Which Kobo? Glo, Glo hd, aura or h2o?

[chilligirl]

So I'm being bought a new reader, it seems

I don't want a kindle because I borrow library books a lot, my library uses the 3m cloud. I'm in the U.K.

Kobo offered me a Glo for 49 gbp because my touch can't be repaired. It doesn't look terrible, but I could get the Glo hd or original aura for 109. I haven't completely ruled out the h2o but I think I might find it too big.

Which would people recommend? I'm leaning towards the Glo hd unless there are specific advantages of the aura. Or should I go for the Glo as it's such a good price? I'm sure it would be as good as the Sony PRS 350 I've been using.

Or is there anything else? I've loved my Sony readers (have had 505, 350 and 300) and didn't like the kobo touch much, I found the screen muddy compared to the 350 and not as responsive.

[issybird]

Going strictly by your comments, I'm going to say that I found the Glo screen a little fuzzy compared to my 350. It was legible and the light was nice, but I still preferred my Sonys. What was nice, though, was that the Glo was only marginally larger than the 350, despite the bigger screen.

The Glo HD is pretty spectacular, really crisp text and much higher contrast than with the 350. However, that said, I don't think it's worth more than twice what a Glo would cost.

[church mouse]

Kobo stopped selling the Glo HD some time ago - are you being offered a new one? If genuine, then I would take it at £109.

By Aura, do you mean the original product of 2013 vintage? If so, at £109 I would not touch it because it must be quite old. If you mean the new version, then I would definitely choose a Glo HD in preference, if it was a genuinely new product.

The H2O is a good reader, but I found it too big and cumbersome for any serious reading - I like to hold my ereader in one hand - but others love it

Alternatives easily available in the UK are hard to find. Bookeen will sell to the UK from France - its Cybook Muse HD has a modern, sharp 300dpi screen and Adobe is installed for DRM's epubs. However, I am not sure what language dictionaries are installed

From Germany one can get the Tolino ereaders sent over, but they are quite expensive now (due to the fall in the exchange rate for the £).

There is the Pocketbook Touch HD also available via Germany, but again prices have increased of late.

There are Android based ereaders, such as Energy Sistem's Pro HD, but they only have a 212dpi screen (as comes with the Aura) rather than the H2O's 265dpi, or the Glo Hd's 300dpi.

[chilligirl]

Originally Posted by issybird

Going strictly by your comments, I'm going to say that I found the Glo screen a little fuzzy compared to my 350. It was legible and the light was nice, but I still preferred my Sonys. What was nice, though, was that the Glo was only marginally larger than the 350, despite the bigger screen.

The Glo HD is pretty spectacular, really crisp text and much higher contrast than with the 350. However, that said, I don't think it's worth more than twice what a Glo would cost.

Thank you, that's helpful especially because you are able to give an insight on how they compare to the 350 screen.

[chilligirl]

Thank you for the comprehensive reply. Yes, it seems to be a new kobo glo (via the WHSmith website, showing as in stock).

It was the 2013 aura I was looking at, the more recent aura 2nd edition is available for 99.99. Old technology doesn't bother me too much so long as it covers my needs, that said I don't want to have to replace whatever I get too soon.

The waterproof feature on the h2o does appeal - I read in the bath- but I wish it was smaller. I'll put up with only taking paper books into the bathroom. I like how portable the Sony 350 is.

I think having anything sent over from mainland Europe is probably not worth it due to the exchange rate.

[robko]

Size is going to be a personal preference. I find it hard to even go back to my H2O from my Aura one at this point (due to the smaller size). But some prefer the smaller sized devices. I've never had a Glo HD, but it was a very well thought of device from almost all comments I ever read about it. I would definitely go for the Glo HD over either the old Aura or the new Aura Edition 2, and it would be a no brainer over an original Glo (new and better screen tech).

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by robko

Size is going to be a personal preference. I find it hard to even go back to my H2O from my Aura one at this point (due to the smaller size). But some prefer the smaller sized devices. I've never had a Glo HD, but it was a very well thought of device from almost all comments I ever read about it. I would definitely go for the Glo HD over either the old Aura or the new Aura Edition 2, and it would be a no brainer over an original Glo (new and better screen tech).

Same here. I agree: if you want 6", the Glo HD is the best out there if you can get a new one, even now that Kobo is no longer making them. Waterproof and/or 6.8": the Aura H2O.

I went Aura HD -> Aura H2O -> Aura ONE, and am not looking back

(Owned a 9.7" Kindle DXG as well; not going back there either. That's too large)

[soulfuldog]

If you like how portable the Sony PRS350 is, then definitely go for the Glo HD. Most of the 6" readers these days are only a centimetre or two bigger than the 350. There is a difference going from a non-lighted reader like the PRS350 to a lighted reader like the Glo HD, and not everyone loves the way it affects the screen, but they pretty much all have lights included now.

My reader of choice is now my Kindle Voyage (I've no interest in the anything bigger than 6", they seem too big to me), and as much as I still love my old PRS350, I can't go back to reading on it after the clarity of the screen on the Voyage.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by issybird

Going strictly by your comments, I'm going to say that I found the Glo screen a little fuzzy compared to my 350. It was legible and the light was nice, but I still preferred my Sonys. What was nice, though, was that the Glo was only marginally larger than the 350, despite the bigger screen.

The Glo HD is pretty spectacular, really crisp text and much higher contrast than with the 350. However, that said, I don't think it's worth more than twice what a Glo would cost.

I'll second that: The Glo HD has an incredibly sharp screen and is VERY easy to hold naked. It's a spectacular reader for epubs.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

There is a difference going from a non-lighted reader like the PRS350 to a lighted reader like the Glo HD, and not everyone loves the way it affects the screen, but they pretty much all have lights included now.

Yes, there is a difference, but if it turns out you don't like it, Kobo's will let you disable the frontlight.

[chilligirl]

Lots of helpful opinions, thank you! I've ordered a Glo HD and it should be with me within the week. I'll let you know how I get on! Trying to decide whether to keep my prs 350 or sell it. It doesn't take up much room if I keep it

[soulfuldog]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Yes, there is a difference, but if it turns out you don't like it, Kobo's will let you disable the frontlight.

All e-readers use some sort of tech to spread the light evenly over the screen, switching the light off doesn't change that. Not everyone is bothered by it, or even sees it, but the effect is there, and part of the reason some people are loathe to give up their older ereaders (mostly Sony users!).

Originally Posted by chilligirl

Trying to decide whether to keep my prs 350 or sell it. It doesn't take up much room if I keep it

Even though I don't read on it very much now, I'm keeping mine, I'll get round to selling or giving away my Kobo Mini at some point, but I'll probably keep hold of the 350 forever (it's a blue one, in the official case, and it looks beautiful)

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

All e-readers use some sort of tech to spread the light evenly over the screen, switching the light off doesn't change that. Not everyone is bothered by it, or even sees it, but the effect is there, and part of the reason some people are loathe to give up their older ereaders (mostly Sony users!).

True enough. But we're not talking about a 167 ppi reader without light layer (which all 6" non-lighted readers are AFAIK) and another 167 ppi lighted reader, but between 167 ppi non-lighted an 300 ppi with light layer, and Carta instead of at best (I think) Pearl.

The world has moved on since Sony quit the game. Good as the Sony's were in their day, a Kobo Glo HD has them beat six ways from Sunday.

[Shopaholic]

Originally Posted by chilligirl

Lots of helpful opinions, thank you! I've ordered a Glo HD and it should be with me within the week. I'll let you know how I get on! Trying to decide whether to keep my prs 350 or sell it. It doesn't take up much room if I keep it

Congrats to you! You're going to love it. I have the Glo HD & an Aura One. I do love the look of the crisper, to my eyes, Glo HD over the Aura One. I've had many Sony's over the years as well.

Enjoy your new reader.