Protest now!

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

I don't mean switch readers, I mean that if and when my kobo dies, I might switch. I still love my kobo, but goto page would be nice.

That would be nice for all our readers. Version 1 thru to 3 (kt)

Btw hows your rebelion going?

jack

[digiSara]

Originally Posted by Lordvic

The original Kobo came out a while ago. The Wifi itself has been other at least a year. The technologies have advanced dramatically in the short time. Not just screen technology but processors, memory, and who knwos what else. You're not a developer for Kobo. It could very well be for the Kobo touch to handle all it does in the new firmware it's doing more stuff at a time than the processor on the old Kobo can handle.

Not quite (dates according to Wikipedia):
- Original Kobo announced March 2010, available May 2010
- Kobo Wifi launched Oct 2010
- Kobo Touch announced May 2011, available June 2011

So the Original is a little then a year older then the Touch, and only 6 months older then the WiFi. In contrast, Apple just stopped supplying updates to my iPod Touch 2G (which dates back to 2008) because the hardware no longer supports the new software features.

I can understand that it is difficult to spread the development resource across the 3 products (plus the mobile platforms), particularly when the Touch has a very different interface. But it would be nice to think that your product has a slightly longer shelf life then 6 months.

[Stinger]

Originally Posted by G0AT

Unfortunately, in my opinion, when you buy a product, you have to expect it to be forever as it is at that moment in time. Firmware updates and improvements can not be expected, but are very nice when a company takes the time to implement them. Kobo has been very good at improving their products post-release, but you are highlighting the one problem with that approach: expectation. Once they started doing these updates, everyone expects them to fix every minor gripe they have with every product to be released, and that is simply not realistic.

That being said, I would not be surprised to see an update to the KO in the future.

The difference in this case is that us early adopters of the KO were told by Kobo, on these forums and via other means, that updates/features were forthcoming. When that happens, you can't blame people for having expectations, and then being disappointed when nothing materializes.

I can understand the rationales behind focusing on the newer hardware, especially given Amazon and other completion turning up the heat by slashing prices; business is business. However, the KO is what launched Kobo into the mainstream ebook market, and us early adopters are big factor behind that success.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely happy with my KO, and it's already been worth the investment in my opinion. The fact remains that it didn't do what was advertised out of the box. Many of us were passionate Kobo advocates, giving them the benefit of the doubt, waiting patiently for the firmware updates. I think that should have earned us some love from the Kobo team, certainly more than being left in the dust so quickly.

[taming]

I remember being told that the readers would be supported--which, IMO, is different than saying they would be updated. Supported means that when you contact Kobo and ask for help, it is forthcoming. If it is under warranty, the obligation will be met. I don't remember ever being told that Kobo would continue to add features.

[EricDP]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

Amazon still had updates for the Kindle 1

Like the update that allows you to read library books? Or books from any other source? Once you buy a kindle you are a dedicated Amazon customer, with no other options. And if, one day, Amazon makes a blunder and disappears (and this has happened to technology companies a lot bigger than Amazon) then you'll never be able to read any of your books ever again. Welcome to the land or proprietary.

[The Terminator]

Never mind.