KOBO really sucks

[Daruka]

Hey,

Just a rant about KOBO.

I own several as do my parents and they really suck.

It's not the devices but the software on the readers.
4 Kobo Clara's returned to store and several Kobo Libra's one has been sent for exchange.

Books freeze 4+ times in 10 minutes and more in a day.
Purchased new KOBO's same bs had them exchanged and same bs.
I think in total I must have factory defaulted each kobo 100 times each.
And KOBO tried blaming everything they could blame.
They blamed using PC software to add books, Then they blamed WIFI, Then blamed to many books on device, then blamed non-kobo books yet they were all from kobo and from the correct account, then blamed changing font size and type even thou they are options.

Only Kobos that dont crash are the old KOBO Aura still on old software and not connected to wifi or pc.
They never crash and are great, well except for old batteries so they have to stay plugged in.

The new Kobo's are useless and one is in exchange process again and is well past 3 weeks and still no replacement from KOBO. And I get lied to every two days when I ask about it or the replacement.


I would recommend KOBO or buy a KOBO for someone I hate just to drive them mad as it would be worth the laugh knowing what is to come.


Kobo does not care about buyers or fixing their devices/software. And based on many sites I am not alone with the trash they sell.

Now I am in the process of dumping KOBO for Kindle as I own one and will switch my parents devices to Kindle and buy them all the books if available for kindle as some were old.

Anyways just wanted to rant as I go thru this nightmare.
Thanks for listening.
Drau

[Sirtel]

Sorry that you have had such horrible experiences with your Kobos. All I can say is that I've used three pretty recent Kobo models and have been satisfied with all of them. Kobos are my main readers at the moment and I've had no such issues. Moreover, I sideload all my books and have more than a thousand on each device. No freezes or any other problems. Who knows, perhaps Kobo is just not meant for you.

Kobo customer service is certainly not the best, however.

[Uncle Robin]

Thanks for that wonderfully calm, measured and objective post. I hope you feel better for sharing.

For what it's worth, I've owned/bought 7 different Kobos of 4 different models (including a Clara), and had no issues with any of them.

[Daruka]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Sorry that you have had such horrible experiences with your Kobos. All I can say is that I've used three pretty recent Kobo models and have been satisfied with all of them. Kobos are my main readers at the moment and I've had no such issues. Moreover, I sideload all my books and have more than a thousand on each device. No freezes or any other problems. Who knows, perhaps Kobo is just not meant for you.

Kobo customer service is certainly not the best, however.

Hello,

Thanks for fast reply.

I am glad they work for you.

My moms kobo(s) are the worst for freezing.
She changes font and makes words really large, and I have had to reset her kobo so much it drove me nuts. I exchanged her models many time and reset them all to factory lots. Her Clara's I gave up on after and switched to libra hoping it would solve her isssues, which it did not help. It is her 3rd Libra in 3 months that I am at now. 2 Were returned to store and the third is the one waiting for KOBO to send a replacement..

But as I said her old Kobo Aura has almost never froze but she is on old firmware/software. We dont connect to wifi or pc with it and no new books go on it.

My Kobo Aura works great as well and I almost never froze except if I let battery get to low. But I have also have a clara myself and it freezes from time to time, thou I dont read lots anymore. I went from 8+ hours a day down to maybe an hour a week at best now.

I switched to Kindle Fire for my device now and the others are backup only or if power goes out for long periods.

Anyways glad yours works.
Drau

[Daruka]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

Thanks for that wonderfully calm, measured and objective post. I hope you feel better for sharing.

For what it's worth, I've owned/bought 7 different Kobos of 4 different models (including a Clara), and had no issues with any of them.

Hello,

I am glad your readers work and wish my families Kobos worked.

I love my Aura's but they dont connect to wifi or pc now and have the original firmware/software as when I got them an loaded books. Minus the batteries that no longer hold a charge at all.

As for the rest of the Kobos we tried it has been a living nightmare.
I was even worried once that maybe our network or PC had viruses that I did factory reset and reinstall using my bro's home and wifi just to be sure.


I hope the new Libra gets here soon and that it works for my mom once I set it up again.

Thanks
Drau

[Quoth]

Five different models over the years personally plus one granddaughter has a Nia. Also five family members have Kobo eink.
Only issues with some Firmware versions which were solved by using different version.
All better than other makes I've had (various Kindles, 2x Sony, Nook, reMarkable, Boyue Mars & Storybook Cover/iRiver).
All better than apps on Android.

[JSWolf]

I'm betting it's user error.

[snorkel]

"They blamed using PC software to add books"

To be fair, Adobe Digital Editions IS a horrible piece of software, and Adobe are uninterested in customer interactions such as receiving bug reports or actioning them.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by snorkel

"They blamed using PC software to add books"

To be fair, Adobe Digital Editions IS a horrible piece of software, and Adobe are uninterested in customer interactions such as receiving bug reports or actioning them.

What I blame are faulty eBooks. That's the number 1 cause of Reader problems.

[Deskisamess]

I used a Kobo Glo some years ago, and it liked to freeze up. That said, if the same user is having similar problems on several different devices, it points to user error. Impatience, tapping tapping tapping without waiting for the device to response, etc. Eink devices have improved over the years, but they still don't respond as quickly as a tablet/smart phone device.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm betting it's user error.

Based upon the degree of his rant (the numerous number of times he's had issues), I'm in agreement with you.

I think Mobileread needs a new Forum, one titled USER ERRORS.

[Ned]

Isn't there some saying about a poor workman blaming his tools?

Kobo is the bees' knees for me, the Libra 2 the best reader I've had.

[Josieb1]

I have four kobo’s currently, more previously. Never had a single one freeze. No idea what you are doing but to have so many devices with problems is unusual.

[Pajamaman]

Got a friend a Libra 2. She's using it ALOT and has had no issues. When I set it up originally, it crashed a couple of times. I think it was because I loaded a custom font on it. Also, I totally cleaned out her old books in calibre (convert to mobi, then back to epub) and it fixed everything.

I'm conming from an Onyx, so I do find Kobo OS a bit more fragile, but with the above stops, all seems in order.

Also kobo is open, so one can install Koreader.

IME the Libra 2 is a great device.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I blame are faulty eBooks. That's the number 1 cause of Reader problems.

Kobo is sensitive. Convert to mobi, then back to epub. Don't use custom fonts, maybe.