Kobo Nia Official Announcement

pdurrant · 07-15-2020, 04:32 AM

Kobo have announced their new entry-level ereader, the Kobo Nia.
Canadian Store / UK Store / US Store / French Store

It will be shipping from 21st July 2020, and Kobo are taking pre-orders now at
CA$129.99 / £89.99 / US$99.99 / €99.99

Screen: 6" 212 PPI Carta E Ink display, 1024 × 758 resolution
Weight: 172 g
Size: 112.4 x 159.3 x 9.2 mm
Storage: 8 GB
Front-light: ComfortLight, a one-colour light with adjustable brightness
Customizability: TypeGenius: 12 different fonts and over 50 font styles
Exclusive font weight and sharpness settings
Supported formats: 15 file formats supported natively (EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR)
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Micro USB
Battery Life: 1000 mAh, weeks of battery life*

pdurrant · 07-15-2020, 04:48 AM

I can't see the attraction.

The Kobo Clara HD for £20/$20/€30 more seems to be a much better deal (higher resolution screen, and adjustable colour frontlight), unless price is the overriding factor, in which case the base model Kindle is £20/$20/€30 cheaper still.

kyôdai · 07-15-2020, 04:52 AM

Also available starting July 21 is an official Sleep Cover. The case comes in three different colours (Aqua, Lemon and Black) and will set you back $19.99 / £19.99.

-> https://us.kobobooks.com/collections...nia-sleepcover

murraypaul · 07-15-2020, 04:59 AM

I think if you have read up about eReaders then the decision tree is:
a) I want to buy a Kobo rather than a Kindle (either to avoid Amazon lock-in or to get access to Overdrive library support in countries where that is available
b) I'd like to spend as little as possible

But you've probably got to have started with a) in advance.

Alternatively, if you've wandered in a store that has the Kindle Basic, the Nia and either the Clara or Paperwhite on display, you try them all and decide that the Basic screen isn't quite good enough, but the Clara/Paperwhite screens aren't enough better to pay the extra for, so you go for the one in the middle.

JSWolf · 07-15-2020, 05:28 AM

The Canadian link to the Nia. In Canada, the Kindle basic costs $119.99 where the Nia costs $129.99.

https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-nia

JSWolf · 07-15-2020, 05:29 AM

Other then the better screen, the Nia has one thing going for it that the Kindle Basic will never have going for it. That is better firmware support. Kobo supports older Readers much better then any other company. Where else can sue older hardware still run current firmware? Heck, Amazon has even EOLed the PW3.

JSWolf · 07-15-2020, 07:38 AM

Kobo has a video out on the Nia.

JSWolf · 07-15-2020, 08:27 AM

Techradar's article on the Nia.

https://www.techradar.com/news/kobo-...BT=94351463061

tourneur · 07-15-2020, 08:37 AM

What a dud of a device. Like I mentioned before, Kobo would have served the customers better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara. Move forwards, not backwards.

John F · 07-15-2020, 09:03 AM

Under supported formats it says "Flepub". What is that?

AZBronco · 07-15-2020, 09:19 AM

I'm trying to understand the price point of Nia. All I can think of is they have a device they can regularly put on sale for $79 which is really attractive and able to compete with the regular sales of the basic Kindle (which is also only $20 less than Paperwhite based on list price).

murraypaul · 07-15-2020, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Under supported formats it says "Flepub". What is that?

Kobo's Fixed Layout ePub.

ps67 · 07-15-2020, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Under supported formats it says "Flepub". What is that?

Fixed-Layout EPUB? I have found this book, so may be:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tod...o-plans-flepub

Here Nia costs € 99,99 while Clara costs € 129,99.

I am not interested, if I would search a 6" Kobo I would buy a Clara, but somebody could like the lower price (€ 30,00 of difference).

haydnfan · 07-15-2020, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tourneur

What a dud of a device. Like I mentioned before, Kobo would have served the customers better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara. Move forwards, not backwards.

I don't understand your post at all. What meaningful change could the Clara have that by all would seen as an upgrade? A color screen, but it seems too early. Everything else is divisive: glossy screen, waterproofing, page turn buttons.

All of the "upgrades" in recent years have not been upgrades. They've just been changing the design of the shell.

rcentros · 07-15-2020, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tourneur

What a dud of a device. Like I mentioned before, Kobo would have served the customers better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara. Move forwards, not backwards.

No move backwards. The Clara is still offered. Kobo is simply competing at the low-end price range again. I thought this would have happened months ago when the Aura 2 sold out. I don't understand why a low-end eReader is considered a bad idea. Not everyone needs, wants or can afford a higher cost eReader. Having more choices is good.

07-15-2020, 04:32 AM	#1
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 72,750 Karma: 311192104 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	Kobo Nia Official Announcement Kobo have announced their new entry-level ereader, the Kobo Nia. Canadian Store / UK Store / US Store / French Store It will be shipping from 21st July 2020, and Kobo are taking pre-orders now at CA$129.99 / £89.99 / US$99.99 / €99.99 Screen: 6" 212 PPI Carta E Ink display, 1024 × 758 resolution Weight: 172 g Size: 112.4 x 159.3 x 9.2 mm Storage: 8 GB Front-light: ComfortLight, a one-colour light with adjustable brightness Customizability: TypeGenius: 12 different fonts and over 50 font styles Exclusive font weight and sharpness settings Supported formats: 15 file formats supported natively (EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR) Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Micro USB Battery Life: 1000 mAh, weeks of battery life* Last edited by pdurrant; 07-15-2020 at 09:40 AM.

07-15-2020, 04:48 AM	#2
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 72,750 Karma: 311192104 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	I can't see the attraction. The Kobo Clara HD for £20/$20/€30 more seems to be a much better deal (higher resolution screen, and adjustable colour frontlight), unless price is the overriding factor, in which case the base model Kindle is £20/$20/€30 cheaper still. Last edited by pdurrant; 07-15-2020 at 09:41 AM.

07-15-2020, 04:59 AM	#4
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	I think if you have read up about eReaders then the decision tree is: a) I want to buy a Kobo rather than a Kindle (either to avoid Amazon lock-in or to get access to Overdrive library support in countries where that is available b) I'd like to spend as little as possible But you've probably got to have started with a) in advance. Alternatively, if you've wandered in a store that has the Kindle Basic, the Nia and either the Clara or Paperwhite on display, you try them all and decide that the Basic screen isn't quite good enough, but the Clara/Paperwhite screens aren't enough better to pay the extra for, so you go for the one in the middle. Last edited by murraypaul; 07-15-2020 at 05:24 AM.

07-15-2020, 05:28 AM	#5
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,977 Karma: 138588794 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The Canadian link to the Nia. In Canada, the Kindle basic costs $119.99 where the Nia costs $129.99. https://ca.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-nia Last edited by JSWolf; 07-15-2020 at 05:32 AM.

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07-15-2020, 04:52 AM	#3
kyôdai Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 6298862 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: none	Also available starting July 21 is an official Sleep Cover. The case comes in three different colours (Aqua, Lemon and Black) and will set you back $19.99 / £19.99. -> https://us.kobobooks.com/collections...nia-sleepcover

07-15-2020, 05:29 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,977 Karma: 138588794 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Other then the better screen, the Nia has one thing going for it that the Kindle Basic will never have going for it. That is better firmware support. Kobo supports older Readers much better then any other company. Where else can sue older hardware still run current firmware? Heck, Amazon has even EOLed the PW3.

07-15-2020, 07:38 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,977 Karma: 138588794 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Kobo has a video out on the Nia.

07-15-2020, 08:27 AM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,977 Karma: 138588794 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Techradar's article on the Nia. https://www.techradar.com/news/kobo-...BT=94351463061

07-15-2020, 08:37 AM	#9
tourneur Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 385602 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kobo Libra	What a dud of a device. Like I mentioned before, Kobo would have served the customers better by releasing a Clara 2 and dropping the price of the original Clara. Move forwards, not backwards.

07-15-2020, 09:03 AM	#10
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,619 Karma: 67894585 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	Under supported formats it says "Flepub". What is that?

07-15-2020, 09:19 AM	#11
AZBronco Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2020 Device: Kbo Libra H2O	I'm trying to understand the price point of Nia. All I can think of is they have a device they can regularly put on sale for $79 which is really attractive and able to compete with the regular sales of the basic Kindle (which is also only $20 less than Paperwhite based on list price).

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