First Day Blues, of H2O

[jackastor]

So since its the first official day of sales, lets start this thread off by devoting it to the Aura H2O

So first things first, what are your first impressions?

What would you list as potential pros?

What would you list as potential cons?

Overall how satisfied are you with your first ever Water Proof Kobo?

Be honest and lets keep it real, and on perspective!

regards,

Jack

[Croptop]

Received my H2O in today's post. So far, I like the build quality and the screen is gorgeous. With the glow level set at 30%, it looks just about as close to real paper as an e-ink screen is going to get in my opinion.

The unit is a bit larger than I was expecting but not overly so.

I dropped in to Chapters on the way home and picked up a sleep cover for the H2O. Very impressed with the fit and finish.

As a long-time Kindle user, I'm still not entirely sure that the Kobo ecosystem is for me (most of their prices seem to be higher than what I can find on Amazon) but for a straight ePub reader. Now I'm just waiting for a Calibre update so that the H2O is recognised.

[Lynx-lynx]

Originally Posted by Croptop

As a long-time Kindle user, I'm still not entirely sure that the Kobo ecosystem is for me (most of their prices seem to be higher than what I can find on Amazon) but for a straight ePub reader. Now I'm just waiting for a Calibre update so that the H2O is recognised.

Without the use of a discount voucher Kobo can be dearer than Amazon. Here's the link to the Kobo Discounts: Codes + Discussion thread, where you'll not only get to use some awesome voucher codes, eg 75% off, but if you follow the thread you'll learn how to maximise your Kobo ebook buying.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=115233

[Canuck_in_Japan]

I think we already have an impressions thread. Unless this one is just for complaints as the title seems to suggest.

[Iefmathias]

I received mine today!

First the good:

The build quality is much better than the previous aura hd. No creaks - it just feels solid. The back feels very nice too, much more like a paperwhite: that slightly texturised rubbery feel. Both make the aura h2O a pleasure to handle!
Feels like quality.

Contrast is much better. The blacks truly are blacker. With and without light! Big difference. This makes the fonts look very, very nice.
The background is lighter too, but I doubt it is the advertised 50 procent. More like... 20-30 procent if I had to guess. But you can certainly see the difference. Is it as white as a sheet of paper? Hell no, not even close. But it is certainly whiter when compared side to side to the aura hd. Overall it is a good, solid improvement.

Unfortunately, in my specific case, the bad:

Not pleased with the comfortlight on my unit. The light is much more sickly yellow-greenish than my aura hd, I thought it was supposed to be soothing white (ish)? Mine is not even close to white except at 100 procent but who on earth is going to read at night with 100 procent frontlight
Also: some mild white blobby lightning effects and much more shadow effects on the bottom half of the screen. My 'old' aura hd has a much more even, uniform look when it's lit. So I'm returning this one and crossing fingers for the replacement.... I think I received one with DiscomfortLight.

We'll see.

[robko]

Originally Posted by Iefmathias

Unfortunately, in my specific case, the bad:

Not pleased with the comfortlight on my unit. The light is much more sickly yellow-greenish than my aura hd, I thought it was supposed to be soothing white (ish)? Mine is not even close to white except at 100 procent but who on earth is going to read at night with 100 procent frontlight
Also: some mild white blobby lightning effects and much more shadow effects on the bottom half of the screen. My 'old' aura hd has a much more even, uniform look when it's lit. So I'm returning this one and crossing fingers for the replacement.... I think I received one with DiscomfortLight.

We'll see.

So far that's the only thing I haven't liked with mine too. The H2O is much more yellow vs the more blue-white of my HD. Will likely see if I can check one out in store and see if they are all like that or not. Will continue reading on it and see if it bothers me or not.

EDIT: well, a day later I'm going to have to retract what I wrote. Not sure if it's just that I'm used to it now or if it's "broke in" (gotta love human perception), but when I compare them side by side I'll take the H2O over the HD now.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Croptop

Received my H2O in today's post. So far, I like the build quality and the screen is gorgeous. With the glow level set at 30%, it looks just about as close to real paper as an e-ink screen is going to get in my opinion.

The unit is a bit larger than I was expecting but not overly so.

I dropped in to Chapters on the way home and picked up a sleep cover for the H2O. Very impressed with the fit and finish.

As a long-time Kindle user, I'm still not entirely sure that the Kobo ecosystem is for me (most of their prices seem to be higher than what I can find on Amazon) but for a straight ePub reader. Now I'm just waiting for a Calibre update so that the H2O is recognised.

Pictures please. And please make then hires and in focus.

[Ryzir]

Originally Posted by robko

So far that's the only thing I haven't liked with mine too. The H2O is much more yellow vs the more blue-white of my HD. Will likely see if I can check one out in store and see if they are all like that or not. Will continue reading on it and see if it bothers me or not.

This actually makes me more excited to get my h2O. I prefer soft warm light for reading in the dark over harsher whites/blues.

[treadlightly]

Here are three kobo devices in my family. On the left is a first release Glo with a blue-white light, in the middle is my H2O with a yellow-green light and on the right is a second-generation Glo which is very close to the colour of the H2O, just a bit more white. All lights are at 30% manufacturer's settings.

[robko]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

Here are three kobo devices in my family. On the left is a first release Glo with a blue-white light, in the middle is my H2O with a yellow-green light and on the right is a second-generation Glo which is very close to the colour of the H2O, just a bit more white. All lights are at 30% manufacturer's settings.

The left Glo is what my HD looks like. In the different light when I went back to it tonight (late afternoon was when I got my first impressions), I don't mind the H2O light. Comparing it tonight it looks nicer than the HD. H2O light colour is growing on me .

[Iefmathias]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

Here are three kobo devices in my family. On the left is a first release Glo with a blue-white light, in the middle is my H2O with a yellow-green light and on the right is a second-generation Glo which is very close to the colour of the H2O, just a bit more white. All lights are at 30% manufacturer's settings.

Hmm, my H2O only starts to look like your device around the >50 light level! 30 procent looks much darker and green on my device. It's not so very nice to look at but of course that's personal preference.

I def. could live with yours, if that's 30 procent. Still, hoping for a more white/bright replacement. Or one of the reviewers could send me their perfectly lit demo unit.

(I'm the opposite Robko, the yellowness really bothered me in a dimly lit room, afternoon and early evening not so much)

[Antioch]

I actually have no issue with that H2O light color - it reminds me of the page color of my older (30-40yr) paperbacks which I prefer to the ultra-white/gray color of freshly printed pulp paperbacks (which the white/blue backlights resemble).

To each their own

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

Here are three kobo devices in my family. On the left is a first release Glo with a blue-white light, in the middle is my H2O with a yellow-green light and on the right is a second-generation Glo which is very close to the colour of the H2O, just a bit more white. All lights are at 30% manufacturer's settings.

Thanks for posting these. My Aura (non-HD) looks like your first Glo (my old Glo had looked the same). Not sure how much I would like the yellowish tinge of the other two devices in the photo, though it certainly looks warmer.

Luckily, I'm not in the market for a new e-ink reader for as long as the Aura lasts -- quite happy with that one.

[soulfuldog]

The yellow tint compared to the blue should be softer & warmer on the eyes than the colder, harsher blue of the older ereaders like the Glo. It is supposed to be cream though, not very yellow, and in some cases it can look too brown/yellow instead of a cream/yellow. There are also just going to be some people who actually prefer the bluish light. Personally, it was one of the reasons I was never tempted by the Glo when looking at Kobo ereaders.

[ectoplasm]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

Here are three kobo devices in my family. On the left is a first release Glo with a blue-white light, in the middle is my H2O with a yellow-green light and on the right is a second-generation Glo which is very close to the colour of the H2O, just a bit more white. All lights are at 30% manufacturer's settings.

Thanks for the pictures! Unrelated to the lighting, I like your full screen layout on the H20. I had to jump through major hoops to get close to that with my Aura HD. Are you using stock firmware?