Libra 2 Kobo Libra 2 first impressions - Page 12

John F · 11-01-2021, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

If you convert epub to kepub in Calibre, does the Kobo treat it the same as kepub you buy from Kobo? I.e., all features are available and opening and page turns are just as fast?

A side loaded kepub won't sync across multiple devices.

hollowpoint · 11-01-2021, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusanReads

About the lighting on the Libra 2, it's slightly darker on the side of the buttons when you REALLY look for it. But it's so minor it's almost not worth mentioning.

I'm absolutely in love with my new Libra after reading on it almost all day yesterday. I made some comparison pictures with the new Paperwhite and the Libra sure looks good.

I think I'm going to return the PW5. It kept slipping out of my hands because of the smaller bezels.

Exactly my experience. I have one of each, and the PW5 will probably be going back now that I've used it to help liberate my remaining KFX files. It's snappy at page rendering and has a nice screen. But otherwise, it's way too slippery, and it's already at the upper limit weight-wise so I won't read with it in a cover to give it more traction. Plus there's another detail: I'm lefthanded, and one-hand reading on the Libra 2 with buttons is easy, but it's very awkward on a buttonless Kindle.

Deobulakenyo · 11-02-2021, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

None that I can see. I have no complaints regarding the front light. The color is adjustable and I haven't found any setting where it is problematic. There's neither defect nor gradients nor shadows with my Libra 2, as much as I can tell. Seems like a perfect frontlight device to me. Never had issues with that on the Aura H2O either, it was very good, it just lacked the color adjustment gizmo.

You can see the LEDs but only if you look at the display at an very odd angle you'd never use while reading.

At least for the white Libra 2 there is some black duct tape inside the device (on the sides of the back plate) probably meant to help prevent light bleeding.

That said, there are pinholes. A whole bunch of them, real ones, right through the plastic. It's how they allow the power LED to shine through. It's only visible when looking straight at it, nearly invisible from an angle, so that confused me at first when I tried to turn it on, but the LED didn't seem to blink.

So if this was a smartphone and the LED used for notification purposes, it would suck a lot, but the power LED on ereaders basically doesn't matter so, it's whatever.

Is it easy to remove the backplate (just in case one needs to)? are the plastic lips that lock the plate to the body easy to break?

frostschutz · 11-02-2021, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deobulakenyo

Is it easy to remove the backplate (just in case one needs to)?

It's quite easy to remove. Best to start from the top (opposite of pagebuttons/usbport side). Because there is tape on the sides and the bottom has reinforcements that make the backplate less flexible there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deobulakenyo

are the plastic lips that lock the plate to the body easy to break?

I opened it multiple times now and none of them broke for me, they also don't look prone to breaking, but of course it could happen if you're not careful with it.

I use small plastic rings/washers to wedge it open and then it kinda just pops off.

Deobulakenyo · 11-02-2021, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

It's quite easy to remove. Best to start from the top (opposite of pagebuttons/usbport side). Because there is tape on the sides and the bottom has reinforcements that make the backplate less flexible there.

I opened it multiple times now and none of them broke for me, they also don't look prone to breaking, but of course it could happen if you're not careful with it.

I use small plastic rings/washers to wedge it open and then it kinda just pops off.

Thank you very much. I hope someone figures a way to remove the sdcard and have it backed up so that a broken sdcard would not mean a definite dead libra 2.

frostschutz · 11-02-2021, 07:35 AM

The backup step is already done. Replacing the card is the issue.

Also I'm not sure if there are different waveforms to consider -- you can check waveform in Settings -> Device information -> Firmware information -- if the waveform is not the same for everyone, that might be a problem.

Deobulakenyo · 11-02-2021, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

The backup step is already done. Replacing the card is the issue.

Also I'm not sure if there are different waveforms to consider -- you can check waveform in Settings -> Device information -> Firmware information -- if the waveform is not the same for everyone, that might be a problem.

Hmm. Is that so. Maybe we should start a thred comparing FW information.

I was actually thinking not of upgrading the sdcard but when shite happens that renders one's sdcard broken, at least a backup will give a hope that removing that faulty card and replacing it with a working one might give the device hope of being useable again. I mean i wouldn't be afraid to pry that card if it was broken already hahaha

jasius · 11-02-2021, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

None that I can see. I have no complaints regarding the front light. The color is adjustable and I haven't found any setting where it is problematic. There's neither defect nor gradients nor shadows with my Libra 2, as much as I can tell. Seems like a perfect frontlight device to me. Never had issues with that on the Aura H2O either, it was very good, it just lacked the color adjustment gizmo.

You can see the LEDs but only if you look at the display at an very odd angle you'd never use while reading.

At least for the white Libra 2 there is some black duct tape inside the device (on the sides of the back plate) probably meant to help prevent light bleeding.

That said, there are pinholes. A whole bunch of them, real ones, right through the plastic. It's how they allow the power LED to shine through. It's only visible when looking straight at it, nearly invisible from an angle, so that confused me at first when I tried to turn it on, but the LED didn't seem to blink.

So if this was a smartphone and the LED used for notification purposes, it would suck a lot, but the power LED on ereaders basically doesn't matter so, it's whatever.

Were there pinholes in the ClaraHD? Maybe I haven't noticed them before, is this a place of wear?

MelonFarmer70 · 11-02-2021, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostschutz

None that I can see..

Thanks. It was just the pinholes of light that you sometimes see in the screen that I was thinking about, as I find them very distracting when reading. I have a Paperwhite and the screen on that has none.

davidfor · 11-02-2021, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelonFarmer70

Thanks. It was just the pinholes of light that you sometimes see in the screen that I was thinking about, as I find them very distracting when reading. I have a Paperwhite and the screen on that has none.

The pinholes are a manufacturing defect. The early front-lit devices suffered from them a lot. It was bad enough that you could feel lucky if you didn't see it. But, it has been improved so much that I don't remember the last time someone said they had one. And that you saw two Libra H2O's with the problem is more than surprising.

John F · 11-03-2021, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

The pinholes are a manufacturing defect. The early front-lit devices suffered from them a lot. It was bad enough that you could feel lucky if you didn't see it. But, it has been improved so much that I don't remember the last time someone said they had one. And that you saw two Libra H2O's with the problem is more than surprising.

Very surprising. Normally, I would chalk this up to someone not removing the screen protector film (no offense MelonFarmer70).

omro · 11-03-2021, 08:58 AM

A lot of great comments here. I’ve had my Libra 2 for a few days now. I’m upgrading from an Aura HD. I previously bought a Libra H2O last year and returned it within days, because I didn’t like how uneven the screen was.

I have the Libra 2 set to 28% brightness and have the Natural light set to auto. In my opinion, compared to my previous model and brief stint with the H2O, this is the clearest, most evenly lit Kobo screen I have ever seen. I can’t say anything bad about this screen.

The device seems incredibly fast and responsive. It’s pretty comfortable to hold. Considerably more so than the Aura HD. I have the sleep case that folds into a stand, I’m meh about it. I doesn’t add too much weight or bulk, but I actually prefer holding the Kobo without the case on. I think I will only ever put it on the Kobo when I’m going to leave the house. It’s easy enough to put on, but a bugger to get off though.

I love (love (love)) having physical buttons and this is my only minor criticism. They are just a little small. For me, to be perfect, they would be double the height and double the width.

Other than that, I love reading on this device.

Sirtel · 11-03-2021, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omro

A lot of great comments here. I’ve had my Libra 2 for a few days now. I’m upgrading from an Aura HD. I previously bought a Libra H2O last year and returned it within days, because I didn’t like how uneven the screen was.

I have the Libra 2 set to 28% brightness and have the Natural light set to auto. In my opinion, compared to my previous model and brief stint with the H2O, this is the clearest, most evenly lit Kobo screen I have ever seen. I can’t say anything bad about this screen.

The device seems incredibly fast and responsive. It’s pretty comfortable to hold. Considerably more so than the Aura HD. I have the sleep case that folds into a stand, I’m meh about it. I doesn’t add too much weight or bulk, but I actually prefer holding the Kobo without the case on. I think I will only ever put it on the Kobo when I’m going to leave the house. It’s easy enough to put on, but a bugger to get off though.

I love (love (love)) having physical buttons and this is my only minor criticism. They are just a little small. For me, to be perfect, they would be double the height and double the width.

Other than that, I love reading on this device.

Yeah, I find the Sage buttons a bit too small and stiff too, but I can live with them. Any button is better than no buttons.

OTOH, they are probably pretty easy to ignore by those who don't like buttons.

omro · 11-03-2021, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yeah, I find the Sage buttons a bit too small and stiff too, but I can live with them. Any button is better than no buttons.

OTOH, they are probably pretty easy to ignore by those who don't like buttons.

They are a little stiff, but I attributed that to newness and was giving them a little while to see if that changed.

I agree, the touch screen is pretty responsive and I have still some muscle memory from my bottom corner of the screen page flip days from the Aura HD. A very close to best of both worlds situation.

jasius · 11-03-2021, 10:47 AM

Here's a weird question, but applicable to me, is this comfortable to read while lying on your back in bed, holding it over your face. This is typically how I read. The ClaraHD with a cover is a bit too heavy for me to one hand in this position and I need another hand to page turn anyway, so I'm not super concerned about "one handed reading".

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11-02-2021, 07:35 AM	#171
frostschutz Linux User Posts: 2,282 Karma: 6123806 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: none	The backup step is already done. Replacing the card is the issue. Also I'm not sure if there are different waveforms to consider -- you can check waveform in Settings -> Device information -> Firmware information -- if the waveform is not the same for everyone, that might be a problem.

11-03-2021, 08:58 AM	#177
omro Addict Posts: 375 Karma: 452000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hamilton, On Device: Kobo Aura HD	A lot of great comments here. I’ve had my Libra 2 for a few days now. I’m upgrading from an Aura HD. I previously bought a Libra H2O last year and returned it within days, because I didn’t like how uneven the screen was. I have the Libra 2 set to 28% brightness and have the Natural light set to auto. In my opinion, compared to my previous model and brief stint with the H2O, this is the clearest, most evenly lit Kobo screen I have ever seen. I can’t say anything bad about this screen. The device seems incredibly fast and responsive. It’s pretty comfortable to hold. Considerably more so than the Aura HD. I have the sleep case that folds into a stand, I’m meh about it. I doesn’t add too much weight or bulk, but I actually prefer holding the Kobo without the case on. I think I will only ever put it on the Kobo when I’m going to leave the house. It’s easy enough to put on, but a bugger to get off though. I love (love (love)) having physical buttons and this is my only minor criticism. They are just a little small. For me, to be perfect, they would be double the height and double the width. Other than that, I love reading on this device.

11-03-2021, 10:47 AM	#180
jasius Connoisseur Posts: 85 Karma: 449542 Join Date: Oct 2018 Device: Kobo Libra 2	Here's a weird question, but applicable to me, is this comfortable to read while lying on your back in bed, holding it over your face. This is typically how I read. The ClaraHD with a cover is a bit too heavy for me to one hand in this position and I need another hand to page turn anyway, so I'm not super concerned about "one handed reading".