Build Quality and Durability

sb1370 · 09-22-2016, 12:54 PM

Considering Kindle [paperwhite 3], Nook [glowlight plus], Kobo [glo hd] and Onyx [C67ML], which one has a better build quality/more durable?
Onyx boox is cheaper [here], but I can't trust it because it's a Chinese brand.
Also I've read some bad reviews regarding kobo devices which fail by themselves, and also reviews which deny them.
Unfortunately warranty isn't an advantage for me, because none of the mentioned brands have official stores here.
As a software engineer, IMO it is possible to fix software by updates and patches but there is no option for hardware.

Cinisajoy · 09-22-2016, 01:29 PM

You will hear good and bad for both.
So take your pick of whichever store you like better.

barryem · 09-22-2016, 01:59 PM

I just helped a friend set up his new (to him) Kobo HD and I'm pretty impressed with that thing. It seems very solid and has a very good screen. It's bigger than I like but it's really an impressive device.

I have a Paperwhite 3 and think it's excellent. Very sturdy. The Kobo HD seems sturdy as well. I have the original Kobo Aura, bought new shortly after they came out, and looking at it now after years of use you can't tell it from a new one. It's certainly sturdy. It's also been in my pants pocket a lot so it's probably had rougher treatment than most of my devices. It hasn't hurt it a bit.

Last, and certainly least, I have a Nook Glowlight plus. It does seem sturdy. It's the only reader I have without a case, mostly because I don't like it enough to invest in a case for it. I use it for loaning books to neighbors mostly and it's held up well. I bought it new the day they were announced.

The Glowlight Plus has 2 problems that keep me from liking it or recommending it. First, it's home button is capacitive so if I touch the front near the bottom it takes me back to the home screen. That's exactly in the most natural spot to hold it. This is easily the stupidest (I don't like that word but it's so apt here) design decision in the history of technology. Imagine designing a car with the brake pedal hidden under the accelerator. That would be comparable.

The other problem with the Glowlight Plus is that when you long press a word to get it's definition, that definition is in grayed out text that's nearly impossible to read. This is so dumb that it can best be described as viscious design. A user sadistic interface!

Other than those two killer problems it's actually a really nice device. It might have been my favorite ereader but it's just not something I like to use, as is. I have tried half covering the capacitive button with an adhesive backed piece of felt but I need access to that button and the only way to avoid having it send me to the home screen while reading is to make it totally unavailable.

I strongly suggest not getting the Nook. And that's sad because it's such a near miss. Everything else about it is great.

As for the rest, pick one and that's the one for you. They're all great choices. Toss a coin if that'll help. You can't go wrong.

Barry

rkomar · 09-22-2016, 04:12 PM

I have a few devices, some built like a tank (PRS-505), some flimsy (PB623), but they have all lasted for years. I find that I usually set a device aside for a newer model with better features long before it falls apart. So, I think that build quality is a bit of a red herring that way.

AnemicOak · 09-22-2016, 04:34 PM

None of the devices mentioned in the OP have had any kind of mass hardware failures AFAIK. Any electronic device will have some percentage of failure of course, but I don't recall there being any model of Kindle, Kobo, Nook or Onyx having any kind of large number of failures. Of course the weak point on any eInk device is the screen and it's thin glass substrate which must be treated with a degree of care since it's somewhat fragile, but even the screen isn't that fragile.

meeera · 09-23-2016, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb1370

C
Also I've read some bad reviews regarding kobo devices which fail by themselves, and also reviews which deny them.

There is a small but vocal proportion of users who claim that their smashed screen happened spontaneously. There's not much to be done about this. Kindle tends to offer people who break their screens a nominal discount off a new reader, Kobo doesn't, if that's an issue for you.

Whatever eink reader you buy, treat it as though it contains a thin pane of glass, because it does. Having said that, all of my Kobos (in covers) have lasted years, and none have smashed.

I suggest you buy according to the feature set you're looking for. Display customisation? Ecosystem? Library borrowing? Waterproofing? Etc.

AnemicOak · 09-23-2016, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Having said that, all of mine (in covers) have lasted years, and none have smashed.

Same. Even my old Sony 505 from 2007 is still in working order.

sb1370 · 09-23-2016, 02:17 AM

Thank you for your comments.
But I expect you to tell me which one would you choose if none of them offered any warranty? Should I choose the cheapest one?

meeera · 09-23-2016, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb1370

Thank you for your comments.
But I expect you to tell me which one would you choose if none of them offered any warranty? Should I choose the cheapest one?

The devices I have chosen are in my profile. I haven't chosen them based on hardware durability, but on other aspects of hardware and software features. By all means choose the cheapest one, if budget is your primary concern.

Edited to add: if you, as a software engineer, like tweaking and patching your device, Kobo should be high on your list, but make sure you get one with a replaceable internal card. Check out the Kobo Developers Forum here for a bit of an insight.

barryem · 09-23-2016, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb1370

Thank you for your comments.
But I expect you to tell me which one would you choose if none of them offered any warranty? Should I choose the cheapest one?

I did tell you how to choose your reader. Toss a coin. When your choices are all excellent that's guaranteed to get you an excellent ereader.

Another good method is read their descriptions and reviews carefully and then just pick the one that seems most right.

If none of these methods seems right to you buy one of each. Two of each of you're really concerned about durability.

I think the one thing no responsible person should do is tell you which ereader to buy. If someone does, suspect him.

Barry

Cinisajoy · 09-23-2016, 02:22 PM

Ok I will tell you.
Which one best fits your budget with the features you want?
If budget is no concern, buy one of everything.

WolfBack · 09-23-2016, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb1370

Unfortunately warranty isn't an advantage for me, because none of the mentioned brands have official stores here.

Same as here... Picking a reader in my country is like walking in a pitch black room... We have no official stores here and our warranties and support are very limited, or totally useless, and I say that for every brand.
But I roll my dice and I'm a proud owner of 3 Kobos devices. The H2O is my primer reader, the GloHD is my lovely reader on the go and the Aura 6'' is my back-up reader.
I suggest the GloHD for your concerns. You can sideload lots of fonts, you can patch the firmware, you have a internal SD card (that you can change if something goes wrong on boot or firmware failures), you can roll it, you can shake it, but you must stay away for every kind of liquid or floor impact... You can have the durability and a perfect screen to read on it.
It's your decision and is all about the price.

09-22-2016, 12:54 PM	#1
sb1370 Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo H2O	Build Quality and Durability Considering Kindle [paperwhite 3], Nook [glowlight plus], Kobo [glo hd] and Onyx [C67ML], which one has a better build quality/more durable? Onyx boox is cheaper [here], but I can't trust it because it's a Chinese brand. Also I've read some bad reviews regarding kobo devices which fail by themselves, and also reviews which deny them. Unfortunately warranty isn't an advantage for me, because none of the mentioned brands have official stores here. As a software engineer, IMO it is possible to fix software by updates and patches but there is no option for hardware.

09-22-2016, 01:59 PM	#3
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I just helped a friend set up his new (to him) Kobo HD and I'm pretty impressed with that thing. It seems very solid and has a very good screen. It's bigger than I like but it's really an impressive device. I have a Paperwhite 3 and think it's excellent. Very sturdy. The Kobo HD seems sturdy as well. I have the original Kobo Aura, bought new shortly after they came out, and looking at it now after years of use you can't tell it from a new one. It's certainly sturdy. It's also been in my pants pocket a lot so it's probably had rougher treatment than most of my devices. It hasn't hurt it a bit. Last, and certainly least, I have a Nook Glowlight plus. It does seem sturdy. It's the only reader I have without a case, mostly because I don't like it enough to invest in a case for it. I use it for loaning books to neighbors mostly and it's held up well. I bought it new the day they were announced. The Glowlight Plus has 2 problems that keep me from liking it or recommending it. First, it's home button is capacitive so if I touch the front near the bottom it takes me back to the home screen. That's exactly in the most natural spot to hold it. This is easily the stupidest (I don't like that word but it's so apt here) design decision in the history of technology. Imagine designing a car with the brake pedal hidden under the accelerator. That would be comparable. The other problem with the Glowlight Plus is that when you long press a word to get it's definition, that definition is in grayed out text that's nearly impossible to read. This is so dumb that it can best be described as viscious design. A user sadistic interface! Other than those two killer problems it's actually a really nice device. It might have been my favorite ereader but it's just not something I like to use, as is. I have tried half covering the capacitive button with an adhesive backed piece of felt but I need access to that button and the only way to avoid having it send me to the home screen while reading is to make it totally unavailable. I strongly suggest not getting the Nook. And that's sad because it's such a near miss. Everything else about it is great. As for the rest, pick one and that's the one for you. They're all great choices. Toss a coin if that'll help. You can't go wrong. Barry Last edited by barryem; 09-22-2016 at 02:02 PM.

09-23-2016, 02:17 AM	#8
sb1370 Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kobo H2O	Thank you for your comments. But I expect you to tell me which one would you choose if none of them offered any warranty? Should I choose the cheapest one? Last edited by sb1370; 09-23-2016 at 02:25 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
M96 build quality?	chexmix	Onyx Boox	2	10-12-2014 01:09 PM
PW2 Build quality	Uthred	Amazon Kindle	11	03-23-2014 12:24 PM
Color How is the build quality of the Jetbook 2?	wasserware	Ectaco jetBook	1	01-14-2014 10:42 AM
Nook HD - Build quality	mgmueller	Which one should I buy?	0	12-06-2012 11:37 AM
hmm kindle build quality	ywen	Amazon Kindle	20	04-15-2011 02:24 PM

09-22-2016, 01:29 PM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	You will hear good and bad for both. So take your pick of whichever store you like better.

09-22-2016, 04:12 PM	#4
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,050 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I have a few devices, some built like a tank (PRS-505), some flimsy (PB623), but they have all lasted for years. I find that I usually set a device aside for a newer model with better features long before it falls apart. So, I think that build quality is a bit of a red herring that way.

09-22-2016, 04:34 PM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	None of the devices mentioned in the OP have had any kind of mass hardware failures AFAIK. Any electronic device will have some percentage of failure of course, but I don't recall there being any model of Kindle, Kobo, Nook or Onyx having any kind of large number of failures. Of course the weak point on any eInk device is the screen and it's thin glass substrate which must be treated with a degree of care since it's somewhat fragile, but even the screen isn't that fragile.

09-23-2016, 02:22 PM	#11
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Ok I will tell you. Which one best fits your budget with the features you want? If budget is no concern, buy one of everything.

Advert

Advert