Choosing waterproof, high resolution ereader

grenacia · 05-19-2017, 03:53 PM

I've been using an original Kindle Paperwhite for years, managing books in Calibre, and I am looking to upgrade. The main upgrades I want are:

Higher resolution eInk screen
Waterproof
Better font/size options.

Better lighting for nighttime reading would be nice too but less important, so long as it isn't worse.

I ordered a Kobo Aura One and got it yesterday, and my first impression of it is not good. The light keeps turning off suddenly when I am in the middle of using it. When I try to adjust the light by swiping up and down on the left side of the screen, at best it lags and jumps, and at worst it doesn't work at all or scrolls what I'm reading instead. The touch response is bad in general.

Trying to get books from the kobo store and library via the ereader itself has errored a lot. The font options are a small improvement but not exciting.

I'll give it a chance for a little while, but I'm thinking about sending it back if I don't start to like it better or if something else seems like a better choice. Any recommendations?

I've been thinking about the Tolino Vision HD 3 or 4 which seem to have really nice screens and the other features I want, but I'm not finding a lot of information on them.

rem736 · 05-19-2017, 05:36 PM

first. i think you have a defective aura one. having said that, the nook glowlight plus is still available. it is waterproof and the screen is not bad at all. i was even able to hack (root) it and install another launcher and customize the images that the standby screen uses. since it is android, there are other reasons to root the device, such as installing other book readers (kindle, google play books, etc.). installing other readers have not worked out for me, but others have done it with varying degrees of success. i don't think you can easily add other fonts for the nook reader itself. but you can install fonts for the android system overall and use other epub readers than nook. your mileage will vary.

JSWolf · 05-19-2017, 05:51 PM

If you don't like the Kobo Aura One, the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 will do very well.

grenacia · 05-20-2017, 12:01 AM

I will look into the Nook Glowlight Plus, though I still want to investigate newer, ereaders with really great screens and features like blue-light reduction.

Is the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 better quality than the Aura One? The screen appears to be smaller and lower resolution, and most of the other specs are the same.

JSWolf · 05-20-2017, 07:24 AM

You really don't want to look into the nook Glowlight Plus. It's not all that good.

booklover6 · 05-20-2017, 07:38 AM

Before you make any decisions, you need to see what firmware version the ONE is on, and update it if needed. I suspect you may be running an older fw version. I think a lot of the problems you mentioned have been fixed. I suggest you go to the Kobo forum here and find out more.

grenacia · 05-20-2017, 10:54 AM

According to Kobo Desktop, firmware is 4.3.8945 which doesn't appear to be the newest. But it is not updating when I sync.

PeterT · 05-20-2017, 11:03 AM

Kobo does not release all upgrades to all device at the same time; they're released based on affiliates.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

booklover6 · 05-20-2017, 11:18 AM

I'm pretty sure you need 4.4.9344. You should go to the Kobo forum here and read how to get the right one and how to put it on your device.

JSWolf · 05-21-2017, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

I'm pretty sure you need 4.4.9344. You should go to the Kobo forum here and read how to get the right one and how to put it on your device.

You can side load the firmware if you want once you are 100% sure you have the correct version.

05-19-2017, 03:53 PM	#1
grenacia Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Choosing waterproof, high resolution ereader I've been using an original Kindle Paperwhite for years, managing books in Calibre, and I am looking to upgrade. The main upgrades I want are: Higher resolution eInk screen Waterproof Better font/size options. Better lighting for nighttime reading would be nice too but less important, so long as it isn't worse. I ordered a Kobo Aura One and got it yesterday, and my first impression of it is not good. The light keeps turning off suddenly when I am in the middle of using it. When I try to adjust the light by swiping up and down on the left side of the screen, at best it lags and jumps, and at worst it doesn't work at all or scrolls what I'm reading instead. The touch response is bad in general. Trying to get books from the kobo store and library via the ereader itself has errored a lot. The font options are a small improvement but not exciting. I'll give it a chance for a little while, but I'm thinking about sending it back if I don't start to like it better or if something else seems like a better choice. Any recommendations? I've been thinking about the Tolino Vision HD 3 or 4 which seem to have really nice screens and the other features I want, but I'm not finding a lot of information on them.

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05-19-2017, 05:36 PM	#2
rem736 purpose priority passion Posts: 645 Karma: 9002000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: socal, usa Device: sony prs-350, b&n ngp, rM2, kindle scribe, boox poke5	first. i think you have a defective aura one. having said that, the nook glowlight plus is still available. it is waterproof and the screen is not bad at all. i was even able to hack (root) it and install another launcher and customize the images that the standby screen uses. since it is android, there are other reasons to root the device, such as installing other book readers (kindle, google play books, etc.). installing other readers have not worked out for me, but others have done it with varying degrees of success. i don't think you can easily add other fonts for the nook reader itself. but you can install fonts for the android system overall and use other epub readers than nook. your mileage will vary.

05-19-2017, 05:51 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,841 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you don't like the Kobo Aura One, the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 will do very well.

05-20-2017, 12:01 AM	#4
grenacia Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I will look into the Nook Glowlight Plus, though I still want to investigate newer, ereaders with really great screens and features like blue-light reduction. Is the Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 better quality than the Aura One? The screen appears to be smaller and lower resolution, and most of the other specs are the same.

05-20-2017, 07:24 AM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,841 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You really don't want to look into the nook Glowlight Plus. It's not all that good.

05-20-2017, 07:38 AM	#6
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,532 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	Before you make any decisions, you need to see what firmware version the ONE is on, and update it if needed. I suspect you may be running an older fw version. I think a lot of the problems you mentioned have been fixed. I suggest you go to the Kobo forum here and find out more.

05-20-2017, 10:54 AM	#7
grenacia Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	According to Kobo Desktop, firmware is 4.3.8945 which doesn't appear to be the newest. But it is not updating when I sync.

05-20-2017, 11:03 AM	#8
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,141 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Kobo does not release all upgrades to all device at the same time; they're released based on affiliates. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

05-20-2017, 11:18 AM	#9
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,532 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I'm pretty sure you need 4.4.9344. You should go to the Kobo forum here and read how to get the right one and how to put it on your device.