Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I remember when the PW1 first came out. There were all kinds of problems with the light. blobs, color streaks, etc.

Try again. You might find the next Libra to have a screen you like.

I might try a Libra again after a few months when they've handled all the possible issues and I've a better chance of getting one with a screen I like.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I might try a Libra again after a few months when they've handled all the possible issues and I've a better chance of getting one with a screen I like.

This is one reason why I didn't buy one on day one. By the time of the post Xmas sales, I might get both a small discount AND a better reader

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

This is one reason why I didn't buy one on day one. By the time of the post Xmas sales, I might get both a small discount AND a better reader

I was waaaaaay too impatient for that.
But it's definitely a good idea.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I might try a Libra again after a few months when they've handled all the possible issues and I've a better chance of getting one with a screen I like.

If you are in the US and have a Walmart near you, go in and see if they have a Libra on display and see if the screen is OK.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you are in the US and have a Walmart near you, go in and see if they have a Libra on display and see if the screen is OK.

I'm in the Netherlands. We do have a store here that sells Kobo devices, but unfortunately I've experienced that the ones they have on stock are not always the newest devices available.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I'm in the Netherlands. We do have a store here that sells Kobo devices, but unfortunately I've experienced that the ones they have on stock are not always the newest devices available.

But give that the Libra is new, what they'll have on display may be just fine. Try and see.

[tourneur]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But give that the Libra is new, what they'll have on display may be just fine. Try and see.

If this is about the front light, the lighting in a store may not be a good environment to test the front light. And I could be wrong, but I think you have to complete the setup process (logging into your account, etc) before you can adjust the front light. So it's a bit of a hassle.

I also live in the Netherlands, Susan. I just order it online from a retailer that also has a physical store near my house. If necessary I can return the product there easily. Which I will also do soon with my current libra!

[SusanReads]

I actually ordered 3 Libras when it came out. A black and white one to start. When I decided I wanted a black device, I ordered another black one, because this black one had a sickly yellow screen.

But even though I thought it would be fine, I still noticed tired eyes after a couple of nights reading in the dark. It was when I switched back to my Voyage that I noticed how calm the Kindle screen was in comparison to the Libra (in the dark, with the front light on at around 15%).

In the pics you can see just how different the color of the screens of first two Libras I ordered were.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by tourneur

If this is about the front light, the lighting in a store may not be a good environment to test the front light. And I could be wrong, but I think you have to complete the setup process (logging into your account, etc) before you can adjust the front light. So it's a bit of a hassle.

I also live in the Netherlands, Susan. I just order it online from a retailer that also has a physical store near my house. If necessary I can return the product there easily. Which I will also do soon with my current libra!

In the bookstores where Kobos are sold here (Italy) all devices are turned on and show a screensaver with a Kobo ad; if you interact with them they go to the Home screen and from there, you can adjust the frontlight etc. do everything you want, basically. They usually have a few book excerpts loaded so you can see how the reading experience is. I always thought it must be the same everywhere, but maybe it's not.
You are absolutely right though that the lightning in the store would probably be a problem... also, the devices they have on display often aren't the best available. The Libra they had when I went to buy mine was fine, but the Forma was absolutely horrible and blotchy, like some of the LEDs had stopped working (which I guess makes sense considering how long it'd probably been there, and how people handle stuff on display).

@SusanReads: I can see that the left screen's light is cooler than the right (mine is the same, by the way - also a white Libra). It doesn't bother me but I assume it must be much more noticeable in real life, photos tend to mask differences in hue.
Also, excellent book choice

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by mathil

Also, excellent book choice

Do you recognize it? Have you read it? It's my favorite book of all time.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

Do you recognize it? Have you read it? It's my favorite book of all time.

Not yet, but I own it! I'm a huge fan of the Green Creek series (Wolfsong etc.), so all of his other books have immediately gone on my TBR list

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I know lots of people have said to me that the screen might not be the most important thing about an e-reader. But I kept getting tired eyes and headaches after reading in the dark on the Libra for a few hours. I never had that with my Kindles, and when I switched to my Kindle Voyage I didn't have that same problem.

Now it might all be in my head, but somehow I felt as if the frontlight was more like that of a tablet/phone than that of an e-ink screen. My Kindle screens felt quieter and calmer, less grainy too.

I do suspect the difference is in your head. But in the end it doesn't matter. You are the one that has to spend hours staring at it. So even if the problem is psychosomatic, it's still going to nag at you.

In the pictures of your Kobo, you are using a sans serif font. Do you use the same on your Kindle?

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I do suspect the difference is in your head. But in the end it doesn't matter. You are the one that has to spend hours staring at it. So even if the problem is psychosomatic, it's still going to nag at you.

In the pictures of your Kobo, you are using a sans serif font. Do you use the same on your Kindle?

That's what made me decide to return the Libra. It bothers me so I'm better off with an e-reader with a screen that won't bother me.

And I compared the two with the same font settings. I have this folder with downloaded fonts I use for both Kobo and Kindle.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by mathil

Not yet, but I own it! I'm a huge fan of the Green Creek series (Wolfsong etc.), so all of his other books have immediately gone on my TBR list

He's such an amazing author. His books are full of emotion and lots of funny moments.

[GERGE]

Finally upgraded from Glo HD, this is worth it.

One question, 8GB is pretty small, anyone tried to open it and install a new SD card?