Bye bye Kobo

mlstein · 06-18-2010, 06:15 PM

I got one of the first US Kobos yesterday, and after I figured out that I was having problems because I had a corrupted epub (fixed by reconverting it in Calibre) I was enjoying it. Then I bought a book from Kobo, started reading it, turned the reader off--and couldn't get it to boot. It always came to the welcome screen and froze. Kobo service told me there was nothing to do but return it, and I would end up waiting weeks for a replacement. Since I'm not the only one who's had this problem I decided to give up. BestBuy here has the Sony Touch for $200 with a free case. too bad--I like the look and feel of the Kobo a lot. But I couldn't stand the aggravation....

artificial · 06-18-2010, 07:46 PM

Sorry to hear that the Kobo Reader didn't work out for you

It may be a silly suggestion, but you have charged the unit, right?

mlstein · 06-18-2010, 07:48 PM

Battery was full when I turned it off.

KjellM · 06-18-2010, 09:10 PM

I recommend you try charging it before giving up on it. The Battery Gauge is NOT reliable, it seems to properly update only when the Kobo is turned on. I did a test where I left my Kobo on for 5 days and the battery gauge only went down 1 bar. I then powered it off, then on again, and the battery gauge then showed a charge of only 1 bar, down 7 bars !

J. Strnad · 06-18-2010, 09:35 PM

Since you spoke with customer service, I assume they had you reset it.

I had an issue with a right-click button that didn't always work and was ready to send my Kobo back, but I called customer support and they walked me through a reset. To my surprise, that seems to have fixed the problem.

It's very frustrating for a new purchase not to work and I don't blame you for wanting to send it back. You never get the chance for another first impression, as they say.

Then again, there's the other cliche, about the two people who meet, hate one another instantly, and eventually fall in love.

I hope the Sony works out better for you!

EtherealWinter · 06-18-2010, 10:54 PM

Mmm, that freezing the occur with mine when mine ran out of battery, you should try charging it first? and what do you mean it will take weeks? Can't you just go into the store and swap it out for a new one? Because here in Australia that's usually the case, we never send it back to the manufacturers, the store does that.

RedRoverJ · 06-18-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EtherealWinter

Mmm, that freezing the occur with mine when mine ran out of battery, you should try charging it first? and what do you mean it will take weeks? Can't you just go into the store and swap it out for a new one? Because here in Australia that's usually the case, we never send it back to the manufacturers, the store does that.

I think the problem is that most stores are out of stock in most areas.

mylesau · 06-18-2010, 11:37 PM

mlstein,

I'd suggest not turning it on... Install the latest Calibre kobo plug-in (you'll find in in these forums), attach the kobo via usb, then assuming you can access the kobo, delete the two books you've loaded. Then do a reset. That may get you back to a working kobo.

Let us know how it goes if you do try the above.

mlstein · 06-19-2010, 12:07 AM

I did all that, deleted books via Calibre, removed SD card, spoke with customer service twice, and there's no way the battery gauge was that off. The unit powered up just fine but then froze, over and over. It's too bad, but I have to admit that the Sony is miles better for pdfs and with only a $30 price difference (case factored in) it was probably the better choice for my needs.

06-18-2010, 06:15 PM	#1
mlstein Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 2062 Join Date: May 2010 Device: iPad (one)	Bye bye Kobo I got one of the first US Kobos yesterday, and after I figured out that I was having problems because I had a corrupted epub (fixed by reconverting it in Calibre) I was enjoying it. Then I bought a book from Kobo, started reading it, turned the reader off--and couldn't get it to boot. It always came to the welcome screen and froze. Kobo service told me there was nothing to do but return it, and I would end up waiting weeks for a replacement. Since I'm not the only one who's had this problem I decided to give up. BestBuy here has the Sony Touch for $200 with a free case. too bad--I like the look and feel of the Kobo a lot. But I couldn't stand the aggravation....

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06-18-2010, 07:46 PM	#2
artificial Groupie Posts: 179 Karma: 6328 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo eReader	Sorry to hear that the Kobo Reader didn't work out for you It may be a silly suggestion, but you have charged the unit, right?

06-18-2010, 07:48 PM	#3
mlstein Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 2062 Join Date: May 2010 Device: iPad (one)	Battery was full when I turned it off.

06-18-2010, 09:10 PM	#4
KjellM Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 155580 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: BC, Canada Device: Kobo, Glo HD, Aura ONE	I recommend you try charging it before giving up on it. The Battery Gauge is NOT reliable, it seems to properly update only when the Kobo is turned on. I did a test where I left my Kobo on for 5 days and the battery gauge only went down 1 bar. I then powered it off, then on again, and the battery gauge then showed a charge of only 1 bar, down 7 bars !

06-18-2010, 09:35 PM	#5
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Since you spoke with customer service, I assume they had you reset it. I had an issue with a right-click button that didn't always work and was ready to send my Kobo back, but I called customer support and they walked me through a reset. To my surprise, that seems to have fixed the problem. It's very frustrating for a new purchase not to work and I don't blame you for wanting to send it back. You never get the chance for another first impression, as they say. Then again, there's the other cliche, about the two people who meet, hate one another instantly, and eventually fall in love. I hope the Sony works out better for you!

06-18-2010, 10:54 PM	#6
EtherealWinter The Omega and Alpha Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	Mmm, that freezing the occur with mine when mine ran out of battery, you should try charging it first? and what do you mean it will take weeks? Can't you just go into the store and swap it out for a new one? Because here in Australia that's usually the case, we never send it back to the manufacturers, the store does that.

06-18-2010, 11:37 PM	#8
mylesau Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo	mlstein, I'd suggest not turning it on... Install the latest Calibre kobo plug-in (you'll find in in these forums), attach the kobo via usb, then assuming you can access the kobo, delete the two books you've loaded. Then do a reset. That may get you back to a working kobo. Let us know how it goes if you do try the above.

06-19-2010, 12:07 AM	#9
mlstein Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 2062 Join Date: May 2010 Device: iPad (one)	I did all that, deleted books via Calibre, removed SD card, spoke with customer service twice, and there's no way the battery gauge was that off. The unit powered up just fine but then froze, over and over. It's too bad, but I have to admit that the Sony is miles better for pdfs and with only a $30 price difference (case factored in) it was probably the better choice for my needs.

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