Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[anacreon]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

b, you and I are on the same page totally.

I'll keep my KA1, thank you.

Meanwhile, I'm torn whether to get 7" Libra or the 8" Forma or KA1 as an upgrade gift for a lady still using a 6" Sony PRS T1. Any thoughts on this?

Any of them will be an improvement on the PRS T1 (which was my first reader), though she will need some time getting used to a very different software - the buttons should help though.

I'd say not the KA1 which is much heavier, but possibly the Libra if your lady uses it a lot on the go, the Forma otherwise, though I do use my Forma on the go: I choose handbags with a pocket which protects it so I don't need a case which would make it heavier and bulkier.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

b, you and I are on the same page totally.

I'll keep my KA1, thank you.

Meanwhile, I'm torn whether to get 7" Libra or the 8" Forma or KA1 as an upgrade gift for a lady still using a 6" Sony PRS T1. Any thoughts on this?

If it's a present and you can't ask, I would go for something 1) with buttons, in case she doesn't like/can't get used to the touch screen and 2) closest in size and her weight to her previous ereader. So, the Libra. 8" might be too much to get used to, unless you think she could benefit from it - i.e. if she's an older lady with sight problems who is used to keep her font size very big, she might enjoy having a bigger screen. Or if she only keeps it around the house and she wouldn't care whether it fits in her bag or not.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by mathil

- PDF reading and navigation appears improved, with page preview function

Inherently for any thing magazine, multicolumn, larger than 7" book, letter or A4 size, especially old scanned documents a PDF reader under 10" is often useless no matter how good the software is. To read any PDF you need 13" and a faster CPU than in most ereaders or tablets.

Sounds like a good Mk2 H2O replacement, though I'm hoping my 6.8" Aura H2O mk1 doesn't break.

I do think recessed screen (if IR) is good, I prefer best white without any front light. Also buttons is really good.

[a-m13]

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

Do you really need buttons ?


How do you know Kobo@Libra has a better screen ? The H2O 2 edition has an excellent screen even through 220dpi.

When comparing KOBO_H2O vs Kindle_Oasis, Kobo_H2O had a better contrast and sharper font that stood out from the screen. Difference in pixels would definitely not recognize the eye..

Kobo_Libra captivated me a lot. I plan to upgrade my H2O for LIBRA. (because I would welcome buttons)
* But before buying I prefer to wait for the first tests

PS : Depends on you. If H2O doesn't suit you, replace it with Kobo_Libra.

You're right, I suppose the screen is better because of the resolution but that's it. The button and espacially the form factor seem better for handling also.

Do you think its firmware functionalities will be ported to older models?

[latepaul]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The display is there for both epub and kepub. But, epub only does full book progress. The header shows the current chapter, but, the progress is full book.

Thanks

[robko]

Originally Posted by a-m13

Do you think its firmware functionalities will be ported to older models?

Yes. Kobo has typically kept all the devices (except the oldest) on the same firmware. There have been some minor exceptions to this (on-device library borrowing for example), but generally the firmware will be very similar

[Calenorn]

Will the Libra have a setting to lock the screen in the landscape orientation? Does the Forma?

With the right sort of stand-up cover, reading on a landscape 7" screen might be very nice!

[Michal Jancik]

Originally Posted by a-m13

Do you think its firmware functionalities will be ported to older models?

Yes, it's confirmed. But what model/Kobo will be exactly recever new foncionalitys, unfortunately I do not know.
Kobo Libra H2O has firmware "4.16.13337", so soon in the next update we will know which device will receive new features

[mathil]

I have a question for Forma owners: are the buttons soft or hard to press? I'm looking into getting the Libra once it's released but the tendons in my wrists are prone to inflamation due to heavy mouse/keyboard use, and if the buttons were hard they would definitely bother me, especially after a work day.

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by petercreasey

The smaller screen size makes me lean toward the Aura One (which I already have) or the Forma (which I'm considering buying).

Hopefully the prior models (A1 and Forma) will still be available in a couple of months.

To me the eight-inch screen makes a huge difference over the seven-inch screen-the Forma is a good unit.( I also have an Oasis 2)

[Steve H]

Originally Posted by mathil

I have a question for Forma owners: are the buttons soft or hard to press? I'm looking into getting the Libra once it's released but the tendons in my wrists are prone to inflamation due to heavy mouse/keyboard use, and if the buttons were hard they would definitely bother me, especially after a work day.

The page turn buttons are as easy to press as the Oasis-BUT the power button is stiffer.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

Inherently for any thing magazine, multicolumn, larger than 7" book, letter or A4 size, especially old scanned documents a PDF reader under 10" is often useless no matter how good the software is. To read any PDF you need 13" and a faster CPU than in most ereaders or tablets.

This is an inappropriately absolutist statement. Maybe you need a 13" tablet, but I don't. I happily read A4 formatted PDFs on an iPad Mini from time to time. I do have good eyesight.

I do agree that a tablet experience with PDFs is superior to any small-screen eink experience that I've come across. Part of that is the CPU, part the easy, smooth pinch-to-zoom, and part is the way eink washes out typical fonts.

[HLS]

Looks really nice, the white with the comfort glo. Is there a video in English? listening to that language was just awful.

Nothing wrong with that of course but I think the majority here are English speakers?

[Frenzie]

Originally Posted by meeera

This is an inappropriately absolutist statement. Maybe you need a 13" tablet, but I don't. I happily read A4 formatted PDFs on an iPad Mini from time to time. I do have good eyesight.

Moreover, my primary use case is old scanned documents.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by HLS

Looks really nice, the white with the comfort glo. Is there a video in English? listening to that language was just awful.

Nothing wrong with that of course but I think the majority here are English speakers?

Yeah, well, I posted it because it was the first review that came out and there had been no info about the Libra yet. You don't need to understand what is being said as long as you can see the device. There are no video reviews in English yet, AFAIK.
I don't see the point of being rude about something like this but you do you, I guess.