Aura H2O Review

[dieterpops]

http://mobile.pcmag.com/?origref=#!/...-kobo-aura-h2o

[JSWolf]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468558,00.asp

This is a link that actually works.

[thp1017]

I find it somewhere between amusing and appalling that so many of the reviews for the H2O always talk about how it is heavier, bulkier, etc., than the Paperwhite - well, duh, its a bigger screen

[mr_nihilism]

The internet is full of shallow and lazy reviews.

[treadlightly]

"The most important design aspect about the Aura H2O, however, is that it's one of the first ebook readers with a waterproof (as well as dustproof) build"

One of? Is there another one?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by mr_nihilism

The internet is full of shallow and lazy reviews.

...and reviewers.

[cme]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

"The most important design aspect about the Aura H2O, however, is that it's one of the first ebook readers with a waterproof (as well as dustproof) build"

One of? Is there another one?

PocketBook Aqua and Kindle Paperwhite modified by Waterfi.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by treadlightly

"The most important design aspect about the Aura H2O, however, is that it's one of the first ebook readers with a waterproof (as well as dustproof) build"

One of? Is there another one?

There was the Pocketbook Aqua a few months back. It has a 600x800 eInk Pearl screen matching the Kobo Touch, no external storage support and 4GB of internal storage. It has the same water rating as the H2O but dust protected instead of dust tight (IP 57 compared to IP 67).

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by cme

PocketBook Aqua andKindle Paperwhite modified by Waterfi.

Personally, I didn't consider the Waterfi modified Kindles in my answer to Treadlightly since it doesn't come "from the factory". Though being able to read at 60m would be kind of fun.

[Anak]

What did we actually learn from this review?
It basically sums up the technical specs of the H2O and the accessories in the retail box.

Reading on the Aura H2O is virtually the same experience as reading on the Aura HD, which is a very good thing.

Good, sure, I want to believe this, but what makes the old Aura HD so good? There is no need to go into detail (that much), but just tell me the where the Aura HD stands out so I can put it into perspective or context.
Context here is not added by just summing up the (rest of) tech specs but that's only what this reviewer continues to do.

The Kobo Aura H2O is an excellent ebook reader, but it doesn't take our Editors' Choice away from the Kindle Paperwhite. The Paperwhite is less bulky than the Aura H2O, and costs up to $60 less if you buy the version with ads (there's also the option for 3G model, whereas the Aura H2O is Wi-Fi-only). And for most people, Amazon's ecosystem will be more familiar and easy to navigate, making it the more logical choice.

Okay, your biased. Fine, your bad. Or actually your readers bad.
But I do understand now why you didn't actually reviewed the H2O.

Let us just wait 'till this reviewer sums up the tech specs of Kindle Voyage.
Let me just write the preliminary conclusion for you, but I don't think it would change that much. You only have to insert the actual $ amounts and that the Voyage has buttons. Real buttons! Don't you forget that. That's worth a premium price tag. Buttons!

The Kindle Voyage is an excellent ebook reader, but it doesn't take our Editors' Choice away from the Kindle Paperwhite. The Voyage is less bulky than the [last] Kindle PW, but costs up to $60 more if you buy the version with ads. (there's also the option for 3G model, which other ereader manufacturers usually don't offer. The new Kobo Aura H2O is Wi-Fi-only. And for most people, Amazon's ecosystem will be more familiar and easy to navigate, making it the more logical choice.

This is hypothetical ofcourse and can't be correct because we all know that PcMag is going to award the Voyage with the Editors' Choice award.

Back to the "review" of the H2O. I still don't know why i should buy the H2O, sure it's newer and has better specs. Is it worth to upgrade? It is a very expensive device.

It's also a better deal than the Aura HD, since you get waterproofing and a number of other updated features for just $10 more.

Shocker.

The Aura H2O even has distinct advantages over the Kindle Paperwhite, including a sharper screen, better edge lighting, and more storage with support for more file formats. What will likely be the deciding factor, however, is how much time you spend reading near the water.

Interesting, but even that didn't take away your Editors' Choice from the Kindle Paperwhite. Why not? Let's forget the dust and waterproof part. Okay? Why is the KPW still the Editors' Choice?
Oh, I get it, it is because the the Paperwhite is less bulky than the Aura H2O.
I'm convinced now.

I'm still waiting for a real, objective review.

[booklover6]

I found the PW to be bulky.

Am I the only one who thinks the buttons on the Voyage are ugly? At least in the photos I've seen, which may be enhanced to make them stand out. Ugh. Give me a Kobo Glo any day...no buttons, and not bulky.

[meeera]

Today in amusing H2O review comments:

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/ereaders/kobo-aura-h20

"However, when I set all three e-readers' lights to 50 percent, the Kobo was so bright that it was distracting in a brightly lit room. In that setting, the Kindle offered the best reading experience."

Um. So? What matters is the range of the brightness, not whether the setting labelled "50%" is identical on two different devices.

[Anak]

Originally Posted by meeera

Today in amusing H2O review comments:

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/ereaders/kobo-aura-h20

"However, when I set all three e-readers' lights to 50 percent, the Kobo was so bright that it was distracting in a brightly lit room. In that setting, the Kindle offered the best reading experience."

Um. So? What matters is the range of the brightness, not whether the setting labelled "50%" is identical on two different devices.

Great "review". Not.

There are only two things I believe. Speed and accuracy.
I know from more serious test or reviews that the latest non Kobo ereaders are faster (on many aspects) when they are compared side-by-side. This doesn't mean the Kobo isn't fast (or smooth) enough for daily use. It probably is.

but I found myself typing more errors on the Kobo than on the Kindle Paperwhite. I also found the Kindle able to better keep up with my fingers.

The IR was known to be less accurate on Kobo devices and a bit slow to 'keep up'. I guess that is not much different for the H2O. Or maybe the "reviewer" isn't used typing on e-ink devices.

Turning pages was responsive and nearly instantaneous, thanks to the 1-GHz CPU, although the Kindle Paperwhite was even faster.

Same answer here. Kobos are not the fastest around but probably fast (or smooth) enough for daily use.


With some hindsight, maybe it wasn't such a good decision from Kobo to make no changes to other hardware components such as a faster processor to make up (some of) the known differences in overall device speeds between exisiting Kobo ereaders and non Kobo devices.
Kobo took the gamble that it was still fast enough for daily use but no longer on par with other ereaders.
This could be a recurring subject in (and hopefully better) reviews.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Anak

Great "review". Not.
Quote:
Turning pages was responsive and nearly instantaneous, thanks to the 1-GHz CPU, although the Kindle Paperwhite was even faster.

Same answer here. Kobos are not the fastest around but probably fast (or smooth) enough for daily use.

The Kindle Paperwhite also has a 1-GHz processor. Not sure about the Voyage.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by meeera

Today in amusing H2O review comments:

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/ereaders/kobo-aura-h20

"However, when I set all three e-readers' lights to 50 percent, the Kobo was so bright that it was distracting in a brightly lit room. In that setting, the Kindle offered the best reading experience."

Um. So? What matters is the range of the brightness, not whether the setting labelled "50%" is identical on two different devices.

How ridiculous this "review" is. Comparing it to the Kindle Paperwhite? Bemoaning how much more expensive it is? They should be comparing it to the Kindle Voyage. And if it's so expensive, why would one hand it over to a child to read? Hence, why would one need parental controls?