box, and what would be the improvements? Thank you!

The Terminator · 06-23-2011, 12:43 AM

Basically I think PDF handling sucks on the two first Kobo's, you could try just converting them in Calibre to E-pub, usually they don't come out very clean, but you might find them easier to read that way.

As for the firmware. On the Kobo press menu/settings/overview, it should read v1.9.? (Changes often) if it reads 1.7.4 you need to update it to 1.9. you can do this by plugging it into the computer and syncing the Kobo multiple times until it notifies you that an update is available, I believe you can do this through WiFi as well.

Hope this helped

remcdonald · 06-23-2011, 01:43 AM

What he said PDFs could be put on the original Kobos but they weren't really designed with that functionality in mind and so it kind of doesn't work great on anything more complicated than straight text (which honestly if you are going to do just convert it to an epub). As for updates it may need them if you plug it in to the computer it should tell you if any updates are needed or not.

DazzleSP · 06-23-2011, 07:42 AM

Thank you guys. Does putting the texts in landscape mode better handle the width of a PDF page?

I read that some PDF pages are better handled than others depending on their size?

Lordvic · 06-23-2011, 11:59 AM

ya, the reading of PDF's natively doesn't really work well on my wifi. feels akward and clunky, almost like you're just viewing the page as an image

What i've done for any PDF's is convert them from PDF to HTML (i have adobe acrobat to do this) and then used calibre to convert them to epub formats.

Once in epub format, you can view em like normal books, with all the font adjustments and page turning.

Just dont think it works with pdf's that have images.

Psyke · 06-23-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzleSP

Thank you guys. Does putting the texts in landscape mode better handle the width of a PDF page?

I read that some PDF pages are better handled than others depending on their size?

landscape mode usually does present better, but it's still lacking; Supposedly PDF's that have re-flow are handled better, because the size of the text doesn't change, it's just gets re-formated to fit the screen properly (Someone correct me if I'm wrong please).

The fact is is that 6" e-readers are not well suited for PDF documents unless they were specifically published for them, which usually, they are not. you need a screen the size of the book that the PDF was created from in most cases. Touch devices are doing a better job though of handling the PDF's because you can easily float around the screen to the part you want to see, but it's still lacking overall.

DazzleSP · 06-23-2011, 02:49 PM

Well I got it! Could get it for 50 bucks. I will load all my public domain stuff on it. See how much reading I get done. Thanks guys.

Some things to note:

I won't be installing that Kobo software on my Windows PC. I have softwarophobia. I just like my comps to be totally clean and the shop function put me off. I will also try to get rid of the 100 classics loaded on already from a procedure I found.

edit: Damn, I think for updates it will be necessary to download the program. There is also no sign of classics on the Kobo (it is new from box).

PeterT · 06-23-2011, 03:38 PM

Correct; the Classics are no longer included with the Touch.

And once you have done the initial setup it DOES download the first firmware upgrade. After that updates can be done via WiFi.

DazzleSP · 06-23-2011, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Correct; the Classics are no longer included with the Touch.

And once you have done the initial setup it DOES download the first firmware upgrade. After that updates can be done via WiFi.

I have the wifi, and am not getting the software.

Kobo doing well for now. Thank you Project Gutenburg

robko · 06-23-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Correct; the Classics are no longer included with the Touch.

And once you have done the initial setup it DOES download the first firmware upgrade. After that updates can be done via WiFi.

I believe he bought the Kobo Wifi rather than the touch, so in theory they should be on it. However since he didn't want them anyway, I guess he can treat the fact they aren't as a bonus

.

By rights you should be able to connect via the Wifi on that unit and get all the updates you need. I could be wrong, but I can't remember anything with the Wifi version that would mean you had to use the Kobo Desktop.

EDIT: you were replying as I posted I guess. Try updating your library a few times and it should come. They still seem to be having some issues with pushing it 100% of the time on a refresh.

PeterT · 06-23-2011, 05:42 PM

Ah... the WiFi only goes as far as firmware 1.9

digiSara · 06-23-2011, 05:45 PM

There is a menu option to hide the free classics, so they might be hidden. Otherwise, a factory reset might bring them back.

I've done the firmware upgrade over the Wifi before.

DazzleSP · 06-23-2011, 07:45 PM

I heard that loading the Kobo wifi in the desktop software is necessary for the update to occur via wireless though. Anyway my Kobo is great as it is. Are there any logs for the changes that were made?

First big bummer I encounter is that the dictionary is only available for Kobo Store books? So disappointing...

robko · 06-23-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DazzleSP

I heard that loading the Kobo wifi in the desktop software is necessary for the update to occur via wireless though. Anyway my Kobo is great as it is. Are there any logs for the changes that were made?

That is only for the new Kobo Touch. Not really any official change logs, but if you scan or search back through the forum here you'll find the updates talked about. The big one I can remember was the go-to-page function.

06-23-2011, 12:22 AM	#1
DazzleSP Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 362 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo wi-fi	Kobo Wifi and PDFs Hello, I have found a cheap local 2nd gen Kobo. I was impressed with the Touch and its handling of PDFs (real time panning) but don't have the money to shell out on a retail one. So, knowing that the Kobo Wifi is not the ideal companion of the PDF reader, I was wondering if in general you users could achieve some level of satisfaction with that model when it came to reading more complicated files despite its sluggish speed. I have downloaded a lot of public domain philosophy texts that come either in PDF or txt formats. I also have a biology textbook which I should probably just forget about reading on a Kobo Wifi. What are some ways you users have found for getting around hurdles. I also hope to not spend 3 hours reformatting PDF files in OpenOffice by hand. For example, I have downloaded from the Ubuntu Software Centre a program that removes all formatting when copy-pasting from PDF files to make nice and clean paragraphs. This works well for all-text documents, but less so for more complicated files. So what have you found, and, were you satisfied? I guess this thread is more for those who read more than straight text novels, etc. I also use Ubuntu as main choice but have a net-book with Windows 7. PS. Since I would be new to Kobo, could someone let me know if I would need to make any firmware updates from a Kobo wifi straight from the box, and what would be the improvements? Thank you! Last edited by DazzleSP; 06-23-2011 at 12:29 AM.

06-23-2011, 02:49 PM	#7
DazzleSP Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 362 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo wi-fi	Well I got it! Could get it for 50 bucks. I will load all my public domain stuff on it. See how much reading I get done. Thanks guys. Some things to note: I won't be installing that Kobo software on my Windows PC. I have softwarophobia. I just like my comps to be totally clean and the shop function put me off. I will also try to get rid of the 100 classics loaded on already from a procedure I found. edit: Damn, I think for updates it will be necessary to download the program. There is also no sign of classics on the Kobo (it is new from box). Last edited by DazzleSP; 06-23-2011 at 02:51 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo with Wifi!	newfiekat	General Discussions	11	04-08-2011 08:29 PM
Does Android Kobo App import PDFs?	garthoid	Kobo Reader	1	12-09-2010 02:41 PM
Kobo WiFi	JexMcByte	Kobo Reader	11	10-21-2010 11:22 AM
Kobo Desktop App v1.7 onboard Kobo WiFi	ZombWii	Kobo Reader	6	10-20-2010 12:24 PM
Sony PRS-300 vs. Nook wifi for PDFs	flyash	Which one should I buy?	2	06-22-2010 11:57 AM

06-23-2011, 12:43 AM	#2
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Basically I think PDF handling sucks on the two first Kobo's, you could try just converting them in Calibre to E-pub, usually they don't come out very clean, but you might find them easier to read that way. As for the firmware. On the Kobo press menu/settings/overview, it should read v1.9.? (Changes often) if it reads 1.7.4 you need to update it to 1.9. you can do this by plugging it into the computer and syncing the Kobo multiple times until it notifies you that an update is available, I believe you can do this through WiFi as well. Hope this helped

06-23-2011, 01:43 AM	#3
remcdonald Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 49376 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo, Kobo Touch	What he said PDFs could be put on the original Kobos but they weren't really designed with that functionality in mind and so it kind of doesn't work great on anything more complicated than straight text (which honestly if you are going to do just convert it to an epub). As for updates it may need them if you plug it in to the computer it should tell you if any updates are needed or not.

06-23-2011, 07:42 AM	#4
DazzleSP Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 362 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo wi-fi	Thank you guys. Does putting the texts in landscape mode better handle the width of a PDF page? I read that some PDF pages are better handled than others depending on their size?

06-23-2011, 11:59 AM	#5
Lordvic Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 19104 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto / Ontario Device: Blackberry Playbook	ya, the reading of PDF's natively doesn't really work well on my wifi. feels akward and clunky, almost like you're just viewing the page as an image What i've done for any PDF's is convert them from PDF to HTML (i have adobe acrobat to do this) and then used calibre to convert them to epub formats. Once in epub format, you can view em like normal books, with all the font adjustments and page turning. Just dont think it works with pdf's that have images.

06-23-2011, 03:38 PM	#8
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,324 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Correct; the Classics are no longer included with the Touch. And once you have done the initial setup it DOES download the first firmware upgrade. After that updates can be done via WiFi.

06-23-2011, 05:42 PM	#11
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,324 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Ah... the WiFi only goes as far as firmware 1.9

06-23-2011, 05:45 PM	#12
digiSara Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 153344 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo wifi	There is a menu option to hide the free classics, so they might be hidden. Otherwise, a factory reset might bring them back. I've done the firmware upgrade over the Wifi before.

06-23-2011, 07:45 PM	#13
DazzleSP Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 362 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo wi-fi	I heard that loading the Kobo wifi in the desktop software is necessary for the update to occur via wireless though. Anyway my Kobo is great as it is. Are there any logs for the changes that were made? First big bummer I encounter is that the dictionary is only available for Kobo Store books? So disappointing...

Advert

Advert