Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[disconnected]

My Libra also has touchscreen issues. It behaves normally when held with the buttons on the right but ignores or misinterprets touches when held in the other three orientations, sometimes becoming so confused that it just crashes and needs to be reset.

My first Forma had the exact same problem. I read later that it was a bug that affected some but not all Formas and was fixed with a firmware update, but by then I'd returned mine. I ordered a second one and It's been fine.

I like Kobos but I think It's beyond ridiculous that they've managed to re-introduce the bug on a new model.

Fortunately, I bought my Libra from Wal-Mart so i can return it if need be but I'm hoping i don't have to because it has a nice evenly lit screen (a rather unusual sage green color, but I don't mind that).

I don't hear well enough now to manage complicated phone calls but I'll try a chat tomorrow. I don't expect the rep to offer any help beyond saying they'll escalate the problem. I'll have to check Wal-Mart's return policies to see how much time I'm allowed before I'll need to return it if there's been no update.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by disconnected

My Libra also has touchscreen issues. It behaves normally when held with the buttons on the right but ignores or misinterprets touches when held in the other three orientations, sometimes becoming so confused that it just crashes and needs to be reset.

My first Forma had the exact same problem. I read later that it was a bug that affected some but not all Formas and was fixed with a firmware update.

Once again, it seems that "never buy Version 1 of anything" is a good mantra to live by. I'm happy that my planned Libra purchase is a couple of months away, hopefully by then Kobo can have this serious flaw fixed.

[anacreon]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Any chance you were holding the Libra in your left hand?

Mine arrived Saturday. As a lefty, I tend to want to hold it in my left hand and I was getting really frustrated with the lack of responsiveness of the touch screen. It wasn't letting me use the dictionary, mid-screen tap turned the page rather than turning on the menus, and when I finally got the menus open, touching any of the icons did nothing.

Restarted numerous times, and it seemed to work right for a page turn or two, then I needed to restart again.

Keep in mind, I love the buttons and use them regularly. I was only using the touch screen to tweak the settings, go back to home page, or to (try to) look up a word.

Then I switched it to my right hand....and no more touch-screen irregularities. I had to train myself to always switch to my right hand if I wanted to go to the menus or look up a word.

Not ideal, definitely, and a stupid bug, if that's what it is. But I was able to finish my book with only a hesitation here and there when I had to remember to switch hands.

I've been reading left-handed on the Libra many hours a day since September 19 and had no problem with the touch screen, which I access frequently (dictionary, searching in a book etc). So, luck of the draw again?

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by anacreon

I've been reading left-handed on the Libra many hours a day since September 19 and had no problem with the touch screen, which I access frequently (dictionary, searching in a book etc). So, luck of the draw again?

Same here. But one of the other Libras I ordered did have issues with the touch screen. I'm glad my current one is fine.

[Michal Jancik]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Any chance you were holding the Libra in your left hand?

Yes, exactly, I use the reader mainly in my left hand, how do you know?
* I am quite surprised that an entreprise like KOBO has such poor quality control on its products. Plus for "premium" products.

Previously Kobo H2O v2 seems to me to be better processed..
Body assembled with a screw, rubberized body, overall good quality.

- The Kobo H2O V2 - rubberized body, does not leave as many fingerprints on the screen.
The body is fastened together with a screws + rubber seal.

- The Kobo H2O Libra, 100% plastic, leaves quick fingerprints on the screen.
The Kobo_Libra body is attached to each other by plastic clips only - whitout rubber seal.

[Haesslich]

So far, I'm liking how much lighter it seems to be than my Aura One, thanks to how the weight isn't spread out quite as much.

Now, I just wish the case back was as grippy as the Aura One was.... and the true test is yet to come - reading in transit.

Edit - no touchscreen issues yet, in either orientation. I do prefer the recessed screen, because I had nothing but issues with the official sleep covers for the Aura One constantly triggering page skips when closed.

[tourneur]

I've had a Libra for a week now. Coming from a Clara I'm still getting used to the asymmetrical design which I don't find all that practical, and to a lesser extent also the increased weight and size. Depending on how I'm seated, I find myself changing regularly between left or right hand side grip or landscape to find the most comfortable way to hold it. With a symmetrical device like the Clara there is only one way to orientate it, and it being so light and small it's always a comfortable hold as well.

I think if the Libra had a symmetrical design with the page turn buttons in the bottom bezel it would be the perfect design for me.

Anyways, will keep trying it for a few more weeks and hopefully will get used to it!

[bgtip]

My Libra H2O w/ Sleepcover (both black) arrived today.
First impression - how small the reader is. This is my first e-reader. I expected it to be bigger. (Wow, good this isn't a sex board). The sleepcover is very good, w/ a magnet clip.
The screen colour however isn't uniform. The bottom right corner has a bluish tint and the rest of the screen is warm tint. This proved to be extremely distracting when reading. Whatever I did my gaze was inevitably attracted to the cold spot.
The dealbreaker however was the inability to annotate .pdf files. I read many scientific papers in .pdf and I need to annotate and export text for further use i.e. w/ Anki. Also the .pdf navigation is quite cumbersome. You can't zoom in a paragraph with a double tap.
Kudos to Kobo support. My free return was processed quickly.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tourneur

You are comparing a white Libra with a black Clara. As stated before there is an optical illusion at play. I took a photo (a few posts earlier) of a black Libra and a black Clara next to each other and there is no difference in the darkness of the screen.

It's not an optical illusion. I compared the screen in Adobe Photoshop Elements and they are different with the Libra being slightly darker.

[Lima7]

Been using my Libra for about a week now and so far I have no complaints or issues with it. So far it’s my favorite device that I’ve owned. Next in line would be the Clara. I absolutely love it! The buttons are a game changer for me

[Silverty]

Glad to hear that they are so many happy readers on here. Tempted to use the 15% off indigo cards at shoppers this weekend to buy enough gift cards to cover a new Libra... Lol $30 off then.

Anybody know if Indigo\Chapters will take gift cards for a Kobo?

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Silverty

Anybody know if Indigo\Chapters will take gift cards for a Kobo?

In the past they definitely did. Over the years I've bought a few Kobos at Chapters that way

[Haesslich]

Originally Posted by bgtip

My Libra H2O w/ Sleepcover (both black) arrived today.
First impression - how small the reader is. This is my first e-reader. I expected it to be bigger. (Wow, good this isn't a sex board). The sleepcover is very good, w/ a magnet clip.
The screen colour however isn't uniform. The bottom right corner has a bluish tint and the rest of the screen is warm tint. This proved to be extremely distracting when reading. Whatever I did my gaze was inevitably attracted to the cold spot.
The dealbreaker however was the inability to annotate .pdf files. I read many scientific papers in .pdf and I need to annotate and export text for further use i.e. w/ Anki. Also the .pdf navigation is quite cumbersome. You can't zoom in a paragraph with a double tap.
Kudos to Kobo support. My free return was processed quickly.

Yeah, if you want an ereader with good PDF support and annotations, you're in the wrong area. You need a Sony DPT reader instead.

Silverty - as long as you're using an Indigo gift card? Yes. I used Plum Points. And the reader I got there didn't have the issues others here reported, so I think they got the good batches.

[tourneur]

Originally Posted by bgtip

The screen colour however isn't uniform. The bottom right corner has a bluish tint and the rest of the screen is warm tint. This proved to be extremely distracting when reading. Whatever I did my gaze was inevitably attracted to the cold spot.

I have had the exact same problem with two Libra devices now. I will return my current one for this reason again. I'm surprised not more people are reporting this issue. Hopefully it means it's not a problem of the entire first production run.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by tourneur

I have had the exact same problem with two Libra devices now. I will return my current one for this reason again. I'm surprised not more people are reporting this issue. Hopefully it means it's not a problem of the entire first production run.

Where did you buy them? Black or white? I ordered mine from the Netherlands too, it should arrive tomorrow or the day after that.