Sage Kobo Sage opinions

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's possible Kobo may not have gone the Oasis style if not or Amazon. As for what I want, I don't have much choice in the design if I want a new Kobo. But I don't think it would be an issue or I'd get used to it.

The Oasis style is flawed, IMHO. It pre-determines that you need to grip the reader a certain way, from either the left or the right, causing it to hang from your wrist. It's one of the reasons why I held off looking at newer readers, but it seems that for both Amazon and Kobo, this design is the one for the "better" readers nowadays. The KA1 can be gripped from the right, left, or supported from the bottom (like I described in an earlier post). While you can obviously hold e-readers like the sage from the bottom by supporting them between the V of your thumb and index finger, it either makes the screen sit off-center, or the reader is unbalanced to either the left or the right.

I've been lookingn at Boox and Onyx readers, but I'm not too comfortable with those brands. I don't know how good their software is, how often they update Android (for their Android readers), how much choice there is in cases... with Amazon and Kobo, I know what I'll be getting, and know it'll work. (Amazon: good reader, stable but limited software; Kobo: good reader, more capable software, more updates/functionality, but also more bugs.)

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Me too. I’m in the process off trying to upgrade my Oasis 2 to a 3 as I want the warm light feature, I use that a lot on my Kobo’s. I’ve sold my PW4, I’m trading in my old Kindle Touch for the discount and a small gift card. I was going to sell my Oasis 2 straight away so I hopefully had enough to cover the cost (I’m hoping for a net cost of zero, or just a little bit), but after my Sage experience I’ve decided to get the Oasis 3 before selling my Oasis 2 in case I can’t get a decent screen

Why would you still go with an Oasis 3? It's two years old already. In that case, an update from Amazon could be right around the corner, and then you'll be kicking yourself. Also, it is "only" 7 inch instead of 8. I find the +/- 8 inch a sweet spot for reading. (I also have a 12.9 inch iPad, but I wouldn't want a ~13 inch e-reader. It allows for 2 roughly 7 inch pages side by side, but the footprint of the device is huge.)

[Sirtel]

Well, for me the Oasis style is exactly right. Before it I could never find a completely comfortable way to hold my ereaders, unless I put them in thick cases, which added unnecessary weight. The lopsided shape was a godsend for me and I adore it.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx

Kat I'm wondering if you turned your device on for an hour or so a day, regardless of whether you read on it nor not, and wait till it's at say 20% battery, and then charge it, and repeat this cycle say twice, whether your battery life improve. (And then maybe continue this ad hoc)

That is, whether using the device would give the battery a boost. Others here will no doubt have a more scientific answer as to the effectiveness of this procedure, but I guess you'll only know for sure if you try it.

You mean that the percentage counter may be off due to not being used for some time? I'm still not sure if "recalibrating" the battery by a few full drain/recharge cycles will do anything for Li-Ion or Li-Polymer batteries. They don't have a "memory effect"; so you don't have to drain them completely before recharging. (Ni-MH batteries do have a memory effect: if you recharge them from a certain point, and do it too often, that point becomes the new 0, and you lose battery life.)

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Well, for me the Oasis style is exactly right. Before it I could never find a completely comfortable way to hold my ereaders, unless I put them in thick cases, which added unnecessary weight. The lopsided shape was a godsend for me and I adore it.

I'll probably get used to it should I buy a Sage. I've been able to get used to lots of things over the last 25 years. Still, I don't like the trend of smaller and smaller bezels for devices that are _intended_ to be held by the bezel... and Amazon/Kobo fixed it by giving the device one massive bezel.

That part of the device could have been screen real estate.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

The Oasis style is flawed, IMHO. It pre-determines that you need to grip the reader a certain way, from either the left or the right, causing it to hang from your wrist.

Why would you still go with an Oasis 3? It's two years old already. In that case, an update from Amazon could be right around the corner, and then you'll be kicking yourself. Also, it is "only" 7 inch instead of 8. I find the +/- 8 inch a sweet spot for reading. (I also have a 12.9 inch iPad, but I wouldn't want a ~13 inch e-reader. It allows for 2 roughly 7 inch pages side by side, but the footprint of the device is huge.)

First of all the style isn’t flawed, just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not a comfortable style for others.

Yes I know the Oasis 3 is two years old, that’s why I am trying to cover as much of the cost as I can using sales of existing devices and a discount from Amazon. I’m also committed to a new device now as I’ve sent the trade in, plus I really don’t want a Paperwhite, not even the new 6.8 Signature version.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Why would you still go with an Oasis 3? It's two years old already. In that case, an update from Amazon could be right around the corner, and then you'll be kicking yourself. Also, it is "only" 7 inch instead of 8. I find the +/- 8 inch a sweet spot for reading. (I also have a 12.9 inch iPad, but I wouldn't want a ~13 inch e-reader. It allows for 2 roughly 7 inch pages side by side, but the footprint of the device is huge.)

I want a decent kindle, for my Amazon books, I have a Voyage, but I want a device with the warm light so it’s the Oasis 3 or the new Paperwhite, and I like buttons.

I also like the 8 inch size but Amazon don’t do that size. I have a lovely Forma but unfortunately Kobo sent me a defective Sage, and yes I’m still p***d about that. At least with Amazon I can do a speedy return and know it won’t be an issue, unlike with Kobo

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

First of all the style isn’t flawed, just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not a comfortable style for others.

It may be comfortable, but it still makes assumptions on how you should be holding it.

Yes I know the Oasis 3 is two years old, that’s why I am trying to cover as much of the cost as I can using sales of existing devices and a discount from Amazon. I’m also committed to a new device now as I’ve sent the trade in, plus I really don’t want a Paperwhite, not even the new 6.8 Signature version.

Why not? The Signature Edition looks OK; apart from the 6.8 inch screen. They should really have gone with an 8 inch screen for that one, IMHO. Then I might have actually considered it.

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I also like the 8 inch size but Amazon don’t do that size. I have a lovely Forma but unfortunately Kobo sent me a defective Sage, and yes I’m still p***d about that. At least with Amazon I can do a speedy return and know it won’t be an issue, unlike with Kobo

Couldn't you buy the Sage at a store where you can inspect it beforehand, or at a webstore with a good return policy?

Maybe we're a bit spoiled in the Netherlands. A two-week return policy is obligatory, and as many stores are already at the lowest possible margins, they're now competing with faster delivery times and longer return times. "Ordered today, delivered today", and with some stores you can order as late as 15:00 / 3 PM; some stores have a 60 day return policy now. I wouldn't be concerned if I bought a new reader. (Though I'd be miffed if I had to go through the return and swap hassle.)

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Why not? The Signature Edition looks OK; apart from the 6.8 inch screen. They should really have gone with an 8 inch screen for that one, IMHO. Then I might have actually considered it.

Couldn't you buy the Sage at a store where you can inspect it beforehand, or at a webstore with a good return policy?

Maybe we're a bit spoiled in the Netherlands. A two-week return policy is obligatory, and as many stores are already at the lowest possible margins, they're now competing with faster delivery times and longer return times. "Ordered today, delivered today", and with some stores you can order as late as 15:00 / 3 PM; some stores have a 60 day return policy now. I wouldn't be concerned if I bought a new reader. (Though I'd be miffed if I had to go through the return and swap hassle.)

I would like buttons, the Paperwhite hasn’t got any. I didn’t like the PW4 so I doubt the extra screen size will make any difference to how I like it.

No. Right now the new Kobo e-readers are only available from Kobo direct. We will have stores that get them eventually but Argos, the easiest store to buy from, took 3 months to get the Elipsa, so I doubt they will get the new ones any faster.

[John Hopper]

Still really enjoying my Sage. It loads books so fast and works so well with Calibre. The increased screen contrast comes into its own with diagrams and tables which are much clearer. Also I notice how much better the auto rotate works than on the Forma. The latter would often rotate when I didn't want to or refuse to rotate when I did want it to. The Sage behaves in that respect.

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[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by John Hopper

Still really enjoying my Sage. It loads books so fast and works so well with Calibre. The increased screen contrast comes into its own with diagrams and tables which are much clearer. Also I notice how much better the auto rotate works than on the Forma. The latter would often rotate when I didn't want to or refuse to rotate when I did want it to. The Sage behaves in that respect.

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[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Maybe we're a bit spoiled in the Netherlands. A two-week return policy is obligatory, and as many stores are already at the lowest possible margins, they're now competing with faster delivery times and longer return times. "Ordered today, delivered today", and with some stores you can order as late as 15:00 / 3 PM; some stores have a 60 day return policy now. I wouldn't be concerned if I bought a new reader. (Though I'd be miffed if I had to go through the return and swap hassle.)

I went to a Chapters, which is a book store here in Canada, and was looking at getting a Forma. I have enough history with Kobos that I know it's a lottery every time you buy one as to whether you'll get a good screen. I asked the sales rep what there return policy is and they told me that once you open the box, you can't return for any reason.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by mezzanine

I went to a Chapters, which is a book store here in Canada, and was looking at getting a Forma. I have enough history with Kobos that I know it's a lottery every time you buy one as to whether you'll get a good screen. I asked the sales rep what there return policy is and they told me that once you open the box, you can't return for any reason.

That’s something you have to be aware of here. The only way to return an e-reader is to argue that it’s faulty. Argos and Amazon, so long as they are the seller, are the easiest. John Lewis is a bit dodgy now for this and I wouldn’t buy from anyone else.

[Almamida]

Originally Posted by John Hopper

Still really enjoying my Sage. It loads books so fast and works so well with Calibre. The increased screen contrast comes into its own with diagrams and tables which are much clearer. Also I notice how much better the auto rotate works than on the Forma. The latter would often rotate when I didn't want to or refuse to rotate when I did want it to. The Sage behaves in that respect.

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My main issue with the reader is the anemic battery. My Oasis 3 was doing better and it was not among the bests. Still hoping it will get better with more cycles and an eventual firmware update.

[rogerinnyc]

So, having posted my initial impressions of the Sage (vs. my Forma) a number of pages back, I have decided to return the Sage (bought at Kobo -- customer service is, in theory, sending me labels in the next day or two).

The main reason is, to me, it's just not as comfortable to hold in one hand as the Forma is. One, it is heavier by 1.5 ounces. Sounds like that shouldn't make a difference, but to me, at least it does. Two, the back is more plastic-y and less rubbery -- it is a bit less grippy.

Secondarily, I don't like the new buttons or their placement. They're right up against the curved edge and, with my fat thumbs, I often don't get a full press.

Also, without increasing the screen size, the Sage's bezels are a tiny bit wider and it is also a few millimeters taller. I just don't get Kobo making it heavier and bigger than the Forma.

I have ordered a new Forma to replace the one I have with a gouge in its screen.

Definitely the screen on the Sage is gorgeous. High contrast and sharp fonts, fully consistent white (almost) across the background. But if I'm not holding it side-by-side with the Forma, the Forma also looks great (even with the weird stripe at certain light levels on the button side).

I think my concerns about Sage battery life have proven to be unfounded. No scientific measurement, but it appears to be holding up pretty well.

Other positives of the Sage -- I don't find page turns any faster, but other UI interactions -- e.g., going to the chapter index, searching within the book for a character name -- seem a tiny, tiny bit faster.

Also, if you're willing to spring for Kobo's cover, I really like the magnetic attachment (and the green color).

But, at the end of the day, comfort holding the device is the key determinant for me -- so I'm sticking with the Forma (at least for now).

[Deobulakenyo]

Maybe the weight, thickness and sizehas something to do with it being a simple notetaking devihce which you can put flat and balanced on a table

[John Hopper]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Tis true. I'm thrilled that I've been able to get calibre collections to work on the Sage, I could never get them to work on the Forma. Am about half way through loading my 6000 odd ebooks.

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