It's so easy for me to lose perspective...

taming · 06-12-2013, 12:55 PM

Someone recently wrote to me that he sometimes feels like Kobo takes one step forward and 10 steps back. I don't know about you, but I often get caught up in minutia--seeing lots of trees, but no forest at all.

I decided to figure out what I would have been reading on a year ago. It turns out it would have been a Kobo Touch running software 1.9.17 (fixed). It's been quite a year and despite its shortcomings (and I bet that most of us have definite views on what they might be), the Kobo i use today and the FW that runs is is a whole lot better than what I had to read on a year ago.

Just saying...

aceflor · 06-12-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

Someone recently wrote to me that he sometimes feels like Kobo takes one step forward and 10 steps back. I don't know about you, but I often get caught up in minutia--seeing lots of trees, but no forest at all.

I decided to figure out what I would have been reading on a year ago. It turns out it would have been a Kobo Touch running software 1.9.7. It's been quite a year and despite its shortcomings (and I bet that most of us have definite views on what they might be), the Kobo i use today and the FW that runs is is a whole lot better than what I had to read on a year ago.

Just saying...

I never have this impression reading your posts, on the contrary I often wonder first why you are so subjective when it comes to kobo, and second how often you seem to know about what their short and long term plan is, and sometime on very strategic points.

Just saying too.

mr_nihilism · 06-12-2013, 02:34 PM

I heart Kobo

Just saying as well

John F · 06-12-2013, 02:43 PM

Looking back, I'm not sure. I think it is a wash. I like the glo (I really like the light), but as far as actual reading, I think I prefer older firmware.

scoobertron · 06-12-2013, 03:29 PM

Somewhat. 1.9.17 didn't have the long paragraph bug, or the top margin issue which are personal bugbears of mine. However, it did resize the book covers on the homescreen which looked awkward, and the interface looked a bit less polished in general.

(I realise now you said 1.9.7, which was before my time)

I don't think that kobo takes 10 steps back, but there often seems to be something that goes wrong on each release, usually relating to a key feature (like reading epubs). I am still deciding which firmware to run based on which has the least annoying bugs, and that is not a great state of affairs.

taming · 06-12-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobertron

(I realise now you said 1.9.7, which was before my time)

It was 1.9.17--my mistake. I have edited the intial post.

DNSB · 06-12-2013, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobertron

Somewhat. 1.9.17 didn't have the long paragraph bug, or the top margin issue which are personal bugbears of mine. However, it did resize the book covers on the homescreen which looked awkward, and the interface looked a bit less polished in general.

(I realise now you said 1.9.7, which was before my time)

I don't think that kobo takes 10 steps back, but there often seems to be something that goes wrong on each release, usually relating to a key feature (like reading epubs). I am still deciding which firmware to run based on which has the least annoying bugs, and that is not a great state of affairs.

1.9.17 did have the long paragraph bug. That's been there going back to a Kobo WiFi when I first remember noticing it. I don't know if it also happened with the original Kobo but then didn't have that many books with run-on paragraphs to notice it with.

Regards,
David

BookBunny · 06-12-2013, 05:16 PM

I'm still on 2.3.1 and glad I can evade the updates. They seem to only introduce features I don't want/need and bugs. Unless they implement a file browser (lol), I don't see myself ever updating this thing.

taming · 06-12-2013, 05:55 PM

Ahhhh, grasshopper, but I remember double taps that drove me bananas, sd cards that never did work on some devices, syncs that never sunk, WiFi problems out the wazoo, top margins that were so tight that people could not read the top line and you could just forget about choosng a word for dictionary look-up. And slooooooooooow, OMG.

I am not saying all of these things were in 1.9.17, and I am not minimizing today's crop of bugs, but for those of us who started with the Kobo-0, back in the spring of 2010, the changes have been amazing.

This Kobo journey is just different from the buy a device and see it unchanged pretty much forever, then wait for a new device for new functionality kind of thing. It's not for everyone, for sure, but I kinda sorta like it (despite it driving me nuts from time to time).

Uschiekid · 06-12-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taming

This Kobo journey is just different from the buy a device and see it unchanged pretty much forever, then wait for a new device for new functionality kind of thing. It's not for everyone, for sure, but I kinda sorta like it (despite it driving me nuts from time to time).

I agree. There are so many things where nothing changes, despite developments in the field, that you always feel like their (company A's) only goal is for you to upgrade a device. It's nice (IMO) that despite having bought my device 8 or 9 months ago and a brand new device being out, I don't feel like they want everyone to drop their old device and run out and buy the new one....of course they probably do, but it's not so in your face. I feel like I have a new "device" every 3 or 4 weeks

TechniSol · 06-13-2013, 12:58 AM

Taming,

Okay, I've donned my Impervium(tm) armor and firmly welded on both codpiece and helmet... Tricky bit welding that codpiece.

So, basically you're saying you'd rather have a really screwy device so you can "fix it" than have a properly working device to begin with... This is a woman-thing, and applies to more than your taste in electronics doesn't it ladies?

Ducking and running, well trying to walk fast in this damned armor... Hey, stop throwing stuff. It doesn't hurt with the armor, but the echoes are driving me nuts!

aceflor · 06-13-2013, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechniSol

Taming,

Okay, I've donned my Impervium(tm) armor and firmly welded on both codpiece and helmet... Tricky bit welding that codpiece.

So, basically you're saying you'd rather have a really screwy device so you can "fix it" than have a properly working device to begin with... This is a woman-thing, and applies to more than your taste in electronics doesn't it ladies?

Ducking and running, well trying to walk fast in this damned armor... Hey, stop throwing stuff. It doesn't hurt with the armor, but the echoes are driving me nuts!

First, let me reassure you : (tongue in cheek) obviously, with men, we indeed would rather have a "screwy device" than a properly working one. if not, most of you would still be single right now.

Second: in electronics, that rule does not apply, at least to most of us ladies. I want a properly working device, which is the reason why I am so perplexed with most of Taming's posts, who just seems to adore kobo whatever they do

TechniSol · 06-13-2013, 01:29 AM

Kidding aside, I think she's just been through the evolution of the product line as she's been with Kobo longer than many of us. If so, I can see how her perspective might differ as she's seen considerable positive change.

speakingtohe · 06-13-2013, 02:10 AM

I think if the mini or Aura was my first real ereader, I would think them more than good enough.

I am sure that if the day comes when Kobo puts their top people (person?) on fixing the reading software, instead of the book selling/feature/gimmick software, things will improve dramatically.

Of course by then we will all have holo-decks and be living the books instead of reading them.

Helen

TechniSol · 06-13-2013, 04:16 AM

+1 GooglePlex for the Holodeck.

Look, we gripe, but our intention is only to have a better product -mostly one with software as good as the hardware.

Imagine if Kobo coded for the Enterprise...

Picard: "Computer, list teas."
90 seconds later the computer responds with a list of the first 5 teas.
Picard: "Computer, Earl Grey."
The replicator does it's thing... Picard reaches in and removes a Kobo Pad displaying "Riders of the Purple Sage" by Zane Grey...
Picard shakes his head, tucks the pad under his arm for later and enters the bridge.
Picard: "I've had it. Set course for the nearest starbase. We're putting in for a refit!"
Riker blinks and reluctantly turns to Picard.
Riker: "But Sir, remember what happened the last time..."
Picard bends forward and grabs his head in one hand and shudders.
Picard: "Merde! I don't care if we do get another firmware update like last time. I need my tea... If we have to fly the ship upside-down, we do it. It's space, nobody knows which way is up anyhow!"

06-12-2013, 12:55 PM	#1
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	It's so easy for me to lose perspective... Someone recently wrote to me that he sometimes feels like Kobo takes one step forward and 10 steps back. I don't know about you, but I often get caught up in minutia--seeing lots of trees, but no forest at all. I decided to figure out what I would have been reading on a year ago. It turns out it would have been a Kobo Touch running software 1.9.17 (fixed). It's been quite a year and despite its shortcomings (and I bet that most of us have definite views on what they might be), the Kobo i use today and the FW that runs is is a whole lot better than what I had to read on a year ago. Just saying... Last edited by taming; 06-12-2013 at 03:34 PM.

06-12-2013, 03:29 PM	#5
scoobertron Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 349476 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kobo touch	Somewhat. 1.9.17 didn't have the long paragraph bug, or the top margin issue which are personal bugbears of mine. However, it did resize the book covers on the homescreen which looked awkward, and the interface looked a bit less polished in general. (I realise now you said 1.9.7, which was before my time) I don't think that kobo takes 10 steps back, but there often seems to be something that goes wrong on each release, usually relating to a key feature (like reading epubs). I am still deciding which firmware to run based on which has the least annoying bugs, and that is not a great state of affairs. Last edited by scoobertron; 06-12-2013 at 03:30 PM. Reason: factual innacuracy

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06-12-2013, 05:16 PM	#8
BookBunny ̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏̏'\(⊙ ヮ⊙ ) Posts: 36 Karma: 16608 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: Kobo Glo™	I'm still on 2.3.1 and glad I can evade the updates. They seem to only introduce features I don't want/need and bugs. Unless they implement a file browser (lol), I don't see myself ever updating this thing.

06-12-2013, 05:55 PM	#9
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Ahhhh, grasshopper, but I remember double taps that drove me bananas, sd cards that never did work on some devices, syncs that never sunk, WiFi problems out the wazoo, top margins that were so tight that people could not read the top line and you could just forget about choosng a word for dictionary look-up. And slooooooooooow, OMG. I am not saying all of these things were in 1.9.17, and I am not minimizing today's crop of bugs, but for those of us who started with the Kobo-0, back in the spring of 2010, the changes have been amazing. This Kobo journey is just different from the buy a device and see it unchanged pretty much forever, then wait for a new device for new functionality kind of thing. It's not for everyone, for sure, but I kinda sorta like it (despite it driving me nuts from time to time).

06-13-2013, 12:58 AM	#11
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Taming, Okay, I've donned my Impervium(tm) armor and firmly welded on both codpiece and helmet... Tricky bit welding that codpiece. So, basically you're saying you'd rather have a really screwy device so you can "fix it" than have a properly working device to begin with... This is a woman-thing, and applies to more than your taste in electronics doesn't it ladies? Ducking and running, well trying to walk fast in this damned armor... Hey, stop throwing stuff. It doesn't hurt with the armor, but the echoes are driving me nuts!

06-13-2013, 01:29 AM	#13
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Kidding aside, I think she's just been through the evolution of the product line as she's been with Kobo longer than many of us. If so, I can see how her perspective might differ as she's seen considerable positive change.

06-13-2013, 02:10 AM	#14
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I think if the mini or Aura was my first real ereader, I would think them more than good enough. I am sure that if the day comes when Kobo puts their top people (person?) on fixing the reading software, instead of the book selling/feature/gimmick software, things will improve dramatically. Of course by then we will all have holo-decks and be living the books instead of reading them. Helen

06-13-2013, 04:16 AM	#15
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	+1 GooglePlex for the Holodeck. Look, we gripe, but our intention is only to have a better product -mostly one with software as good as the hardware. Imagine if Kobo coded for the Enterprise... Picard: "Computer, list teas." 90 seconds later the computer responds with a list of the first 5 teas. Picard: "Computer, Earl Grey." The replicator does it's thing... Picard reaches in and removes a Kobo Pad displaying "Riders of the Purple Sage" by Zane Grey... Picard shakes his head, tucks the pad under his arm for later and enters the bridge. Picard: "I've had it. Set course for the nearest starbase. We're putting in for a refit!" Riker blinks and reluctantly turns to Picard. Riker: "But Sir, remember what happened the last time..." Picard bends forward and grabs his head in one hand and shudders. Picard: "Merde! I don't care if we do get another firmware update like last time. I need my tea... If we have to fly the ship upside-down, we do it. It's space, nobody knows which way is up anyhow!"