How slow is the Kobo Glo HD?

OverTwo · 09-30-2015, 02:41 PM

I've just bought the Kobo Glo HD and read some worrying news. I've read that with non-kobo ebooks the page turning is extremely slow. Is this an issue? Has the latest firmware fixed this? I haven't received my kobo yet so I cannot tell.

Thanks.

PeterT · 09-30-2015, 03:17 PM

No speed issues; take many of the "reviews" you see on blogs with a large grain of salt.

Ripplinger · 09-30-2015, 04:03 PM

It might be a bit slower than other readers if you place them side-by-side for page-turning races (and oddly many people seem to judge readers by these races), but you're talking milliseconds in difference. It's still faster than turning a physical page and fast enough that the page is turned by the time my eyes to move from the bottom of one page to the top of the next.

Josieb1 · 09-30-2015, 04:23 PM

Kepubs have a more pleasing structure to them (and they may be a bit faster) so if you sideloaded using Calibre there's a plug in you can install that authomtically sends epubs to the kobo as Kepubs. I can't think of its name right now but I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction when you want to install it.

It doesn't affect the ePub in Calibre at all, just sends it to your kobo as a Kepub.

I have had my Glo HD since Monday and it's fine, speed is fast enough and I'm enjoying reading on it.

MGlitch · 09-30-2015, 04:34 PM

Page turns used to be an issue when ereaders were just starting to be a thing. However the current generation is faster than what most people will be able to process.

As to kepub vs epub, it's an aesthetic difference, I liked that Kobo allowed for sideloaded epubs to use the various stats figures, like estimates on getting to the next chapter, finishing the book, etc. However the recent firmware update made fullscreen mode have issues. Not a fault for Kobo since the feature was not official, but I've switched back to epubs as kepubs in normal reading have a large header.

endrancer · 09-30-2015, 05:05 PM

I can also approve that there's no issue with reading anything. Pocket, epub's, pdf, or even selfmade 1 GB epub files load in a fraction of a second.

You always have the option to exchange the micro-sd card to increase your storage and speed.

OverTwo · 09-30-2015, 05:07 PM

Thanks for alleviating my fears! I'm back to being pretty excited about my new Kobo.

rashkae · 09-30-2015, 05:57 PM

When the Glo HD was first released here in Canada, the firmware that it updated with on setup had some.... flaws that made the device noticeably slower. Sorry, I don't remember the version numbers involved, but the issue was that page turns would be slow to respond if the device had been idle for over a minute.

Responsiveness was made a pretty big priority in the follow up patches, however, and now my GloHD feels even snappier and more responsive than the Amazon PW2 or PW3, (with the exception of opening a large image in a book, which is still slower in Kobo (Kepub.)

JSWolf · 09-30-2015, 10:45 PM

With the release of firmware 3.17.0, page turns with ePub became faster. The current firmware is 3.18.0.

09-30-2015, 02:41 PM	#1
OverTwo Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 494132 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle	How slow is the Kobo Glo HD? I've just bought the Kobo Glo HD and read some worrying news. I've read that with non-kobo ebooks the page turning is extremely slow. Is this an issue? Has the latest firmware fixed this? I haven't received my kobo yet so I cannot tell. Thanks.

09-30-2015, 05:57 PM	#8
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,274 Karma: 5935030 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	Old Firmare bug When the Glo HD was first released here in Canada, the firmware that it updated with on setup had some.... flaws that made the device noticeably slower. Sorry, I don't remember the version numbers involved, but the issue was that page turns would be slow to respond if the device had been idle for over a minute. Responsiveness was made a pretty big priority in the follow up patches, however, and now my GloHD feels even snappier and more responsive than the Amazon PW2 or PW3, (with the exception of opening a large image in a book, which is still slower in Kobo (Kepub.)

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09-30-2015, 03:17 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,534 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	No speed issues; take many of the "reviews" you see on blogs with a large grain of salt.

09-30-2015, 04:03 PM	#3
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	It might be a bit slower than other readers if you place them side-by-side for page-turning races (and oddly many people seem to judge readers by these races), but you're talking milliseconds in difference. It's still faster than turning a physical page and fast enough that the page is turned by the time my eyes to move from the bottom of one page to the top of the next.

09-30-2015, 04:23 PM	#4
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,086 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra 2	Kepubs have a more pleasing structure to them (and they may be a bit faster) so if you sideloaded using Calibre there's a plug in you can install that authomtically sends epubs to the kobo as Kepubs. I can't think of its name right now but I'm sure someone will be able to point you in the right direction when you want to install it. It doesn't affect the ePub in Calibre at all, just sends it to your kobo as a Kepub. I have had my Glo HD since Monday and it's fine, speed is fast enough and I'm enjoying reading on it.

09-30-2015, 04:34 PM	#5
MGlitch Wizard Posts: 2,855 Karma: 22003124 Join Date: Aug 2014 Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2	Page turns used to be an issue when ereaders were just starting to be a thing. However the current generation is faster than what most people will be able to process. As to kepub vs epub, it's an aesthetic difference, I liked that Kobo allowed for sideloaded epubs to use the various stats figures, like estimates on getting to the next chapter, finishing the book, etc. However the recent firmware update made fullscreen mode have issues. Not a fault for Kobo since the feature was not official, but I've switched back to epubs as kepubs in normal reading have a large header.

09-30-2015, 05:05 PM	#6
endrancer Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 5010 Join Date: Sep 2015 Device: Kobo Glo HD	I can also approve that there's no issue with reading anything. Pocket, epub's, pdf, or even selfmade 1 GB epub files load in a fraction of a second. You always have the option to exchange the micro-sd card to increase your storage and speed.

09-30-2015, 05:07 PM	#7
OverTwo Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 494132 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle	Thanks for alleviating my fears! I'm back to being pretty excited about my new Kobo.

09-30-2015, 10:45 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,786 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	With the release of firmware 3.17.0, page turns with ePub became faster. The current firmware is 3.18.0.

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