Do not buy kobo ebook readers - at least as of Q4 2015

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Xen

So what, now we're supposed to be beta-testing for Kobo out of the goodness of our hearts? And PAYING for the privilege? SERIOUSLY?

This is the same for most software nowadays. I bought software this week that doesn't work. I've emailed them and they have sent me a fix, still doesn't work, maybe next weeks fix will work. It's annoying but a fact of all technology now. That's why we get Windows updates almost daily, ios updates, Android updates. Nothing works perfectly all the time. It happened to me with an email app on my Fire too.

I test computer systems for a living, there is too much to test and too many variables to catch all the bugs, all testing is about risk.

[PeterT]

Darned right I didn't identify him. With your entire attitude here I have zero interest in providing help. Many other people I have helped here, because they did not come over with such an attitude as you show,

[PeterT]

And I hate to say but in less than 5 seconds I was able to get a phone number to contact them from their support web site...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Xen

That's ignoring the fact that its impossible to contact anyone at Kobo, at least if you're in the USA and you don't have a phone.

If you are in the US, what the heck are you doing with internet, a Reader, and no phone? But if you don't have a phone and you do have internet, you can buy a subscription with Skype and use that to make calls. So your in the US and don't have a phone doesn't wash. Besides, if you are too poor to afford a phone, then you are too poor for internet and a Kobo Reader.

Can you name one Reader that has ever had a perfect firmware?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Xen

So what, now we're supposed to be beta-testing for Kobo out of the goodness of our hearts? And PAYING for the privilege? SERIOUSLY?

No, I am simply acknowledging the fact that NO software product has zero bugs. The developers know about some of them and when preparing a new version make a decision about what will be fixed and what won't be fixed now. And they can't know about all bugs. They hope people who see bugs report them and in enough detail to be able to reproduce the bug and then fix them. All this is why the different OS's have ways to automatically report problems. But, the advantage of a manual report is that it shows someone cares about the bug. For most development teams, this would push the bug up in priority.

That's ignoring the fact that its impossible to contact anyone at Kobo, at least if you're in the USA and you don't have a phone. Just where are we supposed to report bugs to Kobo?

Come on. That's the same kind of slavish fan-boy ardor Kindle users typically display should anyone have the colossal temerity to find fault with the admittedly cheap-and-ubiquitous Kindles. You can't fix a flawed device when people refuse to admit the flaws exist.

I'll admit to being a fan-boy. Slavish? I don't think so, but maybe that is in the eye of the beholder. But, I know the Kobo devices and firmware have flaws. I have discussed them here plenty of times. And I can't fixed a flawed device. But, I can make sure Kobo knows about the problems. What I can also do is help others understand the problems and work around them.

[booklover6]

Kobo fangurl here. Nothing in life is perfect. Kobo ereaders are pretty darn close!

[Ken Maltby]

Kobo's relatively open design approach results in great devices, for those of us who can't leave good enough alone. This is from someone who makes almost no use of the stock Kobo software. The built-in bootloading schema is almost an ultimate convenience, for tinkerers. If you don't like the stock Kobo software, try another, but if you can only settle for "perfect", then I guess your barren friendless, single life, will continue without an eReader.

Luck;
Ken

[peterwardgd]

jesus, i don't often fall for clickbait links but i was well and truly suckered this time. What a title.

[jim.1405]

I've had my H2O for a little over a year now and absolutely love it. Is it perfect? No, but I have a Paperwhite 2 sitting right next to it and I have not picked it up (except to charge the battery from time to time) since I received the H2O.

I believe I'm a bit unusual in the sense I use the my readers primarily to read on and very rarely, if ever, use the highlighting or other firmware features that I've seen complaints on. And as far a being a reader only, I find it excellent. The screen is head and shoulders above any of my previous 3 Kindles. And for all of its other warts, being slow etc, the excellent screen easily trumps them all for my use.

So, despite the OP barking orders for me not buy Kobo readers I would buy another H2O immediately if something were to happen to mine.

[filmo]

Connoisseur Kindle, Put your Kobo in original box and mail it back to Kobo before warranty expires asking for refund. You will feel better then and the experience is rewarding you with many reasons to tell others not to buy Kobo Readers.

[koboy]

people of mobileread, who maybe thinking of buying a kobo e-reader, go ahead and do so, because it's always best to judge for yourself.




best wishes koboy

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by filmo

Connoisseur Kindle, Put your Kobo in original box and mail it back to Kobo before warranty expires asking for refund. You will feel better then and the experience is rewarding you with many reasons to tell others not to buy Kobo Readers.

I very much doubt they'd give him a refund. The device isn't faulty; he just doesn't like the firmware.

[robko]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I very much doubt they'd give him a refund. The device isn't faulty; he just doesn't like the firmware.

I doubt they'd refund, but from the further posts (after the original one) of his experience it does sound like there is more going on with at least some of his devices than firmware that he doesn't like. Some of the behaviour sounds abnormal for a properly functioning device.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Xen

So what, now we're supposed to be beta-testing for Kobo out of the goodness of our hearts? And PAYING for the privilege? SERIOUSLY?

That's ignoring the fact that its impossible to contact anyone at Kobo, at least if you're in the USA and you don't have a phone. Just where are we supposed to report bugs to Kobo?

Come on. That's the same kind of slavish fan-boy ardor Kindle users typically display should anyone have the colossal temerity to find fault with the admittedly cheap-and-ubiquitous Kindles. You can't fix a flawed device when people refuse to admit the flaws exist.

Kindle fanboy here.

I don't think it is unreasonable to report firmware bugs. Nothing is perfect.
Kobo isn't responsible for dealing with people who don't have a phone... it's natural to expect people have a phone...

And while it is true that Kobos do have a bit of a reputation as being buggier than Kindles, it is rather difficult to get in touch with Kindle's lab126. Kobo employees actually sometimes visit the forums here and help people.

You are guaranteed to have more assurance that your bug is being investigated by Kobo than by Amazon.
But you are less likely to see a Kindle bug than a Kobo bug.
(Not totally unlikely. Kindle Cloud Collections was rather horrible at first.)


But hey, if you really don't like your Kobo, there is an easy solution. Sell it (we have a Flea Market here where you can offer your ereader, or you can use ebay) and buy a Kindle.

[doubleshuffle]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

But hey, if you really don't like your Kobo, there is an easy solution. Sell it (we have a Flea Market here where you can offer your ereader, or you can use ebay) and buy a Kindle.

Going for alternative devices is certainly a good idea for people who don't like their four Kobos anymore, but I'd suggest getting four Ultimate E-Readers. Satisfaction guaranteed.*












_________
* Did I say satisfaction for the customer? No, because I'm referring to mine: boy, am I looking forward to all the threads that are going to be started here by the Tweedles' customers. This thread will look like the epitome of reason and civility in comparison...