Why does Kobo do this?

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Sadly true. OTOH, when you have people complaining about the weight of an ereader with or without cover—a weight that is less than the paper books the ereader is replacing—then I see no harm in humour.

Was there complaing? I thought it was people expressing their opinions?

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by John F

Was there complaing? I thought it was people expressing their opinions?

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction, which is an personal opinion. You would be dissatisfied with a heavier ereader, so I think it's appropriate.

To cover, or not to cover, tis indeed the question. Whatever buoys your barge.

To the people that don't use covers on their ereaders, do you use glass/plastic screen protectors to prevent scratches etc?

[John F]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction, which is an personal opinion. You would be dissatisfied with a heavier ereader, so I think it's appropriate.

...

Did I say I would be disastisfied? I thought I commented on how much heavier it was ("holy cannoli", "twice as heavy". I guess " holy cannoli" is an opinion, but I'm not sure that it expresses disastisfaction.

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by John F

Did I say I would be disastisfied? I thought I commented on how much heavier it was ("holy cannoli", "twice as heavy". I guess " holy cannoli" is an opinion, but I'm not sure that it expresses disastisfaction.

Fair enough, I stand corrected then.

Do you not employ any protection for your ereader at all then? No cover, no screen protector? I'd be very anxious about damaging the screen as mine is forever in a pocket or bag.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

And I am certain that is true. But when the weights being discussed are less than the paper books the readers are replacing... there's a certain point where harmless fun is just harmless fun.

Some of us use ereaders _because_ paper books are painful and difficult to hold.

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by meeera

Some of us use ereaders _because_ paper books are painful and difficult to hold.

A valid reason, but this sentiment wasn't raised or implied by anybody initially and certainly wouldn't have been mocked if it had.

I hope it isn't the case, but it feels like an attempt to derail a discussion and some banter by injecting a dose of virtue to defend a position nobody was attacking.

From my perspective there was just some amusing back and forth over whether the average person (free of physical ailments) found the added weight of a protective cover negligible or not.

[John F]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

...

Do you not employ any protection for your ereader at all then?

No.

No cover, no screen protector?

No, and no.

I'd be very anxious about damaging the screen as mine is forever in a pocket or bag.

So do you consider this statement complaining, or an opinion, both?

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by John F

So do you consider this statement complaining, or an opinion, both?

Potentially both or neither. Maybe a "concern" would be more fitting? Perhaps that's also up for opinion? I'd certainly complain if someone borrowed my ereader and carried it around without the cover.

If I was to complain it would be that I think ereader manufacturers should include a cover or at least a screen protector with the device as standard.

[John F]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

Potentially both or neither. Maybe a "concern" would be more fitting?

If I was to complain it would be that I think ereader manufacturers should include a cover or at least a screen protector with the device as standard.

Personally, if I did want a cover, I don't think the manufacturer should include a cover. I may not like the aesthetics. I may think it is to bulky. I may think it is to flimsy. ...

And for myself, and some other people, I don't see the need for a screen protector, so again, make it optional.

[Sirtel]

I use neither covers nor screen protectors. I only read at home and never take my ereaders out with me, so there's no need to protect the screen. If I regularly carried my ereaders around, I'd probably use a cover, but it should be easy to remove the device from it. I don't want to read with the cover on, because all the jokes aside, I don't find the added weight negligible (and I'm physically healthy). And yes, I did find most hardcovers and trade paperbacks to be too heavy also; that's why I primarily read mass market paperbacks, which had their own problems.

YMMV.

[neil_swann80]

I don't see the issue with including some basic protection with the device, the end user still has the choice whether to use them or not, or upgrade to a personal style choice or greater/lesser level of protection if they so wish.

If you do mainly only read at home, you at least have a basic cover available to you for peace of mind when travelling/vacationing etc.

I have a Pocketbook HD3 with an origami cover. I personally don't notice the weight difference with or without the cover attached. Even if I did notice a difference, I think I'd still prefer a cover as features like opening/closing the cover to wake/sleep the device is so useful and natural, and the origami stand for continuing to read whilst having breakfast etc. is a godsend.

[Sirtel]

Pocketbook HD3 weighs 155g without a cover. Kobo Sage weighs 245g without a cover. That's a considerable difference. I've used covers with small 6'' readers in the past, but when I moved on to 7'' and larger, I ditched covers, because they made my devices too heavy. With a 150-160g ereader using a cover wouldn't be a problem for me, but with a 200-250g device it is.

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Pocketbook HD3 weighs 155g without a cover. Kobo Sage weighs 245g without a cover. That's a considerable difference. I've used covers with small 6'' readers in the past, but when I moved on to 7'' and larger, I ditched covers, because they made my devices too heavy. With a 150-160g ereader using a cover wouldn't be a problem for me, but with a 200-250g device it is.

I used to rock a Kindle 3G keyboard with the official "lighted case". The kindle alone weighed 246g and the case added a further 226g to that (472g total). Never felt heavy to me at the time.

As regards hardback to paperback books I also prefer reading paperbacks. I think it's less about weight and more about comfort though; I find them more awkward and clumsy to hold than paperbacks.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

I used to rock a Kindle 3G keyboard with the official "lighted case". The kindle alone weighed 246g and the case added a further 226g to that (472g total). Never felt heavy to me at the time.

Well, people are different. I'm a woman with smallish hands who has never been physically strong (and I'm far too lazy for gym and workouts ), so 250g is the most I can comfortably hold in one hand for a while, even when switching hands regularly. Most men are stronger than me, even when they're not in a superb physical condition, and women who do strength training or physical work regularly are also stronger. So it's all subjective.

[John F]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

I don't see the issue with including some basic protection with the device, the end user still has the choice whether to use them or not, or upgrade to a personal style choice or greater/lesser level of protection if they so wish.

...

An interesting opinion, as people have already said they don't want/need a cover.

Maybe an issue is money? I've seen multiple/many posts on MR where the cost is a concern. Or just more unnecessary stuff gathering dust or filling land fills.

I wouldn't want a trend to start with consumer devices coming with "basic protection". I don't want, or want to be able to pick, protection for my laptop, phone, tablet, ereader, ...