Sage Kobo Sage opinions

[Semwize]

Originally Posted by Claude_C

Well, I have a Libra H2O and I very much like it. I'm looking at the new Kobo and Kindle. For the first time in a very long time, I don't see why I would buy a new one. My Libra has all the features I need, except maybe USB-C. I don't see myself buying a heavier ereader.

No one forces you to buy Libra - you have already purchased it. But for those who have not yet bought and hesitated - a nice replacement: a better screen - Carta 1200, USB-C, more battery capacity.

[mezzanine]

The new Libra may appeal more to me than the Sage. Although I think I may be forgetting that theyve raised the price of the Libra while slightly reducing the price of the Sage relative to the Forma, which would change the relative value equation between models and incline me even further to a hopefully discounted Forma.

It shouldnt be long now before we start to see some reviews, but my subjective perception from watching one of the Portugese youtube reviews is that the build quality of the Libra 2 looks better to me than the original Libra. Looked more kindle-like.

Take that with a massive grain of salt, as I wasnt looking intently, but thats about the only way the new releases could avoid being disappointments, given their similarity in specs to the previous generation theyre replacing.

I think Kobo might be in a bit of trouble having to compete against the new paperwhite. The PW5 with the bigger flush screen and warm light is going to compete against the Libra 2 at a cheaper price and eat into that segment.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

I think Kobo might be in a bit of trouble having to compete against the new paperwhite. The PW5 with the bigger flush screen and warm light is going to compete against the Libra 2 at a cheaper price and eat into that segment.

I thought the PW5 was a 6.8 inch screen, not bigger than the Libra's 7? Or do you mean bigger than the older PWs?

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I thought the PW5 was a 6.8 inch screen, not bigger than the Libra's 7? Or do you mean bigger than the older PWs?

Yeah the new paperwhite is 6.8 and to get 32GB storage you’re going to pay more than you would for the Libra 2.

To me the Libra is competing against the paperwhite signature edition as that’s the most directly comparable model.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I thought the PW5 was a 6.8 inch screen, not bigger than the Libra's 7? Or do you mean bigger than the older PWs?

Bigger than the previous paperwhites.

I definitely believe the new paperwhite is going to be disruptive to both the Clara and Libra 2. I feel it out competes both models, in terms of value.

To be fair, I feel it makes amazons own Oasis less attractive, too. Double the price for page turn buttons. In fact, this might be the best argument yet for the possibility we may see an 8-inch Oasis.

Id be curious to know the stats on how many buyers of ereaders spring for the 32gb models relative to the 8gb standard models. I imagine is its a very small % of primarily manga readers. Of all the useless upgrades on the new Kobos, that might be the most useless.

[Semwize]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Yeah the new paperwhite is 6.8 and to get 32GB storage you’re going to pay more than you would for the Libra 2.

To me the Libra is competing against the paperwhite signature edition as that’s the most directly comparable model.

The paperwhite's screen is smaller and worse. But have to wait for the reviews.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

Bigger than the previous paperwhites.

I definitely believe the new paperwhite is going to be disruptive to both the Clara and Libra 2. I feel it out competes both models, in terms of value.

To be fair, I feel it makes amazons own Oasis less attractive, too. Double the price for page turn buttons. In fact, this might be the best argument yet for the possibility we may see an 8-inch Oasis.

Id be curious to know the stats on how many buyers of ereaders spring for the 32gb models relative to the 8gb standard models. I imagine is its a very small % of primarily manga readers. Of all the useless upgrades on the new Kobos, that might be the most useless.

32GB sounds better than 8GB to many people. Bigger sounds better.

Whether they actually need it or not, it's a good marketing ploy. "our 7 inch model with 32GB storage is cheaper than their smaller screen version with the same storage space." And having 32GB in both the Libra 2 and Sage will definitely make them options that many audiobook users might consider. Given that the lock-in is much tighter with Kobo audiobooks than with their ebooks, the extra storage could well be focused primarily on that market. Grab a first time ereader buyer with extra storage and get them into the Kobo audiobook ecosystem, it could easily work.

As for the percentage of current ereader users who want 32GB, I note that you have no Kobo listed in your profile. So perhaps it's not surprising that you may be unaware of how often the plea for more storage in Kobos has been made here. A micro-niche to be sure, but one that buys a disproportionate number of devices.

Personally I doubt the new Kobos will win many "converts" from Amazon, the ecosystem lock-in is too tight for that. But if Kobo gets its marketing right (and they do say there's a first time for everything), then I could see the new devices appealing to first time buyers who may previously have bought the standard line that there is only one brand of ereader, Kindle. I also don't think the new Kindle range is appealing enough to win many 'back' from Kobo, because when the specs are matched, Kobo is not more expensive. And of course, the Sage and Elipsa are models that have no comparable Kindle competition

[Sirtel]

Personally I would pay double for page turn buttons, because I can't do without them. So yes, I'm considering buying the Sage, but not the new Paperwhites. As to the ecosystem, I'm agnostic. I buy from anywhere, as long as certain plugins work.

Of course I realize that my preferences are far removed from those of the general user, who couldn't care less about DRM and sideloading. Still, I'm hardly the only one.

[mezzanine]

Gonna wait for the reviews to come in, but Im leaning more toward the PW5 as the release date of the new devices draws closer.

I havent used a kindle product for a few years and have been a little worried about whether Ill be able to get the margins, font size, line spacing, and font weight I prefer. After some reading on the kindle forum, it seems margins can be adjusted via calibre.

If that includes the vertical empty space at the top and bottom that I eliminate in my Kobo devices using the full-screen mod, I can probably persuade myself to make the switch.

Having a hard time rationalizing the $ of the Sage or Forma, although Im still holding out some hope for a deal on a Forma. Not overly optimistic there will be anything significant, though.

[MGlitch]

Honestly I’ll never consider a Kindle until/unless I can tweak it as much as the patches and nickelmenu let me modify my Kobo. Getting thinner margins, smaller line spacing, making fonts bolder or lighter, and all the niceties of NM. Compared to the locked down state of Kindle? Sorry easy choice, I ditched Barnes and Nobles Nook when they removed my ability to download ebooks, and I’ve loved the openness of Kobo ever since.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Honestly I’ll never consider a Kindle until/unless I can tweak it as much as the patches and nickelmenu let me modify my Kobo. Getting thinner margins, smaller line spacing, making fonts bolder or lighter, and all the niceties of NM. Compared to the locked down state of Kindle? Sorry easy choice, I ditched Barnes and Nobles Nook when they removed my ability to download ebooks, and I’ve loved the openness of Kobo ever since.

You can make the fonts bolder. Line spacing depends on your chosen font, with some it's pretty small (yes, you can sideload your own fonts). Margins can be adjusted in Calibre. And you can customize the font sizes with the FONT_RAMP hack.

Of course a Kindle is not as tweakable as a Kobo. But I've found it customizable enough for my taste. Not so with a Nook.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You can make the fonts bolder. Line spacing depends on your chosen font, with some it's pretty small (yes, you can sideload your own fonts). Margins can be adjusted in Calibre. And you can customize the font sizes with the FONT_RAMP hack.

Of course a Kindle is not as tweakable as a Kobo. But I've found it customizable enough for my taste. Not so with a Nook.

Yes, Nook was the worst offender (and still is though it enjoys a smaller and smaller group here with every passing year).

I don’t want to have to fiddle with Calibre conversions vs the ability to change the settings on the device.

[Uncle Robin]

Watching a French review of the Sage



the reviewer makes much of its cost, but also seems to think it's Kobo's best yet. Assuming my rudimentary French caught the gist.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

the reviewer makes much of its cost, but also seems to think it's Kobo's best yet. Assuming my rudimentary French caught the gist.

Umm... it seems he doesn't actually have the Sage yet and so it's not really a review, but just an opinion, like we all currently have?

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Umm... it seems he doesn't actually have the Sage yet and so it's not really a review, but just an opinion, like we all currently have?

The moral of the story - watch to the end

I got distracted by his mention of the price and paused the video to check the price in Euros against my local price. What's the best tool for removing egg from one's face?