Kobo Forma

pwalker8 · 02-01-2021, 08:43 PM

I'm not sure if this is the proper spot for this but it seems as good a place as any. Right now, I use a large iPad Pro, an iPad mini and a Kobo Aura One (8 GB model). I like going back and forth between the iPad Pro and Kobo Aura. It makes a nice change of pace. The Aura is perfect for it's original purpose (camping) and works well in bed, but I find myself wishing for a bigger screen for every day reading and I would really like the 32 GB Forma for the 8 inch (as opposed to 6 inch) screen and so I could fit all my books on it. While the Kobo library function isn't nearly as nice as Calibre Companion, it's a heck of a lot better than the Kindle (I also have a Kindle paperwhite that I keep in the car for when I walk off and forget my iPad).

My question is for anyone with a Forma, is it basically like an Aura but bigger? i.e. does it have the same user interface, same library, same responsiveness?

Thanks.

petercreasey · 02-01-2021, 08:48 PM

While the Forma is, er, formidable...and excellent, stick with the Kobo Aura One. The KA1 is arguably the best ereader to date. The Forma is not an improvement unless you particularly like the layout and feel.

PeterT · 02-01-2021, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

My question is for anyone with a Forma, is it basically like an Aura but bigger? i.e. does it have the same user interface, same library, same responsiveness?

Thanks.

All Kobo eReaders (save for the original Kobo and Kobo WiFi) share the same software; so UI / Library etc are identical.

DNSB · 02-01-2021, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm not sure if this is the proper spot for this but it seems as good a place as any. Right now, I use a large iPad Pro, an iPad mini and a Kobo Aura One (8 GB model).

I wonder if you meant a Kobo Aura or a Kobo Aura One. The Aura One has a 7.8" screen so not that much smaller than the Forma's 8" screen. The Forma has a different shape than the Aura or Aura One and the physical page turn buttons.

Over all, my Forma seem slightly more responsive than my Aura One but the UI is not that different.

pwalker8 · 02-01-2021, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

I wonder if you meant a Kobo Aura or a Kobo Aura One. The Aura One has a 7.8" screen so not that much smaller than the Forma's 8" screen. The Forma has a different shape than the Aura or Aura One and the physical page turn buttons.

Over all, my Forma seem slightly more responsive than my Aura One but the UI is not that different.

I have the Aura One. Hum. I do want the extra memory (I'm down to 0.6 GB out of the 8 GB), but yea if it's the same basic size I'm not sure that extra memory is worth it. I was looking at the specs for the Aura on the Kobo website and it only mentioned the smaller form factor.

Thanks.

DNSB · 02-01-2021, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I have the Aura One. Hum. I do want the extra memory (I'm down to 0.6 GB out of the 8 GB), but yea if it's the same basic size I'm not sure that extra memory is worth it. I was looking at the specs for the Aura on the Kobo website and it only mentioned the smaller form factor.

Just perhaps, Kobo overused the Aura name.

Aura HD, Aura, Aura H20, Aura One, Aura H2O Edition 2 (v1 and v2) are the ones I remember.

JSWolf · 02-02-2021, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petercreasey

While the Forma is, er, formidable...and excellent, stick with the Kobo Aura One. The KA1 is arguably the best ereader to date. The Forma is not an improvement unless you particularly like the layout and feel.

The Forma weighs less then the KA1. Also, the Forma has a plastic backed screen instead of glass. The screen is slightly larger. And the Forma has a larger capacity battery.

pwalker8 · 02-02-2021, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Forma weighs less then the KA1. Also, the Forma has a plastic backed screen instead of glass. The screen is slightly larger. And the Forma has a larger capacity battery.

More battery life would definitely be a plus. I do kind of like the idea of using buttons to go from page to page rather than a touch screen. Kobo seems to be out of stock on the 32 GB Forma (and others) right now.

NiLuJe · 02-02-2021, 09:48 AM

If anything, I'd wager the Forma has a *smaller* battery than the KA1 (that's 1250mAh for the Forma, FWIW).

I mean, it absolutely *trounces* the KA1 in every other respect, but battery life, probably not

.

Mercador · 02-02-2021, 12:58 PM

Are you in a hurry? The flagship model is probably the next one to have a refresh later this year. On the screen size, you won't see a big difference between an Aura One and a Forma, it's 0.2".

hobnail · 02-02-2021, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I do kind of like the idea of using buttons to go from page to page rather than a touch screen.

It's nice having the option to use the buttons. Maybe I can swipe to turn the pages but I never remember, I always touch on the right side. If I'm in the HTML TOC that tap sometimes jumps me to whatever chapter I tapped near to so I always remember to use the buttons then.

rashkae · 02-02-2021, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Forma weighs less then the KA1. Also, the Forma has a plastic backed screen instead of glass. The screen is slightly larger. And the Forma has a larger capacity battery.

Not to mention how wretched the touch screen on the KA1 is... barely useable for anything besides turning the pages.

rashkae · 02-02-2021, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

If anything, I'd wager the Forma has a *smaller* battery than the KA1 (that's 1250mAh for the Forma, FWIW).

I mean, it absolutely *trounces* the KA1 in every other respect, but battery life, probably not

.

the Forma absolutely trounces the KA1 on Battery life.. (even though the battery is the the same size.)

Improvements in the processor aside, those RGB led's Kobo used in their first iteration of colour shifting were brutal to the smaller batteries.

The Forma easily goes twice as long (reading time with light on) as the KA1.

davidfor · 02-02-2021, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

If anything, I'd wager the Forma has a *smaller* battery than the KA1 (that's 1250mAh for the Forma, FWIW).

I'll take that wager. But, only because I remember the discussions when the Aura ONE came out that it had a 1200mAh battery (and that the Wiki confirms this).

NiLuJe · 02-03-2021, 12:28 AM

Huh, that's... interesting, I (mistakenly) assumed they'd slimmed it a bit

.

02-01-2021, 08:43 PM	#1
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Kobo Forma I'm not sure if this is the proper spot for this but it seems as good a place as any. Right now, I use a large iPad Pro, an iPad mini and a Kobo Aura One (8 GB model). I like going back and forth between the iPad Pro and Kobo Aura. It makes a nice change of pace. The Aura is perfect for it's original purpose (camping) and works well in bed, but I find myself wishing for a bigger screen for every day reading and I would really like the 32 GB Forma for the 8 inch (as opposed to 6 inch) screen and so I could fit all my books on it. While the Kobo library function isn't nearly as nice as Calibre Companion, it's a heck of a lot better than the Kindle (I also have a Kindle paperwhite that I keep in the car for when I walk off and forget my iPad). My question is for anyone with a Forma, is it basically like an Aura but bigger? i.e. does it have the same user interface, same library, same responsiveness? Thanks.

02-02-2021, 09:48 AM	#9
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047190 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	If anything, I'd wager the Forma has a smaller battery than the KA1 (that's 1250mAh for the Forma, FWIW). I mean, it absolutely trounces the KA1 in every other respect, but battery life, probably not . Last edited by NiLuJe; 02-02-2021 at 04:26 PM.

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02-01-2021, 08:48 PM	#2
petercreasey Wizard Posts: 1,187 Karma: 1119516 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony: PRS 950 & T1, Kobo: Aura One & Forma	While the Forma is, er, formidable...and excellent, stick with the Kobo Aura One. The KA1 is arguably the best ereader to date. The Forma is not an improvement unless you particularly like the layout and feel.

02-02-2021, 12:58 PM	#10
Mercador I'm not a number! Posts: 244 Karma: 11496 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Quebec City Device: Kobo Elipsa	Are you in a hurry? The flagship model is probably the next one to have a refresh later this year. On the screen size, you won't see a big difference between an Aura One and a Forma, it's 0.2".

02-03-2021, 12:28 AM	#15
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047190 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Huh, that's... interesting, I (mistakenly) assumed they'd slimmed it a bit .

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