Kobo is the worst....

[Athropos]

I'm sorry about your bad experience, but just to counterbalance your personal experience: I've had an Aura HD for one year and a half and never had any issue with it, even though I take it with me everyday in the train to/from work and in my hand luggage every time I travel, be it by plane, by train, by car...

I currently have no doubt that my next e-reader, if there's one, will be a Kobo.

[GERGE]

I haven't had any problems either in the years I've used Kobo devices. But never used any of them without a solid cover.

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by Sonist

I actually just did a little experiment with my last remaining working Kobo Aura HD, by applying minimal twisting pressure to the frame.

Well, if this one breaks too at least you'll know what did it.

eInk is super fragile. Don't experiment with it.

And remember, it's a touch-screen, not a push- or press-screen. You can break the substrate easily using only one finger.

[Terisa de morgan]

A friend of mine broke her Mini about six months after having it, with very few use. Mine was used for almost a couple of years in an intensive way... and I gave it as a present when I purchased my Aura about a year ago.My friend would say Kobo is a bad brand, I would say I'm happy about it because I had a Kobo Glo, it had a problem with the on slide and they sent me a new one after sending the old one.

So... I would recommend you not purchasing more kobos... and being careful with them. A device left out two hours in the sun? *cringing*

[HarryT]

... and whatever you get as a replacement, keep it in a rigid case.

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

A friend of mine broke her Mini about six months after having it, with very few use. Mine was used for almost a couple of years in an intensive way...

I had a Kobo Touch for a couple of years. It didn't break, even though it was stuck into book bags without any cover for protection while travelling all of the way across Canada on airlines, being taking on hikes into the bush, and carried while cycling around cities. I had an Aura HD for a few months. It broke even though it was usually stored in a rigid case, and was rarely used outside of the apartment or trips to the park. (And it broke soon after I sold off the Touch. Whimper!) Sometimes things happen.

As for Kobo quality being lesser than Kindle. Well, if it is true, maybe Kobo should adopt a similar replacement to Amazon. It would give them a bit of incentive to make more durable devices.

[filmo]

You need to take better care of your readers being aware of stresses your abusing you reader with or again experience the consequences.

I have taken my Kobo Touch and Mini to Disney World and Six Flags amusement parks on every ride with a Kobo in front lose fitting jeans pocket without any problems. Long lines are less boring this way. But, I'm not lucky enough to win the Lottery.

Local Walmart has water proof, rigid case for tablets in camping, boating, or back packing area. $35.00.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pyle-PWSIC...aders/34574283

[Sonist]

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I will reiterate that I have had a number or ereaders before and the Kobo Aura HDs are the only ones to break. The Kobos are also the ereaders that have been treated the gentlest, since I have not had any rougher trips over the last year and a half or so.

My point is that on closer examination, the Kobo Aura HD is not built very well, compared to the Kindle.

The Kindle is at Apple quality, with very little flex (even though it's thinner) and tight tolerances.

In comparison, the Kobo Aura HD appears cheaply made, more along the lines of a Chinese local market product.

The build quality would explain my unfortunate experience better than simple bad luck, IMO.

Bottom line, Kobo should stand by its product in cases where there is no clear indication of a drop or abuse. I at least expect this from reputable companies.

[frostschutz]

A broken display basically means a total loss (even for the manufacturer); the display being the most expensive, and most difficult to replace part. Amazon might be able to afford free replacements for broken Kindle devices, but most other brands are not backed by a multi-billion-dollar company.

My point is that on closer examination, the Kobo Aura HD is not built very well, compared to the Kindle.

It's hard to judge the build quality. A very rigid/tight fitting case is not necessarily better for the display. It depends on how much stress actually ends up on the glass substrate when the entire thing gets squashed in your backpack...

Regarding quality I've no complaints with my H2O, with the exception that I don't really trust glue-based water seals [not that it matters to me, as I opened it anyway], and the original packaging caused some minor scratching of the outer frame (which is the fault of the packaging, not the build quality itself).

Also, there have been a lot of complaints about Kindle build quality in the past.

The unbreakable device does not exist, unfortunately.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by Sonist

The Kindle is at Apple quality

I doubt that.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

I doubt that.

The Kindle Voyage is the best-best reader I've owned, but it's damned expensive, of course. The cheaper Paperwhite is certainly nowhere near Apple build quality.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle Voyage is the best-best reader I've owned, but it's damned expensive, of course. The cheaper Paperwhite is certainly nowhere near Apple build quality.

I am comparing the Kobo Aura HD to the Kindle DXG, which I still have laying around. The DXG is really well built and the feel of the quality plastic, the fit and finish and the button clicks are reminiscent of an Apple device.

I am leaning towards the Kindle Voyage now, if I can convince myself that I can live with the 0.8" smaller screen size.

The price difference between the Kindle Voyage and the Kobo Aura H2O is only $20.

Originally Posted by Sonist

The Kindle is at Apple quality, with very little flex (even though it's thinner) and tight tolerances.

Flex in the case is a good thing, provided (of course) that it does not affect the screen. I've seen more then enough shattered Macs and iPhones to realize that these rigid devices have very little ability to absorb impact.

Also, please understand that one person using one product does not reflect the quality of an entire brand. I could easily gripe about how terrible Amazon's quality is based upon two cracked screens (one of which was under mysterious circumstances) and how great Kobo quality is in comparison. But that would be complete nonsense since the sample size is too small.

Originally Posted by Sonist

I am leaning towards the Kindle Voyage now, if I can convince myself that I can live with the 0.8" smaller screen size.

Go for it. The difference in screen size shouldn't make that much of a difference, and it sounds like a lot of people prefer the sensitivity and accuracy of its touch screen. You've clearly had problems with the Kobo HD, and the Kobo H2O is very similar in construction (I've been inside of both). Amazon also provides much better support, judging from the stories I've heard of Kobo and experience I've had with Amazon.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Obviously I can't speak for the OP as I don't know their situation but I've had 3 Kobo readers (Aura, HD, H20) and never experienced any problems with the screens. One of them had even fallen out of my cargo pocket and landed on the concrete train platform while I was sitting down. I use a sleeve for my H2O but nothing for my previous two readers. I'm personally very satisfied with the quality of Kobo's screens.