Kobo is the worst....

[murg]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

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.

Kobo is owned by Rakuten, which is a Japanese multi-billion-dollar company.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by 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.

I would disagree with you on that. My Kobo Aura has been regifted to my father who despite my arguments about it places his Ereaders in the side of the Wheelchair and cushion risking breakage every day. No breakage as yet of the 3 years hes done this. (kobo Touch).
But I have been waiting to use my told you so argument ...


regards

Jack

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by murg

Kobo is owned by Rakuten, which is a Japanese multi-billion-dollar company.

hmm is that a billion yen?

Regardless it was only recently acquired by the Japanese... It was originally a Canadian Company.

regards

JAck

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by jackastor

hmm is that a billion yen?....

Rakuten is the largest Japanese ecommerce company with a market cap of well over USD$10BN.

I don't know how much this fact has to do in practice with Kobo itself, which is most likely still run out of Canada.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yes, I don't see any systematic issue with breakability with my Kobos. All have gone straight into cases of course. My Touch was with a preteen for a year before giving it to another preteen, and it's still going strong, despite being lugged around in a school backpack and all. My preteen now has my old Glo, and it's fine, chugging along. And I have an Aura and Aura H2O right here, both unbroken despite spending periods of time rattling around in my wheelchair bag, scooter arm pocket, etc.

[JSWolf]

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.

One of the best Readers in terms of build quality is the Sony Reader PRS-650.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

One of the best Readers in terms of build quality is the Sony Reader PRS-650.

yes, the metal frame makes substrate damage much less likely.

The only let down is the complexity of putting in a new battery,

If they had been designed with easy battery swap out in mind, for when the originals degrade over time, they 'd probably become valued collectors items.

I sold mine ( two of them) only because the batteries were beginning to fade & I didn't relish trying 3rd party replacement kit

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by cybmole

yes, the metal frame makes substrate damage much less likely.

The only let down is the complexity of putting in a new battery,

If they had been designed with easy battery swap out in mind, for when the originals degrade over time, they 'd probably become valued collectors items.

I sold mine ( two of them) only because the batteries were beginning to fade & I didn't relish trying 3rd party replacement kit

The batteries are actually quite easy to replace in the PRS series of readers. I've fully taken 2 of my 350s apart to swap the screens into different shells (I wanted the dark blue only available in Europe), and there's nothing hard about it other than paying attention to where the screws go back in. The battery replacement is even easier than the entire screen swap.

[JSWolf]

NewPower99 has a very helpful video on changing the battery in a 650. They also sell the battery and the tools needed to do this.

https://www.newpower99.com/Sony_PRS_...%20prs-650.htm

[cybmole]

i did look into that before selling my Sony readers, but at that time the kit had some 1 star reviews on amazon - dunno how it rates nowadys.

I just read elsewhere on MR a reference to e-ink screens only having a 5 year life expectancy & the 650 must be approaching 5 years old ?

I dunno it that 5 years is based on some hypothetical usage or just on simple aging. I'd guess a screen is good for x thousand refreashes, like a flash drive

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by cybmole

I'd guess a screen is good for x thousand refreashes, like a flash drive

Those are very different issues.

I've not yet heard of an eInk screen dying from old age. If that was a problem there should be some posts regarding it in these forums, from the first Kindle or whatever?

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

Those are very different issues.

I've not yet heard of an eInk screen dying from old age. If that was a problem there should be some posts regarding it in these forums, from the first Kindle or whatever?

I have to say that the batteries seem to last for ages.

I still have a Kindle DX and DXG here and the batteries are still running without noticeable difference from when new.

In fact, the DXG is what my wife is using now, since the second Kobo broke. It had not been used or charged for at least a year, more likely closer to two, and it was completely dead. It took about 30 minutes to wake up, but it has been running for about a week now and the battery icon shows somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 charge left.

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

Those are very different issues.

I've not yet heard of an eInk screen dying from old age. If that was a problem there should be some posts regarding it in these forums, from the first Kindle or whatever?

there is at least one other MR thread, but more googling suggests it is an anecdotal, not a hard science issue, I could not find any real data on e-ink screen lifespans

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Diagonal lines on the screen indicate that you've fractured the glass substrate that's under the outer plastic screen. This is caused by applying a bending force to the screen (or dropping it); it doesn't happen on its own.

If the sun was strong it may happened from this cause alone (unequal dilatation).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ghitulescu

If the sun was strong it may happened from this cause alone (unequal dilatation).

Very true.