Touch Press and blog reviews of the Kobo Touch

[viviena]

I thought it might be nice to link to various reviews of the new Kobo in the one place, for people still deciding whether it's worth to pick up a Kobo Touch, and for the KT users to see if these reviews agree with their experiences.

The first review I've read is a very positive review from the Good eReader blog:

Kobo hit a home-run with the Kobo Touch due to the quality build design and the robust functionality! I had the original Kobo e-Reader and the Kobo Wireless. This model seriously puts those two to shame! The touchscreen display should be easier for your average user to wrap their heads around since almost all hand held mobile devices are touch screen. I found the older Kobo models to have flimsy design and the DPAD was awful, not to mention you would hit a key and 12 seconds later the command would go through. I hardly experienced ANY LAG at all when using this e-reader extensively. ...

Some of the downsides is that there is not more Font flexibility. There are only two built in fonts with no instructions on how to add additional ones. Many of the advanced options require you to tap the screen in weird areas to call up different functions. Quick taps, long taps and other facets make all of the difference in the world. Another downside is the mandatory usage of the Kobo Desktop manager, there is simply NO way to get around registering your Kobo by yourself on the device, you have to use your PC or MAC.

Rating 8.5/10

[know-one]

Do you HAVE to register your Kobo once you buy it?

I was also wondering how strong this thing is - if you drop it on the floor - are we looking at some damage here - and what kind of?

Thanks!

[Sooty]

No need to register it. The Touch has a 2 year replacement policy for 35 dollars. Not bad as it covers everything.

[remcdonald]

No you don't need to register or set it up we set them up at work without installing the software or registering them (I work at a chapters so we had to get display models ready) there is a button for skipping set up but there is a software update that you need to grab through the setup interface so I recommend doing it.

[MechR]

Originally Posted by remcdonald

but there is a software update that you need to grab through the setup interface so I recommend doing it.

Hmm. The 2nd-gen Wifi model was able to receive firmware updates over wifi without registering. Is that no longer the case with the Touch model?

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by MechR

Hmm. The 2nd-gen Wifi model was able to receive firmware updates over wifi without registering. Is that no longer the case with the Touch model?

I'm just speculating ... Kobo may be "forcing" the initial update to ensure the "onboarding" experience is as flawless as possible. One of the key learnings a year ago was the newbie got into all kinds of trouble poking around, deleting files directly from a Windows Explorer view, by-passing this and that, then installing stuff over top ... and then trying the desktop software as a last resort.

Even though I have two Kobos using the same computer as mothership -- which made me hesitant to go to www.kobosetup.com -- I did it anyway and magically everything flew by flawlessly and no harm done to the older Kobos.

It really is a superb start. Since Kobo requires docking if you are going to use the downloadable epubs (instead of the wifi kepubs) or use library books, it's better Kobo sets the groundwork properly at the initial moment of unwrapping. Fingers crossed, no significant issues have popped up here in the forum yet.

[MDK]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I'm just speculating ... Kobo may be "forcing" the initial update to ensure the "onboarding" experience is as flawless as possible. One of the key learnings a year ago was the newbie got into all kinds of trouble poking around, deleting files directly from a Windows Explorer view, by-passing this and that, then installing stuff over top ... and then trying the desktop software as a last resort.

Even though I have two Kobos using the same computer as mothership -- which made me hesitant to go to www.kobosetup.com -- I did it anyway and magically everything flew by flawlessly and no harm done to the older Kobos.

It really is a superb start. Since Kobo requires docking if you are going to use the downloadable epubs (instead of the wifi kepubs) or use library books, it's better Kobo sets the groundwork properly at the initial moment of unwrapping. Fingers crossed, no significant issues have popped up here in the forum yet.

Glad to hear everything is working smoothly; and yes we would indeed like everyone to receive the update as it contains a few enhancements and last minute tweaks. We are of course listening for feedback and suggestions for future updates so keep them coming.

[SensualPoet]

I notice the tweaks included version 1.9.2 placed onto the KT dated June 9th ... !

[SameerH]

The initial update during setup was forced so that users would get all the features that didn't make it in time for when the devices went into mass production. Since we already were going to have a 'setting up' experience on the desktop application, it made sense to slot the upgrade into that instead of chancing it over WiFi.

Future device software upgrades will be available both through the desktop application and Wifi.

[MechR]

Thanks for clarifying!

[ficbot]

I reviewed it on Teleread today.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by ficbot

I reviewed it on Teleread today.

After being a digital book reader for 8 years, I never thought I would see a review of an ebook device that included the term "power user".

[remcdonald]

Hmmm I take a little exception to being called a newbie or not a power user because I don't find the need to load up several hundred books at a time and organize them into categories or see what a word means in esperanto while I'm reading. But that's me I hate sweeping generalizations in general.

[Donnageddon]

Terms like "entry level" and "basic" might be more appropriate in an ereader review, but IMO, the kindle more aptly fits in that category.

From what I am reading, the kobo touch has much promise, and hopefully some firmware updates will fix the flaws.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I'm just speculating ... Kobo may be "forcing" the initial update to ensure the "onboarding" experience is as flawless as possible. One of the key learnings a year ago was the newbie got into all kinds of trouble poking around, deleting files directly from a Windows Explorer view, by-passing this and that, then installing stuff over top ... and then trying the desktop software as a last resort.

Even though I have two Kobos using the same computer as mothership -- which made me hesitant to go to www.kobosetup.com -- I did it anyway and magically everything flew by flawlessly and no harm done to the older Kobos.

It really is a superb start. Since Kobo requires docking if you are going to use the downloadable epubs (instead of the wifi kepubs) or use library books, it's better Kobo sets the groundwork properly at the initial moment of unwrapping. Fingers crossed, no significant issues have popped up here in the forum yet.

Wait, what? You have to physically connect the Kobo to upload non-kepub books? That was one of the huge reasons why I am thinking about getting a kobo touch because I'm tired of having to connect my sony to my computer everytime I want to upload a book.