My Voyage v Kobo H2O experience

[ersott]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's not the way that the notes are displayed that's the problem: it's the difficulty of trying to actually tap the hyperlink on the not-very-accurate IR touchscreen.

OK, I´m with you, the screen of pw2 responds better than IR screen in kobo aura h2o, but not too much for me, just a little.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ersott

OK, I´m with you, the screen of pw2 responds better than IR screen in kobo aura h2o, but not too much for me, just a little.

Perhaps I just have large fingers, but I found tapping the very small hyperlinks for numbered endnotes on the H2O to be extremely difficult - I'd have to tap it a dozen times, and most of the time it just turned the page. On the Kindle I have no such difficulty - it just works first time. In the end, the only way I found to reliably do it on the H2O was to make the font size really large, so that the hyperlink was much bigger.

[cct1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Voyage's automatic light sensor is even more convenient. Do you not find that it works well for you?

I don't. I got so frustrated with it I turned it off. I read somewhere that eventually it was supposed to adapt over time to how you adjusted it, but it's a nuisance to me, IMHO the most overhyped feature of the Voyage. But then again, I really don't need the waterproof feature on the H20.

I much prefer the left side swipe feature of the H20.

Initially I loved the haptic feedback buttons, but I've gone back to screen touches for page turns--I've gotten used to it on the H20, and I have large hands; the narrow bezel of the Voyage makes the haptic buttons slightly awkward, it's easier to touch the screen.

On the other hand I agree with everyone that the IR screen on the H20 isn't as responsive as the Voyage's screen.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by cct1

I don't. I got so frustrated with it I turned it off. I read somewhere that eventually it was supposed to adapt over time to how you adjusted it, but it's a nuisance to me, IMHO the most overhyped feature of the Voyage. But then again, I really don't need the waterproof feature on the H20.

I much prefer the left side swipe feature of the H20.

Initially I loved the haptic feedback buttons, but I've gone back to screen touches for page turns--I've gotten used to it on the H20, and I have large hands; the narrow bezel of the Voyage makes the haptic buttons slightly awkward, it's easier to touch the screen.

On the other hand I agree with everyone that the IR screen on the H20 isn't as responsive as the Voyage's screen.

The auto brightness sensor on my KV was awful. I turned it off. There were so many features I had to turn off because of malfunction, that in the end I figured the PW2 was a better solution for me. I was right.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

The auto brightness sensor on my KV was awful.

OK. I find it works just fine.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

The auto brightness sensor on my KV was awful. I turned it off. There were so many features I had to turn off because of malfunction, that in the end I figured the PW2 was a better solution for me. I was right.

I turned off the light sensor pretty quickly too, mine didn't work correctly. I love it on my iPad, but on the voyage mine was a mess.

Originally Posted by cct1

I much prefer the left side swipe feature of the H20.

Me too! Very much so. I love this feature.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Perhaps I just have large fingers, but I found tapping the very small hyperlinks for numbered endnotes on the H2O to be extremely difficult - I'd have to tap it a dozen times, and most of the time it just turned the page. On the Kindle I have no such difficulty - it just works first time. In the end, the only way I found to reliably do it on the H2O was to make the font size really large, so that the hyperlink was much bigger.

I found this to be the case on my Kobo Touch. It was frustrating. I recall reverting to using my Kindle for that book. And I don't have large fingers.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

I turned off the light sensor pretty quickly too, mine didn't work correctly. I love it on my iPad, but on the voyage mine was a mess.

Me too! Very much so. I love this feature.

I think I would love swiping the screen rather than going through a menu. Everything on the current Kindle UI is a bit tedious to me. It should be shorter, easier, quicker to get things accomplished [that aren't related to reading].

To me, the Kindle UI reminds me of Apple's [walled garden] - so much is locked down, unchangeable and unchanging. Jailbreaking isn't welcomed and is openly thwarted.

WH hackers are your friends, not to be feared. They encourage development, make your devices easier and better to use, more user friendly, find your bugs for you and fix them, thereby encouraging more people to buy your devices. IMO Amazon needs to unclench a bit and relax.

If I had an iAnything I would immediately jb it. I'm waiting for my son's old iPad so I can have my way with it. I saw one once at BB - demonstrated by the owner of it - and he had all kinds of non-Apple goodies on it. It made my mouth water. LOL

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

I think I would love swiping the screen rather than going through a menu. Everything on the current Kindle UI is a bit tedious to me. It should be shorter, easier, quicker to get things accomplished [that aren't related to reading].

To me, the Kindle UI reminds me of Apple's [walled garden] - so much is locked down, unchangeable and unchanging. Jailbreaking isn't welcomed and is openly thwarted.

WH hackers are your friends, not to be feared. They encourage development, make your devices easier and better to use, more user friendly, find your bugs for you and fix them, thereby encouraging more people to buy your devices. IMO Amazon needs to unclench a bit and relax.

If I had an iAnything I would immediately jb it. I'm waiting for my son's old iPad so I can have my way with it. I saw one once at BB - demonstrated by the owner of it - and he had all kinds of non-Apple goodies on it. It made my mouth water. LOL

I couldn't agree more about Amazon needing to unclench a bit. The limited font thing is what really baffles me. It just seems since it's a digital device and one can easily add fonts, why not make the reader experience better by allowing it? I'm not even talking different fonts, as much as being able to change the weight. It makes a huge difference in how the text looks and makes it easier on people's eyes. I find it hard to believe a premium reader limits you for such a basic thing.

Originally Posted by xtine

I think I may have gotten a yellow screen too. I'm not sure if this shade of yellow is common to the H2O although I think I'm getting used to it and it really doesn't bother me that much. Screen is nice and creamy in daylight though. Here's a picture of the H2O next to my blotchy PW1. The PW light has always seemed bluish white to me but funny how putting it next to the yellow H2O makes the light seem pink now (both in pictures and in real life).

One thing I really love is how sharp the text on the H2O appears. I've kept my PW1 as a backup reader but I really can't imagine going back to it now.

Your H20 screen looks great, xtine. It appears more H20 screens have a yellow tint than don't. At least it seems that way from the screens I have seen on here. I know they vary though and some are more white. I think the camera captures the yellow tint more than it looks in person too. At least that's what I've noticed with mine. I prefer the creamy tint and find it much easier on my eyes than the harsh blue fluorescent tint of the voyage and other lit kindle screens. When I use my H20, it actually appears quite white to me. It's only when I put it next to another device I can see the yellow tint. I think my H20 is somewhat in the middle. Not a strong yellow tint, but it's definitely there. Here's a pic of my H20 next to my PW2.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

I couldn't agree more about Amazon needing to unclench a bit. The limited font thing is what really baffles me. It just seems since it's a digital device and one can easily add fonts, why not make the reader experience better by allowing it? I'm not even talking different fonts, as much as being able to change the weight. It makes a huge difference in how the text looks and makes it easier on people's eyes. I find it hard to believe a premium reader limits you for such a basic thing.

Exactly my thoughts. It's fonts people, not weapons, not chemical warfare, freakin' fonts. Everyone's eyes and preferences are different. It feels somewhat discriminatory to me, with older eyes and poorer vision. So I jb and do the fonts hack. Shouldn't have to. Would probably jb anyway since I love to play, but really... drawing the line at fonts? Here's to Amazon unclenching. Cheers!

[xtine]

Thanks, sparkle! Mine actually seems yellow (maybe creamier is the right word) even without putting it next to a Kindle but I've gotten used to it, especially since the lighting is so even. It's just been such a joy to use

Speaking of fonts though, so far all the fonts I've loaded onto my Kobo have appeared thin and spindly. Then again I'm pretty happy with Georgia and Amasis so it isn't really that big a deal to me.

[Josieb1]

I don't seem to be having any issues with the automatic light sensor on my Voyage either. I'm not touching it at all and it's definitely moving up and down, I check every now and again.

[Barty]

Is it the light that is yellow or the screen itself? With the light turned off, how does the screen look in daylight?

Thanks.

Btw it is possible to turn off the header and footer and use all the space for text, right?

[xtine]

Barty, it's the light that's yellow, not the screen. With the light turned off, the screen is noticeably whiter than my Kindle PW1 (sorry I don't have a Voyage to compare it to).

It's possible to turn off the header & footer by either patching or adding a line to the conf file in the Kobo. Out of the box I don't you can. Personally I patched my H2O to move the footer to the bottom of the screen and get more lines per page. I haven't quite figured out how to move the header further up, if that's possible.

[pagepack]

Originally Posted by Barty

Is it the light that is yellow or the screen itself? With the light turned off, how does the screen look in daylight?

Thanks.

Btw it is possible to turn off the header and footer and use all the space for text, right?

The light is yellow, not the screen. Apparently they differ between readers.

Not had to much luck this week. Took a voyage back as the front light was so uneven, very distracting and if you're paying a premium price, unacceptable in my eyes.

I then bought an H20. Very even screen, love the font options, increasing weight and so on. Although that went back too. Fantastic to read on during the day but I found the screen far too yellow for reading in the dark, or low light. Maybe I was unlucky, I dont know. I prefer a warm led as opposed to cold, but my H2O was too yellow. If only I could demo one first......