Broken Kobo Glo HD, what next? Life changing decision

[vienfet]

Hey guys, so after 1 year of use and a lot of drops my kobo glo HD has broke (I know I should have taken better care of it). I did not realize how fragile eReaders are. Anyways... I am faced with the following options and I can't seem to make a decision:

1) Buy another Kobo Glo HD $189 and perhaps invest in a good case (I had the kobo beige cover, please recommend any goods ones) and this time take better care of it.

2) Repair my iPad Mini 2 Screen, $130. Just use it for books, articles, PDFs, maybe some browsing, but most things I do on my phone, Galaxy Note 3.

3) Invest in a Kindle perhaps the Oasis ($549), Voyage ($349) or the latest Paperwhite ($269). Suggestions for this would be great as well. I don't mind the Amazon ecosystem, and there is a way I believe to convert ePub to Mobi and hopefully make it readable. Expensive option, however i'm not sure if the cost is justified since I have some books bought from the Kobo store.

4) Save up for an iPad Air since it's super light.

I love the flexibility of the Kobo - how I can use books from multiple stores and the use of ePub, the iPad has the same flexibility as well. I am also very concerned with durability, of course I will be taking much better care of it, but I mean I don't want random vertical/horizontal lines of death when there has been no fatal incident.

Right now I think buying a new kobo or repairing my iPad screen is the most cost effective option. What do you guys think? Never had much experience using a tablet as an eReader so insights from others with experience would be appreciated aswell. Has anyone held their kobo for more than 1 year?

[PeterT]

The Glo HD is actually discontinued; some people have had luck via eBay / Amazon / Kijiji.

[issybird]

Compared to the other eink reader prices you cited, a Glo HD for $189 is a terrific deal. It's a great ereader and won't be available much longer, so if you want eink, you should jump on it. It has the advantage of requiring no alteration in your current set-up, also.

You do sound rather breaky. If you don't mind reason on a tablet, fixing the iPad Mini is your most-effective choice and it'll be sturdier than eink (even though you broke that, too. ).

[Pajamaman]

I find reading on a tablet sucks.

[ZodWallop]

I'd say stick with Kobo and maybe invest in a good case and some bubble wrap

Originally Posted by vienfet

I love the flexibility of the Kobo - how I can use books from multiple stores and the use of ePub, the iPad has the same flexibility as well.

With Calibre and Apprentice Alf, any e-reader has those same capabilities. (Well, you have to convert from ePub for the Kindle, but still...)

I personally wouldn't want to read on a tablet, so I don't have advice on that. Of the two options left, you buy another Kobo or buy a Kindle. Since the cheapest model Kindle you are looking at costs $80 more, a Kindle is no more or less fragile than a Kobo and you seem to prefer Kobo anyway, the answer seems obvious.

One option you may not have considered: Look at a Kobo Aura 2 or even buy a Kobo Aura off of eBay. Yeah, the screen isn't as nice as the Glo HD, but the price is less. At the very least you won't feel as bad if you break it.

[barryem]

I'm not really sure ereaders are all that fragile. Sounds like you had some bad luck.

I'm reasonably careful with mine but no more than that. I've been using them for years and loaning them to my neighbors who want to read something. I did get one back from a loan with a scratch in the screen. It was still easily usable but that bothered me and I got a replacement. Other than that I've never had one broken.

Barry

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by barryem

I'm not really sure ereaders are all that fragile.

Secretly I agree with you. But the consensus on the forum here seems to be that they are made from eggshells and crystal and I've never bucked the trend.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Secretly I agree with you. But the consensus on the forum here seems to be that they are made from eggshells and crystal and I've never bucked the trend.

Some people on the forum would have fits and spells if they saw how I treat my ereaders. Right now they are just stacked on top of each other.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Some people on the forum would have fits and spells if they saw how I treat my ereaders. Right now they are just stacked on top of each other.

Ha ha! Me, too. I have my Sony pile and my Pocketbook pile.

[Frieda]

I've had a Kobo Touch for 4.5 years now, with daily use on transit, at home, and everywhere else. I've never used any case for it. It definitely works best to make sure whatever bags you carry have a good place to put the reader (so that you don't end up with a heavy weight resting on the device at a weird angle or something).

I used a Sony PRS-505 for several years before that and only rendered that one inoperable when I took the thing apart to attempt a battery replacement and tore one of the ribbon cables inside. That thing was well built, plus it had a lanyard attachment built in, which was great for reassurance when you're reading one-handed while hanging onto a subway strap. Just loop the thing around your wrist and never worry about dropping it. I wish more devices still had those.