Kobo Aura H2O - First Impressions

[Jellby]

Originally Posted by arspr

I mean, why can't the e-ink microspheres get "stuck", "broken", "fixed" or whatever? What makes them unbreakable?

Even if the microspheres were perfect, the thing that sends the signals for the spheres to "change color" can be broken too.

So I cannot think a single reason that forever guarantees a perfect e-ink display with no local troubles in it.

Not to mention that I have actually seen stuck pixels, both black and white, and it was a screen with no light, so light issues are out of question. To be honest, it was not strictly an e-ink screen, it was Sipix; but the principle is the same.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

After my disastrous attempt to get a H20 last week I decided to get a Glo. I wanted a device with a better screen than my Aura and I'd heard good things about the Glo. So I duly placed my order with Argos on Thursday and today my Glo arrived nice and early, (again very good service from Argos) and at first it seemed perfect, until I turned up the light and spotted the red glow coming from the top of the screen, yes I had a light leak! Can you believe it, my fourth Kobo in a week and they were all faulty!

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Congratulations!! I'm glad you finally got a good one!

Shari

[jackie_w]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all ... I'm very very happy

Your perseverance finally paid off! Ring the bells! Let joy be unconfined

Seriously, I'm glad I'd already bought mine before your troubles began because I think I'd have totally chickened out having read the sorry saga.

[Haesslich]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

After my disastrous attempt to get a H20 last week I decided to get a Glo. I wanted a device with a better screen than my Aura and I'd heard good things about the Glo. So I duly placed my order with Argos on Thursday and today my Glo arrived nice and early, (again very good service from Argos) and at first it seemed perfect, until I turned up the light and spotted the red glow coming from the top of the screen, yes I had a light leak! Can you believe it, my fourth Kobo in a week and they were all faulty!

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Looking like the in store attempt worked out for you after all. Congrats!

That's pretty much why I prefer to buy in store when I can - I usually find that I always get a good device in store, versus shipping it from somewhere.

I've handled 5 H2Os in person (including the one I purchased) and know a coworker who got one - be had to exchange the first due to some light guide issues, but the second was perfect

Hope you enjoy your new H2O at the beach sometime! Mine's already spent time in a rain shower while waiting for a bus. The only issue was having to wipe the screen clear.

[ewphoenix123]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Really glad it turned out ok for you.

My story is not as exiting, I just went in a store today grabbed a Kobo Aura H2O and it was great from the start.

The whites are sligthly whiter, the blacks are noticeably darker, and the light is a bit more natural compared to the Aura HD.
No light leaks, no pinpricks, no blackdots.

I thought the Aura HD had a perfect screen but, as other have said, the H2O is just a degree better.

I think the IR works a bit more reliable then on the HD aswell, but that might be imagination. At least it is easier to clean of crumbs then on the HD.

The body feels more stable and the finish of body and screen is again slightly "rubbery" and "roughed" as it was for the Glo, So it is more comfortable to hold compared to the slick plastic "prototype" feel the HD had.

Manual update to 3.8 worked fine for me, aswell as the Kobo patcher.

[Chocky]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

After my disastrous attempt to get a H20 last week I decided to get a Glo. I wanted a device with a better screen than my Aura and I'd heard good things about the Glo. So I duly placed my order with Argos on Thursday and today my Glo arrived nice and early, (again very good service from Argos) and at first it seemed perfect, until I turned up the light and spotted the red glow coming from the top of the screen, yes I had a light leak! Can you believe it, my fourth Kobo in a week and they were all faulty!

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Whoo Hoo, excellent, been following your trials with disbelief.

So glad you've managed to get a good one.

[Pwibble]

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to get magazines onto the Aura H2O? I'm unsure if buying Kobo's own magazines will work as I can't see their eReaders listed as supported devices.

Thanks!

[Chi Cygni]

*wipes forehead*

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

After my disastrous attempt to get a H20 last week I decided to get a Glo. I wanted a device with a better screen than my Aura and I'd heard good things about the Glo. So I duly placed my order with Argos on Thursday and today my Glo arrived nice and early, (again very good service from Argos) and at first it seemed perfect, until I turned up the light and spotted the red glow coming from the top of the screen, yes I had a light leak! Can you believe it, my fourth Kobo in a week and they were all faulty!

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Good to hear that you are finally enjoying reading and not returning!

Cue "All my trials, Lord"...

[jlynton]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I'm very very happy

I am so glad that you finally got what you wanted!

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Pwibble

Hi all,

Does anyone know how to get magazines onto the Aura H2O? I'm unsure if buying Kobo's own magazines will work as I can't see their eReaders listed as supported devices.

Thanks!

The only way of getting magazines is if they have an ePub (or PDF) format available. The Kobo bookstore only provides magazines for the IOS and Android platforms.

While PDF is an option, PDF support on the various eInk devices is not stellar.

[Pwibble]

Originally Posted by PeterT

The only way of getting magazines is if they have an ePub (or PDF) format available. The Kobo bookstore only provides magazines for the IOS and Android platforms.

While PDF is an option, PDF support on the various eInk devices is not stellar.

I see, thanks. That's unfortunate, I wish it were clearer on their site!

[desert dog]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

After my disastrous attempt to get a H20 last week I decided to get a Glo. I wanted a device with a better screen than my Aura and I'd heard good things about the Glo. So I duly placed my order with Argos on Thursday and today my Glo arrived nice and early, (again very good service from Argos) and at first it seemed perfect, until I turned up the light and spotted the red glow coming from the top of the screen, yes I had a light leak! Can you believe it, my fourth Kobo in a week and they were all faulty!

So on a whim I checked the Argos store in my nearest large mall, about 35 miles away, they had a H20 in stock, so I reserved it and went to pick it up.

It's perfect, absolutely gorgeous, no issues with it at all. I've connected it to Calibre and downloaded a few hundred books, add my fonts and the true screen reading hack and everything is running seamlessly. The home screen is at full brightness, the chapter page is at the lowest setting.

I'm very very happy

Josi, wow! Good for you

Kobo should send you a prize for your patience and persistance!

Enjoy!





Wow! Kobo should send you a prize! I dont know anyone else that would have the patience to wade through four different devices to find one that works for

[doxallday]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Good to hear that you are finally enjoying reading and not returning!

Cue "All my trials, Lord"...

My H2O is sublime so far; I'd bought even some protective display cover, however all I got was fury-inducing gloss which I scraped off pronto.

On another matter, apparently some people have received the Kobo Desktop update, I'm still sitting on 3.10.0. How about the rest?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by doxallday

My H2O is sublime so far; I'd bought even some protective display cover, however all I got was fury-inducing gloss which I scraped off pronto.

On another matter, apparently some people have received the Kobo Desktop update, I'm still sitting on 3.10.0. How about the rest?

My wife's desktop and my laptop (Win 7 x64) updated to 3.11.0, however the Windows 8.1 and Mac OS X virtual machines on the laptop have not. Just checked the Windows Tech Preview (yet another virtual machine) and it wanted to update.