Has Anyone Tried The Kobo Aura?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Has Anyone Tried The Kobo Aura?

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#119054 18-May-2013 15:04

I'm contemplating replacing an ageing Kindle. Decided against the Kindle Paperwhite (read too many stories about defective back lighting), won't touch Sony because I detest the company, and was contemplating the Kobo Glo.

However I have been reading about the Kobo Aura, their new flagship ebook reader. Have read some reviews from offshore and it seems to cope with both MOBI(*) and EPUB formats, have a larger screen than current readers (6.8" c.f., 6.0"), a higher resolution screen, better back lighting than the Glo or Paperwhite, and an SD card slot.

Haven't seen it locally. Wondering whether anyone had used it and has views and experiences they could share. Close to ordering from offshore (it's $US 170 + shipping), but after a bit more of a feel for how much of an improvement it will be.

* This is important. I can strip the DRM from my Kindle purchases, but need to endure the de-DRMed versions are readable, and would prefer natively rather than having to convert. Don't want to write-off my purchased library.

farcus

1626 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 437

#821652 18-May-2013 16:22

most reviews I have read have been fairly negative regarding the aura - especially around the bulky size (thickness) and weight.

Here's a quote from one reviewer

Should You Buy It?No. The Kobo Aura HD has a really nice screen, sure, but everything around that screen just drags it down. From the ergonomically bizarre design to its weight and size, the actual meat of the Aura HD is just not up to snuff. And besides that, pushing an E Ink screen's resolution this high is sort of a questionable pursuit here. You don’t need that extra resolution to read, and it’s reached a point of diminishing returns. That screen’s not nice enough to cancel out other basic problems with the design.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#821694 18-May-2013 19:07

A few people have had issues with the kindle paperwhite, but I have two which are perfect, and I know at least 10 people with them who aren't having any issues. If you already are part of the amazon eco system, it seems strange to me that the CHANCE you might get a faulty one (which would be covered under the excellent amazon warranty for them internationally, would put you off buying one.

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#821756 18-May-2013 21:22

networkn: A few people have had issues with the kindle paperwhite, but I have two which are perfect, and I know at least 10 people with them who aren't having any issues. If you already are part of the amazon eco system, it seems strange to me that the CHANCE you might get a faulty one (which would be covered under the excellent amazon warranty for them internationally, would put you off buying one.

Yes, I am part of the Amazon ecosystem. But the Kindles will only read Amazon format, whereas the Kobos seem to read the Amazon format and the competing epub standard. Therefore, all other things being equal, it sisn't seem like I would lose anything through moving away from Kindle, and being able to access other bookstores and formats seemed like a nice bonus.

If it's the thickness and form factor that are the issue, I might hold fire until they are available locally and I can look for myself. I think JB HiFI and Whitcoulls both stock Kobo, so hopefully one of them will have them in soon. Hopefully not at a ludicrous premium to the US price.........

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41030

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#821757 18-May-2013 21:24

networkn: A few people have had issues with the kindle paperwhite, but I have two which are perfect, and I know at least 10 people with them who aren't having any issues. If you already are part of the amazon eco system, it seems strange to me that the CHANCE you might get a faulty one (which would be covered under the excellent amazon warranty for them internationally, would put you off buying one.

Yep, bought two Kindle Paperwhite here in the last two months and both are perfect.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#821783 18-May-2013 22:29

JimmyH:
networkn: A few people have had issues with the kindle paperwhite, but I have two which are perfect, and I know at least 10 people with them who aren't having any issues. If you already are part of the amazon eco system, it seems strange to me that the CHANCE you might get a faulty one (which would be covered under the excellent amazon warranty for them internationally, would put you off buying one.

Yes, I am part of the Amazon ecosystem. But the Kindles will only read Amazon format, whereas the Kobos seem to read the Amazon format and the competing epub standard. Therefore, all other things being equal, it sisn't seem like I would lose anything through moving away from Kindle, and being able to access other bookstores and formats seemed like a nice bonus.

If it's the thickness and form factor that are the issue, I might hold fire until they are available locally and I can look for myself. I think JB HiFI and Whitcoulls both stock Kobo, so hopefully one of them will have them in soon. Hopefully not at a ludicrous premium to the US price.........

Actually untrue, the Kindles read many other formats both natively and via sideloading

http://e-readers.techcrunch.com/q/64/5238/What-file-formats-are-compatible-with-the-Amazon-Kindle-Touch-e-reader' target='_blank'>http://e-readers.techcrunch.com/q/64/5238/What-file-formats-are-compatible-with-the-Amazon-Kindle-Touch-e-reader

Also see [url]http://calibre-ebook.com/[url]

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 272

#828271 30-May-2013 13:27

JimmyH: I'm contemplating replacing an ageing Kindle. Decided against the Kindle Paperwhite (read too many stories about defective back lighting), won't touch Sony because I detest the company, and was contemplating the Kobo Glo.

However I have been reading about the Kobo Aura, their new flagship ebook reader. Have read some reviews from offshore and it seems to cope with both MOBI(*) and EPUB formats...

The Kobo doesn't cope with .mobi unless you replace the software and install a Kindle app. It's .epub only without the hackery.

I'm buying the Aura and moving away from the Amazon ecosystem BUT it pays to consider carefully everything that means. If you have a lot of Kindle books you may not want to abandon them.

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

farcus

1626 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 437

#828332 30-May-2013 15:01

Elpie:
The Kobo doesn't cope with .mobi unless you replace the software and install a Kindle app. It's .epub only without the hackery.

I'm buying the Aura and moving away from the Amazon ecosystem BUT it pays to consider carefully everything that means. If you have a lot of Kindle books you may not want to abandon them.

actually, the Kobo Aura does claim to support the .mobi format. Not sure if that means it would support amazon books though as .azw is a midified form of mobi.

Calibre does help solve this problem as you can easily convert between the two formats - even for books with drm if you add the correct plugin (of course only for books you have legally purchased.)

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#828333 30-May-2013 15:03

farcus:
Elpie:
The Kobo doesn't cope with .mobi unless you replace the software and install a Kindle app. It's .epub only without the hackery.

I'm buying the Aura and moving away from the Amazon ecosystem BUT it pays to consider carefully everything that means. If you have a lot of Kindle books you may not want to abandon them.

actually, the Kobo Aura does claim to support the .mobi format. Not sure if that means it would support amazon books though as .azw is a midified form of mobi.

Calibre does help solve this problem as you can easily convert between the two formats - even for books with drm if you add the correct plugin (of course only for books you have legally purchased.)

I've seen some fairly scary formatting issues in conversion, but it's mostly ok.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#828345 30-May-2013 15:24

Unless you are unlucky and get a bad one, you should be happy with the paperwhite. I purchased one a few months ago, and it is good. I don't use the side light myself, and apparently there is a community patch that can totally turn of the light.

farcus

1626 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 437

#828350 30-May-2013 15:37

networkn:
farcus:
Elpie:
The Kobo doesn't cope with .mobi unless you replace the software and install a Kindle app. It's .epub only without the hackery.

I'm buying the Aura and moving away from the Amazon ecosystem BUT it pays to consider carefully everything that means. If you have a lot of Kindle books you may not want to abandon them.

actually, the Kobo Aura does claim to support the .mobi format. Not sure if that means it would support amazon books though as .azw is a midified form of mobi.

Calibre does help solve this problem as you can easily convert between the two formats - even for books with drm if you add the correct plugin (of course only for books you have legally purchased.)

I've seen some fairly scary formatting issues in conversion, but it's mostly ok.

I've never come across any problems converting between mobi and epub and vice versa. pdf to an ebook format is another story though.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 272

#829882 3-Jun-2013 01:26

farcus:
Elpie:
The Kobo doesn't cope with .mobi unless you replace the software and install a Kindle app. It's .epub only without the hackery.

I'm buying the Aura and moving away from the Amazon ecosystem BUT it pays to consider carefully everything that means. If you have a lot of Kindle books you may not want to abandon them.

actually, the Kobo Aura does claim to support the .mobi format. Not sure if that means it would support amazon books though as .azw is a midified form of mobi.

Ah, I see it does. However, if its like the .mobi support Kobo offers with the Glo then its not worth having. Amazon .azw files usually contain DRM. Kobo doesn't support .azw at all. It does have support for Adobe Editions DRM built-in.

I've ordered an Aura HD which should be here in a couple of weeks. I will do a review here once I have it.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#829993 3-Jun-2013 12:24

Elpie:

Ah, I see it does. However, if its like the .mobi support Kobo offers with the Glo then its not worth having. Amazon .azw files usually contain DRM. Kobo doesn't support .azw at all. It does have support for Adobe Editions DRM built-in.

I've ordered an Aura HD which should be here in a couple of weeks. I will do a review here once I have it.

Would be very interested in the review, thanks.

As long as it does .mobi, I'm not too fussed about whether it supports the .azw encryption wrapper. The encryption is pretty easy to remove, and worth doing as a matter of course when you buy, to ensure that your expensive purchased library isn't lost if (say) at a future point you need to migrate devices and readers that support .azw are no longer available. (cough, Microsoft Plays For Sure, cough).