Kobo Aura vs Glo HD

[ericvb69]

Hi everyone,

I just broke my 1yo Aura and am in the process of buying a new Kobo reader. The fact is I can get a new Aura or a new Glo HD for about the same price...
Obviously Glo HD has a better screen resolution (without a SD slot on the downside).
Has anyone of you used the 2 devices and gives me an opinion of which works best ? Are there any hidden problems with the Glo HD that I might be unaware of ?

[anacreon]

I hated the aura and love the glo HD.

I know many prefer capacitive, and it is fine for phones whose screen quality nowadays is very good (except in winter on the go, when by the time I find the phone and take off a glove it is too late), and it might be ok with kindle, but kobo auras add a yellowish fuzzy gridded layer which makes for poor reading. Also the borders are narrow, and I often slipped when holding it, with reading disruptions.

EDIT: even with borders as narrow on a device with infrared, there is less risk of slipping because of the level difference.

[Diruuo]

I on the other hand really like the fact that there's no level difference in my Aura. I don't own a Glo HD (I've tried one) and I simply prefer the Aura's same level approach. I have no problems at all when reading despite what anacreon stated in regards to the different touch screen technology.

In regards to the borders, I have fairly large hands and I find holding the Aura in any number of ways very comfortable. Plenty of room for me to rest my thumb on without ever triggering accidental taps.

[peterwardgd]

i love my aura, hate is a strong word.

[anacreon]

Ah well, I tend to use strong words - it's just my normal mode.

[samosa]

The Glo HD seems to have a weaker screen. Just discovered a fine line going from top to bottom on my Glo HD this morning. This is despite that I have been using the official cover to protect it and hardly ever use it. The eReader is still operating fully but I can see the fine line very clearly, the pixels on this fine line go the "wrong" colour when it changes colour. The earlier models seems to be able to withstand quite a bit more knocking about. I am quite disappointed with Glo HD to be honest.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by samosa

The Glo HD seems to have a weaker screen. Just discovered a fine line going from top to bottom on my Glo HD this morning. This is despite that I have been using the official cover to protect it and hardly ever use it. The eReader is still operating fully but I can see the fine line very clearly, the pixels on this fine line go the "wrong" colour when it changes colour. The earlier models seems to be able to withstand quite a bit more knocking about. I am quite disappointed with Glo HD to be honest.

Can you post a photo? A fixed single, perfectly vertical line with an otherwise working screen sounds like a defect, not a fracture. Should be covered by warranty.

[samosa]

Originally Posted by meeera

Can you post a photo? A fixed single, perfectly vertical line with an otherwise working screen sounds like a defect, not a fracture. Should be covered by warranty.

Here it is... Going down from right at the end of "Powered off"

http://oi57.tinypic.com/hs6cy8.jpg

The line wasn't there until I discovered it today and I'd only carried it in my bag, within its own case, for about half an hour yesterday.

Whereas I have carried the Aura on its own without a case (though within its own bag as the screen can get scratched quite easily) for hundreds of times.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by samosa

Here it is... Going down from right at the end of "Powered off"

http://oi57.tinypic.com/hs6cy8.jpg

The line wasn't there until I discovered it today and I'd only carried it in my bag, within its own case, for about half an hour yesterday.

Whereas I have carried the Aura on its own without a case (though within its own bag as the screen can get scratched quite easily) for hundreds of times.

I don't believe that's a fracture. Contact Kobo or take it back to the shop you bought it at for a replacement.

[robko]

Agree with Meera. That looks like a controller issue rather than a screen issue. Use your warranty.

[LuisG]

I agree with meeera. It's seems a defect and you should take it back for a replacement.

About you carrying your Aura without a case, there are lot's of opinions shared about how to safely handle an eReader and they all seem to agree that pressure but mostly the bending an eReader could be subjected inside a bag, are the most likely conditions to cause damage to the screen.

[Iñigo]

After many years using different ereaders (a couple of iRex, kindle 4, and now an Aura) I opted for not using covers anymore.
Price is too high comparing with the device price itself, and considering the time between switching ereaders (2-2.5 years) I think it isn't worth the hassle.

Nevertheless, IMO Aura is the device I owned with the most fragile screen, possibly because the screen and the borders share the same surface level, in other ereaders borders are slightly elevated respect to the screen. [I mean for scratches, not hits.]

So since these 2 years I've got a few scratches in the Aura, not important at all - I don't notice them while reading -, but a good excuse to buy another ereader in a few months

[MewCore]

The only and single "problem" I'm having with my Glo HD is the slightly reflective bezel/edge that separates the frame and the screen itself. It's 2mm thick and kinda annoying under direct sunlight.

[samosa]

Originally Posted by LuisG

I agree with meeera. It's seems a defect and you should take it back for a replacement.

About you carrying your Aura without a case, there are lot's of opinions shared about how to safely handle an eReader and they all seem to agree that pressure but mostly the bending an eReader could be subjected inside a bag, are the most likely conditions to cause damage to the screen.

Well I have been carrying the Glo HD inside a case, the first time ever I'd been doing this with a Kobo. I have half a dozen of other Kobos which I use regularly and never carried any of them in a case within a bag and they are all looking better than the Glo HD. Which is why I am so miffed by this experience.

Which is why I say - buy Aura don't buy Glo HD!

Since I last posted here a second line has appeared. I don't live anywhere near where I bought the device so I will have wait when I next visit there for a possible exchange.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by samosa

Well I have been carrying the Glo HD inside a case, the first time ever I'd been doing this with a Kobo. I have half a dozen of other Kobos which I use regularly and never carried any of them in a case within a bag and they are all looking better than the Glo HD. Which is why I am so miffed by this experience.

Which is why I say - buy Aura don't buy Glo HD!

Since I last posted here a second line has appeared. I don't live anywhere near where I bought the device so I will have wait when I next visit there for a possible exchange.

It's nothing to do with cases or "weakness" or fragility or carrying in a bag - your individual device has an internal defect, which should be readily covered by warranty. *shrug*