Clara HD Will it be wise to buy a Kobo Clara HD now?

[Semwize]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Basically it's the same Eink display technology but with the capacitive touch layer as part of the screen assembly instead of needing to be laminated to the display later in assembly.

will see a 30% increase in contrast ratio, the company claims

It interesting, but I don't think Kobo is implementing it this year...

[Cootey]

Originally Posted by pnerd

Kobo Clara HD came out 3 years ago. And Kobo discontinues its devices a few years after they come out. So,

1. Will it be wise if I buy a Clara HD now?
   
2. How would the device being discontinued by Kobo affect my device if I buy one now?
   
3. Will it be better to wait for some new device (of the same price range as ClaraHD) to come out?
   
4. Or should I just go for it and buy a Clara HD?

I suppose you could wait to see if Kobo will release a new eReader this Fall, but they just released the Elipsa, so it's not likely they'll release something else. However, if you found a good price for a Clara, it wouldn't be unwise to pick one up now. It's a great li'l eReader. I love mine.

As others have pointed out, Kobo keeps updating firmware for older models, so you wouldn't be abandoned. Some older models do eventually experience EOL (Kobo mini for example), but the Clara isn't in danger of that for a long while.

You may find yourself excluded from newer features. When the Aura One came out, it was the only model for some time that featured Overdrive support (technically), and then Overdrive support was opened up to all other models when the Forma came out. However, the Forma introduced Dropbox support, and that was exclusive only to Forma at the time, and now the Elipsa, too. My Clara still can't access it. Eventually, I expect Dropbox support to be added to all models the way Overdrive was, but only when Kobo comes up with a new killer feature for their latest flagship model.

I say snap up a Clara if you get a good price for one, but waiting a few more months to see if Kobo reveals something new this Fall wouldn't be a bad idea.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Calenorn]

Also, consider: supply chains are disrupted; inflation is rumbling. At the moment, Kobo is sold out of certified refurbished Claras (to the US, anyway).

If you want a (new) Clara, grab one now. Life is uncertain.

[julian67]

I bought a new Kobo Clara HD and received it just over a week ago. It's to replace a Boyue Likebook P6 whose screen died on me after 6 months. I also have a 2nd gen Kindle Paperwhite which I like but has only tiny storage capacity. I manage all my ebooks with Calibre and I buy from Amazon, Google, Kobo and also borrow from my local library via BorrowBox.

I'm very pleased with the Kobo Clara HD. It is a much nicer device than the Likebook, which had terribly slow page turns and much less good font rendering. My old Paperwhite only has a 167 ppi display and I have really appreciated the 300 ppi displays of the Like book and now the Kobo. I can't see any reason why buying it might be a poor decision. I can't think that ebook formats are going to radically change and render it obsolete. I did open it up in order to swap the microSD card for a bigger one and I was pleased to see that the battery wires are not soldered onto the board but attached with standard micro JST connectors, so the device ought to have an extremely long lifespan.

The only drawback so far was that despite supporting mobi format books it doesn't do so very well, so I've had to convert my Calibre library from mobi to mobi+epub, however Calibre does make this really easy and reliable.

I guess if I had money to spare I might have bought the latest waterproof Kindle Paperwhite but I'm actually happy with the Kobo. I think the way it sorts and presents sideloaded books and their covers and metadata is far superior to the Kindle, and the way it displays pages is similarly good, and the font rendering is similarly excellent. I am really used to, and like very much, Amazon's Bookerly font and it was simple to add this to the Clara HD. The Kobo's page turning and rendering is very rapid and there is never any flicker or ghosting to distract. The search works really well too.

I think the one thing Amazon does markedly better is the device covers. Kindle covers are really sturdy and offer a lot of protection for the display.

Anyway, in answer to the original question "Clara HD Will it be wise to buy a Kobo Clara HD now?" I have to say yes, why not? The price for a new device is good, it's nicely made, is a much better choice than a Kindle for sideloaded books from multiple sources, is easy to upgrade and a pleasure to read on.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Cootey

...the Forma introduced Dropbox support, and that was exclusive only to Forma at the time, and now the Elipsa, too. My Clara still can't access it. Eventually, I expect Dropbox support to be added to all models the way Overdrive was, but only when Kobo comes up with a new killer feature for their latest flagship model.

Is Dropbox access really such a killer feature though? I'd bet only a tiny fraction of Kobo users utilize it. Not like the previous killer feature, Overdrive.

I do think Kobo's strategy of (for a certain time) limiting some new features to the premium models is stupid. The hardware is differentiated enough to sell each individual unit. I can't imagine the buyer who thinks the Forma or Elipsa are too large for them, but goes for it anyway due to that sweet, sweet Dropbox access

Instead of using Overdrive to sell the Forma, they would have been wiser to roll it out to all their devices simultaneously and then market the hell out of it.

I still think they could do well with a short commercial showing a user browse Overdrive on their Kobo and download the book directly to their device in realtime, never switching devices.

[Semwize]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Is Dropbox access really such a killer feature though?

If anyone needs it too much, can use the mod
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=316894

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Is Dropbox access really such a killer feature though? I'd bet only a tiny fraction of Kobo users utilize it. Not like the previous killer feature, Overdrive.

I do think Kobo's strategy of (for a certain time) limiting some new features to the premium models is stupid. The hardware is differentiated enough to sell each individual unit. I can't imagine the buyer who thinks the Forma or Elipsa are too large for them, but goes for it anyway due to that sweet, sweet Dropbox access

Instead of using Overdrive to sell the Forma, they would have been wiser to roll it out to all their devices simultaneously and then market the hell out of it.

I still think they could do well with a short commercial showing a user browse Overdrive on their Kobo and download the book directly to their device in realtime, never switching devices.

Adding support for new features to the other devices does not come without a cost. It does have to be tested and make sure it works on them. Plus, there might be other costs. Support costs are one, but, maybe they need to pay for licensing of the library they use. In which case, it will be included in the cost of the new device, but, there is no way for them to charge for it on the older devices.

I honestly don't know why Kobo have done it this way. I just know it isn't as simple as just enabling it on the other devices.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by pnerd

Kobo Clara HD came out 3 years ago. And Kobo discontinues its devices a few years after they come out. So,

1. Will it be wise if I buy a Clara HD now?
   
2. How would the device being discontinued by Kobo affect my device if I buy one now?
   
3. Will it be better to wait for some new device (of the same price range as ClaraHD) to come out?
   
4. Or should I just go for it and buy a Clara HD?

If the time lag between the FCC notice of the N604 and its release as the Elipsa is any guide, it seems unlikely there's another new Kobo on the near horizon. The Clara is an excellent reader, I loved mine, but if you want something a bit newer, you might consider the Libra - sort of halfway between the Clara and the Forma in size, while much closer to the Clara in price.