Kobo Vox For Dummies?????

dragoon · 11-09-2011, 10:48 PM

Scanning through this forum, I find that many of the expected functions requires technical knowledge and experience beyond that possessed by a lot of new users. It screams for someone to write a "Kobo Vox For Dummies".
Any thoughts?

49Kat · 11-10-2011, 01:17 AM

I agree! I don't get to open mine until my birthday (Nov 17), but in the meantime, I'm reading lots here and I've got a bunch of links saved.

Is there a 'quick start' guide somewhere, I wonder?

(DH has squirrelled mine away, I can't even look at the box!

)

taming · 11-10-2011, 03:24 AM

For Vox specific things, the user manual is helpful. Download it from kobobooks.com as an ePUB (it is drm-free) and use the Calibre or Kobo desktop app for reference as you try things out on your Vox.

The rest is really an Android for Dummies kind of thing--and believe it or not there isn't one. I used this guide on Andronica when I got my first Android phone. They have added lots of material since then.

blacknirvana · 11-10-2011, 03:33 AM

I didn't it to hard to figure out (never had an android device), but I do agree that a quick start guide to the most common functions could be useful. Maybe we should make our own here at the forums, it's perrty easy to create an ebook and most of the information is aldready here...

LauraPony · 11-10-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49Kat

I agree! I don't get to open mine until my birthday (Nov 17), but in the meantime, I'm reading lots here and I've got a bunch of links saved.

Is there a 'quick start' guide somewhere, I wonder?

(DH has squirrelled mine away, I can't even look at the box!

)

My Vox is technically a Christmas gift, but a co-worker convinced DH that part of the gift should be getting to be an early adopter. Thank HEAVENS for co-worker, otherwise my Vox would currently be squirrelled away somewhere too. But Nov 17th is right around the corner!

As for the topic of this thread, I love my Vox but I am not suggesting it to friends and family yet for this very reason. I don't mind getting frustrated here and there trying to figure something out - the resulting pride that comes when I figure it out hours later makes up for it - but I don't want to suggest something that isn't super simple to people around me.

5thWiggle · 11-10-2011, 08:26 AM

Here is the standard Google Android 2.3 guide (PDF file). While some of it is about Google Market and other apps not on the Vox, the first chapter on Android basics is pretty good. Also the last chapter on Settings.

GJSmith · 11-10-2011, 09:34 AM

Now, the question is should it be in print or ebook?? Ah not such an easy question. I see comments of the e version but if you can't get to it on your Vox from lack of familiarity .....

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragoon

Scanning through this forum, I find that many of the expected functions requires technical knowledge and experience beyond that possessed by a lot of new users. It screams for someone to write a "Kobo Vox For Dummies".
Any thoughts?

pokee · 11-10-2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraPony

My Vox is technically a Christmas gift, but a co-worker convinced DH that part of the gift should be getting to be an early adopter. Thank HEAVENS for co-worker, otherwise my Vox would currently be squirrelled away somewhere too. But Nov 17th is right around the corner!

As for the topic of this thread, I love my Vox but I am not suggesting it to friends and family yet for this very reason. I don't mind getting frustrated here and there trying to figure something out - the resulting pride that comes when I figure it out hours later makes up for it - but I don't want to suggest something that isn't super simple to people around me.

I agree - I wouldn't recommend the Vox to most of my friends, as they are not really tech savvy - and I think you need to be to get the most out of any Android device. And...you really need to download a bunch of apps on the Vox and do a bunch of set-up for it to truly meet any tablet needs you may have.

49Kat · 11-10-2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJSmith

Now, the question is should it be in print or ebook?? Ah not such an easy question. I see comments of the e version but if you can't get to it on your Vox from lack of familiarity .....

Definition of "irony", LOL!

Maybe a quick start guide in print, just enough to get a person through the setup...I don't know what's in the box, though. But just enough to get the user up and running with the Vox, anyway.

I have the manual on my laptop right now, so I will probably be reading the manual from my laptop while I use the Vox. As an aside, I've opened the guide both with the Sony Library software and Adobe Digital Editions, and the font in the guide is just HUGE.

My Sony reader has the user guide on the reader itself, but when you connect the reader to a computer, you can install the Sony Reader Library software and the guide is there, too. It's kind of pointless, though, having the only user guide on a device that you may not know how to use just yet.

Alans · 11-10-2011, 10:24 AM

I would also appreciate a better manual. I would definitly buy Kobo Vox for dummies. Maybe someone will come out with an ebook version of it. I'm still struggling with the most basic things. I find it very difficult to download new apps.

taming · 11-10-2011, 08:05 PM

Alans, if you can get DropBox on your Vox and on your PC, then you can download apps into the DB folder on your PC, they will sync to the DP on your Vox, and when you then click on the app there, it will install.

49Kat · 11-10-2011, 09:11 PM

I understand Dropbox acts like a shared folder on a network, and I'm really not comfortable with that taking place if Dropbox is on a server somewhere outside of our home network, which resides behind a router.

I think what I will end up doing is getting Astro onto the Vox first to serve as a file manager, and while I'm waiting for my Vox, download the apps I want onto my laptop. I can put them onto the Vox either by physically connecting it to the laptop (and I don't mind doing that, as I'm quite used to this anyway with my Sony 650) or using the SD card I bought today.

Maybe for funzies I'll start downloading tonight.

mcrmama · 11-11-2011, 02:32 AM

I tried dropbox per taming's instructions and it worked really well. I downloaded the dropbox apk first so that I could set up the dropbox app and then was off to the races. I had been moving the various apps over to dropbox after I got my invoice yesterday.

cindiaugustine · 11-12-2011, 11:42 PM

I tried installing the Dropbox app (android version) from the Dropbox site (through Dolphin on my Vox) and all I get is this error message: SELECT AN ACTION - NO APPLICATIONS CAN PERFORM THIS ACTION

I'll try installing in onto my laptop and then manually transferring it to my Vox. Usually this kind of thing isn't rocket science for me. Ugh!!

TonyToews · 11-13-2011, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJSmith

Now, the question is should it be in print or ebook?? Ah not such an easy question. I see comments of the e version but if you can't get to it on your Vox from lack of familiarity .....

Especially when it goes to sleep and to turn it on you have to drag that lock left. That is totally non intuitive to me as I've never used an Android device before. In my not so humble opinion Kobo should've added a few words there.

11-09-2011, 10:48 PM	#1
dragoon Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Reader	Kobo Vox For Dummies????? Scanning through this forum, I find that many of the expected functions requires technical knowledge and experience beyond that possessed by a lot of new users. It screams for someone to write a "Kobo Vox For Dummies". Any thoughts?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo Vox	Munner3000	Kobo Tablets	25	10-09-2014 06:41 PM
Kobo Vox, Kobo preorder	shannont	Kobo Tablets	5	12-17-2012 09:52 PM
What Can the Kobo Vox Do?	pokee	Kobo Tablets	36	11-18-2011 03:00 AM
Where do you use your kobo vox?	ron1959	Kobo Tablets	8	11-04-2011 09:57 PM
Kobo for Dummies	HarryH	Kobo Reader	0	12-25-2010 02:29 PM

11-10-2011, 01:17 AM	#2
49Kat Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 1309104 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: BC,Canada/NV, USA Device: iPad 9th Gen, iPhone 11, Paperwhite 10th Gen.	I agree! I don't get to open mine until my birthday (Nov 17), but in the meantime, I'm reading lots here and I've got a bunch of links saved. Is there a 'quick start' guide somewhere, I wonder? (DH has squirrelled mine away, I can't even look at the box! )

11-10-2011, 03:24 AM	#3
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	For Vox specific things, the user manual is helpful. Download it from kobobooks.com as an ePUB (it is drm-free) and use the Calibre or Kobo desktop app for reference as you try things out on your Vox. The rest is really an Android for Dummies kind of thing--and believe it or not there isn't one. I used this guide on Andronica when I got my first Android phone. They have added lots of material since then.

11-10-2011, 03:33 AM	#4
blacknirvana Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 3264 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kobo Vox	I didn't it to hard to figure out (never had an android device), but I do agree that a quick start guide to the most common functions could be useful. Maybe we should make our own here at the forums, it's perrty easy to create an ebook and most of the information is aldready here...

11-10-2011, 08:26 AM	#6
5thWiggle Benevolent Evil Lord Posts: 1,704 Karma: 48339466 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Evil Canada (We all have goatees!) Device: Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note, iPad Mini, PocketEdge(retired)	Here is the standard Google Android 2.3 guide (PDF file). While some of it is about Google Market and other apps not on the Vox, the first chapter on Android basics is pretty good. Also the last chapter on Settings.

11-10-2011, 10:24 AM	#10
Alans Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Vox	I would also appreciate a better manual. I would definitly buy Kobo Vox for dummies. Maybe someone will come out with an ebook version of it. I'm still struggling with the most basic things. I find it very difficult to download new apps.

11-10-2011, 08:05 PM	#11
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Alans, if you can get DropBox on your Vox and on your PC, then you can download apps into the DB folder on your PC, they will sync to the DP on your Vox, and when you then click on the app there, it will install.

11-10-2011, 09:11 PM	#12
49Kat Fanatic Posts: 580 Karma: 1309104 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: BC,Canada/NV, USA Device: iPad 9th Gen, iPhone 11, Paperwhite 10th Gen.	I understand Dropbox acts like a shared folder on a network, and I'm really not comfortable with that taking place if Dropbox is on a server somewhere outside of our home network, which resides behind a router. I think what I will end up doing is getting Astro onto the Vox first to serve as a file manager, and while I'm waiting for my Vox, download the apps I want onto my laptop. I can put them onto the Vox either by physically connecting it to the laptop (and I don't mind doing that, as I'm quite used to this anyway with my Sony 650) or using the SD card I bought today. Maybe for funzies I'll start downloading tonight.

11-11-2011, 02:32 AM	#13
mcrmama Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 16806 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo Aura One	I tried dropbox per taming's instructions and it worked really well. I downloaded the dropbox apk first so that I could set up the dropbox app and then was off to the races. I had been moving the various apps over to dropbox after I got my invoice yesterday.

11-12-2011, 11:42 PM	#14
cindiaugustine Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 3482 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Device: Kobo Vox and original Kobo	I tried installing the Dropbox app (android version) from the Dropbox site (through Dolphin on my Vox) and all I get is this error message: SELECT AN ACTION - NO APPLICATIONS CAN PERFORM THIS ACTION I'll try installing in onto my laptop and then manually transferring it to my Vox. Usually this kind of thing isn't rocket science for me. Ugh!!

Advert

Advert