Forma Disappointed with new Forma

ec1matt · 09-28-2019, 02:02 PM

Finally took the plunge and decided that, although my 2013 Paperwhite is still going strong, I'd treat myself to a new ebook device. Having seen both the Forma and the Oasis in John Lewis, I decided the bigger screen was worth having.

Long story short, the Forma has managed to find my wifi network only once, as part of the initial setup process. Once it downloaded an update, it hasn't been able to find my wireless network again, despite multiple restarts of the router and the Forma.

In the end, I gave up and used the Kobo Desktop to set up using a USB cable which seemed like a return to the dark ages - I remember having to use USB with my 2009 Sony PRS-505.

I managed to purchase a book but the device wouldn't eject either from the Kobo Desktop app or using the USB in Windows 10 so I shut down the computer to be on the safe side. At least my book had arrived on the device.

Alas, the screen is terrible - the brighter strip on the grip side of the screen is really distracting. Setting brightness to 30% and cranking natural light up to 100% makes it bearable, but I didn't pay £240 for a reader that's bearable.

I think I'm going to return it

Fozkas · 09-28-2019, 02:45 PM

Try another wifi channel in the router settings and/or force 2.4hz

It's not uncommon for devices non computer/smartphone to struggle on some networks.

It can randomly happen on e readers, nintendo ds, playstation, etc.

Give it a try.

Gibbo · 09-28-2019, 02:45 PM

Look's like you have a defective unit.

NiLuJe · 09-28-2019, 04:41 PM

I'm fairly sure the WiFi issue pales in comparison to how the OP feels about the screen

. Which I definitely get. If you can't live with it, especially if your usual reading conditions involve being faced with it repeatedly, then, for sure, it'll piss you off.

ec1matt · 09-29-2019, 08:40 AM

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

The screen was the major issue. I had another look at it after I posted here and to my eyes it's unacceptable.

I've returned it and will await either a second generation Forma or an 8 inch Kindle.

Anyssia · 09-29-2019, 02:39 PM

It happened to me once with a Kobo... Glo maybe? I don't remember which, but the screen was buggy and slow from the first day I bought it. I contacted them and they offered for me to go back to the store and exchange the device for another new one. I did the exchange and the new one was perfect, it really was my original one which had a defect.

NiLuJe · 09-29-2019, 03:45 PM

In this case, the Forma's sidebar of suck is a known design flaw, so, that probably won't help (much). I'm still not entirely convinced of how much of a difference there can be on that front between different devices in the line, but, it's still a frontlight, so, probably quite a bit, to a certain extent. But it's unlikely to be completely unnoticeable.

This did make me wonder if I found it less annoying than blobs of colors and/or shadows and/or gradients, and, at least in my case, I think it is: I kept mine, and I'm happy with it. It's basically the only issue I have with it. Still, I don't want to downplay it, I don't want people to forget about it, and I really wish it were fixed.

pazos · 09-29-2019, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

In this case, the Forma's sidebar of suck is a known design flaw, so, that probably won't help (much). I'm still not entirely convinced of how much of a difference there can be on that front between different devices in the line, but, it's still a frontlight, so, probably quite a bit, to a certain extent. But it's unlikely to be completely unnoticeable.

I tried three different units before discarding the model as a whole. I tried to self-convince that each new unit was slightly better than the last one but I never fooled myself completely.

As you said the sidebar of suck was present in all the units I tested.

maddz · 09-29-2019, 04:27 PM

Then I guess I've been lucky. The Forma 32GB I got last week seems perfect screen-wise.

I wonder if it's the 8GB models that are flaky?

Urdu · 09-29-2019, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Then I guess I've been lucky. The Forma 32GB I got last week seems perfect screen-wise.

I wonder if it's the 8GB models that are flaky?

Could you make a picture of the screen? I've never seen a Forma with a perfect screen.

Lemons · 09-29-2019, 07:43 PM

I was curious also about the Forma and had a question, with the new invert screen under the dev tools would the distracting strip be better in black on white?

NiLuJe · 09-29-2019, 08:00 PM

No idea, but the ghosting nightmode involves would certainly be worse than anything else you could throw at me

.

ratinox · 09-29-2019, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemons

I was curious also about the Forma and had a question, with the new invert screen under the dev tools would the distracting strip be better in black on white?

The band near the buttons is a quirk of the lighting system. It's not directly affected by the e-ink panel. That said, the visibility of the band is proportional to how white the pixels underneath are so yes, inverse mode is "better".

Or you can do what I do: turn the light off.

maddz · 09-30-2019, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urdu

Could you make a picture of the screen? I've never seen a Forma with a perfect screen.

Remind me at the weekend please!

Urdu · 10-05-2019, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

Remind me at the weekend please!

A screenshot reminder

09-28-2019, 02:02 PM	#1
ec1matt Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 370 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, Paperwhite 2013, Sony PRS-505(RIP)	Disappointed with new Forma Finally took the plunge and decided that, although my 2013 Paperwhite is still going strong, I'd treat myself to a new ebook device. Having seen both the Forma and the Oasis in John Lewis, I decided the bigger screen was worth having. Long story short, the Forma has managed to find my wifi network only once, as part of the initial setup process. Once it downloaded an update, it hasn't been able to find my wireless network again, despite multiple restarts of the router and the Forma. In the end, I gave up and used the Kobo Desktop to set up using a USB cable which seemed like a return to the dark ages - I remember having to use USB with my 2009 Sony PRS-505. I managed to purchase a book but the device wouldn't eject either from the Kobo Desktop app or using the USB in Windows 10 so I shut down the computer to be on the safe side. At least my book had arrived on the device. Alas, the screen is terrible - the brighter strip on the grip side of the screen is really distracting. Setting brightness to 30% and cranking natural light up to 100% makes it bearable, but I didn't pay £240 for a reader that's bearable. I think I'm going to return it

09-29-2019, 03:45 PM	#7
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	In this case, the Forma's sidebar of suck is a known design flaw, so, that probably won't help (much). I'm still not entirely convinced of how much of a difference there can be on that front between different devices in the line, but, it's still a frontlight, so, probably quite a bit, to a certain extent. But it's unlikely to be completely unnoticeable. This did make me wonder if I found it less annoying than blobs of colors and/or shadows and/or gradients, and, at least in my case, I think it is: I kept mine, and I'm happy with it. It's basically the only issue I have with it. Still, I don't want to downplay it, I don't want people to forget about it, and I really wish it were fixed. Last edited by NiLuJe; 09-29-2019 at 03:51 PM.

09-29-2019, 08:00 PM	#12
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	No idea, but the ghosting nightmode involves would certainly be worse than anything else you could throw at me . Last edited by NiLuJe; 09-29-2019 at 09:45 PM.

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09-28-2019, 02:45 PM	#2
Fozkas Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2019 Device: Kobo Libra H2O	Try another wifi channel in the router settings and/or force 2.4hz It's not uncommon for devices non computer/smartphone to struggle on some networks. It can randomly happen on e readers, nintendo ds, playstation, etc. Give it a try.

09-28-2019, 02:45 PM	#3
Gibbo Guru Posts: 776 Karma: 2475053 Join Date: May 2007 Device: Galaxy Tab A (2019) - iPhone 11 - KA1 - Onyx Boox Nova Pro	Look's like you have a defective unit.

09-28-2019, 04:41 PM	#4
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	I'm fairly sure the WiFi issue pales in comparison to how the OP feels about the screen . Which I definitely get. If you can't live with it, especially if your usual reading conditions involve being faced with it repeatedly, then, for sure, it'll piss you off.

09-29-2019, 08:40 AM	#5
ec1matt Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 370 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, Paperwhite 2013, Sony PRS-505(RIP)	Thanks for your comments, everyone. The screen was the major issue. I had another look at it after I posted here and to my eyes it's unacceptable. I've returned it and will await either a second generation Forma or an 8 inch Kindle.

09-29-2019, 02:39 PM	#6
Anyssia Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 19112 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: Kobo Libra2	It happened to me once with a Kobo... Glo maybe? I don't remember which, but the screen was buggy and slow from the first day I bought it. I contacted them and they offered for me to go back to the store and exchange the device for another new one. I did the exchange and the new one was perfect, it really was my original one which had a defect.

09-29-2019, 04:27 PM	#9
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,403 Karma: 30039536 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	Then I guess I've been lucky. The Forma 32GB I got last week seems perfect screen-wise. I wonder if it's the 8GB models that are flaky?

09-29-2019, 07:43 PM	#11
Lemons Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2014 Device: None	I was curious also about the Forma and had a question, with the new invert screen under the dev tools would the distracting strip be better in black on white?