Libra 2 - Buttons feel cheap?

Fif23 · 02-26-2022, 08:11 AM

Hi there!
Almost ready to pull the trigger on a Libra 2, but since I have to pay 60$ in shipping to Europe, I want to make sure I get it right.

A fella on youtube said that the buttons feel cheap and not always register... Is this true? Or is it perfectly smooth and OK t o use?

BelleZora · 02-26-2022, 09:52 AM

No problem with the buttons on my Libra 2. Smooth and easy to use.

Pjama · 02-26-2022, 11:25 AM

The buttons on the Libra 2 feel sleek and high-quality.

RobertJSawyer · 02-26-2022, 01:37 PM

My Libra 2 buttons are fine; good quality.

Poppaea · 02-26-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fif23

Hi there!
Almost ready to pull the trigger on a Libra 2, but since I have to pay 60$ in shipping to Europe, I want to make sure I get it right.

A fella on youtube said that the buttons feel cheap and not always register... Is this true? Or is it perfectly smooth and OK t o use?

Where in Europe are you? There might be a cheaper way for you to get one.

I am in Germany. Amazon Germany selks it, Amazon Uk and Italy, too. Shops in Italy and the Netherlands, Galaxus in Switzerland, they all sell it without or with very low shipping fees.

Regarding the buttons, they are smooth.

andrzejmakal · 02-26-2022, 03:40 PM

Yes, they feel cheap and act only in one specific position.
One of the reason I returned Libra and bought PW5. Mega happy

Libra - disappointment. .

MGlitch · 02-26-2022, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrzejmakal

Yes, they feel cheap and act only in one specific position.
One of the reason I returned Libra and bought PW5. Mega happy

Libra - disappointment. .

There’s literally a setting to change the direction the buttons take you in, forward or backward, and they work in landscape and portrait mode. And the setting has been there in the firmware since before even the Libra H2O was announced much less the Libra 2.

Now without patching you can’t make them both go the same direction, but I believe that’s even more so the case with Kindle since jailbreaking them is more difficult than patching a Kobo.

So I’m confused, what is the one position you’re talking about?

ZodWallop · 02-26-2022, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

There’s literally a setting to change the direction the buttons take you in, forward or backward, and they work in landscape and portrait mode. And the setting has been there in the firmware since before even the Libra H2O was announced much less the Libra 2.

Now without patching you can’t make them both go the same direction, but I believe that’s even more so the case with Kindle since jailbreaking them is more difficult than patching a Kobo.

So I’m confused, what is the one position you’re talking about?

I believe they meant you have to click the buttons in one specific position or they will not do anything. I have heard similar complaints about the buttons on the Libra H2O and the Libra 2 elsewhere.

JSWolf · 02-26-2022, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fif23

Hi there!
Almost ready to pull the trigger on a Libra 2, but since I have to pay 60$ in shipping to Europe, I want to make sure I get it right.

A fella on youtube said that the buttons feel cheap and not always register... Is this true? Or is it perfectly smooth and OK t o use?

Perfectly smooth and OK to use. I've tried the buttons and they work perfectly well.

Karellen · 02-26-2022, 06:35 PM

I have no problems with the buttons either.

I am aware that the buttons operate on one edge only.
Think of the button as more of a "lever". It is hinged at one end (closest to the middle of the ereader) and the other end moves and makes contact.

I like the way it operates. I can hold the Libra one handed with my thumb partly on the button and with a small roll of my thumb I can change page.

Fif23 · 02-26-2022, 11:27 PM

Superb, thanks so much for the comments guys, I went ahead and ordered the white one and a 10$ case

Exciting!!

Fozziebear40 · 02-27-2022, 05:45 AM

Yes the Libra H2O was like that, that's why I upgraded to the Libra 2 which is much better, glad I did. Oh and the screen is much better as well.

meeera · 02-27-2022, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karellen

I have no problems with the buttons either.

I am aware that the buttons operate on one edge only.
Think of the button as more of a "lever". It is hinged at one end (closest to the middle of the ereader) and the other end moves and makes contact.

I just poked and pressed all over the buttons at every end and edge on my Libra 2, and it turned the page fine each time. Pressing the very end of the button near the centre of the ereader requires more pressure to register, but that's not somewhere I can get my thumb to naturally sit while holding the device. The other end is smooth and requires only light pressure to turn (but definite enough pressure that accidental turns are not a thing). Build quality feels solid and the clickiness is just right - enough to give good tactile feedback, but not enough to make a significant noise.

Leddie · 02-28-2022, 02:00 AM

They feel great to me. Just hard to press if close to the center, but otherwise very nice.

Quoth · 02-28-2022, 06:03 AM

The original Libra buttons have the switches under the outer curved ends and the flexi-hinge joins the pair at the middle. I imagine all kobos with buttons are like that. Under are the low profile "tact" switches everyone uses that use actual switches. Cheaper solutions are the clicky metal dome on the PCB or a conductive pad to the PCB (most remote controls and very cheap calculators, but oddly some expensive two-way radios).

Hence you'll wear out the hinge if you press at the centre instead of the curved end.

02-26-2022, 08:11 AM	#1
Fif23 Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 499132 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: None	Libra 2 - Buttons feel cheap? Hi there! Almost ready to pull the trigger on a Libra 2, but since I have to pay 60$ in shipping to Europe, I want to make sure I get it right. A fella on youtube said that the buttons feel cheap and not always register... Is this true? Or is it perfectly smooth and OK t o use?

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02-26-2022, 09:52 AM	#2
BelleZora Wizard Posts: 1,442 Karma: 25151986 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Seattle, US Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2, Pocketbook Verse Pro Color	No problem with the buttons on my Libra 2. Smooth and easy to use.

02-26-2022, 11:25 AM	#3
Pjama Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 2347200 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: TX Device: Scribe and Libra Colour	The buttons on the Libra 2 feel sleek and high-quality.

02-26-2022, 01:37 PM	#4
RobertJSawyer Guru Posts: 737 Karma: 4306712 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Libra 2, Clara 2E, and Clara HD; Kindle PaperWhite	My Libra 2 buttons are fine; good quality.

02-26-2022, 03:40 PM	#6
andrzejmakal Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Poland/EU Device: PW3, PW5, Kobo Sage	Yes, they feel cheap and act only in one specific position. One of the reason I returned Libra and bought PW5. Mega happy Libra - disappointment. .

02-26-2022, 06:35 PM	#10
Karellen Wizard Posts: 1,611 Karma: 9500498 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	I have no problems with the buttons either. I am aware that the buttons operate on one edge only. Think of the button as more of a "lever". It is hinged at one end (closest to the middle of the ereader) and the other end moves and makes contact. I like the way it operates. I can hold the Libra one handed with my thumb partly on the button and with a small roll of my thumb I can change page.

02-26-2022, 11:27 PM	#11
Fif23 Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 499132 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: None	Superb, thanks so much for the comments guys, I went ahead and ordered the white one and a 10$ case Exciting!!

02-27-2022, 05:45 AM	#12
Fozziebear40 Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North West England Device: Kobo Libra H2O	Yes the Libra H2O was like that, that's why I upgraded to the Libra 2 which is much better, glad I did. Oh and the screen is much better as well.

02-28-2022, 02:00 AM	#14
Leddie Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2022 Device: Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra 2	They feel great to me. Just hard to press if close to the center, but otherwise very nice.

02-28-2022, 06:03 AM	#15
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,033 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	The original Libra buttons have the switches under the outer curved ends and the flexi-hinge joins the pair at the middle. I imagine all kobos with buttons are like that. Under are the low profile "tact" switches everyone uses that use actual switches. Cheaper solutions are the clicky metal dome on the PCB or a conductive pad to the PCB (most remote controls and very cheap calculators, but oddly some expensive two-way radios). Hence you'll wear out the hinge if you press at the centre instead of the curved end.