Voyage Optimised Font technology

Originally Posted by cybmole

when I check via google: - Amazon were claiming "optimized font technology" in 2013 for the PW, and implying it ( but not with those exact 3 words) even on the basic, now discontinued models.

so maybe it's a case of "move along, there's nothing new to see here" ?

Amazon has always been a good spinner of words, but that doesn't always translate into tangible improvements in the devices.

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

I know, they make it hard to make a decision. The font on my PW2 looks fine to me, until I compare it to the voyage and can then see the voyage is sharper. It's frustrating with these devices that we can't simply be completely satisfied and instead always have issues that complicate things but, at the same time, have the device still be good enough to put you on the fence about it. Argh.

I'm definitely returning my voyage, but I'm going to give the H20 a try. If that doesn't work out, I'll stick with my PW2 for another year.

What defects are you noticing on the Kobo screens? I thought they looked pretty good as far as evenness goes. I want to give one a try and see what I think. I do a lot of reading outside in the Spring and Summer and also at night in the dark, so I really love having a lighted reader for night, but one I can also use outside. I just wish they didn't make the process so painful for us. Good luck with your decision! It might be worth trying one more, do you think? Maybe at Best Buy?

They almost always turn the light up so high in the Kobo images that the text looks washed out. I can turn the light up high enough on my Voyage to mask the screen imperfections, but then I wouldn't be able to read because of the extreme brightness. I suspect if the light on the Kobo was turned way down to the equivalent of level 10-14 on the Voyage, which is where mine stays set, we would see a much more accurate image. But it doesn't really matter as I will never buy another Kobo because of their constantly changing FW that is like the Forrest Gump box of chocolates--you never know what issues it will introduce. And their CS is terrible if you live in the USA. And I don't like their ecosystem. Amazon actually has a good ecosystem.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by jswinden

They almost always turn the light up so high in the Kobo images that the text looks washed out. I can turn the light up high enough on my Voyage to mask the screen imperfections, but then I wouldn't be able to read because of the extreme brightness. I suspect if the light on the Kobo was turned way down to the equivalent of level 10-14 on the Voyage, which is where mine stays set, we would see a much more accurate image. But it doesn't really matter as I will never buy another Kobo because of their constantly changing FW that is like the Forrest Gump box of chocolates--you never know what issues it will introduce. And their CS is terrible if you live in the USA. And I don't like their ecosystem. Amazon actually has a good ecosystem.

I see. Thanks for your input. I have heard about their poor CS, but I tend to accept that I'm on my own with most devices I buy. For software issues, or other problems, I turn to the forums before CS. They never seem to know what they are talking about at any customer service really. I end up knowing more than they do. As far as defects arising during the year, that's more of a concern with Kobo than Amazon, for sure. Amazon, no doubt, has amazing CS, it's one of the reasons I always give the Kindles a try each year. I give them full credit for their awesome CS, now if only they could manage to make an e-reader with an even screen. I guess I'll see how it goes with the Kobo H20. The ecosystem isn't an issue for me thankfully as I side load all my books.

Since I've had so many bad kindle experiences, I really want to see a Kobo H20 in person and see what I think. I've read quite a few posts on here from people who are very happy with them so fingers crossed. If it doesn't work out for me, I'll stick with my PW2 for another year and hope that next year brings something better. It seems almost humorous saying that. Oh yes ... maybe one fine year there will be some magical shift and there will actually be an e-reader release that isn't riddled with issues. Or at least maybe the odds with start to improve. Instead of going through 5 or 6, maybe only 2 or 3 returns will be necessary before hitting gold. Maybe. Let's just say I'm not holding my breath.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

Does the Kobo H20 have the newer version Carta screen?

Yes, the H2O has the new Carta screen.

[JSWolf]

What I think "optimized font technology" really means is Amazon's way of taking one font (in this case Caecilia) and using it to produce all the different versions and they diddle with the font to make it darker then it actually is. Amazon has been doing this for some time. It's nothing new. There is no such thing as Caecilia condensed. That's just Caecilia condensed by the software on the Kindle.

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

I see. Thanks for your input. I have heard about their poor CS, but I tend to accept that I'm on my own with most devices I buy. For software issues, or other problems, I turn to the forums before CS. They never seem to know what they are talking about at any customer service really. I end up knowing more than they do. As far as defects arising during the year, that's more of a concern with Kobo than Amazon, for sure. Amazon, no doubt, has amazing CS, it's one of the reasons I always give the Kindles a try each year. I give them full credit for their awesome CS, now if only they could manage to make an e-reader with an even screen. I guess I'll see how it goes with the Kobo H20. The ecosystem isn't an issue for me thankfully as I side load all my books.

Since I've had so many bad kindle experiences, I really want to see a Kobo H20 in person and see what I think. I've read quite a few posts on here from people who are very happy with them so fingers crossed. If it doesn't work out for me, I'll stick with my PW2 for another year and hope that next year brings something better. It seems almost humorous saying that. Oh yes ... maybe one fine year there will be some magical shift and there will actually be an e-reader release that isn't riddled with issues. Or at least maybe the odds with start to improve. Instead of going through 5 or 6, maybe only 2 or 3 returns will be necessary before hitting gold. Maybe. Let's just say I'm not holding my breath.

Well good luck. I hope you find a good one! I'm not even sure what B&M's carry them in the USA now. Borders had them when I bought the Kobo Touch a couple of years ago, but Borders went under, at least around here. I decided to keep my Voyage. It is only so-so, but I really don't see much else out in the market place. Like I mentioned earlier, I have no desire to ever deal with Kobo again or their ecosystem. I just paid Amazon to turn off the SO's then went to Best Buy and bought the Origami black synthetic case. I sure hope next year they have the wonky screen issues worked out without introducing any new issues!

I had an idea this afternoon that might help out the Voyage. Maybe if Amazon used a neutrally tinted (smoked) front glass rather than a clear glass front, then turned up the light to compensate, it would act as a filter for those gosh awful colors. Time to put on sunglasses and see if that works!

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Well good luck. I hope you find a good one! I'm not even sure what B&M's carry them in the USA now. Borders had them when I bought the Kobo Touch a couple of years ago, but Borders went under, at least around here. I decided to keep my Voyage. It is only so-so, but I really don't see much else out in the market place. Like I mentioned earlier, I have no desire to ever deal with Kobo again or their ecosystem. I just paid Amazon to turn off the SO's then went to Best Buy and bought the Origami black synthetic case. I sure hope next year they have the wonky screen issues worked out without introducing any new issues!

I had an idea this afternoon that might help out the Voyage. Maybe if Amazon used a neutrally tinted (smoked) front glass rather than a clear glass front, then turned up the light to compensate, it would act as a filter for those gosh awful colors. Time to put on sunglasses and see if that works!

What about filtering the bue a bit at some point in the path closer to or on the LEDs?