Libra 2 Libra 2 ergonomics?

momijizukamori · 10-25-2022, 07:25 PM

So I've got an old secondhand Kobo Glo (the original, not the HD), and it is still kicking, but the battery is starting to go a little bit and I'm looking to maybe upgrade. The Libra 2 is top of the choice list, but I was curious how people felt about the ergonomics of holding it. As I've been reading more over the pandemic, I've started to notice that holding my Glo often puts my wrist/thumb in not-so-great positions (I already have some mild RSI issues there, unfortunately) - something about the thickness in combination with the width of the bezel is just slightly awkward to hold after a while.

I know the Libra 2 has a wider, slightly curved side to it, but it's really hard to tell from photos alone what it's like to hold it, so I'd love to hear from people who own one! Particularly in comparison to the Glo (or something similarly proportioned like the Clara or Nia)

Barty · 10-26-2022, 12:26 PM

The lip on the side where you hold it is raised slightly. I don't like this. I also don't like that the buttons are too close to the edge. But i don't have normal hands and everyone's hands are different. Big YMMV. Unfortunately the only way to know for sure is to try it out for yourself

If you live in the US, I recommend getting it from Walmart.com for easy return. They pay shipping both ways

meeera · 10-26-2022, 01:05 PM

It's very comfortable my hands, so I guess my hands are normaller than Barty's? (But arthritic.) I like the slightly raised lip; my thumb rests perfectly just inside it.

Noticeably better than the Glo, for me

Ned · 10-26-2022, 01:08 PM

Great for me.
I hold it in my left hand with my thumb over the Next Page button and just squeeze to turn pages.
I do this for hours on end without a problem

Sirtel · 10-26-2022, 01:09 PM

It's not bad, IMO, but neither is it as good as the first Libra was. It's a bit too thick for my taste. YMMV, as Barty said.

Aleron Ives · 10-26-2022, 05:30 PM

The ability to invert the page turn buttons is a critical ergonomic feature for me. With the top button set as "next page", I can hold the Libra 2 with my thumb resting over the top button and apply slight pressure to turn pages without having to change my grip at all. With the default setup, I would have to move my thumb around to reach the bottom button for page turning, as I can't hold the Libra with my thumb resting over the bottom button.

JSWolf · 10-26-2022, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momijizukamori

I know the Libra 2 has a wider, slightly curved side to it, but it's really hard to tell from photos alone what it's like to hold it, so I'd love to hear from people who own one! Particularly in comparison to the Glo (or something similarly proportioned like the Clara or Nia)

I find the Libra 2 quite easy to hold. I don't use the buttons. But if I did, I would not be bothered by how close they are to the edge.

Deobulakenyo · 10-26-2022, 08:03 PM

I was not a fan of the Libra 2 lip and the curvy design on the buttons side when i first saw it during the announcement.

But it made sense after using it. the curvy edge provide a more firm and comfortable grip for the thumb when you are reading.

sdothum · 10-27-2022, 03:08 PM

i have no problem reading with the Libra 2 single handed for hours on end (hard core user here).

i even patched it so both buttons register as "next page" for single press, offering even more possible hand positions. Fast page advance (button held down), in this instance, reverts to the normal split settings (so, you don't loose that functionality -- which is pretty cool).

As stated before, YMMV, depending on your hands/dexterity etc. For me, buttons are mandatory for my ereader.

Aleron Ives · 10-27-2022, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdothum

i even patched it so both buttons register as "next page" for single press, offering even more possible hand positions. Fast page advance (button held down), in this instance, reverts to the normal split settings (so, you don't loose that functionality -- which is pretty cool).

Do you need a patch for fast page turning? When I press and hold a page turn button, it turns one page and then does nothing.

Marcy · 10-27-2022, 09:19 PM

I find it quite ergonomic. I hold it in my left hand, with the device resting on my left pinky and my thumb on the bottom button which I have set to page forward. If I want to go back a page I just move my thumb to the right and tap the edge of the screen, as I would have to readjust my grip to reach the top bottom as they are quite far apart (in finger distance terms).

momijizukamori · 10-27-2022, 10:46 PM

Thanks for the replies, everyone! And yeah, definitely a YMMV situation - really wish you could still try models out in person, though it's good to know about Walmart's return policy there! I have tiny child hands which definitely causes issues with phones, but it's hard to tell if that's a complicating factor here. Definitely sounds like it may be at least worth trying for me, though!

meeera · 10-28-2022, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Do you need a patch for fast page turning? When I press and hold a page turn button, it turns one page and then does nothing.

Works properly on my unpatched Libra 2, with a kepub.

jackie_w · 10-28-2022, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

Do you need a patch for fast page turning? When I press and hold a page turn button, it turns one page and then does nothing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

Works properly on my unpatched Libra 2, with a kepub.

I think fast page-turning may be a kepub-only feature. My Libra2 is (very) patched and fast page-turning works OK in kepubs but not epubs.

JSWolf · 10-28-2022, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackie_w

I think fast page-turning may be a kepub-only feature. My Libra2 is (very) patched and fast page-turning works OK in kepubs but not epubs.

On my Libra 2, fast page turn does not work with ePub. But it does work with KePub. I am patched, but I don't think any of the patches would interfere with fast page turning.

10-25-2022, 07:25 PM	#1
momijizukamori Member Posts: 12 Karma: 210 Join Date: Sep 2018 Device: Nook Simple Touch (rooted), Kobo Glo	Libra 2 ergonomics? So I've got an old secondhand Kobo Glo (the original, not the HD), and it is still kicking, but the battery is starting to go a little bit and I'm looking to maybe upgrade. The Libra 2 is top of the choice list, but I was curious how people felt about the ergonomics of holding it. As I've been reading more over the pandemic, I've started to notice that holding my Glo often puts my wrist/thumb in not-so-great positions (I already have some mild RSI issues there, unfortunately) - something about the thickness in combination with the width of the bezel is just slightly awkward to hold after a while. I know the Libra 2 has a wider, slightly curved side to it, but it's really hard to tell from photos alone what it's like to hold it, so I'd love to hear from people who own one! Particularly in comparison to the Glo (or something similarly proportioned like the Clara or Nia)

10-26-2022, 01:05 PM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	It's very comfortable my hands, so I guess my hands are normaller than Barty's? (But arthritic.) I like the slightly raised lip; my thumb rests perfectly just inside it. Noticeably better than the Glo, for me Last edited by meeera; 10-26-2022 at 01:14 PM.

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10-26-2022, 12:26 PM	#2
Barty doofus Posts: 2,549 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	The lip on the side where you hold it is raised slightly. I don't like this. I also don't like that the buttons are too close to the edge. But i don't have normal hands and everyone's hands are different. Big YMMV. Unfortunately the only way to know for sure is to try it out for yourself If you live in the US, I recommend getting it from Walmart.com for easy return. They pay shipping both ways

10-26-2022, 01:08 PM	#4
Ned Ebook reader Posts: 389 Karma: 5899335 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: York, England Device: Kobo Aura H2O (ed 2, v1), Kobo Forma, Kobo Libra 2	Great for me. I hold it in my left hand with my thumb over the Next Page button and just squeeze to turn pages. I do this for hours on end without a problem

10-26-2022, 01:09 PM	#5
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,466 Karma: 239219453 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	It's not bad, IMO, but neither is it as good as the first Libra was. It's a bit too thick for my taste. YMMV, as Barty said.

10-26-2022, 05:30 PM	#6
Aleron Ives Wizard Posts: 1,687 Karma: 16307824 Join Date: Sep 2022 Device: Kobo Libra 2	The ability to invert the page turn buttons is a critical ergonomic feature for me. With the top button set as "next page", I can hold the Libra 2 with my thumb resting over the top button and apply slight pressure to turn pages without having to change my grip at all. With the default setup, I would have to move my thumb around to reach the bottom button for page turning, as I can't hold the Libra with my thumb resting over the bottom button.

10-26-2022, 08:03 PM	#8
Deobulakenyo Guru Posts: 706 Karma: 2153490 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Stupid Philippines Device: Kobo Libra 2, Boyue Likebook P78	I was not a fan of the Libra 2 lip and the curvy design on the buttons side when i first saw it during the announcement. But it made sense after using it. the curvy edge provide a more firm and comfortable grip for the thumb when you are reading.

10-27-2022, 03:08 PM	#9
sdothum Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 2062 Join Date: Oct 2021 Device: Kobo Libra 2	i have no problem reading with the Libra 2 single handed for hours on end (hard core user here). i even patched it so both buttons register as "next page" for single press, offering even more possible hand positions. Fast page advance (button held down), in this instance, reverts to the normal split settings (so, you don't loose that functionality -- which is pretty cool). As stated before, YMMV, depending on your hands/dexterity etc. For me, buttons are mandatory for my ereader.

10-27-2022, 09:19 PM	#11
Marcy Guru Posts: 897 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	I find it quite ergonomic. I hold it in my left hand, with the device resting on my left pinky and my thumb on the bottom button which I have set to page forward. If I want to go back a page I just move my thumb to the right and tap the edge of the screen, as I would have to readjust my grip to reach the top bottom as they are quite far apart (in finger distance terms).

10-27-2022, 10:46 PM	#12
momijizukamori Member Posts: 12 Karma: 210 Join Date: Sep 2018 Device: Nook Simple Touch (rooted), Kobo Glo	Thanks for the replies, everyone! And yeah, definitely a YMMV situation - really wish you could still try models out in person, though it's good to know about Walmart's return policy there! I have tiny child hands which definitely causes issues with phones, but it's hard to tell if that's a complicating factor here. Definitely sounds like it may be at least worth trying for me, though!

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