Canon DR-C125 desktop scanner.Kobo Vox (black)
Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc. Part number: K080-KBO-B
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While it's relatively affordable, the Kobo Vox is a truly unexceptional Android tablet, with nothing to recommend it over the identically priced Kindle Fire.
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CNET editors' review
Kobo Vox (black) price range: $70.00
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John Falcone
- Reviewed on: 12/13/2011
The good: The $199 Kobo Vox is a relatively affordable Android-based tablet, with a reasonably attractive design, and an expansion slot for more memory beyond its internal 8GB. Kobo's e-reading app and e-book store are integrated into the device and you also get access to GetJar for downloading free apps.
The bad: Books don't load as quickly as they should, the screen isn't incredibly responsive, the battery life is only OK, and the device ships with what appears to be a proprietary cable for charging and transferring files. There's no access to the full Android Market.
The bottom line: While it's relatively affordable, the Kobo Vox is a truly unexceptional Android tablet, with nothing to recommend it over the identically priced Kindle Fire.
User reviews
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Keeps my kids happy
by SwedishGary on December 12, 2011
Pros: *Easy to use.
*Options for Magazines and Newspapers are pretty good.
*Can get free eBooks from the library.
*Bright kids books.Cons: Finikie to start, but once updated was smoother.
Backing isn't as nice as the Touch.Summary: I think it's one of the better values out there, as far as an eReader goes. It's no tablet, but for my needs it's great and my ...
Summary: I think it's one of the better values out there, as far as an eReader goes. It's no tablet, but for my needs it's great and my 5 year old twins love to play with it.
I'd be pretty surprised if Kindle Cloud were to support Kobo, seeing as they are different, competing companies. The browser is a nice addition, but not really necessary to enjoy a robust eReader experience. Same deal with the apps...again, a nice accessory, but at the end of the day, the Vox is high-end eReader, and not a tablet. I remember the "death grip" with the iPhone. Sometimes it takes a couple of firmware updates to work-out the kinks.
Updated on Dec 12, 20112 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great eReader and starter tablet!
by psawr on November 22, 2011
Pros: 1. Spectacular screen.
2. External storage (micro SD Card).
3. Kobo library.Cons: 1. No Netflix or Youtube.
2. Slower processor.
3. Battery Life.Summary: PROS:
1. Spectacular screen. My downloaded movies look amazing. My magazines and photos are clear and vibrant. Excellent viewing outdoors. Obviously one of the best screens in the tablet market. ...Summary: PROS:
1. Spectacular screen. My downloaded movies look amazing. My magazines and photos are clear and vibrant. Excellent viewing outdoors. Obviously one of the best screens in the tablet market.
2. External storage (micro SD Card). Most tablets do not have external storage. That makes it (IMO) useless for travel. I want a place to store a bunch of HD movies for when I travel. Also want to store my magazines and books on it.
3. Kobo library. I love Kobo's book selection (Even interactive books just for the Vox!). I love the direction they are taking in social eReading. I have started to use Pulse, but it looks too new to have gotten going yet...
CONS:
1. No Netflix or Youtube. Developers are working on this, I am told - but can't get either to work reliably. Streaming is generally hit and miss on this thing.
2. Slower processor. This means games will probably not be as good.
3. Battery Life. There are bugs with the battery indicator and issues with sleep mode (where the battery is drained or you cannot wake it/it locks after a sleep and you need to do a reboot to get it to turn on). Battery life will improve once they implement a firmware upgrade to address these issues (which I am told will be SOON!). Currently turning off WiFi or turning off the Vox entirely will help improve battery life.
SUMMARY:
I love my Vox. Works well for watching downloaded movies, books, magazines and email. It does things that the iPad, PlayBook and Fire cannot do for me. The microSD card is essential for my intended use. I don't play games or do much streaming, so I am not too concerned about those flaws. I want to use it to read, read magazines, and watch movies when I don't have access to WiFi. (It does all these very well). I also want it as a back up to have internet access for casual browsing. It does all these things - and does them well.
I think Kobo customer support is rather lacking, but fortunately, I am resourceful enough to solve all my own software problems without their assistance, so I am not too concerned about it. I will be concerned if my Vox has a hardware issue within the warranty period. That could be a fun venture...NOT. If Kobo had excellent customer service, this product would have gotten a perfect score from me...2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Decent ereader with extra features
by kchoze on January 16, 2012
Pros: Excellent, bright screen
Nearly basic Android
Long standby life
Available outside the USCons: No Android Market
Can bog down and require reset from time to time
Not powerful enough to run intensive programs
Default reading app doesn't allow for modifications to text alignmentSummary: First of all, I'm in Canada, so no Kindle Fire or Nook tablet for me. It is likely that my rating would be a bit lower if I had ...
Summary: First of all, I'm in Canada, so no Kindle Fire or Nook tablet for me. It is likely that my rating would be a bit lower if I had access to these two.
Update:
Most official reviews are spot on for this device, but I think that they are a bit harsh for the device. This wasn't meant to be a 7-inch tablet offering a full tablet experience, it was meant to be an ereader with some extra features, and if you take this into consideration, you realize that it's a better device than many claim.
Many no-name companies have released "color ereaders" of that size for less, but the Kobo Vox has one big advantage to it: its wonderful screen. It is extremely bright with good viewing angles and a decent 1024x600 resolution. On that point, it's just as good as the best. It also runs a lightly modified Android OS, so if you can find APKs, you can install them without any fuss. You can install the Kindle app or Aldiko without problem. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the Android Market and the market that it comes with is pretty poor, with poor navigation and lacking many useful apps.
The processor in this however is pretty weak, as long as you only do one thing at a time, you should be okay, but if you try demanding apps and open them successively rapidly, the device may start bogging down horribly. This is the fate of many of them on public display in stores, which creates a very bad impression, but when you have your own Vox, it is much better.
Aside from reading, it can also play music, play videos, surf the net and watch youtube videos with no lag. It can play simple games like Angry Birds too. However, it cannot run Flash, nor would I want to try, honestly.
It has a microSD slot, which is always nice, and a decent speaker. It has few ports though, only an USB connector to plug it on a computer and an audio jack. So no HDMI and no USB host, but as I said, it's not a full-feature tablet, but an ereader with extra features. Its dimensions are okay and it's pretty light. They put a special texture on its back with a rubbery "quilted" texture. It's nice but forgettable. It's reasonably light, so it's easy to hold in one hand.
As to battery life, it's true that it isn't that great, around 5 hours I guess, but I have to point out that it has great standby life, so you don't have to shut it down if you don't expect to pick it up for a couple of days.
Finally, one nitpick, the default Kobo reading app has no settings for text alignment, so I can't have the text "justified". This is annoying, but nothing serious.
Updated on Jun 20, 2012
Following an official firmware update, the Vox has gained access to Google apps, including Maps and Google Play Store, which makes finding and installing apps easy as pie. Furthermore, the stability and performance of the device seems to have been increased. No one will mistake it for a dual core tablet, but apps crash less often and the device no longer freezes when too much is demanded of it. Battery life also seems to have increased.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Enjoying my Vox so much!
by Johnnyswishlist on December 30, 2011
Pros: Colour screen
Touch screen
Easy set up
Backlight to read in the darkCons: A bit heavy
Battery lifeSummary: I just got my Vox, it is pretty great! I knew that it would not be a replacement for my iPad as I have read the reviews, but I did ...
Summary: I just got my Vox, it is pretty great! I knew that it would not be a replacement for my iPad as I have read the reviews, but I did want to set the record straight that for an eReader it is an awesome product. I can do all the things I used to on my old eReader, plus I get added features like games and magazine reading. I also think it is great that it runs on an android operating system as this is constantly evolving and becoming more prominent! Things like weight and battery life can be expected of a newer product on the market. I just know I have to plug it in and let it fully charge. When the next versions come out, I bet they will be even better!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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For a eReader, the Vox is worth the money.
by kevsterlee on December 13, 2011
Pros: Big colour screen. Non-slip backing. Touchscreen. Easy to use. Android! Easy on the eyes, can read on it for hours. Decent battery life. Can watch Netflix on it :0) The price was wicked!
Cons: Has more weight than other products, but it doesn't bother me
Summary: The vox is a good buy. It's a amazing ereader! Great bang for the buck!
Summary: The vox is a good buy. It's a amazing ereader! Great bang for the buck!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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You can use OverDrive for library eBooks on the Vox
by iRead26 on November 30, 2011
Pros: Responsive touch screen
Easy internet browsing
No computer needed for setup or use
Attractive design
Adaptable plugCons: Short battery life
Limited app market
No Flash player
Weight
No file manager program (must download an app)
Need for frequent software updates
Magazines are only available through third party appSummary: It is possible to use library eBooks on the Vox, though it's not as straight-forward as the previous devices. You must download the OverDrive Media Console for Android directly ...
Summary: It is possible to use library eBooks on the Vox, though it's not as straight-forward as the previous devices. You must download the OverDrive Media Console for Android directly from the Vox's browser, and then use that app to download library eBooks. You will need an Adobe ID to authorize your device, but won't need to download Adobe Digital Editions since no transferring from a computer to your device is required.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Kobo had a good name until they came out with the VOX.
by BigCliff1946 on November 16, 2011
Pros: It sounds good when you read their hype!
Cons: If you like to borrow books from your local library it won't work with Adobe Digital Editions. Still can't get it to work with Over Drive after several hours of trying. Battery life is only 7 hours. It is heavy compaired to the Kobo Touch. Support=0!
Summary: We are very disapointed in the product. My wife loved her Kobo Touch and I thought this would be a nice Christmas gift for her. Saddly this thing is a ...
Summary: We are very disapointed in the product. My wife loved her Kobo Touch and I thought this would be a nice Christmas gift for her. Saddly this thing is a piece of junk in my opinion.
They didn't take into account that most people that like to borrow books from their local librarys use Adobe Digital Editions or Over Drive. Neither support the Kobo VOX although I am told that it should work with Over Drive but after several days of trying to get it to work, neither I or any of the staff at the library can figure out how.
I believe they pushed the release of this thing to capitalize on the Christmas market knowing full well that it wasn't ready.
KOBO just lost my vote, save your money and a lot of headaches!2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A terrible product.
by Poetscan on November 15, 2011
Pros: Fine if you only want to play games. No good for reading, watching movies etc. Browser not bad, though slow, but is not supported by Kindle Cloud, which I hoped might improve the reading experience. No such luck!
Cons: The 15,000 android apps mostly won`t run if they require download of Adobe Flash, for eg, as the Android Market doesn`t recognize the Vox as a device. So no movies can be watched on this tablet. Even the reader software doesn`t function properly.
Summary: Waste of money!
Summary: Waste of money!
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Lousy.Epic fail.
by paulkgillett on December 25, 2011
Pros: If you like to buy all of your books and newspapers, great.
Cons: I want to browse the web. Fail.
Must download adobe reader for PDFs. BUT, you need to download flash first. This device does not support flash, thus no PDFs.
PDFs - fail
Flash - fail.
Internet loading time - Fail.Summary: Epic fail.
Save your money!Summary: Epic fail.
Save your money!1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a great product when it is actually working!
by reesenjs on February 2, 2013
Pros: Lots of features - books, apps, photo gallery, etc
Cons: At just over a year old my Kobo Vox stopped charging and trying to get any kind of customer service or support has been a nightmare!! Just a series of email loops that go nowhere.
Summary: Do not buy this product - it sounds great but the customer service is non-existent! Absolutely horrible.
Summary: Do not buy this product - it sounds great but the customer service is non-existent! Absolutely horrible.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc.
- Part number: K080-KBO-B
- Description: Shop over 2.2 million books - 1 million free. Experience color books for all ages on the brilliant 7" screen. Take reading to new level discussing books with other readers and sharing your reading life to Facebook. Built for connected life, Kobo Vox offers Wi-Fi, web browsing, Facebook, email, music, games, plus over 15,000 apps for Android!
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type eBook reader
- Operating System Android 2.3
- Built-in devices Display,
Touchscreen - Dimensions (W x D x H) 5 in x 0.5 in x 7.6 in
- Weight 14.2 oz
- Color Black
- Features Built-in dictionary,
Web browsing,
E-Mail - Packaged contents USB cable,
Power adapter Display
- Type 7 in,
Color AFFS+ TFT active matrix - Display Resolution 1024 x 600
- Touchscreen Yes - Yes
- Display type 7 in,
TFT active matrix - Max resolution 1024 x 600
Processor
- Processor Clock Speed 800 MHz
Memory
- Flash Memory 8 GB Integrated
- Installed RAM 512 MB
- RAM 512 MB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card,
microSDHC - Max Supported Capacity 32 GB
- Flash memory form factor Integrated
- Flash memory installed 8 GB
Communications
- Wireless Connectivity 802.11b/g/n
Operating System / Software
- OS provided Android 2.3
EBook Reader
- Supported Text Formats EPUB
- Supported Still Image Formats PNG,
JPEG,
BMP,
GIF - Features Touch screen ,
Expandable memory ,
Wi-Fi
Multimedia
- Supported Digital Video Formats MPEG-4,
3GP - Audio Speaker
- Supported Digital Audio Formats AAC ,
WAV ,
OGG ,
FLAC ,
MP3 ,
MIDI Input Device
- Type Touch-screen
Power
- Power supply device Power adapter
Expansion and Connectivity
- Interfaces 1 x Headphones
Battery
- Run Time 7 hour(s)
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Power adapter , USB cable,
Power adapter - Cables Included 1 x USB cable
Dimensions & Weight
- Width 5 in
- Depth 0.5 in
- Height 7.6 in
Product series
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Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc.
Specs: Android 2.3,
800 MHz,
512 MB,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
7 in,
Color TFT active matrix - Yes,
5 in x 0.5 in x 7.6 in,
14.2 oz -
Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc.
Specs: Android 2.3,
800 MHz,
512 MB,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
7 in,
Color TFT active matrix - Yes,
5.06 in x 0.53 in x 7.57 in,
14.2 oz -
Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc.
Specs: Android 2.3,
800 MHz,
512 MB,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
7 in,
Color TFT active matrix - Yes,
5.06 in x 0.53 in x 7.57 in,
14.2 oz -
Manufacturer: KOBO, Inc.
Specs: Android 2.3,
800 MHz,
512 MB,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
7 in,
Color TFT active matrix - Yes,
5.06 in x 0.53 in x 7.57 in,
14.2 oz
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse KOBO, Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:KOBO, Inc.
- Address:
82 Peter Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2G5
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