so are new e-reader devices no longer a thing now?

[John F]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Unless I'm remembering wrong, the Libra 2 was reportedly Kobo's best selling eReader up to the time they quit making it. So I don't think saturation was an issue.

And yet, they ditched the BW version and only released a colour version. I'm guessing Kobo has more data on buyer habits then we do.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by John F

And yet, they ditched the BW version and only released a colour version. I'm guessing Kobo has more data on buyer habits then we do.

I think they do as well. That doesn't mean they make the right decisions or make decisions that are best for their customers. Personally I think the reason there is no Libra BW is because Kobo "figured" the Libra Colour screen was "good enough" and, besides, they could make a bigger sale if their customers were forced to buy a color version of the Libra, which is now their only 7" reader.

Corporations make stupid decisions all the time.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Unless I'm remembering wrong, the Libra 2 was reportedly Kobo's best selling eReader up to the time they quit making it. So I don't think saturation was an issue.

I can't count how many decent companies are gone because the folk at the top got greedy and went for MORE Profit per unit (some simply, because the top get bigger commissions) route and dumped the bread and butter ones.

IMHO this is just what happened with the Libra Color.
The Libra2 R&D + fixtures had to be paid off by then. Warehousing it would be the main expense of keeping it in the lineup. So why kill a model off that, as this thread alludes, will never lead to a Color as a replacement, sale in the future?
Change the case to a new color (almost a 0 cost update) or add a faster XYZ and leave the package alone (no tooling or accessory changes needed). Fix what is wrong
(There were 2 or 3 silent generations of my EZReader. Paint issue. No Calendar-Clock that survived a power cycle in the first 2. The closeout one I later bought had both fixed.)

Look at some (really) older products. (the early) VW bug had multiple engines that just bolted in, in the same basic body used for decades. The majority of spare parts were the same. They mostly just changed the trim and color (fairly cheap to do). Both VW and the aftermarket thrived.

And there is a bit of a safety net if your company does make a dud of a market choice. The old faithful device keeps the lights on until the next success.

[John F]

[QUOTE=rcentros;4509745]I think they do as well. That doesn't mean they make the right decisions or make decisions that are best for their customers. Personally I think the reason there is no Libra BW is because Kobo "figured" the Libra Colour screen was "good enough" and, besides, they could make a bigger sale if their customers were forced to buy a color version of the Libra, which is now their only 7" reader.
I think there were multiple reasons. Yours sound plausable. I would think another big one is color.

Corporations make stupid decisions all the time.

Sure.

And sometimes customers think what they want is what everyone else wants.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

What this thread is showing me is that corporations have truly conditioned us well to ALWAYS expect something new in the pipeline to lust after whether we need a new one or not. ...

There is one more point I want to make on this. Just because I was enthusiastic in finding news and sharing it about new eReaders from Kobo (and others) doesn't mean I was interested in buying every new eReader that came out. Since Kobo was the main brand I followed (the biggest competitor to Amazon), dropping the Libra BW was the main reason for my waning interest in news about new eReaders. For me, Kobo's "dropping" their quest to use the best E-Ink screens possible was discouraging. Which is why news about new eReaders is not nearly as important to me now. Whether that is the reason for anyone else's waning interest, I don't know — I only know for certain that this applies to me and has resulted in my "meh" attitude about new eReaders now.

[John F]

Originally Posted by rcentros

There is one more point I want to make on this. Just because I was enthusiastic in finding news and sharing it about new eReaders from Kobo (and others) doesn't mean I was interested in buying every new eReader that came out. Since Kobo was the main brand I followed (the biggest competitor to Amazon), dropping the Libra BW was the main reason for my waning interest in news about new eReaders. For me, Kobo's "dropping" their quest to use the best E-Ink screens possible was discouraging. Which is why news about new eReaders is not nearly as important to me now. Whether that is the reason for anyone else's waning interest, I don't know — I only know for certain that this applies to me and has resulted in my "meh" attitude about new eReaders now.

I can see that. For me, I don't expect any big advances in BW screens. I'm eagerly watching Kobo news for a reader with builtin support for BT page turners.

[rcentros]

[QUOTE=John F;4509747]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Sure.

And sometimes customers think what they want is what everyone else wants.

If you're speaking about the Libra 2, I don't think a lot of people are disappointed that this model is no longer available. I know they are. I also know how quickly used Libra 2s are selling on eBay (even for higher prices than they sold for when new). So it's obvious that people still want the black and white Libras.

What I don't understand is why so many, so often knee-jerk to support stupid (or at least unpopular) corporate decisions. I have no stake in Kobo, but I was rooting for them in their battle against Amazon. I do "think" dropping the 7" Libra was a huge step backwards, since Amazon still sells a 6.8" BW Paperwhite.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by John F

I can see that. For me, I don't expect any big advances in BW screens. I'm eagerly watching Kobo news for a reader with builtin support for BT page turners.

My previous response was posted before seeing this. It's true, a lot depends on what it is important to each user. To me a BT page turner (or a color screen) is a "gimmick." So everyone has different priorities. I'll try to remember that a little more in future posts.

[Quoth]

[QUOTE=rcentros;4509751]

Originally Posted by John F

If you're speaking about the Libra 2, I don't think a lot of people are disappointed that this model is no longer available. I know they are. I also know how quickly used Libra 2s are selling on eBay (even for higher prices than they sold for when new). So it's obvious that people still want the black and white Libras.

What I don't understand is why so many, so often knee-jerk to support stupid (or at least unpopular) corporate decisions. I have no stake in Kobo, but I was rooting for them in their battle against Amazon. I do "think" dropping the 7" Libra was a huge step backwards, since Amazon still sells a 6.8" BW Paperwhite.

And there is a 7″ mono Pocketbook, the Era with 4 buttons?

It's more choice to launch a colour 7″. It's really odd and less choice to drop the revised 7″ mono.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by John F

I'm eagerly watching Kobo news for a reader with builtin support for BT page turners.

I don't know why this is so difficult. Almost all devices have Bluetooth today. It's just a matter of beating on recalcitrant components.

Originally Posted by rcentros

To me a BT page turner (or a color screen) is a "gimmick." So everyone has different priorities.

I like reading at arm's length. Holding a reader or turning pages at that distance is not comfortable.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Again, this is a meaningless argument to people who were planning to buy a Libra 2 at some point or those who break their Libra's screens, or those who lose their Libras or for those where something simply goes wrong with their Libra (like a battery dies or the motherboard gives out).

And, again, the same argument could be brought forward for Claras. Since Clara HDs "are designed to last for YEARS" why did Kobo feel it was necessary to release a new Clara BW?

I'm searching for consistency in these points and I'm not finding it.

The only thing that is consistent is that people love to buy stuff, these companies know that and so they accommodate those wants by putting out new gadgets. Yes, sometimes stuff happens to our gadgets and they need replacing, but the majority of the time it is simply people wanting the newest latest gadget.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

But you don't know if they are working on a new B&W model. They are simply trying to get a foothold into the color market, they already know they have a B&W market.

Kobo had a BW market. That's changing. 6", 8", 10.3" with the 8" and 10.3" having rubbish batteries. And no 7". That's not good.

These companies are in business to make money, and as someone else pointed out the B&W market is already saturated so there isn't as much money to be made there.

When it was found out the the Libra 2 was being discontinued with no replacement, they sold out quickly. THat should have told Kobo that people want a 7" BW Reader.

I myself would like a 7-inch color with access to Google Playstore, but the specs aren't really up to where they need to be. But it's a want not a need since I already have a perfectly good Libra. So, I will continue on as is. It's hardly a hardship or a crime that no company is putting out exactly what I want.

I don't care about color. I do want god contrast. I have better contrast with my Libra 2 then any Reader with a Kaleido 3 overlay. I've read of some who bought a PW5 because the Libra 2 was gone.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Again, this is a meaningless argument to people who were planning to buy a Libra 2 at some point or those who break their Libra's screens, or those who lose their Libras or for those where something simply goes wrong with their Libra (like a battery dies or the motherboard gives out).

And, again, the same argument could be brought forward for Claras. Since Clara HDs "are designed to last for YEARS" why did Kobo feel it was necessary to release a new Clara BW?

I'm searching for consistency in these points and I'm not finding it.

I can understand a Libra BW with the better processor and better battery of the Libra Colour. I can easily see that outselling the PW6.

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In this case, it's not something new. It's something good. The Libra 2 is good. The Libra Colour is not good. Kobo replaced good with bad.

When it was announced that the Libra 2 was being discontinued, the Libra 2 then sold out pretty quickly. That shoul dhave told Kobo that people want a 7" BW Reader and started making plans for a Libra BW. But they didn't because whoever makes those decisions is has no idea what good business is.

It is good. Yes, for people that want contrast above all else it's worse. But it's ACTUALLY FAST, has good battery life, supports pen input and the colour is good for certain use cases.

Whenever I see eReaders in the wild people usually have the brightness cranked anyways so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot people frankly don't care or even notice the reduced contrast.

Personally I find it readable in shaded natural light without the frontlight too, is it worse than non-color models I own? Sure. Is it unreadable? No. Getting a fast, pen equipped color eReader at a decent price with the tradeoff of slightly worse contrast was IMO worth it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

That's been kind of my take on this. I've even read that the new Clara BW "feels cheaper" than the Clara HDs or 2Es. I have to take this with a grain of salt since I've never seen a Clara BW "in the plastic."

I think then the BW is in a proper case, you'd not notice the difference.

But as for Kobo, they don't have any Reader I'd want to purchase.