10-11-2011, 12:31 PM | #1 |
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Kobo Desktop App Never Works...Should I Stop Using It?
I bought a new book on the Kobo website last night. Then I loaded the desktop app to copy the book to my Kobo. Every time I do this (lately, it's been about once every few weeks) I get a message to install a new version of the Desktop App (ummm...how often do they update this thing???). AND, as usual, there was a problem with my new book appearing on my Kobo, even after I synched several times, deleted the book from my desktop APP and then re-syching again and again.
This happened to me a few weeks ago when I bought a book, so then I decided to side-load it through ADE, and then my Kobo crashed (everything on the Kobo disappeared) and I had to do a factory re-set. This time, I figured side-loading my new book was the only choice, so I got brave and sideload it again (this time, I logged out and closed the desktop app prior to that, in the hopes that I wouldn't have to do another factory reset). I downloaded/opened my book directly from the Kobo bookstore/website into ADE and then copied it into my Kobo from there - and it worked. Phew! So - the real question here: Should I do this every single time and just skip the Kobo desktop app? It seems SOOOO unstable and causes problems each time I use it!!! Let me know what you think! Last edited by pokee; 10-11-2011 at 12:36 PM. |
10-11-2011, 02:27 PM | #2 |
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I see you have a kobo wifi - can you not download the book wirelessly?
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10-11-2011, 03:29 PM | #3 |
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I gave up on downloading wirelessly a while ago, because my Kobo kept having difficulties with my encryption code for my router, and it would take me a while to get it to work/troubleshoot it. I've had success adding it a couple of times, but because I've been doing some factory re-sets lately, it's a pain to have to add it/troubleshoot it all over again - so I didn't bother.
SOOOO much easier to just sideload it from ADE. ADE seems to be the only stable software I can use with my Kobo!!! |
10-11-2011, 04:15 PM | #4 |
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what version of desktop? current is 2.1.2.
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10-11-2011, 05:52 PM | #5 |
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I gave up on the desktop a while ago (note, I haven't tried again since it's been updated) - the couple times I used it, I had problems with loading books onto my Kobo Wifi, with me having to factory reset a few times before it was resolved.
I load Kobo bought books over the Wifi, and sideload other books with Calibre. |
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10-11-2011, 06:07 PM | #6 |
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Good to know, thanks Sara. Maybe I'll get my WiFi going again and then use that alone when I purchase books. I have downloaded Calibre, but haven't used it yet. I've found ADE does the job when I need it to.
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10-11-2011, 09:21 PM | #7 |
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The desktop app has given me nothing but problems so I use Calibre and ADE for all my books. I find it much easier that way.
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10-11-2011, 10:02 PM | #8 |
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I rarely ever use the desktop app.
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10-11-2011, 10:12 PM | #9 |
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I just stick to Calibre now. The desktop stopped working on my linux system so I deleted it and if I really must use it I use the desktop on my laptop. ADE is on my laptop as well and I just use that when I need to put a library book on my KT.
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10-13-2011, 01:07 AM | #10 |
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BTW, this is the version I have of the desktop app. that doesn't work - 2.1.2. It's a rotten POS and I am not using it anymore. Why did they have to make something so complicated (like 'Synching')? Why not just have a library you can drag and drop books from, just like ADE or Calibre???
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10-13-2011, 07:35 AM | #11 |
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ADE and Calibre do not have to sync across devices--a necessity for folks who read on a tablet, the reader, a phone etc. My desktop app works just like it ought to.
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10-13-2011, 08:02 AM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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10-13-2011, 10:27 AM | #13 |
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I use the desktop app all the time, but back when I first got my Kobo, it didn't work at all--it would freeze/crash and was generally useless.
It turns out that my PCTools virus scanner/protection system was to blame. Some shoddy code in it basically rendered the kobo desktop app (and the reskinned Borders app before it) completely useless. I haven't had a problem since I swapped to a different security protocol on my machine. |
10-13-2011, 12:20 PM | #14 |
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That is a point to take into consideration, and the desktop app does that very well. But for the rest of us that don't read on a Tablet and/or Laptop it isn't needed very much.
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10-13-2011, 04:03 PM | #15 | |
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Quote:
My warranty is almost up, so if it dies soon, I may buy a more reliable product. I really want to stick with my Kobo because I love Chapters, and the manager of my local store is awesome, but the Kobo customer support just sucks ass so badly, it's not even worth the aggravation... |
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