Would you buy another Kobo e-reader?

[Joeldmtl]

The reason I'm asking this question is because of a problem that I've recently started to have with my Kobo Touch and the lack of Kobo Customer Care's ability to provide a solution. It seems the only solution they constantly provide me with, in my many calls to them, is “Do a factory reset”.

As I've posted before, my Kobo Touch (2 years old - N905B) has recently started to freeze while I read. After a few minutes, it unfreezes and responds to the string of instructions that I had given it while it was frozen. Then it functions properly until the next freeze. I believe this only started after my recent upgrade to firmware 3.8. Prior to that I was very pleased with my Kobo Touch. It did everything I wanted from an e-reader.

I guess it can be better described as "slow processing", makes me feel that the problem has to do with memory buffering (but I'm no software expert).

I've read (on Mobilereads Kobo forum and other websites) that other readers are having this same problem.

I've tried:
logging out/in,
Pin hole reset,
Factory reset (several times)
Deleting all my books, except one new one, to see if the problem is being created by a corrupt file
Downloading a new book to see if the problem occurred there (it did)

So I repeat, given Kobo's history of bugs and the weakness of their Customer Care, would you buy another Kobo e-reader?

[robko]

In answer to your question, YES obviously since I had pre-ordered the H2O.

In answer to your problem, have you tried downgrading your firmware to make sure this is a firmware issue and not a hardware issue? You'll find directions scattered around on how to do this. Even if you do a factory reset and delete the update files before you disconnect from your computer you'd at least end up with whatever base firmware your device has to be able to rule out a hardware issue. If it is a hardware issue that sucks since at 2 years you're out of warranty.

[Haesslich]

For what it's worth, I've bought four different Kobo devices - the Mini, the Vox, the Aura HD, and the Glo (which I sold to someone else) . I've had some firmware issues (WiFi based), but the newer firmwares have minimized or fixed such issues for me in recent months.

I've never seen the issues you reported, and I've been using my Glo (until last month) fairly regularly since it came out in late 201.

And I'm eyeing the Aura H2O after seeing it in store today, and comparing it to the Aura HD they had on display. . For me, they've always managed to fix the issues in their firmware, and I've talked to their tech support only one time - which was for the Kobo Vox. Now THAT was bad . At least it got official Play Store support in the end.

[leftright]

I was happy with the Glo until the Kindle Voyager.
I like the page turning on the frame, and the light dimming feature of the voyager. If kobo doesn't come up a more well thought out/ergonomic reader then I'll seriously consider the voyager.

[GeoffR]

When I come to replace my Glo (hopefully not for a year or two yet) I'll look at what else is available at the time, but if I had to replace it today I would definitely buy another Kobo, possibly another Glo, or more likely the H2O.

I've had my Glo coming up on two years now, I use it every day and my cat often knocks it off my dresser in the morining to tell me it is time to get up and feed her. The hardware is working well, as good as new except for a slight reduction in battery life. (The hardware features most important to me are: E-ink screen; frontlight; infra-red touch; expandable onboard storage. I wouldn't consider buying any device that didn't have those capabilities.)

The firmware has improved dramatically since version 2.1.5 that it came with. It has bugs, but I weigh that against the fact that it also has many features that other devices don't (most important to me is the fine adjustment of settings such as line spacing and font weight), and that almost all of the bugs are either easily fixed or avoided or else don't affect the core reading functions that I use. (In fact the only current bug that bugs me at all is the lack of hyphenation for the first line of a paragraph in the epub reader, which is fairly minor.)

I haven't needed to use the customer service very often, the few times I have were to do with ebooks bought from the Kobo store, and in each case my problem was either fixed promptly or a full refund offered. I've never been asked to do a factory reset.

Overall my experience with Kobo has been very positive, they have failings but those are outweighed by their good features. If the device I bought had hardware faults then I might well feel less positive about it, but that can happen with any brand of device, which is why I'd always buy from a local retailer so I am covered by New Zealand consumer protection law.

[Ripplinger]

I bought a spare Glo earlier this year for when mine dies because very few readers use infrared touch anymore and it's what I prefer. And I was able to purchase both of them locally so I could return them if there were any screen flaws or hardware issues. Any issues that have ever come up I've been able to resolve usually with firmware changes. So for now, yes, I'd buy another Kobo reader. Both of mine have been perfect as far as the hardware goes, but I'm not a fan of their firmware.

So I would also suggest downgrading the firmware before giving up on Kobo. I use the older Glo to read on daily and I keep firmware 2.4.0 on it and will not upgrade it. Upgrades made the screen very unresponsive where turning the page took up to 4 tries at least half of the time for me, and when trying different firmware I also noticed the light output levels could change quite a bit. What would be sufficient light for me at 28% on one firmware took up to 72% on another for the same light output.

So firmware might make a big difference in how your reader performs for you and might fix your issues.

[meeera]

Yes, I'm more than happy with mine. We have an old Touch in the house that seems to work well enough, too. If your problem started with a firmware upgrade, I agree with robko, try a manual downgrade to rule out hardware issues.

[davidfor]

I've bought seven Kobo devices for myself and other family members. If I walked into a shop today and they had a H2O, I would buy it.

My experience mirrors GeoffR's. Very few of the bugs have really affected the basic reading experience for me. And most have been fixed over time. The few times I have talked to customer service were reasonably good experiences. But, they were only about books, not the devices.

As the others have suggested, a factory reset and test with the original firmware is a good idea. That will prove if it is hardware or something in the software. Upgrading from their to the current firmware can solve some problems.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Joeldmtl

So I repeat, given Kobo's history of bugs and the weakness of their Customer Care, would you buy another Kobo e-reader?

I've purchased almost every Kobo ereader since the original model for myself and family and friends. There have been issues with firmware bugs but they have gotten a lot fewer over the years. I only dealt with Kobo's customer service once for a hardware issue and they shipped me a replacement with a shipping label for the RMA'd unit. I did have to ship the failed unit back at my expense.

Otherwise, my dealing with them over three ebook issues have been fairly straightforward since Customer Service managed to duplicate my problems with the ebook formatting or availability for download.

Actually, I should mention one niece who has ongoing problems with her Mini but then I don't think anyone at Kobo thought about potential issues with crumbs and ghod alone knows what else collecting under the edge of the bezel from her purse/book bag/lunch bag.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Actually, I should mention one niece who has ongoing problems with her Mini but then I don't think anyone at Kobo thought about potential issues with crumbs and ghod alone knows what else collecting under the edge of the bezel from her purse/book bag/lunch bag.

"Warning: Dredging your unprotected Kobo in food scraps and general filth may cause unexpected results."

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by meeera

"Warning: Dredging your unprotected Kobo in food scraps and general filth may cause unexpected results."

One of the most disgusting things I've done is turning a keyboard over and tapping it a few times. Not for the weak of stomach.

[filmo]

I had 2 Kobo Wifi readers, 1 Kobo Touch and 1 Kobo Mini. Only firmware problems I had was 1 bad update firmware version with my Kobo touch that was fixed with next update a few weeks later. I never had problems with my Kobo Mini. One warranty return for a Kobo Wifi. All of my other problems with Kobo readers were caused by poorly formatted side loaded public domain books. I never had problems with Kobo books. If I see a Kobo reader in a store and like it I will buy that Kobo Reader. I will not buy one I can not see in person to see if it meets my standards or order one that I might have problems returning after it is delivered and I find it defective.

[Josieb1]

I only have 1 kobo, the 6 inch Aura, and as much as the screen has a few pin pricks (tiny tiny ones) I'd buy another Kobo, I'd just want to see a demo model first,

[glos]

Yes, I would, I had zero problems in my 1 year of using Aura HD, I'm 100% satisfied (for now). The H20 isn't such a leap from the HD for me, also I want to use it for a longer period, so if in 2 years there's something new... maybe

[patrik]

When I need to replace my Aura HD I will look at what's available and choose what I liked the best at the time, regardless of brand. If I had to get a new one today it would be a H20 (I love reading in the bath, where I do use my Aura HD... yes I have mentally accepted that I may destroy it...).

One thing that would be a very strong factor is the support from the community. As long as we have the fortunate to have davidfor (and Geoff, David, Ken, etc.) here, Kobo will be a prefered brand.