Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by 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?

If it's like the Forma, Clara, and KA1, the card isn't replaceable.

[Quoth]

The former 2G is small, 8G is lots* for actual "real" ebooks, i.e. not PDF and not graphic novels, real epub / kepub (or converted to them from HTML, Wordprocessor, mobi, eink target AZW etc).

(* Where lots could be 8,000 to 20,000 books)

[mathil]

Originally Posted by 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?

I did, it's pretty easy to do - the back just pops off. You'll need to clone the image to the new SD card - you can find guides for this in the forum by using the search function.

@FrustratedReader: the sacrifices needed to get that many ebooks on a 8GB Kobos are pretty steep. I cleaned all of my "real" ebooks with the Calibre plugin, reduced the quality of the internal images by 20% and removed all internal covers to save space and send only the one downloaded by me via metadata search, and I could fit 2500 kepubs in 4.5 GB on my Libra. Considering that internal size is not 8GB because some space is taken by the system...

[linguinee]

@ omro

I also have an Aura HD and am contemplating a Libra. Would you please comment on how the Libra handles PDF's. Here I don't much mean PDF's with graphics but PDF's comprising text.

Text PDF's are unwieldy with the Aura HD, even in landscape mode. With PDF's do the Libra's page turn buttons advance through a page (if only a portion of it is displayed) and then on to the next page upon reaching the bottom?

[mathil]

Originally Posted by linguinee

With PDF's do the Libra's page turn buttons advance through a page (if only a portion of it is displayed) and then on to the next page upon reaching the bottom?

Yeah, with the Libra buttons you can advance top to bottom inside a page. So if you're reading a PDF in landscape mode, for example, you'll first get the top half of the page, then the bottom half, then page turn etc.

[soulfuldog]

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.

Originally Posted by SusanReads

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.

I think I'm with you on the screen probably being the most important thing, I love my Kindle Voyage mainly because of the clean, crisp clarity of the screen (I even bought a used one as back-up, but sadly I've since discovered the usb port is on its way out). I've looked at others in shops from time to time, but so far have never been tempted, as nothing looks any better than the Voyage. I like the idea of the colour light, but not enough to be happy with what I see as a slightly lesser screen.

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by GERGE

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

libra has no sd card slot according to

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...36#post3893236

(the other answer probably thought you were asking about the glo?)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

I think I'm with you on the screen probably being the most important thing, I love my Kindle Voyage mainly because of the clean, crisp clarity of the screen (I even bought a used one as back-up, but sadly I've since discovered the usb port is on its way out). I've looked at others in shops from time to time, but so far have never been tempted, as nothing looks any better than the Voyage. I like the idea of the colour light, but not enough to be happy with what I see as a slightly lesser screen.

I'm in the other camp re screen quality. While my Voyage admittedly has the best screen of all my ereaders and I can clearly see the differences between screens, I rarely use the Voyage these days. The ergonomics, physical buttons and larger screens of my other readers outweigh the screen quality. I just like the reading experience better with my Oases, Nook and Kobo, they're more comfortable to read on. Almost certainly I wouldn't feel that way if their screens were terrible, but they're not. They're all pretty good.

Still, I can't bring myself to sell my Voyage, even though it would be the reasonable thing to do, given how seldom I use it.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by linguinee

@ omro

I also have an Aura HD and am contemplating a Libra. Would you please comment on how the Libra handles PDF's. Here I don't much mean PDF's with graphics but PDF's comprising text.

Text PDF's are unwieldy with the Aura HD, even in landscape mode. With PDF's do the Libra's page turn buttons advance through a page (if only a portion of it is displayed) and then on to the next page upon reaching the bottom?

It will be pretty much the same. The basic software on the devices is the same. The differences will be the slightly larger screen, the higher resolution and maybe a bit faster due to a newer CPU. As to the buttons, they work to turn the page in exactly the same way as tapping or swiping the screen. If PDFs are an important part of your reading, you are better off with a larger tablet.

[Haesslich]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It will be pretty much the same. The basic software on the devices is the same. The differences will be the slightly larger screen, the higher resolution and maybe a bit faster due to a newer CPU. As to the buttons, they work to turn the page in exactly the same way as tapping or swiping the screen. If PDFs are an important part of your reading, you are better off with a larger tablet.

I've tried PDF documents with some interesting formatting (like Battletech Technical Manuals and rulebooks) and they work fine on the Libra (and presumably the Forma) when the same files chugged on the Aura H20 or Aura One. Page turns are noticeably faster, and much better when compared to the HD (before I sold it), or the One which is just a generation behind.

With poison plain old text and no fancy graphic elements on the page edges or drawings in the middle, I expect a much better experience, even when reflowing text.

Plus, the page buttons make it subjectively more enjoyable to me. It's amazing how much I missed page turn buttons after they got rid of them on the Touch and Glo.

[linguinee]

Thanks for the PDF input. I'm going to give the Libra a shot (ordering from Walmart to a facilitate a no hassle return if the Kobo doesn't pass muster).

[Michal Jancik]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

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%).

Same with me.
When I read the pound overnight, I have tired eyes faster.
In my opinion, it comes from not exactly the best sharpness of the font at Kobo Libra.
*It seems to me that Kobo Libra, when reading at night, regardless of the font used, has a font as if blurred.. (other font is better - worse)

I may be wrong, but when I read 30 minutes on Kobo Libra and 30 minutes on another device that has a sharper font on the screen, I was not so tired.

[trekk]

Originally Posted by Michal Jancik

In my opinion, it comes from not exactly the best sharpness of the font at Kobo Libra.

The sharpness of the font is excellent on my Kobo Libra. No fatigue here. Well, after reading for 5 hours there may be some eyelid drooping eventually

[Sirtel]

There is a patch to keep the sharpness at maximum level.

I use LexiaDama on my Libra. Very nice and sharp font and looks really good.

BTW I've found that on different readers different fonts look best. On my Kindles it's CharisSIL Modified Larger, hands down. On my Nook it's DejaVu Serif Eink. And on my Kobo it's LexiaDama.

Of course the font thing is extremely subjective. What one person loves another may detest.

[mathil]

Originally Posted by trekk

The sharpness of the font is excellent on my Kobo Libra. No fatigue here. Well, after reading for 5 hours there may be some eyelid drooping eventually

Yeah, I have to agree. The sharpness is definitely better than that of the other devices I own, including the 300ppi ones - it's the first thing I noticed when I turned it on. The worst out of the bunch is the Paperwhite 3, due to the capacitive layer I guess.