04-14-2018, 05:31 PM | #1 |
Absentminded Reader
Posts: 1,110
Karma: 6463851
Join Date: Apr 2017
Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps
|
Aren't Kobo eReader designs a little boring?
I was looking at the latest Onyx releases yesterday. I couldn't help noticing how similar they looked to all other Kindle competitors out there. Kobo devices are just as unremarkable. When the eReader scene was new, every device looked distinct. Now, except for the Kindle Oasis, they don't. This was due to the mechanical nature of the early eReaders. Now that everything is touch sensitive, even iPads have a sameness about them.
It's true that my KA1 LE feels very different to hold when compared to my Paperwhite, and the Kindle Voyage, Oasis, and new Nook have page turn buttons, but visually they're mostly all black rectangles, even the Oasis. Most visual differentiation between brands is in the back of the device. What would you like to see in future Kobo designs to help them stand out from the crowd? Are features the only things that matter? Is there something else they can add to the design aside from color? |
04-14-2018, 08:36 PM | #2 |
hopeless n00b
Posts: 5,111
Karma: 19597086
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: in the middle of nowhere
Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9
|
The Apple iPhone X has a very distinctive (but imho ugly) notch. If that's the type of visual differentiation we'll see, I'd rather stick to boring.
I don't think I'd like to see them go completely bezel-less either. Given e-readers tend to be wider and heavier than phones, the bezels serve as palm rest when holding. |
04-15-2018, 04:30 AM | #3 |
Addict
Posts: 285
Karma: 3762916
Join Date: Nov 2011
Device: none
|
I personally think Kobo's designs were unique and very attractive. The backs of the devices especially are really something... up until the Aura One when they unified everything under their new "blue button" style. I find that design rather generic and tacky.
|
04-15-2018, 09:20 AM | #4 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,174
Karma: 63764653
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Glo HD
|
Quote:
For me, I would like to see a reliable reading experience; one annoying thing now is that I don't get a reliable page turn. And I would like Bluetooth remote page turning. |
|
04-15-2018, 09:25 AM | #5 |
Wizard
Posts: 3,108
Karma: 60231510
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7
|
I don't particularly care. I want to read on my devices, not look at them. Whatever gives a good reading experience is fine by me.
|
04-15-2018, 11:40 AM | #6 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 7,174
Karma: 63764653
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo Glo HD
|
|
04-15-2018, 01:43 PM | #7 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,235
Karma: 11768331
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Madrid, Spain
Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2
|
|
04-15-2018, 01:43 PM | #8 |
Addict
Posts: 332
Karma: 6220000
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Germany
Device: Kobo Aura HD
|
It's a screen in a plastic box, making it "interesting" will most likely just make it worse.
I care about the books I read, not my reader as a fashion accessory. |
04-15-2018, 02:04 PM | #9 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,609
Karma: 42697471
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ohio
Device: iPhone 7+, iPad mini, 2021 iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8"
|
|
04-15-2018, 02:04 PM | #10 |
E-reader Enthusiast
Posts: 4,871
Karma: 36507503
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5
|
|
04-15-2018, 03:00 PM | #11 |
Librocubicularist
Posts: 617
Karma: 11908623
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Germany
Device: PocketBook InkPad 3 & Touch HD 3, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle Paperwhite 5
|
I have three Pocketbook devices. They all look very different, in colour, size, design.
|
04-16-2018, 06:46 AM | #12 | |
Absentminded Reader
Posts: 1,110
Karma: 6463851
Join Date: Apr 2017
Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps
|
Quote:
I'm not thinking bezel-less. You're right. The bezels give us a place to hold. But do they all have to be boring? |
|
04-16-2018, 06:49 AM | #13 |
Absentminded Reader
Posts: 1,110
Karma: 6463851
Join Date: Apr 2017
Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps
|
I disagree. Creative designs help in marketing the device. If they all look the same as they do now, then how do they stand out? What sets Kobo apart to the Walmart consumer who doesn't understand or care about comparative specs? What quickens the pulse and catches the eye when Kindles and Kobos are identical from a distance?
|
04-16-2018, 06:54 AM | #14 |
Absentminded Reader
Posts: 1,110
Karma: 6463851
Join Date: Apr 2017
Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps
|
Thanks for pointing that out. The Touch HD 2 and the Touch Lux 3 have distinctive case designs. Design-wise, they rock the page turning buttons. Imagine if the Kobo Clara HD was red with a charcoal gray logo. It would look distinctive.
|
04-16-2018, 06:59 AM | #15 |
Absentminded Reader
Posts: 1,110
Karma: 6463851
Join Date: Apr 2017
Device: Kobo Mini, Clara HD, Elipsa; Kindle Paperwhite 3 & 4; iOS eReader apps
|
A pink Mini 2 would have been a big hit with my girls years ago. We got a white Mini with a rose back, but then we put it in a case, and bye-bye rose back! Still, the mini format was more welcoming to them than my Kindle. Several daughters got use out of it. My youngest fell in love with it. We only replaced it when it couldn't borrow books from the library like my KA1. Features do matter. My girl absolutely LOVES borrowing from the library whenever she pleases.
|
Tags |
ipad, kindle, kobo, nook, onyx |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
The Most Boring Book Ever Written (a choose-your-own-adventure) | rudykerkhoven | Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers | 0 | 08-28-2012 12:43 PM |
Kobo eReader N647-KUS-B Digital eReader - Onyx $39.99 + $5.00 shipping | Brainphart | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 0 | 08-18-2012 12:51 PM |
Images...etc. aren't centered on my eReader! Please Help!!! | Ephraim | Sigil | 14 | 01-03-2011 02:54 AM |
So I'm an anal retentive boring old fart, BUT | alecE | ePub | 23 | 01-28-2010 05:03 AM |