Any issues with the rubberized finish on Forma?

[Odessa]

Originally Posted by elizilla

I have owned other gadgets with rubberized finish, where somewhere around two or three years in, suddenly they become disgusting and sticky.

In my experience, it has taken sometimes much longer, such as 10 or 20 years. But I find it similarly revolting.

Originally Posted by elizilla

In researching what causes this, people online say it is that rubberized plastic decaying due to the oils from the users hands.

Again from what I have seen, this can happen with a product which has been barely touched at all. It's really just the passing of time.

[Skydog]

The backing on the Forma or any device isn't the top priority for me when making a purchase. For others, my recommendation is a custom fit skin (link below). Smooth, matte, solid colors or thousands of designs, one only needs to apply it to the back. It is easily removed and causes no damage and leaves no residue on the device. This company produces high quality products with excellent customer service:

https://www.decalgirl.com/skins/kobo-forma-skins

[JSWolf]

The Forma’s soft-touch plastic begins to look shiny and oily within weeks of use, leaving it looking grubby and old.

That is a non-issue because the Format would be in a case. The case is not just for protection. It's also to make Forma nicer to hold.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That is a non-issue because the Format would be in a case. The case is not just for protection. It's also to make Forma nicer to hold.

How would you know, Jon, you don't have a Forma?

It is far nicer without a cover! Also when using a cover with the Forma a TPU cover makes the most sense IMO, as it is flexible. Those do feel rubbery, too.

[Nightyume]

Originally Posted by Odessa

Also note this comment by the reviewer of Tech Radar :



That's long before any possible degradation into a sticky goo.

That's actually a different phenomenon. I have had my forma for a few years now (almost 2) and while it does absorb oils in the surface where the buttons are located, and it does feel slightly rubbery, it's not the same soft-touch rubber you get that goes all sticky and gooey (I too have had several things that get that way and it's honestly just disgusting). While it is easy to understand why one might suspect the Forma of falling prey to the phenomenon, it hasn't, at least in my case after two years (and like I said, it actually does feel different from the devices which did, which could mean it'll take longer to do so or simply won't do so.)

[meeera]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That is a non-issue because the Format would be in a case. The case is not just for protection. It's also to make Forma nicer to hold.

For me the entire point of buying a flexible-substrate device would be to reduce its weight by forgoing a cover. But hey, thanks for your input

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by meeera

For me the entire point of buying a flexible-substrate device would be to reduce its weight by forgoing a cover. But hey, thanks for your input

For me the reduction is weight was nice but the higher resistance to substrate failures was higher on my list. I do use covers for two reasons, one being is that I don't have to find the power button to put the device to sleep or wake it up and the second reason being the protection it offers to the front of the screen.

[Nightyume]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me the reduction is weight was nice but the higher resistance to substrate failures was higher on my list. I do use covers for two reasons, one being is that I don't have to find the power button to put the device to sleep or wake it up and the second reason being the protection it offers to the front of the screen.

Hear hear. I bought the Forma because I've had two previous kobo devices with glass substrates that unexpectedly died (as in the substrate cracked for no apparent reason, just turned them on, no recent fall, and it was kaput). My Forma is still going strong long after the other ones died and I do not regret it.

I have a cover but I only use it when "travelling" (this includes commuting) but since thanks to the pandemic I am lucky enough to work from home, I haven't worried about the screen getting scratched up in my bag or anything of the sort.

p.s. Having said that, I do love how thin and light it is.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me the reduction is weight was nice but the higher resistance to substrate failures was higher on my list. I do use covers for two reasons, one being is that I don't have to find the power button to put the device to sleep or wake it up and the second reason being the protection it offers to the front of the screen.

Yes, that's the point - I wouldn't use a glass substrate device without a cover. The flexible substrate device is lighter in itself, and also can be safely (IMO/for me) used without a cover, reducing weight a whole lot further.

(I've been waiting for the Forma replacement, hoping they'll fix the power button issue! And I'd use a sleeve if putting it in a bag, but I mostly read at home.)

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Nightyume

I have a cover but I only use it when "travelling" (this includes commuting) but since thanks to the pandemic I am lucky enough to work from home, I haven't worried about the screen getting scratched up in my bag or anything of the sort.

Originally Posted by meeera

(I've been waiting for the Forma replacement, hoping they'll fix the power button issue! And I'd use a sleeve if putting it in a bag, but I mostly read at home.)

I mostly read at home but I also toss my Forma into my laptop bag when heading to work. For me, leaving it in the cover is the best answer but it's not the only answer.

[khalleron]

I bought a Forma pretty much the day they came out. I keep it in a cover at work, but take it out of the cover to read at home.

There's been no deterioration of the cover or the Forma itself. I occasionally clean it with alcohol, everything is still in good shape. The area around the buttons does show fingerprints, but hasn't broken down in any way.

The cover shows a little bit of wear on the corners, but that's it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

How would you know, Jon, you don't have a Forma?

It is far nicer without a cover! Also when using a cover with the Forma a TPU cover makes the most sense IMO, as it is flexible. Those do feel rubbery, too.

I've used enough Readers all with covers to know that the cover makes the Reader nicer to hold.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For me the reduction is weight was nice but the higher resistance to substrate failures was higher on my list. I do use covers for two reasons, one being is that I don't have to find the power button to put the device to sleep or wake it up and the second reason being the protection it offers to the front of the screen.

If I didn't have a cover, even if my H2O didn't break, it could get scratched. Plus I do like the sleep function of the cover.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by khalleron

I bought a Forma pretty much the day they came out. I keep it in a cover at work, but take it out of the cover to read at home.

There's been no deterioration of the cover or the Forma itself. I occasionally clean it with alcohol, everything is still in good shape. The area around the buttons does show fingerprints, but hasn't broken down in any way.

The cover shows a little bit of wear on the corners, but that's it.

For me, the area around the buttons would be nearly pristine as I would not use the buttons.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've used enough Readers all with covers to know that the cover makes the Reader nicer to hold.

And since you're the only person on Mobileread who's ever used more than one reader, we all bow down to your superior knowledge and experience.