Kobo Aura HD Replacement

binarymelon · 11-01-2017, 09:35 AM

Just wondering what the recent ereaders are like. I've always had Kobos and thinking about switching. I primarily sideload and Kobo kind of limits the functionality on sideloaded epubs (or at least they did). I'm currently on and old version of their firmware that still allows sideloaded kepubs. Just looking for the best feature set on the current ereaders, or would everyone just recommend sticking with what I have?

patrik · 11-01-2017, 09:48 AM

As someone who also has an Aura HD I believe the major difference compared with the newer readers are the carta e-ink screen as well as a higher dpi. The Carta screen is nicer, but not something I notice while not comparing.

I also sideload and don't think I understand what you mean by "limits the functionality". There are some statistics you get of the books you buy from Kobo, but I think that's it.

Are you happy with your current reading experience? Then keep it. If not, or you like to get a new toy, get a new one. I plan to get an Aura ONE the second something happens to my Aura HD (and I'm serioulsy trying to make something happen to it...).

binarymelon · 11-01-2017, 11:06 AM

It's more the stats and Kobo seems to handle formatting of kepubs better as well.

ottdmk · 11-01-2017, 12:45 PM

Well, one option for a side-loader like yourself is to use Calibre to auto-convert epubs to kepubs. That's what I do with my side-loaded books.

I can heartily recommend an Aura H2O as a replacement from the HD. I have a first edition, but from what I've heard the 2nd edition is also quite nice.

dordale · 11-01-2017, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binarymelon

Just wondering what the recent ereaders are like. I've always had Kobos and thinking about switching. I primarily sideload and Kobo kind of limits the functionality on sideloaded epubs (or at least they did). I'm currently on and old version of their firmware that still allows sideloaded kepubs. Just looking for the best feature set on the current ereaders, or would everyone just recommend sticking with what I have?

I'm not sure why you think that the newer firmware versions don't allow sideloaded kepubs. I have an Aura HD and an Aura One--both running the latest firmware. All the books on both of my Kobos are sideloaded kepubs through Calibre. I use the kepub extended drivers to transfer books to both of my Kobos and the books are automatically transferred in kepub format and I can see all the book statistics that are available for kepubs.

binarymelon · 11-01-2017, 04:06 PM

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=226940

I'm pretty sure it at least used to be the case. Is it no longer true?

JSWolf · 11-01-2017, 04:15 PM

Kobo still allows side loading of ePub & kepub. I would suggest installing the new firmware version 4.6.9995. It's pretty snappy. As for limiting functionality, Kobo actually has more functionality than Kindles. If you patch, you get even more functionality.

davidfor · 11-01-2017, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binarymelon

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=226940

I'm pretty sure it at least used to be the case. Is it no longer true?

So you are running firmware 2.6 or something like that? That hasn't been true for a long time. The stats were reenabled for sideloaded epubs in one of the early 3.x firmware versions. I don't remember exactly when, but it is long enough ago now that I had completely forgotten it had ever been disabled.

And, to correct your statements in the first post, Kobo never stopped allowing sideloaded kepubs. And they have never limited the function of sideloaded epubs.

binarymelon · 11-02-2017, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

So you are running firmware 2.6 or something like that? That hasn't been true for a long time. The stats were reenabled for sideloaded epubs in one of the early 3.x firmware versions. I don't remember exactly when, but it is long enough ago now that I had completely forgotten it had ever been disabled.

And, to correct your statements in the first post, Kobo never stopped allowing sideloaded kepubs. And they have never limited the function of sideloaded epubs.

Yeah, I was still on 2.6. I must have misunderstood the issues. I thought it was more than just the loss of stats, but also some formatting problems which basically made sideloaded kepubs useless. Thanks for the update. I'll give the newest firmware a try.

booklover6 · 11-03-2017, 07:22 AM

Just FYI, I had a very nice HD, which I wanted to keep. But the day I got my H2O (last April) I realized I would NEVER use the HD again. The H2O was just SO much better looking. (Sold the HD right away).

11-01-2017, 09:35 AM	#1
binarymelon Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kobo Aura HD	Kobo Aura HD Replacement Just wondering what the recent ereaders are like. I've always had Kobos and thinking about switching. I primarily sideload and Kobo kind of limits the functionality on sideloaded epubs (or at least they did). I'm currently on and old version of their firmware that still allows sideloaded kepubs. Just looking for the best feature set on the current ereaders, or would everyone just recommend sticking with what I have?

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11-01-2017, 09:48 AM	#2
patrik Guru Posts: 657 Karma: 4568205 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Forma	As someone who also has an Aura HD I believe the major difference compared with the newer readers are the carta e-ink screen as well as a higher dpi. The Carta screen is nicer, but not something I notice while not comparing. I also sideload and don't think I understand what you mean by "limits the functionality". There are some statistics you get of the books you buy from Kobo, but I think that's it. Are you happy with your current reading experience? Then keep it. If not, or you like to get a new toy, get a new one. I plan to get an Aura ONE the second something happens to my Aura HD (and I'm serioulsy trying to make something happen to it...).

11-01-2017, 11:06 AM	#3
binarymelon Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kobo Aura HD	It's more the stats and Kobo seems to handle formatting of kepubs better as well.

11-01-2017, 12:45 PM	#4
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Well, one option for a side-loader like yourself is to use Calibre to auto-convert epubs to kepubs. That's what I do with my side-loaded books. I can heartily recommend an Aura H2O as a replacement from the HD. I have a first edition, but from what I've heard the 2nd edition is also quite nice.

11-01-2017, 04:06 PM	#6
binarymelon Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kobo Aura HD	https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=226940 I'm pretty sure it at least used to be the case. Is it no longer true?

11-01-2017, 04:15 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Kobo still allows side loading of ePub & kepub. I would suggest installing the new firmware version 4.6.9995. It's pretty snappy. As for limiting functionality, Kobo actually has more functionality than Kindles. If you patch, you get even more functionality.

11-03-2017, 07:22 AM	#10
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	Just FYI, I had a very nice HD, which I wanted to keep. But the day I got my H2O (last April) I realized I would NEVER use the HD again. The H2O was just SO much better looking. (Sold the HD right away).

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