Libra 2 - Buttons feel cheap?

[Barty]

For the top (previous by default) button, if you press it at the very bottom it doesn't move, but any place above is fine. For the bottom button, if you press at the very top it doesn't move, but any where else is fine. This seems by design and it's fine

The power button, I like it better than the one on the Kindle voyage, which has a similar power button in the back. But the Libra power button, being on the left side, is easier for me to press with my right hand. Ymmv

[psbernitz]

Hello, for those who have bboth Libra 2 and Kobo Sage:
Are the buttons the same?
I also don't really like the way the buttons of the Libra 2 because the fact I can only press them in the outer area is very awkward and not comfortable.
Are the buttons of the sage clickable everywhere?

[JSWolf]

For me, the biggest problem with the buttons is that they could be higher up. Most of the time I hold the Libra 2, my thumb is not on the top button. It's above it.

[frostschutz]

Originally Posted by psbernitz

I also don't really like the way the buttons of the Libra 2 because the fact I can only press them in the outer area is very awkward and not comfortable.

The buttons are quite close together so you wouldn't use them on the inner edge anyway. It's more natural to use them on the more distanced parts and that works just fine. I don't have an issue with the buttons, you quickly get used to it, so the buttons work fine.

You can even patch it to make both buttons go forward so you have two different usable positions for flipping to the next page. It's also easy to switch hands since the display auto-rotates to match.

All in all I'm very happy with the device as an ereader... the random reboot weirdness and usb connection issue and power led always on issue remains to be seen but I can work around those for now.

The reboot issue is gone with devmode / wifi always on (at cost of higher battery consumption).

The usb connection works if you connect from within EPUB book (not home menu, not kepub).

The power led (which for some reason gets stuck in always-on state for me) I have forcibly disabled with an udev rule.

[chrisparker]

Amazon France has it in stock:
https://www.amazon.fr/Kobo-AudioBook...6228142&sr=8-5
No need to pay $60 shipping.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

The buttons are quite close together so you wouldn't use them on the inner edge anyway. It's more natural to use them on the more distanced parts and that works just fine. I don't have an issue with the buttons, you quickly get used to it, so the buttons work fine.

You can even patch it to make both buttons go forward so you have two different usable positions for flipping to the next page. It's also easy to switch hands since the display auto-rotates to match.

All in all I'm very happy with the device as an ereader... the random reboot weirdness and usb connection issue and power led always on issue remains to be seen but I can work around those for now.

The reboot issue is gone with devmode / wifi always on (at cost of higher battery consumption).

The usb connection works if you connect from within EPUB book (not home menu, not kepub).

The power led (which for some reason gets stuck in always-on state for me) I have forcibly disabled with an udev rule.

With 4.30, I've not had any issue with rebooting and I don't need devmode/WiFi on to keep the Libra 2 stable.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

All in all I'm very happy with the device as an ereader... the random reboot weirdness and usb connection issue and power led always on issue remains to be seen but I can work around those for now.

The reboot issue is gone with devmode / wifi always on (at cost of higher battery consumption).

The usb connection works if you connect from within EPUB book (not home menu, not kepub).

The power led (which for some reason gets stuck in always-on state for me) I have forcibly disabled with an udev rule.

Not exactly the best PR for Kobo.

I'm really surprised they haven't quickly pushed out a patched 4.31 or a quick replacement of same.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Not exactly the best PR for Kobo.

I'm really surprised they haven't quickly pushed out a patched 4.31 or a quick replacement of same.

Why? I mean, is it a problem that affects a significant number of their users? Probably not, or there would be something. It is an issue for people here because they sideload. But, the average user doesn't. They are using the devices the way that Kobo hopes they will (reading books purchased from Kobo and downloaded to the device). These users are not going to see a problem like this. And, as you are worried about the PR for Kobo, rushing out a fix for a problem that does not affect most users is also "Not exactly the best PR".

And of course to fix a problem, it means you know what is causing it, which means you have to be able to reproduce it. And honestly, it isn't consistently reproducible. I know I can't do it. And that's after spending several hours chatting with a Kobo engineer while I connecting and connecting my devices to my laptop. That was at least 20 times and I think I had the prompt to check the drive once in that period. And I did not have a single corrupted database. I have seen a most of the issues mentioned, but, not at a time I could do anything to debug it, or know what it was that might have caused it.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

The buttons are quite close together so you wouldn't use them on the inner edge anyway. It's more natural to use them on the more distanced parts and that works just fine. I don't have an issue with the buttons, you quickly get used to it, so the buttons work fine.

The physical switches are circular and about 3mm (1/8th inch) diameter on the protruding button. They sit near the rounded end of the outer buttons on the case. The case buttons should NOT be pressed at the inner straight edge as that joins to the shared hinge and has no button-switch under it.

One could put a dab of luminous paint or a stick-on "jewel" at the outer curvy edges. The GUI settings allow reversal of the buttons, which swap if the reader is rotated 180 degrees. I have top button as forward.

[RobertJSawyer]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It is an issue for people here because they sideload. But, the average user doesn't. They are using the devices the way that Kobo hopes they will (reading books purchased from Kobo and downloaded to the device) ... These users are not going to see a problem like this.

That's just not true, my friend. Although there are problems related to the scenario you describe, they are in addition to problems with lockups and rebooting when using a Libra 2 under 4.31 exactly as Kobo intends you to use it. I buy books almost exclusively from the Kobo store; I almost never sideload; and I haven't plugged my Libra 2 into Calibre for many days now (or, indeed, plugged it into my computer at all), and I still get lockups every single day.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

That's just not true, my friend. Although there are problems related to the scenario you describe, they are in addition to problems with lockups and rebooting when using a Libra 2 under 4.31 exactly as Kobo intends you to use it. I buy books almost exclusively from the Kobo store; I almost never sideload; and I haven't plugged my Libra 2 into Calibre for many days now (or, indeed, plugged it into my computer at all), and I still get lockups every single day.

Yet we don't see wide spread cases of this, and I'd be willing to bet you can't reliably reproduce these issues. I'm sure you're having them, but as David has mentioned in order for Kobo to resolve them, they've got to see it happening and know what triggered it. Not an easy task when you can't make the issue happen on demand.

[Rid]

Having said that, Kobo support other formats. As far as I know the only way to get a book that is not in the Kobo format onto the device is to sideload it.

My way of looking at is that there is an issue with the "supported formats" they state on the website and for now it's like there are issues with the "supported formats".

I am sure they will work it out we just have to wait a while. One of the main reasons I bought a Kobo was they did support other formats that I had before Kobo came along. This was a strong selling point for me.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by RobertJSawyer

That's just not true, my friend. Although there are problems related to the scenario you describe, they are in addition to problems with lockups and rebooting when using a Libra 2 under 4.31 exactly as Kobo intends you to use it. I buy books almost exclusively from the Kobo store; I almost never sideload; and I haven't plugged my Libra 2 into Calibre for many days now (or, indeed, plugged it into my computer at all), and I still get lockups every single day.

And my issue with that is that all the reboots and freezes I have seen are related to connecting to the PC. Either the device reboots when I unplug, or it hangs and reboots when I start using it. I have been opening books from Kobo to test the connection issues, and don't remember an issue with that. But, I don't have Libra 2, so it might be specific to that.

[RobertJSawyer]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

The reboot issue is gone with devmode / wifi always on (at cost of higher battery consumption).

Thank you, @frostshutz!

I did this last night and so far, so good! I was getting sporadic lockups and very sluggish responses when doing things such as switching ebooks or switching between Pocket articles and ebooks, but last night's response was spritely and I had no freezes. I'll continue to test over the weekend, but this is highly suggestive that something was done with Wi-Fi in 4.31.19086 that is the source of these problems.

For those who want to try the same suggested fix, select the magnifying-glass icon to bring up Search, and search anywhere except the Kobo store for the exact phrase "devmodeon" without the quotes. Nothing will appear to happen, but if you then go to the home screen, then select the "More" menu, then "Settings," then "Device Information," you'll find (probably on page 2) a new section entitled "Developer options." In that section, select "Force Wifi on."

[RobertJSawyer]

Originally Posted by davidfor

And my issue with that is that all the reboots and freezes I have seen are related to connecting to the PC.

Your issue? Nobody is denying that you are seeing freezes and reboots, old boy, but you were denying that others would be seeing them if they used their Kobo as intended by Kobo, and that's simply not true.