Would a Libra H20 Meet These Needs?

[MrStudent]

Hi folks.

Apologies for any ignorance but I've never seen, smelt or touched a dedicated e-reader.

I'm after an e-reader for reading in bed. The main things I want to read on it are novels, but also work-related papers, PDFs, and textbooks. I have an iPad but I look at a screen all day so a dedicated device may be kinder to me and help avoid distractions.

Sometimes there are colours within my work-related reading but it's predominantly text.

Would I have to do any annoying zooming, pinching, panning hand motions to read across a line or is text automatically displayed optimally? Are settings generally intuitive or easy to change for optimal display?

To summarise: would a Libra H20 work well for reading textbooks and PDFs / academic papers or should I be looking at something else?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

To summarise: would a Libra H20 work well for reading textbooks and PDFs / academic papers or should I be looking at something else?

No. You need at least 10'' screen for PDF. As to novels, for them the Libra would be an excellent choice. But not for PDF.

Onyx readers with large screens are generally considered the best choice for PDF. Onyx runs Android, so you can install apps on them, KOReader for example (many people use that for PDF). You can install KOReader on the Libra too, but 7'' is just too small for PDF.

[MrStudent]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

No. You need at least 10'' screen for PDF. As to novels, for them the Libra would be an excellent choice. But not for PDF.

Onyx readers with large screens are generally considered the best choice for PDF. Onyx runs Android, so you can install apps on them, KOReader for example (many people use that for PDF). You can install KOReader on the Libra too, but 7'' is just too small for PDF.

Thank you - what about textbooks?
10 inch may be a little too big for me and have some overlap with my iPad.
I suppose I could use the iPad for PDFs.

Some things to think about.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Thank you - what about textbooks?
10 inch may be a little too big for me and have some overlap with my iPad.
I suppose I could use the iPad for PDFs.

Some things to think about.

Sorry, I know nothing about textbooks. If they're in a reflowable format, the Libra should do. If they have a fixed layout like PDF, then the same caveats apply as with PDF.

[MrStudent]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Sorry, I know nothing about textbooks. If they're in a reflowable format, the Libra should do. If they have a fixed layout like PDF, then the same caveats apply as with PDF.

Thank you. You couldn't advise on the screen refreshing could you? Some people have suggested this as a potential problem and I really want to reduce eye strain while reading in bed (usually in total darkness).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Thank you. You couldn't advise on the screen refreshing could you? Some people have suggested this as a potential problem and I really want to reduce eye strain while reading in bed (usually in total darkness).

Refresh rate is faster then you can move your eyes from the last line to the top of the new page.

Most textbooks are in PDF so if you really want eInk, you will need a large enough screen. I cannot say if an 8" screen is large enough for you. But 10.3" should be plenty large enough. The problem is that if it's too large for reading novels, then you could get two eInk Readers one for PDF and one for everything else.

[MrStudent]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Refresh rate is faster then you can move your eyes from the last line to the top of the new page.

Most textbooks are in PDF so if you really want eInk, you will need a large enough screen. I cannot say if an 8" screen is large enough for you. But 10.3" should be plenty large enough. The problem is that if it's too large for reading novels, then you could get two eInk Readers one for PDF and one for everything else.

Thanks - I'm guessing you have no real qualms with the display or have had any eye strain issues?

Do you know if Kobo is likely to update this model any time soon? I'd hate to purchase before an update/upgrade.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Do you know if Kobo is likely to update this model any time soon? I'd hate to purchase before an update/upgrade.

The Libra is not likely to be updated this year, as there are older models (the Clara and the Forma) not yet updated.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Thanks - I'm guessing you have no real qualms with the display or have had any eye strain issues?

Do you know if Kobo is likely to update this model any time soon? I'd hate to purchase before an update/upgrade.

There is a new model due out sometime thi year from what we think based on an FCC filing by Kobo. We think it may be a Forma update but that's just a guess.

So if you want to wait, you'll e able to get the new mode if that is what you want.

[kandwo]

If you are set on buying a Kobo, then you'd have to go for the Forma and read PDFs in landscape mode, which could work well depending on the the PDFs and your preferences. I have an Onyx Boox Nova 3, which is the same size as a Kobo Forma and can read most PDFs just fine in landscape mode; on the other hand I don't know how well this would apply to the Forma, since Onyx is better on both the hardware and software side for PDFs (faster processor, better customization options in Neoreader). I also crop the margins to zoom in on the text.

I seldom read PDFs, though. If they were my main reading, I'd just buy an Onyx Note (Air or 3). They are expensive, however.

[MrStudent]

I'm thinking I should go for a libra or similar and use it exclusively for novels and the like.
I have an iPad so I can continue to use this for PDFs.

Thanks as this has helped me realise that I asking a lot of a budget ereader.

[MrStudent]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is a new model due out sometime thi year from what we think based on an FCC filing by Kobo. We think it may be a Forma update but that's just a guess.

So if you want to wait, you'll e able to get the new mode if that is what you want.

Sorry - I forgot to ask if you had noticed any problems with uneven lighting with the Libra?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Sorry - I forgot to ask if you had noticed any problems with uneven lighting with the Libra?

He doesn't have a Libra. I do, though. And yes, I noticed at first that the light was a bit uneven, but I got used to it soon and now I don't see it at all, unless I really make an effort. It isn't all that bad.

[MrStudent]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

He doesn't have a Libra. I do, though. And yes, I noticed at first that the light was a bit uneven, but I got used to it soon and now I don't see it at all, unless I really make an effort. It isn't all that bad.

Great thank you. As I will be reading in bed for 30 mins or so in darkness most nights, do you think this device is a good choice?

Does it compare favourably with your Oasis?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrStudent

Great thank you. As I will be reading in bed for 30 mins or so in darkness most nights, do you think this device is a good choice?

Does it compare favourably with your Oasis?

Yes, it's a good choice, IMHO. The Oasis has a bit more even light, but less customization and library management options than the Libra. I like them both and switch between them.