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The Kobo Aura H20 measures 18x12.5.7cm and weights 228grams. It fits nicely in an adult hand and will slip easily into a bag or purse. The screen is 10.3x17.7cm, the screen in imperial measurements is 6.8inches and the screen is 1430x1080, the default text size gives 25 lines of what looks quite small text but even for someone of advanced years and less than perfect eyesight – me – found is very readable at 40cm distance.
Even in a darkened room this is very readable so when on the tube and the lights go out and switch to the emergency battery supply you can go on reading.
There is a single button on the top edge towards the right side to turn the unit on/off or to go into standby.
However when you touch the correct point on the screen what you are reading is just about half of the screen.
Above is a Home button top left, the amount of the current book read in % terms in the centre and on the right three further icons for brightness, battery state and three horizontal lines to take you to the top third of the screen and display Search with two columns of three other items below this, touch the three horizontal lines again to go back to full screen reading.
The base of the screen has < Books and then on the right side five further icons to allow you to make various adjustments including font and size of font etc. The last of these choices is another of the three vertical lines that this time brings up Annotations, Search in Book, Dictionary and Reading Settings.
So from this quick run through you will see that there are often more than one way to get to the same feature.
From the Home Screen you see the books in your Library, you can link to the Kobo Store – once you have setup Wi-fi – and there is an Extras button.
It is described as waterproof when the tight fitting rubber bung in the base is fully seated. Behind this are a micro USB port, micro SD slot and reset port.
You should of course make sure the unit is dry before you switch on and certainly before you remove the rubber bung and connect to a USB port.
In the box there is a micro USB to USB lead and a small cloth to remove finger marks from the screen. The screen surround is thankfully matt so fingermarks are not a huge problem.
In standby the battery is stated to last two months, as my review period was short I never found out how long it lasts with moderate reading.
I liked the unit and having a bright background made it like reading from a real book the screen was responsive and providing the Kobo store has what you want to read it could be a good buy.
The Kobo Aura H20 is available from the link below for £190.64 including delivery.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00N9ZVN90?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634
http://www.kobo.com/koboaurah2o
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