Kobo Vox

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by Xennex1170

Personally I feel that would be a bad idea for 2 reasons.
1) It is yet another component that could fail
2) It would drain the battery quicker.

As long as the battery is non-user replaceable, anything that would increase wear and tear on the battery would shorten the useful life of the device.

O I agree with you that it would drain the battery faster, thats certainly a trade off but if the light was energy efficient leds it would be negible. Also Most situations that I personally find my self in there is enough lighting to read with out the need of a light. But it definitly would be a nice touch to the touch.

regards

jack

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by LauraPony

This morning my husband was asking me if I was still happy I got my Vox (an early Christmas present for him) and what I liked best about it. (To create context, I will explain that a little while before getting the Vox, my netbook broke and we discontinued my cell phone, because I think it is crazy to spend so much on something so frivolous). In this conversation we came to the conclusion that the Vox really helps me not miss having a phone so much.

It isn't a great replacement for my netbook though. The Vox is a little quicker to start up than my netbook, but my netbook is much better for writing (I like to write and blog).

What I really needed was an "eReader with Benefits". I am passionate about reading, so my favourite thing about the Vox is the Kobo app itself, but the benefits was just what I needed in my life right now.

I love my Vox, but am still not prepared to suggest it to people as their only (and first) eReader. For someone, like me, looking for an eReader/Tablet (especially in Canada), it is a great option!

I have to say I did look at the one at the Coles book store here NF and was impressed with its presentation and speed. The weight was a little more then I had thought it would be but still it would acceptable. I think I am about to buy the vox because of the favourable reviews. I may pass my touch on to my sister Or i may not. I do like its readability and i have no issues with trying it out.

regards

jack

[The Terminator]

I agree that the Vox is a great device, but I don't think it can be directly compared to dedicated readers for two reasons;


1. Battery life

2. LCD (LED? I can't figure it out from their site)in my opinion is harder on the eyes for long reading.

But if I was going to get a 7 inch tablet I would go with the Vox over the Kindle Fire.

[Xennex1170]

Originally Posted by jackastor

O I agree with you that it would drain the battery faster, thats certainly a trade off but if the light was energy efficient leds it would be negible. Also Most situations that I personally find my self in there is enough lighting to read with out the need of a light. But it definitly would be a nice touch to the touch.

regards

jack

I use a separate LED booklight and I burn through those batteries.. Usually have to change them out every 3rd night.. If I had a light on my Touch I think I may definitely have to charge every day..

Originally Posted by The Terminator

2. LCD (LED? I can't figure it out from their site)in my opinion is harder on the eyes for long reading.

Fairly sure it's a fluoro-backlit LCD screen, not LED-backlit. AFAIK, only Apple and Advent are doing LED-backlit screens on their tablets.

Regarding eye strain, having the screen brightness turned down to the lowest setting isn't too bad for some people, but it does vary from person to person. My head starts throbbing after a couple of hours, for instance. And you're losing out on any chance of outside readability as soon as you turn down the brightness.

Originally Posted by 4Foot

I agree completely with your thoughts on having a tablet & a smartphone. Fortunately for me, I do not own a cell phone anymore so the Vox, "eReader with Benefits" is just about right.

Yeah, it's yet another niche in the mobile computing market. I always think it's pretty cool than whenever manufacturers start making devices no one's really asking for, they often expose gaps in the market no one realised were there in the first place. Like the original iPad. The tablet for media consumption (and not just for businesses and visual arts) was a really big niche in the market just waiting to be filled.

[Suzanna]

I couldn't vote because none of the options applied to me. I don't think it's the next generation of eReader - I still do most of my reading on my Kobo Touch - but I did run right out and buy one. Like another poster mentioned, I don't have a smart phone (don't need one since I work from home) so I mainly use the Vox for the extras. (I also read Kindle freebies on it.)

[MorganM]

I chose

"Not going to go out and buy it anytime soon"

It's not something that interests me at all.

[lioslaith]

I called my Vox a "eReader on Steroids" when describing it to my Mother. But "eReader with Benefits" suits as well.

I own a dedicated reader, two in fact, a Kindle 3G and a Sony 505. Both are excellent devices and I don't regret purchasing them. I wanted a device to browse the web when in bed or when I am ill and unable to sit at my desktop which is in our living-room/lounge downstairs in our house. I originally bought a cheap android tablet which proved too heavy and the touch-screen too slow/resistive to adequately meet my needs. My limited experience with my new purchase seems to indicate it will meet said needs.

I don't believe that the Vox can ever replace a dedicated reader but there is a place for it as those on these forums can attest. At the end of the day it's all about your own needs in regards to this device.

I wanted a decently priced device which I could use to read books, browse the web, and maybe play the odd game if I feel like it. I don't have the kind of income to buy the likes of an iPad or Galaxy Tablet and the Vox fit into my little budget and hopefully will meet my needs as I didn't need some big work-horse of a tablet for the limited times I would actually use it. I don't have that kind of money to burn on high end luxury items so hopefully the Vox will fit both my budget and my needs adequately.

Originally I was holding out for the rumoured (then) Amazon tablet but after it wasn't released in the UK where I live with no firm time line for release here the release of the Kobo Vox was good timing for Kobo as it seems like it will be what I wanted and replace me struggling with the small screen of my iPod touch to browse and read on at night.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by lioslaith

I called my Vox a "eReader on Steroids" when describing it to my Mother. But "eReader with Benefits" suits as well.

I own a dedicated reader, two in fact, a Kindle 3G and a Sony 505. Both are excellent devices and I don't regret purchasing them. I wanted a device to browse the web when in bed or when I am ill and unable to sit at my desktop which is in our living-room/lounge downstairs in our house. I originally bought a cheap android tablet which proved too heavy and the touch-screen too slow/resistive to adequately meet my needs. My limited experience with my new purchase seems to indicate it will meet said needs.

I don't believe that the Vox can ever replace a dedicated reader but there is a place for it as those on these forums can attest. At the end of the day it's all about your own needs in regards to this device.

I wanted a decently priced device which I could use to read books, browse the web, and maybe play the odd game if I feel like it. I don't have the kind of income to buy the likes of an iPad or Galaxy Tablet and the Vox fit into my little budget and hopefully will meet my needs as I didn't need some big work-horse of a tablet for the limited times I would actually use it. I don't have that kind of money to burn on high end luxury items so hopefully the Vox will fit both my budget and my needs adequately.

Originally I was holding out for the rumoured (then) Amazon tablet but after it wasn't released in the UK where I live with no firm time line for release here the release of the Kobo Vox was good timing for Kobo as it seems like it will be what I wanted and replace me struggling with the small screen of my iPod touch to browse and read on at night.

Honestly that does bring up an interesting notion.... Does one really need the super power of an ipad or is it just the prestige that people covet?
I think for the most part the vox does and will open the world up to some of us who have no use for a big computer but want a simple purpose device. the vox does that at an affordable price and doesnt come with a small mortgage either. Although I would still like to have the soft ice cream maker at some point...


regards

jack

[lonebutte]

I know very little about ereaders and tablets. My daughter wants a tablet for Christmas so she can play games and chat on Facebook and google stuff. Before her "wish list" came forward I was planning on getting her an ereader as she is a total book worm. So is the Vox the answer for me??? Can you use all features of Facebook and other sites with the Vox? Can you "borrow" books from a public or online library or do you have to purchase all books? Can the BB Playbook be used as an ereader? Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

[TonyToews]

Originally Posted by lonebutte

I know very little about ereaders and tablets. My daughter wants a tablet for Christmas so she can play games and chat on Facebook and google stuff. Before her "wish list" came forward I was planning on getting her an ereader as she is a total book worm. So is the Vox the answer for me??? Can you use all features of Facebook and other sites with the Vox? Can you "borrow" books from a public or online library or do you have to purchase all books? Can the BB Playbook be used as an ereader? Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

I wouldn't say all the features of Facebook as you are presented with a smaller differently laid out screen. However the most commonly used features are certainly there.

I haven't visited that many other sites with the Vox but so far they've all worked. If they don't have a mobile/table version of the website then I just rotate the Vox into landscape mode, increase the font size a bit and away I go. I do have trouble seeing some photos because they don't zoom in very well but then I just go back to the laptop with the 24" external monitor.

As far as I know, although I haven't tried it, you can indeed borrow books from a library and read them on the Vox.

I'm very happy with purchasing the Vox. But then it's a new toy and I decided I needed one.

[lioslaith]

Originally Posted by jackastor

Honestly that does bring up an interesting notion.... Does one really need the super power of an ipad or is it just the prestige that people covet?
I think for the most part the vox does and will open the world up to some of us who have no use for a big computer but want a simple purpose device. the vox does that at an affordable price and doesnt come with a small mortgage either. Although I would still like to have the soft ice cream maker at some point...


regards

jack

Exactly. Sometimes I feel it's the whole keeping up with the Joneses thing. The newest fad items.

All types of tablets are very popular at the moment but not everyone can afford the like of iPad and Galaxy tabs.

Not that the more expensive items aren't good devices but many can't afford or don't need such high power ones to meet their needs.

Also it would be handy for those who want to access the web on a smaller device which means easier handling. My Mum always gravitates towards the tablets and touch screen computers in PC World because she can get them to work better than using a mouse on her regular netbook. You just press the icon you need on screen, she calls this 'her kind of computer'. Simple and easy to use.

So for someone who likes to read and wants some light browsing without the cost and space required for a regular computer this might be the kind of entry level device that would suit them fine.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by lioslaith

Exactly. Sometimes I feel it's the whole keeping up with the Joneses thing. The newest fad items.

All types of tablets are very popular at the moment but not everyone can afford the like of iPad and Galaxy tabs.

Not that the more expensive items aren't good devices but many can't afford or don't need such high power ones to meet their needs.

Also it would be handy for those who want to access the web on a smaller device which means easier handling. My Mum always gravitates towards the tablets and touch screen computers in PC World because she can get them to work better than using a mouse on her regular netbook. You just press the icon you need on screen, she calls this 'her kind of computer'. Simple and easy to use.

So for someone who likes to read and wants some light browsing without the cost and space required for a regular computer this might be the kind of entry level device that would suit them fine.

Thats a very sound description, "her kind of Computer". I think that makes the vox everyones tablet.. affordable and workable...

I wonder where we will be next year.

regards

jack

[TonyToews]

Originally Posted by jackastor

I wonder where we will be next year.

I started being paid for programming computers in 1979 on a $25,000 IBM micro computer which had 32 kb of RAM, a 16x64 character screen and 2 8" floppies. My cell phone, camera, Palm TX and the Kobo Touch have more power than the $250,000 or $500,000 mini computers I was programming in the mid 1980s that were the size of two freezers.

Where will it be next year? Not a clue. But I''m sure enjoying the ride.

[PeterT]

Well.... my first paid experience had to come back in 77 or 78, working for IP Sharp in Monteal doing APL programming.