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> I had a rather frustrating time setting up the damn device – it’s annoying to have to connect to wifi, make a Kobo account, make an Overdrive account, and sea

> I had a rather frustrating time setting up the damn device – it’s annoying to have to connect to wifi, make a Kobo account, make an Overdrive account, and search for books with a terrible response time to text input, and it’s especially annoying when you enter the wrong wifi password multiple times and end up restarting the device because you’re so convinced you have the right password before finally realizing your mistake. The best advice I can give for the Kobo is to use all of the functions not directly related to reading as little as possible. By that I mean, don't try to search the Kobo store on the Kobo: search on the website or on the smartphone app, and just send the books to the Kobo automatically when you buy them. Don't try to search the library on the Kobo: search with the smartphone Libby app and let the Kobo sync them over when you check one out. Don't try to read Wikipedia articles directly in the Kobo's experimental browser: add the wiki articles you want to read to Pocket and sync them over. The Kobo is an excellent reading device, but it is a very poor internet browsing device. I minimize the time I spend "browsing" on it via the methods described above, and I have a much more enjoyable experience.

JasonFruit 5y ago
Mine was a disaster to type on. Slow, unreliable, and for some reason the closer to the right edge of the screen you got, the further left on each key you had to touch, until finally you would have to touch the key to the left of the one you want. But it was a great reader until a kid stepped on my bag a couple weeks ago. I ordered an Onyx Boox Nova Air, in hopes the software will be better. I also hope it's anywhere near as good and durable a reader.
- mkr-hn 5y ago
  That sounds like a faulty digitizer.
mikepurvis 5y ago
I feel the same about my Kindle Paperwhite— I just buy stuff on the Amazon website or sling mobis/epubs at it from Calibre. Zero patience for the on-device interface other than using it for reading.
detritus 5y ago
> The Kobo is an excellent reading device, but it is a very poor internet browsing device. Sounds like a feature to me - perfect!
- AshamedCaptain 5y ago
  Apparently these days you can release a half-baked product and get away with it by saying "the obvious lack of features is so that you can have a focused, distraction-free experience!" or something similar.
  - glial 5y ago
    Do you complain about knives because they're not good at scooping? When something does one thing well, I don't care if it does auxiliary things poorly, or at all.
  - morsch 5y ago
    They half-assed the capability to mix two liquids with my Kindle, as well, IPX8 certification nonwithstanding. Useless. I'm sticking with spoons.
  - AdmiralAsshat 5y ago
    My counter would be that it was traditionally never the paperback book's job to help you navigate the bookstore. But yes, I'll grant that the Kobo's experimental browser (which I think is the component that powers all the pieces I mentioned above that are slow/cumbersome) is noticeably less responsive than the Kindle's. They could probably do some additional tweaking under-the-hood to make it more responsive. Beyond a certain point, however, the only way to make it faster would be to increase the hardware specs and put a beefier OS into it. But at that point, you wouldn't really have a dedicated eReader anymore--you'd have something closer to a conventional tablet with just an e-Ink screen. And there are definitely markets for those (see any number of e-Ink tablets running Android), but then the price starts skyrocketing.
    - AshamedCaptain 5y ago
colonwqbang 5y ago
It sounds crazy but I actually see this inconvenience as something of a plus. Getting out my kobo means that I will commit to reading for a while, similar to when I pick up a physical book. The fact that all other functions (like Web browsing) are so inconvenient help reduce the distractions for me.
TrailMixRaisin 5y ago
While I try to do that as much as possible it does not work with my country's version of overdrive. I have to use my e-reader and its awful browser to search for books I want to read. As the website is not even optimized for mobile devices the whole process is rather painful. But this is not the fault of the e-reader.
- stinkytaco 5y ago
  Amazon has their hooks deep into Overdrive in exchange for supporting Kindle delivery for library books, so I doubt this will ever get better. Overdrive has moved its focus to its mobile app. I hope Kobo support will improve, but I am not optimistic.
  - dnilasor 5y ago
    It seems like they have deprecated their OD branded app in favor of the "Libby" app, right? Which does have better UX. It is really gross how Amazon feels the need to control the means of delivery used by most library systems :facepalm:
    - stinkytaco 5y ago
      Yes, it's Libby going forward. It fairness, Kindle delivery is very easy if you are not a tech savvy person, which a lot of library users are not. They have a Kindle because they desire the accessibility tools (larger printer, lighter weight) or their kids bought it for them or whatever. Being able to do delivery just like they would buy a book is great. But Amazon requires prominent Kindle branding and locks the Libby app out of their app store, so it's also somewhat annoying if you are a librarian who doesn't want to promote a specific brand. But the Kindle is such a huge part of our user base, it's hard to go back now. Other methods work, there's just nothing as smooth as the Kindle.
      - dnilasor 5y ago
        This is fair, and a good reminder for me that a Librarian's prerogative is to follow the means, mode, and preference of the readership with the goal of enabling folks to read. This is a noble goal and it's good that Amazon has contributed something to "accessibility" via a smoother delivery mechanism.
bccdee 5y ago
Yeah — I get my ebooks DRM-free and manage the contents of my Kobo through Calibre. It works great; I'm happy using my Kobo as little more than a screen for Calibre.

JasonFruit 5y ago

Mine was a disaster to type on. Slow, unreliable, and for some reason the closer to the right edge of the screen you got, the further left on each key you had to touch, until finally you would have to touch the key to the left of the one you want. But it was a great reader until a kid stepped on my bag a couple weeks ago. I ordered an Onyx Boox Nova Air, in hopes the software will be better. I also hope it's anywhere near as good and durable a reader.

mkr-hn 5y ago
That sounds like a faulty digitizer.

mikepurvis 5y ago

I feel the same about my Kindle Paperwhite— I just buy stuff on the Amazon website or sling mobis/epubs at it from Calibre. Zero patience for the on-device interface other than using it for reading.

detritus 5y ago

> The Kobo is an excellent reading device, but it is a very poor internet browsing device. Sounds like a feature to me - perfect!

AshamedCaptain 5y ago
Apparently these days you can release a half-baked product and get away with it by saying "the obvious lack of features is so that you can have a focused, distraction-free experience!" or something similar.
- glial 5y ago
  Do you complain about knives because they're not good at scooping? When something does one thing well, I don't care if it does auxiliary things poorly, or at all.
- morsch 5y ago
  They half-assed the capability to mix two liquids with my Kindle, as well, IPX8 certification nonwithstanding. Useless. I'm sticking with spoons.
- AdmiralAsshat 5y ago
  My counter would be that it was traditionally never the paperback book's job to help you navigate the bookstore. But yes, I'll grant that the Kobo's experimental browser (which I think is the component that powers all the pieces I mentioned above that are slow/cumbersome) is noticeably less responsive than the Kindle's. They could probably do some additional tweaking under-the-hood to make it more responsive. Beyond a certain point, however, the only way to make it faster would be to increase the hardware specs and put a beefier OS into it. But at that point, you wouldn't really have a dedicated eReader anymore--you'd have something closer to a conventional tablet with just an e-Ink screen. And there are definitely markets for those (see any number of e-Ink tablets running Android), but then the price starts skyrocketing.
  - AshamedCaptain 5y ago

colonwqbang 5y ago

It sounds crazy but I actually see this inconvenience as something of a plus. Getting out my kobo means that I will commit to reading for a while, similar to when I pick up a physical book. The fact that all other functions (like Web browsing) are so inconvenient help reduce the distractions for me.

TrailMixRaisin 5y ago

While I try to do that as much as possible it does not work with my country's version of overdrive. I have to use my e-reader and its awful browser to search for books I want to read. As the website is not even optimized for mobile devices the whole process is rather painful. But this is not the fault of the e-reader.

stinkytaco 5y ago
Amazon has their hooks deep into Overdrive in exchange for supporting Kindle delivery for library books, so I doubt this will ever get better. Overdrive has moved its focus to its mobile app. I hope Kobo support will improve, but I am not optimistic.
- dnilasor 5y ago
  It seems like they have deprecated their OD branded app in favor of the "Libby" app, right? Which does have better UX. It is really gross how Amazon feels the need to control the means of delivery used by most library systems :facepalm:
  - stinkytaco 5y ago
    Yes, it's Libby going forward. It fairness, Kindle delivery is very easy if you are not a tech savvy person, which a lot of library users are not. They have a Kindle because they desire the accessibility tools (larger printer, lighter weight) or their kids bought it for them or whatever. Being able to do delivery just like they would buy a book is great. But Amazon requires prominent Kindle branding and locks the Libby app out of their app store, so it's also somewhat annoying if you are a librarian who doesn't want to promote a specific brand. But the Kindle is such a huge part of our user base, it's hard to go back now. Other methods work, there's just nothing as smooth as the Kindle.
    - dnilasor 5y ago
      This is fair, and a good reminder for me that a Librarian's prerogative is to follow the means, mode, and preference of the readership with the goal of enabling folks to read. This is a noble goal and it's good that Amazon has contributed something to "accessibility" via a smoother delivery mechanism.

bccdee 5y ago

Yeah — I get my ebooks DRM-free and manage the contents of my Kobo through Calibre. It works great; I'm happy using my Kobo as little more than a screen for Calibre.