Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[mathil]

Maybe they're available behind the '...' button in the in-book menu? The French preview I posted above opened the TOC in a kepub and the graph menu wasn't there either. Or maybe there's another update coming at the time of release.

[issybird]

Members are reminded that it's a violation of the Guidelines to comment about or rececommend using the ignore function and also to refer to another member as a troll.

[ZodWallop]

I like what appears to be a reduced header and footer. And now the header appears to have useful info instead of just the book title. I also like that I can finally have chapter progress and book progressed available at the same time. (Though I still prefer book title on the top and chapter info on the bottom, that looks to be reversed in the Libra firmware).

What I really don't understand is why ligatures aren't enabled by default in kepubs. That and advanced font control will be about the only things I'm patching once the Libra firmware rolls out to everyone.

Here's a nice review where they talk about the device, but also go a bit in depth on changes to the reading experience. Kobo Libra H2O Review: Who needs books anymore

[desterly]

The updated header/footers are great... that's the one thing that has bugged me about Kobo that I missed from my Kindle was having both current chapter and % book complete (that and time) without having to toggle.. The time is fixable w/ the miniclock addon but with these updates it'll fix the rest.

Hopefully the updated fw drops soon

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by mathil

Maybe they're available behind the '...' button in the in-book menu? The French preview I posted above opened the TOC in a kepub and the graph menu wasn't there either. Or maybe there's another update coming at the time of release.

You are correct, the in-book stats are on the menu.

[Uncle Robin]

Does the updated firmware extend the customisation of fonts to sideloaded fonts, or will that still require patching?

[SusanReads]

I've pre-ordered a black Libra and I'm way too excited for it. Even though I'm not sure I will keep it. Because what I REALLY want from an e-reader is the best screen with the most crisp text. My Kindle Voyage has this, even though I'm not too happy with the uneven lighting of the screen.

What I also wanted was a recessed screen and yay, the Libra has this. I don't want my e-reader to look like a tablet (with every single fingerprint visible).

But I do know that the screen is the most important thing for me. Even lighting and crisp text. But it always amazes me that almost no one in review videos comments on this. They are always more foccused on the extras, which are nice, but not the most important thing when you're reading I would assume.

And that's the reason I ordered a black one. The white is prettier to look at when it's lying around and I'm not reading. But black bezels make it look like the screen has better contrast.

[maddz]

If there was a 32GB option, I'd order it like a shot. I've been holding off on a 32BG Forma because of wrist concerns - tendonitis in both likely to be aggravated by the larger form factor and it's too expensive to buy without extensive trying. However, as the bloke is replacing his iPad (and I need to replace mine because of it's age) I may take on his old iPad and use it for my rpg PDFs.

I've been trying to meet up with a member to try out his Forma but so far not managed it, but if John Lewis Oxford Street has them I might try and get over there in a lunch break when my knee isn't playing up. Our local John Lewis doesn't have them in store.

[Quoth]

I want to know what it's like without the front lighting, how white/grey compared to Aura H2O original.
So I'll wait till I see side by side comparison.
8G is plenty for normal novels, would allow maybe more than 3000 to 4000?
I agree graphic or PDF needs a lot more, but a larger reader is better for those.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

8G is plenty for normal novels, would allow maybe more than 3000 to 4000?
.

I have an 8GB paper white and I can't fill it. I've tried! Same with my Aura H2O, which has a 4 GB SD card, making it 8 GB. Over 6,000 titles, not even close to being filled. So the 8 GB Libre is fine for me!

[tourneur]

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

I want to know what it's like without the front lighting, how white/grey compared to Aura H2O original.
So I'll wait till I see side by side comparison.

There are pros and cons for a white bezel. All things considered I think I prefer a black bezel, but never having owned a white ereader before I think I'll get the white Libra first. I'll have 30 days to try it out and see how I like it. I can post some comparison pics with my Clara if I do that.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I have an 8GB paper white and I can't fill it. I've tried! Same with my Aura H2O, which has a 4 GB SD card, making it 8 GB. Over 6,000 titles, not even close to being filled. So the 8 GB Libre is fine for me!

i have 3558 books some epubs but mainly kepubs on my Aura "6. 3.5 GB used on the device and 6 GB on the external micro SD card.

edit. 2270 of the above books are on the external micro SD card.

best wishes koboy

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

...what I REALLY want from an e-reader is the best screen with the most crisp text. My Kindle Voyage has this, even though I'm not too happy with the uneven lighting of the screen.

What I also wanted was a recessed screen and yay, the Libra has this. I don't want my e-reader to look like a tablet (with every single fingerprint visible).

But I do know that the screen is the most important thing for me. Even lighting and crisp text. But it always amazes me that almost no one in review videos comments on this...

The Nook Glowlight 3 has a fantastic, recessed screen with crisp text. It uses IR instead of capacitive touch, so it is a tad sharper than the competition and has very even lighting. Per your description, that would be the best reader for you.

But, the Glowlight 3 can be notoriously glitchy and problematic. It's a nice piece of hardware, but I'd honestly hesitate to recommend it as a reader.

So the screen might be important, but be careful about focusing too much on its importance. There's a lot to be said for nice stable firmware with options you care about.

[wandalynn]

I'm going with the white Libra mostly because of the novelty. The Aluratek Libre I had years ago was white and I don't remember having a problem with the contrast between bezel and screen. Also, I think the white will look better with the rose cover I'm getting.

[disconnected]

Originally Posted by maddz

If there was a 32GB option, I'd order it like a shot. I've been holding off on a 32BG Forma because of wrist concerns - tendonitis in both likely to be aggravated by the larger form factor and it's too expensive to buy without extensive trying. However, as the bloke is replacing his iPad (and I need to replace mine because of it's age) I may take on his old iPad and use it for my rpg PDFs.

I've been trying to meet up with a member to try out his Forma but so far not managed it, but if John Lewis Oxford Street has them I might try and get over there in a lunch break when my knee isn't playing up. Our local John Lewis doesn't have them in store.

I hope you'll be able to find a Forma to try. Not to be an enabler , but it feels amazingly light for its size. It's also really easy to hold because of the design -- it isn't slippery and it balances well in the hand so you don't have to hold it in a cramp-inducing death grip for fear of it escaping. It's the only ereader I have that I can hold for long periods of time without propping it up on a stand or pillow (and it helps that I can switch hands once in a while). It isn't perfect -- the power switch is a bit sludgy and the screen isn't quite as nice as the one on my Nook Glowlight Plus -- but I'm really happy with it.

I don't have tendonitis but with age my hands have become somewhat weak and shaky. I ordered an Oasis 2 when it came out but I returned it because I found it actually painful to hold (heavy, slippery, awkwardly shaped, with sharp edges). I've had no problems with the Forma. At home I keep it in a sleeve and when I go out I have a third party case that's made of some sort of flexible rubbery material so it's really easy to remove.

I'm probably going to order a white Libra too because I'm an ereader junkie but the one disappointment I have with the specs is that it weighs almost exactly the same as the Forma -- 192 grams to 197. It will take up a bit less space in my purse which is good but since my purses seem to weigh a ton already I would have appreciated a further weight reduction just for that reason.