Kobo Forma - Wow!

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by hobnail

The UI on the Kobo is amazing compared to any Kindle.

Or, as I often say, the UI on the Kindle is amazing considering how it's hardly changed after so many years, and using a Kobo shows you what it could be.

How does the hardware / screen compare?

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

How does the hardware / screen compare?

As far as resolution, etc. goes, they're comparable in my opinion. The kobo has a noticeably larger screen which is a big plus for me. The shape of the forma is better; the side where the battery and buttons are is slightly angled upward making it easier to hold. And it's lighter since it's all plastic, and also not cold metal. There is a problem with a band of light on the side by the buttons but I have it turned down and can't see it. The power button is dodgy but I have a sleep cover and therefore rarely use the power button. For me the UI of the kindle drags the overall score significantly down below the kobo's score.

[christianbk]

I'm an Amazon person. Have multiple echo dots and shows in my house. Use Goodreads for reading tracking.

I prefer the Forma over the Warm Oasis.

I like the bump in screen size. I LOVE the gesture to change lighting intensity. I find the form factor nicer - I personally never liked the metal feeling of the Oasis.

I also had to get a Sleepcover for the Forma, despite having used all of my devices without them. The area near my Forma's power button has had so much button pressure that if I press it, it has an audible creak noise. Very annoying. Should have gotten a sleepcover day 1.

What puts the Forma over the top are three personal things:

1) Number of page flips for each chapter. I do NOT like the "x minutes until chapter end" the Oasis has. I LOVE how Kobo devices give me "x of y pages in chapter".

2) The bottom line visual representation. I prefer this kind of view vs. "time left in book"

3) Visual representations of chapters. Allows me to think, "How much longer is the next chapter? Can I fit it in?" when I'm reading and thinking about going to bed or needing to do something else.

I've given advice to several friends. The first thing I always tell them is that there isn't a perfect ereader. You'll have to have a couple of cons with any device you have. But to me, the Forma has more pros than the Oasis.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by christianbk

I'm an Amazon person. Have multiple echo dots and shows in my house. Use Goodreads for reading tracking.

I prefer the Forma over the Warm Oasis.

Given you have a Forma insteasd of an Oasis, I would say that you are not an Amazon person. If you were, you'd have an Oasis and you'd be poo-pooing the Forma.

[christianbk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Given you have a Forma insteasd of an Oasis, I would say that you are not an Amazon person. If you were, you'd have an Oasis and you'd be poo-pooing the Forma.

Not "instead of." I have a warm Oasis device.

As far as the Amazon ecosystem and my comment about being an Amazon person, I am. The Audible hooks, mainly as ease for my kids and their echo dots as well as an audiobook for me here and there, the amount of Prime purchases I make, the Echo show downstairs, and more make me an Amazon person.

Don't forget the Amazon Music sub as well as a Prime sub as well.

So my point was: everything points to me wanting to like + use the Warm Oasis that currently near my bed. But I use the Forma. This is despite me looking at that Oasis and being like, "I SHOULD be liking and using you!"

[Pajamaman]

@hobnail. Thx.

Actually I think aluminium is lighter than plastic.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

@hobnail. Thx.

Actually I think aluminium is lighter than plastic.

It is nowhere near that simple. It is probably has better strength to weight, but, it will also depend on the plastic and, for that matter, the exact aluminium alloy. The plastics that are being used, can be cast with ribs to improve stiffness. Aluminium can be cast as well, but, it will be a much more expensive process. I'm guessing the back of the Oasis is pressed. Looking at the shape, that step will improve the stiffness along that length of the device. That is a good design with minimal weight penalties.

To me, the choice between aluminium and plastic for most devices is looks. Both when new and as they start to wear. Heat dissipation is probably the only real advantage, but, at times that could be a disadvantage.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It is nowhere near that simple.

I weighed my Forma and Oasis and the Forma is about 32 grams (about an ounce) heavier. But when I hold the Oasis it feels like a tank; heavy and ungainly. Whereas the Forma is like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it feels just right. Both have covers so I'm not touching that much metal on the Oasis, but even so it doesn't feel anywhere near as nice in the hand as the Forma does. And that's just one aspect of what makes it so much better.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by hobnail

I weighed my Forma and Oasis and the Forma is about 32 grams (about an ounce) heavier. But when I hold the Oasis it feels like a tank; heavy and ungainly. Whereas the Forma is like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it feels just right. Both have covers so I'm not touching that much metal on the Oasis, but even so it doesn't feel anywhere near as nice in the hand as the Forma does. And that's just one aspect of what makes it so much better.

I don't feel such a difference between my Oasis and my Libra. Yes, the Libra is more comfortable, but not by such a huge amount. And in no way would I describe the Oasis as a tank or ungainly. YMMV, of course.

[Josieb1]

I got mine from John Lewis this week. Awful power button and the worst uneven screen i’ve ever seen.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I got mine from John Lewis this week. Awful power button and the worst uneven screen i’ve ever seen.

The Forma? Or the Libra? (I'm guessing you mean the Forma, due to your comment on the power button.)

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

The Forma? Or the Libra? (I'm guessing you mean the Forma, due to your comment on the power button.)

Yes, sorry, the Forma. I already have the Libra and love it. I’d like a Forma too but that screen was awful

[Skydog]

The Forma is my go-to ereader, by far. The power button can be a bit stiff, but the display and lighting is excellent to my eyes.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Skydog

The Forma is my go-to ereader, by far. The power button can be a bit stiff, but the display and lighting is excellent to my eyes.

I wish we didn’t have to play the screen lottery every time we buy an e-reader. I get scared to even contemplate a purchase now a days as so many retailers refuse to consider an uneven screen a returnable reason. That’s why I won’t risk another Forma. I was lucky, John Lewis refunded me but I’m not risking it again.

I once bought an e-reader direct from Kobo, and even they didn’t really want a return because of screen lighting. It seems only Amazon, and buying kindles from them, is that safest course.

[mesamay2003]

E-readers have been around a while now, you'd think they'd manage a way to produce constant quality screens...but apparently not. Returns are such a pain, for both the buyer and the seller.