My Voyage v Kobo H2O experience

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by rogerinnyc

So, in part spurred by this thread and in part by my partial dissatisfaction with my new KV (coming from a PW2), I went and ordered a Kobo H2O for comparison's sake. Bottom line? I prefer the Kindle Voyage -- and may even end up sticking with the PW2.

Great review. The only things that I don't agree with are your points about sideloading. If you convert to KEPUB like I did all of the control features work well. Also the updating after sideloading is very fast for me. The slowest that it took was after I sideloaded a couple of hundred books and then it took two - three minutes or so. I also find the screen, though not as sensitive as the KV, it works well.

Good points otherwise. Enjoy your KV.

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

That might be ok if every book you read is purchased. If you did not buy the books, then the "..." part (removing of DRM) is questionable. I simply refuse to get tempted into trying other Amazon incompatible (e.g. H2O) readers as most of our reads are not purchased any more. Most reading has happened through Kindle Unlimited ever since we signed up for the trial - and that is not something I want to get involved in to remove DRM on loaned books. Not so much about being honest and delete the books after, but that Amazon won't know how much I did read of the book. If they don't know, they won't be able to pay the author either. In my book that is stealing twice - first for removing DRM from loaned books, and then even denying payment for the book. What good would a ereader do me if I could only use it it for the very rare occasion of a purchased book?

I would never suggest switching to the H2O if you are using Kindle Unlimited since I would never remove DRM from a borrowed book. I also would not share books that I buy since I want the authors to get paid (unless books is not available in the US at all). I just want to be able to use and keep books that I buy. As a buyer rather than a borrower H2O has been a real pleasure for me.

[Readirect]

What swayed me to the Voyage were the on-going software issues that have been reported for the H2o and other Kobo devices, in particular the difficulty in selecting text demonstrated in one review (think it was here http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/cat...ebook-readers/ )

Trying to select text on the H2o was an exercise in frustration where the reviewer had to select a spot *above* the text (after several tries) for it to work. Having had that problem with my Nook(s), I didn't want to deal with that again.

Plus, I find it *really* irritating that Kobo can't get its distribution act together in the US. I figure if they don't want to sell it here, I don't want to buy it. The Voyage is available at Best Buy.

Meanwhile, I'm perfectly happy with my Voyage although collections continue to drive me crazy. I'm anxiously awaiting the KV being jailbroken so I can finally get a better alternative reader put on it.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by Readirect

What swayed me to the Voyage were the on-going software issues that have been reported for the H2o and other Kobo devices, in particular the difficulty in selecting text demonstrated in one review (think it was here http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/cat...ebook-readers/ )

Trying to select text on the H2o was an exercise in frustration where the reviewer had to select a spot *above* the text (after several tries) for it to work. Having had that problem with my Nook(s), I didn't want to deal with that again.

Plus, I find it *really* irritating that Kobo can't get its distribution act together in the US. I figure if they don't want to sell it here, I don't want to buy it. The Voyage is available at Best Buy.

Meanwhile, I'm perfectly happy with my Voyage although collections continue to drive me crazy. I'm anxiously awaiting the KV being jailbroken so I can finally get a better alternative reader put on it.

Thanks for the link. Something interesting for me, side-by-side I prefer the screen of the H2O. I wasn't expecting that. Hmmm...

[Lyn2012]

Originally Posted by rogerinnyc

1. The Kobo has great font type, font weight, font sizing, line spacing and margin options. Really good stuff. Downside? If you're sticking with the Amazon ecosystem and sideloading epubs, the line spacing and margin options don't work. You have to do a lot of extra effort in Calibre to make sure that the conversion for each book comes out exactly as you want.

This isn't actually true. I sideload all my books (a few hundred), mainly converted via Calibre from AZW3 to epub, and the line spacing and margin options have always worked for me. I'm guessing it must be certain books you are using.

[cct1]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

Thanks for the link. Something interesting for me, side-by-side I prefer the screen of the H2O. I wasn't expecting that. Hmmm...

Side by side, I prefer the H20's screen so much more than the Voyage, it's not even close. And I wanted the Voyage to be my go to reader, because of the conveinence factory. Even if the Voyage had an evenly lit screen without the color changes (mine has both, unfortunately), I'd still prefer the H20's color. With the light way down on both, the H20 looks more natural. My wife doesn't get into the ebook thing, she prefers bound books, but the H20 has her rethinking that. She doesn't like the Voyage.

[pghaworth]

Originally Posted by cct1

Side by side, I prefer the H20's screen so much more than the Voyage, it's not even close. And I wanted the Voyage to be my go to reader, because of the conveinence factory. Even if the Voyage had an evenly lit screen without the color changes (mine has both, unfortunately), I'd still prefer the H20's color. With the light way down on both, the H20 looks more natural. My wife doesn't get into the ebook thing, she prefers bound books, but the H20 has her rethinking that. She doesn't like the Voyage.

The only thing I didn't like was when he first extinguished the natural light, i.e. closed the curtains, blinds, whatever, and turned off the indoor lighting, the H2O looked extremely yellow at first. That worried me. As he went through the different settings of the lighting, etc. of both models, though, it quickly became obvious to me that I preferred the H2O over the KV in all areas. I had always wanted to see the screen and the fonts of the H2O in action and I was duly impressed. Add to that the SD card so that I can carry all my books with me - I'm a book Ho - and I definitely want one. Now, please.

I love my PW2s, and could return one, but won't and I see no reason not to have the best of both worlds. Kindle for KU if I decide to use it and H2O for the freaking amazing screen, general superior options in the UI, IMO, and the SD.

If my son didn't use his "ithings" to read I'd give him one, but he's never been interested in Kindles and only interested in ebooks in the last two years. Getting him to pare down his considerable collection of DTBs was a major effort on my part. He eventually realized the sanity of it when moving to another state. He's still not a Kindle guy, though.

[haydnfan]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I seem to be a tiny minority.
Responsive, customer friendly and fast - but reactive. Kobo, in my special case, has been pro-active.

I appreciate the detailed review, but your conclusion that Kobo CS is pro-active is an incorrect summary of your experience. The ones from Kobo that helped you on this forum did so in reaction to your post, and thus did NOT do so pro-actively.

Working pro-actively would mean that they saw an issue and addressed it before you would even noticed to contact them. This probably happens frequently with both Amazon and Kobo, but we simply don't notice it.

Furthermore, your special case is not a good example to assess CS. Ebook content is the responsibility of the publisher and not the distributor.

[robko]

Originally Posted by pghaworth

... the H2O looked extremely yellow at first.

When I first turned on my H2O to set it up I was immediately struck by how yellow it was. I wasn't excited about it. Later that evening when I started reading on it, the colour rapidly grew on me and now I find my Aura HD very harsh and blue and the H2O is great.

[Barty]

Thank OP for the review. If I could get the h2o locally I would definitely give it a try. But as it is I don't want to deal with possible return hassles, knowing how sensitive I am about the light.

[MikeyLNG]

Originally Posted by David58117

I have multiple kindles I read on, and amazons support and ebook store is one of the reasons I'm staying with them now.

I have some light gradient issues, but all I had to do was call Amazon and report it, then request they send me a replacement in a few months once the issue is corrected.

How many other companies would do that?

The Kindle Voyage is my first e-reader, so I don't know the whole ins-and-outs of the issues with the Paperwhite screens, but I think I'm right in thinking that they did have issues. Did they even manage to fix it after a few production runs?

I'm thinking if I should do the same as David and acknowledge to Amazon that my Voyage also has a screen issue. At least if I do it now rather than waiting a few months for another of their batches, there is less chance of them saying "well this problem could have developed through your own use over the past X months" and refuse to exchange it.

[cct1]

They'll give you one month to exchange it, from the time of purchase, for the screen issue. Beyond that, I doubt they'll take it back, from talking with CS. I'm ok with that, it's fair.

Someone else on here suggested sending it back, and having a tag sent to Amazon to send them one or notify them when the screen issues have been resolved, apparently people did that with the PW, that's not a bad idea.

I'm probably keeping mine, although I like the H20 overall better and use it most of the time, the Voyage size factor fits a niche for me very well, and I read with the light as low as I can put it for the conditions, which makes the screen issue a minor issue, I can live with it under those conditions. I don't read in the dark, and if that was what I used the Voyage for, it would have to go back.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by cct1

I like the H20 overall better and use it most of the time, the Voyage size factor fits a niche for me very well, and I read with the light as low as I can put it for the conditions, which makes the screen issue a minor issue, I can live with it under those conditions. I don't read in the dark, and if that was what I used the Voyage for, it would have to go back.

I'm keeping the H20 for home, bath, beach and pool (i.e holidays) and the Voyage for commuting as its smaller which is better for my handbag. With the PW2 I found the text fuzzy going from the 212ppi of the PW2 to the H20, whereas i don't have any issues with the H20 going to the 300ppi Voyage.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by cct1

Side by side, I prefer the H20's screen so much more than the Voyage, it's not even close. And I wanted the Voyage to be my go to reader, because of the conveinence factory. Even if the Voyage had an evenly lit screen without the color changes (mine has both, unfortunately), I'd still prefer the H20's color. With the light way down on both, the H20 looks more natural. My wife doesn't get into the ebook thing, she prefers bound books, but the H20 has her rethinking that. She doesn't like the Voyage.

Got an H2O yesterday and although I first said it's a keeper, today after having used it and compared it to my Voyage I am not so sure.
Both displays are good, the H2O is more yellow, the Voyage is creamier, and both have a great resolution but this "wow" effect of the words springing at me from the Voyage is not there at all with the H2O. I definitely see a difference in the resolution between both and the Voyage wins.

So I am letting myself a bit more time to decide but am not sure about keeping the H2O.

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Got an H2O yesterday and although I first said it's a keeper, today after having used it and compared it to my Voyage I am not so sure.
Both displays are good, the H2O is more yellow, the Voyage is creamier, and both have a great resolution but this "wow" effect of the words springing at me from the Voyage is not there at all with the H2O. I definitely see a difference in the resolution between both and the Voyage wins.

So I am letting myself a bit more time to decide but am not sure about keeping the H2O.

Funny how personal the way we experience things is. For me the H2O is very natural looking and "creamy" while the voyage is very cold and fluorescent. Nevertheless if you get a good screen the Voyage is a beautiful and fast device. If I did not have the H2O alternative I would be relatively happy with a voyage. Before making a final decision be sure to try Pocket on the H2O before making a final decision. It is a great feature.