Kobo Glo HD

[Bobbe]

I received my new Glo HD yesterday. I own Aura, Glo and Aura HD, but for me this one is the best so far. I find the display very clear, clean and crisp, it has very good contrast. The Aura HD I own seems to have less contrast. I haven't used it outside in the sun though (it's raining all the time here), I hope the shiny bezel will not be too distracting.

I used the Aura HD for a very long time without a cover, but now it's in a cover because of travelling, and all in all I find it just a bit too heavy for me to hold for a long time.

The Glo HD is smaller and lighter, and when I turn off the header and footer I can almost get as many lines on my screen as on the Aura HD with the header and footer turned on! I'm still very happy with the option to turn the header/footer on and off. Great!

[Nick_1964]

I ordered 2 Glo HD devices, and I keep them both.
With kepub they are much faster then epub but they look even brighter then my Aura HD and the speed difference is not annoying.
The light isn't that gradient at all, it is okay for me.
It was so much sharper and more bright then my Aura HD that I sold that one.
For now, I am satisfied.

[unaj41]

I must say I am disappointed with Glo HD and I will return it.
I own Kobo Touch for several years and I am very happy with the device. But the lighted display was a big lure since the original Glo was released. It was the main reason I decide for this "upgrade".
Of course, display of the Glo HD is awesome - no complaints there (though I must say without the light on the Glo HD display is tad darker then Touch ... maybe just a different color tone, but it looks to me darker when compared side-by-side).
Software seems to be buggy here and there, but from my Touch experience I know Kobo will fix it in future FW releases - no real problem there.
The reason I will return it is the shiny and most importantly slippery plastic case. The back of the device is great (nice rubberized surface with good feel & grip). The problem is the front and mainly the sides - when I hold the device with one hand it slips.
I did side-by-side "how it feels" reading test: read couple of pages of the same book on Touch and then switch to Glo HD: I had to squeeze the Glo HD noticeably harder then the old Touch which has the rubberized surface all over. That extra pressure that is necessary to hold the new device makes it feel heavier then the Touch (even in the reality Touch is couple of grams heavier).
The result of the side-by-side test was simply underwhelming: yes the display of the Glow HD is better, but it is uncomfortable to hold in my hand. Overall the Touch feels like something I am used to, something very familiar and comfortable. New features of the Glo HD together with its shortcomings simply did not persuade me to upgrade.
BTW the shiny/reflective inner bezel is definitely stupid design idea, I have noticed the reflections, but maybe I was looking for it since I read about it here at the forum ...
Last thing I will try, because I really want to like this thing , I will try to apply some transparent grip tape on the side ... I know, probably overkill, but ...

[sashimimi]

is there a way to set the keyboard layout independently from the UI language ? (in my case : english UI, and French/AZERTY layout)

[Jarrett]

Anyone find that the reading stats SUCK?

Mark a book finished, then mark it unread, do over five times, stats now report you have finished five books!

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by unaj41

The reason I will return it is the shiny and most importantly slippery plastic case. The back of the device is great (nice rubberized surface with good feel & grip). The problem is the front and mainly the sides - when I hold the device with one hand it slips.

I use them with smartcovers, specially for the sleep function.
I think 80% of the readers on the market are all "slippery" if you have sweat hands or a bit grease.. ( I don't mean this offending ) so really, if thats all ?
My sony prs-t1, t2 or t3 are much and much more slippery and don't have the "rubberish" back that the glo HD has.
To be 100% overreacting,they are like soap, squeeze it and the reader is on the top draw of the cabinet.. the Glo and Glo HD are much and much better.

I always use a cover because it is more handy to hold any device, flap folded backwards, one finger in between and swipe with the same hand.. so hold and swipe with the same hand.
Perfect, and the covers cost me $7 each.

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Anyone find that the reading stats SUCK?

Mark a book finished, then mark it unread, do over five times, stats now report you have finished five books!

Sorry, why should someone do that, the stats are for me, not a show off so why would you fool yourself ?

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Anyone find that the reading stats SUCK?

Mark a book finished, then mark it unread, do over five times, stats now report you have finished five books!

But why would you do that?

[murg]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Anyone find that the reading stats SUCK?

Mark a book finished, then mark it unread, do over five times, stats now report you have finished five books!

Because you have finished five books. Actually, six if I understand the events you describe.

[unaj41]

Originally Posted by Nick_1964

I use them with smartcovers

Nah, I don't do cases/covers ... makes the device bulky ... I have ordered these: eGrips ... will try to cut a thin strip and snap it on each side/edge ...

[Jarrett]

It's just my example of it not being accurate, but here's a better example:

Say you're looking at the back of the book before you start (sometimes I look at copyright info), then boom, once you get to the last page it marks the book finished for you even though you haven't started it.

IMO you should only be able to mark a book finished yourself so it doesn't screw up the stats.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

It's just my example of it not being accurate, but here's a better example:

Say you're looking at the back of the book before you start (sometimes I look at copyright info), then boom, once you get to the last page it marks the book finished for you even though you haven't started it.

IMO you should only be able to mark a book finished yourself so it doesn't screw up the stats.

I see what you mean. Best thing to do is if you want to look at the end of a book just be sure you don't go past the last page so it doesn't activate it as finished.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Anyone find that the reading stats SUCK?

Mark a book finished, then mark it unread, do over five times, stats now report you have finished five books!

Are you sure if this? My memory of this and a quick test just now doesn't agree. If I finish a book by reaching the end and paging forward, the books read counter is incremented. If I reopen that book and do the same thing, it doesn't increment the count. And it doesn't count books you have mark as finished.

Originally Posted by Jarrett

It's just my example of it not being accurate, but here's a better example:

Say you're looking at the back of the book before you start (sometimes I look at copyright info), then boom, once you get to the last page it marks the book finished for you even though you haven't started it.

IMO you should only be able to mark a book finished yourself so it doesn't screw up the stats.

In this case you must have gone past the end of the book. It doesn't mark the book as finished until you do that. How is the device supposed to know that it was accidental and not deliberate? Some formats are different. Viewing an image will mark it as finished. But, that isn't unreasonable as there is only one page to an image. But, I am reasonably sure the other formats will need you to go past the end.

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by unaj41

Nah, I don't do cases/covers ... makes the device bulky ... I have ordered these: eGrips ... will try to cut a thin strip and snap it on each side/edge ...

I don't like to stick/glue something at my readers, first of all,when u need a cover with travelling it won't fit any more, and most of the stick on anty slippery stuff leave trails of the glue when you try to remove it, now if i want, I just click it out the case.

Originally Posted by Jarrett

It's just my example of it not being accurate, but here's a better example:

Say you're looking at the back of the book before you start (sometimes I look at copyright info), then boom, once you get to the last page it marks the book finished for you even though you haven't started it.

IMO you should only be able to mark a book finished yourself so it doesn't screw up the stats.

Just mark it out as unread, I don't know it this actually change the total amount of read books back but I can't imagine that you look that way 20 times to see any copyright message, I open them more comfortable with Sigil and remove it.
I just don't want to read it,but the social drm is in the entire book.

In your example,when it is up to you to mark them all read,it would be a mess, all the books that has 99% read or so on it as long as you don't mark it as finished.
Because if you don't mark it read, it stays unread with a percentage on your library.
That would be a mess.
It is not the reader that isn't un-accurate,it is the way you use it that makes the stats react this way.

[John F]

I received my Glo HD. I was previously reading on a Glo. After one day of limited use...

Ordered on 5/28 from Chapters.ca, shipped on 5/29, received on 6/3. Used Visa checkout. My only negative comment is that they didn't provide a tracking number; maybe they would have if I had created an account?

My previous case (which I no longer use) fits fine.

The screen is very nice. No bright pixels or dead pixels. The background is whiter, and text looks darker and better defined. The screen is yellower/creamier than the Glo, and the lighting is better than the Glo's.

I did the patch and installed the Night mode hack.

I'm not sure if I'm seeing a difference in page turn speed (I'm using kepubs).

Things I think I don't initially like...

I like a separate light button. I was reading last night, and accidentally turned off the light; I couldn't see anything, so I had to turn on a lamp (while my wife was sleeping) so I could see what I was doing on the Glo HD. When reading, swiping up/down on the screen to increase/decrease light is erratic. With Night Mode, a light switch is easier for me.

I wish the on/off button had better feedback; I find I'm not sure if I pressed it or not.

I wish they didn't have the shiny highlight around the screen. What were they thinking?!

I think I'm going to keep it. I previously tried an H2O and didn't keep it (I liked the smaller size of the Glo.)

[Nick_1964]

Originally Posted by John F

I received my Glo HD. I was previously reading on a Glo HD. After one day of limited use...

Think you changed from a normal Glo to an HD

I like a separate light button. ..
With Night Mode, a light switch is easier for me.

You are right at one hand, second hand,Kobo can't help it when you patch a reader and change it's functions.
The light never really wents off, so the swipe is your only friend.
(For me, I have a small pivot light..there are other things to do sometimes like plugging in a charger,and waking up the mrs is never a good point,hence..the pivot light )

I wish the on/off button had better feedback; I find I'm not sure if I pressed it or not.

It turns on red with my device ?? (red light shining around the button)

I wish they didn't have the shiny highlight around the screen. What were they thinking?!

it doesn't bother me that much but I think there must be something that bounces the infra red light ?
I always read with normal light on,diffuse light so it doesn't bother my mrs, but it doesn't reflect with that light.. (led about 100 lumen)
It gives it a bit more sofisticated look imho.

I think I'm going to keep it. I previously tried an H2O and didn't keep it (I liked the smaller size of the Glo.)

Yes.. I had the Aura HD but it turned out to be not such a good companion in the bedroom, I sold the Aura HD for the price of a Glo HD so that was a nice bargain and bought myself 2 Glo HD's, one for downstairs, one for upstairs, I am pretty pleased with both