WARNING: KOBO FAIL, didn't work on vacation

[cycles]

I purchased a number of Kobo books to take on vacation. Unfortunately I arrived at my destination (Mexico) and was unable to open any of my newly purchased books. The e-reader generated a license error and indicated that I could correct with the "Update Library" function. I was unable to do that because I was in an area without Internet access. Consequently, my Kobo e-reader became a brick for the duration of my vacation.

My Kobo has had numerous software related problems since I purchased in early 2010. My wife's Kindle has been flawless.

My advice to those who use the Kobo e-reader is to open every book that you have purchased after every recharge or update. It is the only way to be sure that it will work when you need it.

ETA: The specific message is "The content you are trying to view is locked. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR LIBRARY TO ACCESS YOUR BOOKS. PRESS THE "SHOP" BUTTON AND SELECT - "UPDATE LIBRARY".

[baronrus]

have you licenced your kobo with adobe digital editions?

[jayupark]

I really wish Kobo was not associated with adobe. It feels like everything adobe touches just ends up being less reliable, more complex and a resource hog.

[masona8]

Well I won't ask to borrow your kobo! Mine has been going very well for the past year

[cycles]

My Kobo hardware has been fine for the last year too. It is the software glitches and the feature deficient Kobo Desktop Application that have led to my disappointment.

I really wanted KOBO to do well but, when it came time to buy an e-reader for my wife, we went with the Wi-Fi Kindle 3 instead.

[SensualPoet]

My Original Kobo (purchased May 1 2010) and Kindle 3 travel very nicely to Mexico (and back). There were some initial challenges with the Kobo software that wasn't sorted out till about the first week of July. I didn't update to 1.8 until recently; vers 1.4 certainly worked well enough in Dec as well. Travelling outside of Canada would have no effect on your Kobo.

Another point: anything you purchase through Kobo and transfer directly through the Kobo Desktop is in "kepub" format and doesn't rely on Adobe -- at least, that's my understanding. Your error message "The content you are trying to view is locked" I understood was related to Adobe DRM ePub files on a device that isn't authorized with your Adobe account. That would block all public library content and books you purchase from Kobo which you have separately downloaded the ePub version and loaded that ontoyour Kobo (instead of or in replace of the native Kobo file, kepub).

I'd welcome the gurus here clarifying that for me.

[cybmole]

the moral is test beofre going on holiday.

taking a battery powered hardware device to a different physical part of the globe should have NO effect on how it works!

[digiSara]

I have had the Content Locked message before - and on Kobo Kepubs - but it's occured after connecting it to my computer, and I think was a symptom of other issues that went wrong in the sync (I ended up having to do a factory reset - this has happened twice). I don't know why it would suddenly lock while you are reading it though.

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by cycles

I was unable to do that because I was in an area without Internet access. Consequently, my Kobo e-reader became a brick for the duration of my vacation.

Ahh yes, the problem of availability and reliability and an internet connection. Bringing sophisticated technology and high class citizens of the world to their knees going on a decade or two now.

It sucks, but the internet is not omnipresent.