Kobo Aura H2O - First Impressions

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by sparklemotion

Kobo needs to give us some pretty colored cases. I've been looking on ebay hoping some show up, but so far nothing.



No, I actually got it at a Best Buy in Canada. I hope yours shows up soon!

Maybe Kobo should follow Nintendo's lead and allow removable back and or front plates. Obviously this would be a little more difficult with a water resistant reader but the level of personalization would he really cool, especially if third party companies got involved.

[filmo]

Kobo Mini 5" Reader now discontinued had easy interchangeable backs of different colors. It didn't sell enough to be profitable. Don't think selling new backs was a hit ether. Nice reader that I most always have with me often in shirt pocket without a cover of any kind. Many owners of Kobo readers cover back with book type cover or decals.

[Slancitam]

Received my first e-reader yesterday. Decided for Kobo Aura H20 (among other sources, this forum has been most informative, thank you for that).
I must say I was a little worried reading about faulty screens from supposedly early batches as I live in Slovenia and could not physically walk in a store and buy/return until finding a satisfying unit. I am a bit sensitive and enjoy precision and clarity.
Was super relieved when I inspected my kobo. Must be luck or a fresh batch(could be fresh as other european stores had it way before it was “in stock” in france earlier this week(where I ordered from).
Saw e-ink for the first time. Amazing stuff. Solves the problems I have when I try to read of LCD screens. Text is dark enough to perceive it as black. The “paper” has a gray-brown hue that reminds me of old brown paper books. The bonus light is not as innocent to the eyes as I hoped(wishful thinking). There are 5 blueish ghosts coming from thee LEDs at the bottom, but are tiny and friendly enough to not disturb me while reading. Otherwise relatively homogeneous brightness and colour.
Brightness intensity is precise enough, goes low enough and is very bright if need be. The colour hue is well balanced between warm and cold to look print paper white. Did I mention how bright it is? Also no pinholes.
IR “touch” screen is useful enough, especially when I figured out how it was set/how to swipe, tap to achieve response "every" time. Unless kobo is loading. Then you just have to wait(still getting used to it). In my language “ko bo” literally means “when it-will-be” or “when it's done” and “kobo bo ko bo” means “kobo will be done when it's done” has a nice ironic and phonetic ring to it.
It is slow.
Well, slow compared to many Gigs of CPU an RAM we fill our other devices with. But it's still super annoying when loading a 50MB pdf or freezing for a bit now and then.
The grippy rubbery layer on the back feels nice when holding, but I fear it will rub off eventually.
No problems with the battery.
The so called beta feature sketch pad does recognize two fingers simultaneously, so I presume pinch zooming is possible.

Next comes making a cover. Have thought a bit about it and I don't want to worry about cracking anything. Commercial covers are not hard shelled enough for worry free hiking imho. So I decided to make a stainless steel cover to put over the front. And another optional one, that would create a hard shell from both sides. Throw that baby in the backpack and worry not. Will report wth pics.

Final note,
very pleased with e-ink and very happy I found kobo and this forum.
Thank you again

[filmo]

Your stainless steel cover for front is good idea. I have 23 gage steel roofing cut to fit my Kobo touch reader. I taped sharpe edges with plastic electical tape. Originaly it fit inside silicone rubber sleeve to protect front screen from breaking. Not recomended but I carried it in loose fit frount jeans pocket at ammusment park so I could read wile in line and rode rides including roller coasters. It is now slipped into inside cover pocket of leather book style cover. You need to protect screen from pressure and prevent twisting Kobo reader while in back pack or suitcase. Wood, or steel box is excelent or even good plastic box could work. Most use ready made covers with good results with reasonable care to prevent damage.

I think Pinch zoom is possable for all Kobo IR touch readers but only kobo eink reader that with it is Kobo 6 inch screen Kobo Aura with capasitive touch screen. These links should lead you to posts about installing pinch zoom.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=247
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=217160

[Slancitam]

Haven't had time to go through all that stuff yet, but plan to. Have bookmarked it for later. Thanks.

Wood was my first choice. Soft and warm to the touch, light weight and workable with simple tools. But it would either be to thin to endure "unusually" high forces (falling or stepping on backpack) or it would have to be thick and bulky.
But now I want to make one! I got one fairly easy and simple idea for wood cover. It will probably take a couple of tries, but I plan to take a plate of wood, steam it, bend it so it has two flaps along the sides to clip on the front and then engrave and polish to taste. A lighter form of protection for those casual days, because metal is heavy and cold.
For extreme durability I'm thinking around 1.51mm thick stainless steel plate (0.0595inches/16gauge). But just one cover would weigh more than kobo. A complete shell made from two plates (around 190mmx150mmx1.5mm/7.5''x5.9''x0.06'') would burden it by 670g/23.6oz and together with kobo nestled inside it would weigh a hefty kilo (900g/32oz)!
It would also be EMP protected (i think...)

[murg]

Try an eReader case from Pelican.

http://www.pelican.com/case_group_se...aseGroup=eBook

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by murg

Try an eReader case from Pelican.

http://www.pelican.com/case_group_se...aseGroup=eBook

That would be really annoying to use while reading.

[Slancitam]

@murg
Also very helpful.
Checked the link. They make them out of plastic (abs plastic) which I dislike and it doesn't make it look pretty, but is lightweight, very durable looking(and cozy) and they offer lifetime guaranty. Wow! Must cost a lot. Then I found one on amazone for $26(used). Lifetime guaranty and whatnot. Might get it despite its bulky plasticky looks.
Thanks.

@JSWolf
I agree. And unsightly. But it would serve more as a case than a cover.

[murg]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That would be really annoying to use while reading.

You use it to carry the eReader while you're not reading it. You read naked, although the case would probably fit an eReader with a cover.

[murg]

Originally Posted by Slancitam

@murg
Also very helpful.
Checked the link. They make them out of plastic (abs plastic) which I dislike and it doesn't make it look pretty, but is lightweight, very durable looking(and cozy) and they offer lifetime guaranty. Wow! Must cost a lot. Then I found one on amazone for $26(used). Lifetime guaranty and whatnot. Might get it despite its bulky plasticky looks.
Thanks.

@JSWolf
I agree. And unsightly. But it would serve more as a case than a cover.

Basically, I don't have to worry about my eReader when I'm carrying it. I've even dropped it (in the case), and it handled it perfectly.

Since the case is bigger than my Kobo Glo (it's a 10 inch case), I use high density foam to build an inner carrier in the case, so that the Glo fits snuggly.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by murg

You use it to carry the eReader while you're not reading it. You read naked, although the case would probably fit an eReader with a cover.

I mostly read dressed.

[french25]

Hi, I've just received mine yesterday.
The screen seems even , except for some shadows at the bottom (and you can see the led if you look at the right angle). Is it the case for all the models or should I return mine ?

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by french25

Hi, I've just received mine yesterday.
The screen seems even , except for some shadows at the bottom (and you can see the led if you look at the right angle). Is it the case for all the models or should I return mine ?

That sounds perfectly normal. Enjoy your H20.

[french25]

Thanks Josie, I'm sure I will !

[zan]

Got myself a H2O after returning a Voyage which quite frankly had a shocking screen.
The H2O screen is nearly perfect to my eyes and i really like the bigger screen and the font customisation is brilliant.
I was a bit worried as i had read in reviews saying it is slower to respond to touches but i find it quite acceptable and on the whole i don't regret buying it. I must admit the kobo store is pants but i've still got my PW1 and calibre can convert my kindle books
Now just to get a cover of some sort.