Forma New Kobo reader: The Forma/Shape - Page 31

ratinox · 08-16-2019, 03:20 PM

Only one day of ownership now but I am happy with my Forma. Is it an improvement over my Aura One? Yes. The larger display isn't a big deal for text, but visual media (read: comics and manga) noticeably benefit from more real estate.

The page turn buttons make one-handed reading much easier than the Aura One which in turn makes my train commutes safer while I'm reading, and it's lighter which makes standing on the train a little less oppressive.

The top and bottom bezels are much narrower than on Aura One which I think is a good direction for Kobo's industrial design. I don't like skeuomorphic designs. An e-reader is not a book. It shouldn't be forced to have a book's form factor just so it resembles a book's shape.

UI feels a little faster, a little more responsive, but this could just be confirmation bias because new shiny.

No thoughts about the lighting; I don't use it. A reason I don't go back to Kindle is because the lights on those can't be turned off. Waste of power, I say.

DuckieTigger · 08-16-2019, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratinox

No thoughts about the lighting; I don't use it. A reason I don't go back to Kindle is because the lights on those can't be turned off. Waste of power, I say.

Just as an FYI, that is no longer true. For sure the PW4 and 7" Oasis (old and new) turns the light off at setting '0'. The first 6" Oasis did too, if I remember right. New Kindle basic I am not sure, but it is likely also light-turn-off-able. On the first PW1 measurements have shown that leaving the light on at '0' (a tiny little bit on) had no noticeable impact on truly off (with hack). At best a roundoff error. Only reason to turn light off is for cosmetic reasons.

ratinox · 08-17-2019, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Just as an FYI, that is no longer true. For sure the PW4 and 7" Oasis (old and new) turns the light off at setting '0'. The first 6" Oasis did too, if I remember right. New Kindle basic I am not sure, but it is likely also light-turn-off-able. On the first PW1 measurements have shown that leaving the light on at '0' (a tiny little bit on) had no noticeable impact on truly off (with hack). At best a roundoff error. Only reason to turn light off is for cosmetic reasons.

Good to know. It's not enough to get me to go back to Amazon's hardware but still good to know.
Thanks.

lkmiller · 08-20-2019, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratinox

I don't like skeuomorphic designs. An e-reader is not a book. It shouldn't be forced to have a book's form factor just so it resembles a book's shape.

This is what I don't like about ereader covers. Especially on the Forma and the Oasis since I usually hold them with buttons to the left.

ratinox · 08-20-2019, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

This is what I don't like about ereader covers. Especially on the Forma and the Oasis since I usually hold them with buttons to the left.

Agreed at least in principle. Has anyone devised a better cover design than the folio cover style?

lkmiller · 08-21-2019, 09:03 AM

I use a sleeve instead. I did have a cover for the original Nook which flipped up. There were phone-like cases for the old Paperwhite - a back that stayed on and cover that it slid into.

ratinox · 08-21-2019, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

I use a sleeve instead. I did have a cover for the original Nook which flipped up. There were phone-like cases for the old Paperwhite - a back that stayed on and cover that it slid into.

I would very much like a hard shell sleeve but I can't seem to find one of an appropriate size.

Thargor · 08-27-2019, 03:37 PM

Can those in the know take a look at this Ebay listing specifically the model number and tell me if everything is above board with this Forma, its not an earlier model known for bad light bleed or any other issue like that?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KOBO-FORM...QrO5w8JPRsmm3w

I think Im going to take a punt on it as it basically comes with a free official cover compared to other listings...

NiLuJe · 08-27-2019, 03:51 PM

To my knowledge, there's no "newer" model, they pretty much all suffer from the sidebar of suck, to a certain extent.

Whether that's enough of a deterrent to you is another matter, though.

lkmiller · 08-28-2019, 06:20 AM

As far as I know, there's only been one model of Forma. I've had mine since it first came out and really like it.

ratinox · 08-28-2019, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

As far as I know, there's only been one model of Forma. I've had mine since it first came out and really like it.

Only one model with two variants: 8GB and 32GB. If there were a revised model then assuming US sales there would be FCC paperwork for it. No such paperwork exists that I'm aware of.

John F · 08-28-2019, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmiller

As far as I know, there's only been one model of Forma. I've had mine since it first came out and really like it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratinox

Only one model with two variants: 8GB and 32GB. If there were a revised model then assuming US sales there would be FCC paperwork for it. No such paperwork exists that I'm aware of.

I think the poster was asking if there was some tweaking done to the manufacturing process? Similar to how earlier Clara's had more light bleed issues than later ones.

ratinox · 08-28-2019, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

I think the poster was asking if there was some tweaking done to the manufacturing process? Similar to how earlier Clara's had more light bleed issues than later ones.

If it's a design flaw that is corrected in later manufacturing runs then that still would not be a new model. Rather, it's the same model with a patch. We don't know if any such changes were made but annecdote suggests the answer is still "no".

Thargor · 08-29-2019, 04:24 PM

Well I finally caved, brand new Forma on the way!

I didn't go with that Ozzie Ebay one in the end, I bought it from Argos, returning a Kobo to Australia from Ireland would have been too much of a pain.

Should have it in 5 days or so.

Thargor · 09-05-2019, 04:38 PM

Got it today, holy crap I loved it the minute I opened the box, the screen is a joy to look at. 2 hours reading The Monster Baru Cormorant today and it was effortless, such a comfortable reading experience. 97% battery after a couple of hours messing around with it. I find myself flicking through my library just to see the book covers blown up on the big screen.

Instant page turns, like nanoseconds, my first time using Kepubs so not sure if its that or the hardware or a bit of both, its great though. Likewise I thought Id be moving straight to the buttons for page turning but the capacitive screen is so responsive I find myself just flicking a finger at it.

I thought I was just going to lock it in portrait (which I did, landscape is useless to me) and turn off the accelerometer to lock it in right hand mode but wasn't expecting to be swapping from left to right hand so naturally straight away, its great, big boost to comfort levels being able to do that.

I love the orange light aswell, I could actually see myself using that to read in low light, I always found the Glo HDs light to be just as painful to look at as a smartphone in dark environments but with natural light at 100% Orange and light level at 30-50% its actually soothing to look at and read on, a big unexpected plus there.

Downsides:
-Fingerprint magnet, its covered in them, wipes clean easy though.

-The power button, hilariously bad, zero tactile feedback, have to press it way too hard, the swipe to unlock feature I had to remove in the config file just the icing on the sh*tcake.

-The buttons are a bit creaky and rattly, I would have liked them to be firmer and more clicky, I get the feeling they'll break in or bed down over time though.

Overall super happy with it, those are minor niggles I wont even notice in a few days. I was getting emotional saying goodbye to my Glo HD after all the books we'd read together but its too worn out to salvage, this is a more than worthy successor.

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08-16-2019, 03:20 PM	#451
ratinox Guru Posts: 807 Karma: 11053908 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Somewhere in Time Device: Forma, iPad Mini	Only one day of ownership now but I am happy with my Forma. Is it an improvement over my Aura One? Yes. The larger display isn't a big deal for text, but visual media (read: comics and manga) noticeably benefit from more real estate. The page turn buttons make one-handed reading much easier than the Aura One which in turn makes my train commutes safer while I'm reading, and it's lighter which makes standing on the train a little less oppressive. The top and bottom bezels are much narrower than on Aura One which I think is a good direction for Kobo's industrial design. I don't like skeuomorphic designs. An e-reader is not a book. It shouldn't be forced to have a book's form factor just so it resembles a book's shape. UI feels a little faster, a little more responsive, but this could just be confirmation bias because new shiny. No thoughts about the lighting; I don't use it. A reason I don't go back to Kindle is because the lights on those can't be turned off. Waste of power, I say.

08-21-2019, 09:03 AM	#456
lkmiller Laura Posts: 1,554 Karma: 23597272 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Nook Glowlight 4 Plus, Kindle Oasis 2	I use a sleeve instead. I did have a cover for the original Nook which flipped up. There were phone-like cases for the old Paperwhite - a back that stayed on and cover that it slid into.

08-27-2019, 03:37 PM	#458
Thargor Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 6322 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Sony PRS 505	Can those in the know take a look at this Ebay listing specifically the model number and tell me if everything is above board with this Forma, its not an earlier model known for bad light bleed or any other issue like that? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KOBO-FORM...QrO5w8JPRsmm3w I think Im going to take a punt on it as it basically comes with a free official cover compared to other listings...

08-27-2019, 03:51 PM	#459
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	To my knowledge, there's no "newer" model, they pretty much all suffer from the sidebar of suck, to a certain extent. Whether that's enough of a deterrent to you is another matter, though.

08-28-2019, 06:20 AM	#460
lkmiller Laura Posts: 1,554 Karma: 23597272 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Elipsa, Nook Glowlight 4 Plus, Kindle Oasis 2	As far as I know, there's only been one model of Forma. I've had mine since it first came out and really like it.

08-29-2019, 04:24 PM	#464
Thargor Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 6322 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Sony PRS 505	Well I finally caved, brand new Forma on the way! I didn't go with that Ozzie Ebay one in the end, I bought it from Argos, returning a Kobo to Australia from Ireland would have been too much of a pain. Should have it in 5 days or so.

09-05-2019, 04:38 PM	#465
Thargor Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 6322 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Sony PRS 505	Got it today, holy crap I loved it the minute I opened the box, the screen is a joy to look at. 2 hours reading The Monster Baru Cormorant today and it was effortless, such a comfortable reading experience. 97% battery after a couple of hours messing around with it. I find myself flicking through my library just to see the book covers blown up on the big screen. Instant page turns, like nanoseconds, my first time using Kepubs so not sure if its that or the hardware or a bit of both, its great though. Likewise I thought Id be moving straight to the buttons for page turning but the capacitive screen is so responsive I find myself just flicking a finger at it. I thought I was just going to lock it in portrait (which I did, landscape is useless to me) and turn off the accelerometer to lock it in right hand mode but wasn't expecting to be swapping from left to right hand so naturally straight away, its great, big boost to comfort levels being able to do that. I love the orange light aswell, I could actually see myself using that to read in low light, I always found the Glo HDs light to be just as painful to look at as a smartphone in dark environments but with natural light at 100% Orange and light level at 30-50% its actually soothing to look at and read on, a big unexpected plus there. Downsides: -Fingerprint magnet, its covered in them, wipes clean easy though. -The power button, hilariously bad, zero tactile feedback, have to press it way too hard, the swipe to unlock feature I had to remove in the config file just the icing on the sh*tcake. -The buttons are a bit creaky and rattly, I would have liked them to be firmer and more clicky, I get the feeling they'll break in or bed down over time though. Overall super happy with it, those are minor niggles I wont even notice in a few days. I was getting emotional saying goodbye to my Glo HD after all the books we'd read together but its too worn out to salvage, this is a more than worthy successor.