Forma New Kobo reader: The Forma/Shape

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

So the Oasis 3 has a great even light?
Non PWM also?

Some of them have, some haven't. But generally yes, it seems that there are less lighting problems with the O3 than with many other ereaders.

No pwm, as far as I know.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

So the Oasis 3 has a great even light?
Non PWM also?

The Oasis 3 lighting is not that consistent per device. But this seems to be the case with e-readers from all manufacturers.

I tried 4 and they were all different. I chose the one with the most even lighting. Mine has a slight gradient, but it's not that noticeable. Most people won't even see it (but of course I do, since I'm a nitpicker ).

But so far the Oasis' lighting is among the best I've seen.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Well, MR is the forum for us nitpickers. There are other (far more boring) places for ordinary people. You're right at home here.

I guess we're not happy unless we have something to complain about.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Thargor

I can kind of see it if I crank everything up but tbh it doesn't bother me, no idea why people make such a meal out of it.

Because it is a design or manufacturing flaw and, of course, we humans don't complain about things that don't bother us.

Edit: I just checked the Forma I currently have and while the band is visible at high light levels it's quite faint and I probably wouldn't notice unless I was specifically looking. Which I don't because lights off when I read.

[bookyboy]

Can I ask you guys…

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 with no special offers were the exact same price, which would you choose?

I realize they are a different size but I’m comparing them simply because they seem to be the two premium offerings.

And in terms of the front light.
Is the Glowlight Plus (2019) the best of all of them for that specific feature?

My schedule has me doing all my reading at night using these front lights and I’m super sensitive to all these little problems with the different ones. When I tried out that latest large nook at the store I was really impressed with the front light and I liked how orange it got as it was very easy on the eyes.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Can I ask you guys…

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 with no special offers were the exact same price, which would you choose?

I realize they are a different size but I’m comparing them simply because they seem to be the two premium offerings.

And in terms of the front light.
Is the Glowlight Plus (2019) the best of all of them for that specific feature?

My schedule has me doing all my reading at night using these front lights and I’m super sensitive to all these little problems with the different ones. When I tried out that latest large nook at the store I was really impressed with the front light and I liked how orange it got as it was very easy on the eyes.

The Kobo Libra H2O is similar hardware to the Amazon Oasis 3. The Kobo Forma is a different Reader with an 8" plastic backed screen.

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 were the same price, the Oasis 3 would either bee too expensive for what it is or the Forma would be at a discount. But if both were the same price, I would go with the Forma.

As for the Libra H2O and the Oasis 3, I would go with the Libra H2O because of better firmware and ePub. Also, Kobo dithers graphics better then Amazon.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Can I ask you guys…

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 with no special offers were the exact same price, which would you choose?

Forma.

I realize they are a different size but I’m comparing them simply because they seem to be the two premium offerings.

Because size matters.

And in terms of the front light.
Is the Glowlight Plus (2019) the best of all of them for that specific feature?

Given that one of the first things I did was turn the light off? No.

My schedule has me doing all my reading at night using these front lights and I’m super sensitive to all these little problems with the different ones. When I tried out that latest large nook at the store I was really impressed with the front light and I liked how orange it got as it was very easy on the eyes.

Can't help you with that other than suggest you use a proper reading lamp instead.

[bookyboy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Kobo Libra H2O is similar hardware to the Amazon Oasis 3. The Kobo Forma is a different Reader with an 8" plastic backed screen.

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 were the same price, the Oasis 3 would either bee too expensive for what it is or the Forma would be at a discount. But if both were the same price, I would go with the Forma.

As for the Libra H2O and the Oasis 3, I would go with the Libra H2O because of better firmware and ePub. Also, Kobo dithers graphics better then Amazon.

Confused… Where are you?
The Oasis 3 w/ no special offers is more expensive than the Forma, is it not?
So you are saying it is dramatically overpriced?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Can I ask you guys…

If the Forma and the Oasis 3 with no special offers were the exact same price, which would you choose?

Oasis 3.

And in terms of the front light.
Is the Glowlight Plus (2019) the best of all of them for that specific feature?

In terms of orangeness, yes. Imho the light of the Glowlight Plus is a bit more uneven than that of the Oasis 3, but much better than the light of the Kobo Libra.

[bookyboy]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Oasis 3.


In terms of orangeness, yes. Imho the light of the Glowlight Plus is a bit more uneven than that of the Oasis 3, but much better than the light of the Kobo Libra.

Thank you for chiming in.

I have been hearing similar things about the oasis 3 but I have never even seen one in person. I think I need to get to a Best Buy or something.

My forma is currently on the way back for a replacement due to an awful band on the handle side of screen (like so many). It sounds like that will never be fixed and I will probably just have to sell it if it keeps bothering me. I’m worried about even being able to sell it on eBay and not get accused of selling something defective and getting screwed by PayPal.

Why is the quality control such hot garbage even on the most expensive of e readers?
It’s so frustrating.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Why is the quality control such hot garbage even on the most expensive of e readers?
It’s so frustrating.

Because e-ink screens aren't LCD screens that glow by themselves. Frontlighting is very tricky stuff and redesigning e-readers means having to move the light source.

Hot garbage? Get real.

[bookyboy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Hot garbage?

Yeah, that’s exactly what I would call it when people can be going through 10 Formas and find none of them are acceptable.

Was not me by the way… Another poster here.

They are charging $250 here… Some standards are not unfair to expect

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Confused… Where are you?
The Oasis 3 w/ no special offers is more expensive than the Forma, is it not?
So you are saying it is dramatically overpriced?

I didn't realize that the Oasis 3 was so expensive. I thought it would have been a similar price to the Libra. Given that the Forma is cheaper then the Oasis, no question the Forma. Even the Libra is a better value.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

Yeah, that’s exactly what I would call it when people can be going through 10 Formas and find none of them are acceptable.

Was not me by the way… Another poster here.

They are charging $250 here… Some standards are not unfair to expect

There have been many posts about people going through many Kindles to find ones with an acceptable front light inducing the Oasis 3. I remember when the original PW had color blotches along with uneven lighting.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by bookyboy

My forma is currently on the way back for a replacement due to an awful band on the handle side of screen (like so many). It sounds like that will never be fixed and I will probably just have to sell it if it keeps bothering me. I’m worried about even being able to sell it on eBay and not get accused of selling something defective and getting screwed by PayPal.

Why is the quality control such hot garbage even on the most expensive of e readers?
It’s so frustrating.

It's not a quality control problem and your device is not defective. The lighting is fine. The darker strip is the bezel on the button side of the device, and it's "dark" because it exists.