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#1 |
Groupie
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Karma: 2635236
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Device: Original Kobo Aura 6", Libra H2O
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Aura HD - worth it now?
I had an ad appear in my browser for an Aura HD for $89. This is from Kobo.com and does not show as a refurbished reader, although another ad in my browser showed a refurbished HD for the same price. Both show free shipping. I don't know where Kobo came up with "New" stock.
I have an Aura 6", but wonder if it would be worthwhile to get the larger, HD reader at this price. I am not inclined to go for the H2O (old or new), and while the Aura One sounds great, it is way out of my price range. So, is the resolution and size a huge difference? Are there other drawbacks with the HD that I will notice as a Aura 6" user? I have no problems with my Aura, and like the flush bezel, but I have nothing to compare it too. I have an HD sitting in my Kobo.com cart... I Just have to decide to push the button, or not. |
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#2 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 68407974
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
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These have been sitting on a shelf for over two years. I wouldn't buy one. The battery is likely to give out soon.
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#3 |
Groupie
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Karma: 2635236
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Device: Original Kobo Aura 6", Libra H2O
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![]() Thanks - I was tempted, but will resist! |
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#4 |
Guru
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Karma: 4568205
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sweden
Device: Kobo Forma
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I bought the Aura HD about the same week it was released (in the UK) and it has had heavy use and is still going strong. Sure, the battery doesn't keep as long as it did, but still way longer than I ever get the need to actually charge it (it charges enough whenever I connect it to have Calibre to play with it).
If you compare side-by-side with H20, you see a difference (the carta is better then pearl), but when you read it just works. Which is a bummer... I really wanted to upgrade to H20 when it become available. ![]() |
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#5 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 68407974
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
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Quote:
Even if well treated, though, I'd hesitate to buy a device of that age if I was an avid reader and wanted it to last for more than a year or two. My H2O is two and a half years old, has been charged regularly and well treated, and is definitely showing noticeable battery degradation. Last edited by meeera; 05-31-2017 at 05:05 AM. |
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#6 |
Guru
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Karma: 4568205
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Sweden
Device: Kobo Forma
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Sure, you take a risk buying older stuff (even if I don't agree on your take on battery degradation).
All I'm saying is that I perceive the Aura HD to still be a really good e-reader. H20 (and many others) are better. Newer is usually safer and sometimes also "better". How much you want to pay for "better" is something personal and I think you do people a disservice scaring them off, IMHO. |
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#7 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 14008730
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PA (USA)
Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour
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#8 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 68407974
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
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Quote:
I've worded my comments through this thread as "I wouldn't buy one" and "I would hesitate". Not exactly ordering people around and doing a "disservice". The OP asked for opinions on potential drawbacks - this is mine. If this device doesn't come with a robust warranty that explicitly includes a guarantee of a long battery life for a good amount of time into the future, I would not buy it. It's false economy. I agree that the Aura HD had a great feature set when it was released in 2013. Last edited by meeera; 05-31-2017 at 08:12 AM. |
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#9 |
Wizard
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Karma: 6900052
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: The Heart of Texas
Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,
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@meera; What does your "Device:" list "support AuraHD,Kindle,KAura,Kglo" mean?
I recently posted where you can get a replacement battery for $15 shipping & handling included. (Come to think of it, it was in reply to one of your posts about the battery.) Just like the internal memory upgrade you may even be able to upgrade to a 4000mAh battery (given the data, including dimensions, shown on that site's battery listings) If I could pick up an AuraHD for $89, I wouldn't hesitate. Also; as I read using KOReader, my AuraHD has seen a great many improvements and added features over the time since its release. (And continues to do so.) Luck; Ken Last edited by Ken Maltby; 05-31-2017 at 09:22 AM. |
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#10 | ||
Member
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Karma: 2103844
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Melbourne
Device: Kobo H2O
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Something you'll also learn from reading that is how often you should charge your device. The battery will last longest if you use it until about 65% of its capacity and then charge it back up to 75% of its capacity. I doubt many of us do that with our mobile devices, not just your Ereader but your phone/tablet/laptop or any other device you have using Lithium based batteries. Personally I'd have no problem buying a device like that, even a manufacturer refurbished one if it had a warranty. The price saved by buying it at that price would cover the cost of replacing the battery. From a World View level that is much better than letting it end up in land fill, unfortunately that seems to be the modern attitude to things which aren't the latest model. However unlike phones/tablets/laptops the performance of an Ereader isn't as important. They've become so popular because of the better reading experience, especially in direct sunlight, also battery life is much better than LCD based devices. |
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#11 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 47303824
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos
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Your statement of 4% life lost after one year is based on being stored at 40% charge and 25C. But, we don't know what charge it was stored at and what conditions. We also don't know if the self-discharge has dropped the charge level below the safe position. Two years could easily put at the unsafe point if the storage conditions were bad, or the initial point was low. Saying buy the device and replace the battery to avoid waste is great. But, for most people, it isn't practical. I know how to open the device and find a replacement battery. Most people don't, have no desire to do so, and if they tried would end up with a broken device. They want to get the device, turn it on and use it. The Battery University is a great site for all you ever wanted to know about batteries. But, the theory and practical use is such a different thing. The idea that the life of a battery can be extended by keeping the charge between 65% and 75% is great. But, it's completely impractical for nearly all use (I believe NASA do this in satellites). The idea that I can charge my laptop battery to 40%, take it out, seal it and store it at 0C and get a really long life out of it is also absurd. What's the use of having a battery last five or ten years if I don't use it? I came to the conclusion a long time ago that for Li-Ion batteries, to just use it. Anything I could really do to extend the overall life was impractical from the point of view of actually using it. For a laptop, I just say put it in, use as necessary, charge when you can. And basically the same for ereaders. |
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#12 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 68407974
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
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What davidfor said. I don't know of any electronic warehouses that are carefully climate-controlled at 15 degrees C (the optimal temperature), let alone those which open the devices every few months to top them up to the optimal charge for long term storage.
This device was discontinued over two years ago. Where have these bargain-basement devices been sitting all this time? Why is Kobo having a sale on them now? Were they found in some forgotten warehouse somewhere? Were they manufactured on the two-years-ago mark (which seems unlikely), or as many as three years or more ago? Without a battery warranty (or of course the ability to confidently change the battery), it's a gamble. I don't have that ability - I'm reasonably sure I'd break the display trying. If the OP does have that ability, then I'm sure they saw my reasoning (battery life concerns), and discarded it as not relevant to them. |
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#13 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 68407974
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles
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Oh, that just means I'm the ereader support person for my extended family also - those are devices I've set up/used/supported. I should update them, my FiL broke his HD a little while back.
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#14 |
Groupie
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Karma: 2635236
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Cleveland, Ohio USA
Device: Original Kobo Aura 6", Libra H2O
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Thanks everyone for the great comments. I had not heard of Battery University; I will be doing some reading there.
The battery was a concern. As I noted, there were 2 ads, one said refurbished, one did not. Both show free shipping. I wondered if the refurb might be better as it might have a new battery. I am a classic hesitater, so I don't know if I will pull the trigger. I do know I use my Aura 6" every day, charge it when it gets to about 50% and remain very happy with the reading and the battery life! |
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#15 |
Wizard
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Karma: 22003124
Join Date: Aug 2014
Device: Kobo Forma, Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2
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I wouldn't trust a refurb to have a new battery, typically they just make sure the hardware is in an acceptable (to them) condition.
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