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

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How is the reading software on the boox? Does it support side loaded fonts? If so, can you adjust the weight of the fonts

It being Android, you can install whatever reading app you like.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm hoping Kobo gets some sense knocked into them and release a Kobo Libra BW.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I'll second that!

Reading on my Libra Colour is perfectly fine in the house. Go outside to cafe a on a sunny day - sitting under an awning, mind you!!! - and I might as well be reading in the dark.

Thank god I have four other B&W ebook readers from both Kobo AND Amazon that perform wonderfully - in any lighting condition.

When Kobo came out with its color eReaders I was happy to see it because I liked choice (not that I would ever want a color reader). But I never dreamed that the Libra Colour would replace the best selling Libra 2, I thought both would be available. That disappointed me and, honestly, made me cynical about the direction Kobo was going. It seemed Kobo went away from developing the best and clearest e-Ink reader screen they could use, to trying to force an inferior "gimmick" color screen on its users that cost more. (I realize that folks like the Libra Colour, but I thought we would get BOTH a color version AND a black and white version.) Even though I hadn't yet considered buying a 7" reader, I thought the Libra line would always be available if my eyes got worse and I wanted a bigger screen. So I've currently got a "meh" attitude about all new eReaders now. I still hope a new Libra B/W is coming — it was very popular and I think Kobo made a big mistake dropping it.

I've still got plenty (too many) older 6" eReaders. At this point I'm not anticipating buying any new 6" ones (or currently even a 7" one). I know Carta 1200 (or 1300) Libras would sell. If you look on eBay you'll see that used Libra 2s and Libra H2Os are advertised for over $350 — about twice their new price. I don't like it when companies decide to force a (to me) inferior choice on their customers.

(For those who like the Libra Colour I'm not running down your choice, but it's not a choice I'll ever make.)

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Spoiler:

When Kobo came out with its color eReaders I was happy to see it because I liked choice (not that I would ever want a color reader). But I never dreamed that the Libra Colour would replace the best selling Libra 2, I thought both would be available. That disappointed me and, honestly, made me cynical about the direction Kobo was going. It seemed Kobo went away from developing the best and clearest e-Ink reader screen they could use, to trying to force an inferior "gimmick" color screen on its users that cost more. (I realize that folks like the Libra Colour, but I thought we would get BOTH a color version AND a black and white version.) Even though I hadn't yet considered buying a 7" reader, I thought the Libra line would always be available if my eyes got worse and I wanted a bigger screen. So I've currently got a "meh" attitude about all new eReaders now. I still hope a new Libra B/W is coming — it was very popular and I think Kobo made a big mistake dropping it.

I've still got plenty (too many) older 6" eReaders. At this point I'm not anticipating buying any new 6" ones (or currently even a 7" one). I know Carta 1200 (or 1300) Libras would sell. If you look on eBay you'll see that used Libra 2s and Libra H2Os are advertised for over $350 — about twice their new price. I don't like it when companies decide to force a (to me) inferior choice on their customers.

(For those who like the Libra Colour I'm not running down your choice, but it's not a choice I'll ever make.)

I completely agree.

[cellaris]

The Kobo Libra 2 was on the market for quite some time and was bought by those who wanted to buy it (in fact, many of those who complain about its disappearance have a Libra 2). And those who didn't buy it at the time would have their reasons for not doing so. E-readers appear and disappear from the market. It's true that Kobo didn't offer a new monochrome model with similar features, but that doesn't mean there won't be one in the future. If the current colour model is doing well, there is no need to consider a monochrome model to meet specific needs. And it goes without saying that e-reader users have several monochrome alternatives from other brands in the 7" segment and several Kobo alternatives in other sizes. Reducing the world of e-readers to the Kobo Libra 2, however much certain users may like it, seems to me to be a bit of an exaggeration.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by cellaris

And it goes without saying that e-reader users have several monochrome alternatives from other brands in the 7" segment and several Kobo alternatives in other sizes.

I prefer Kobo to those other brands. Kindles have no buttons and I don't like the software. Pocketbooks have no weight adjustment in their native reader. And I don't want Android.

Unfortunately the Sage is also old by now, so there is basically no current 7-8'' black and white ereader to be had from Kobo. 6'' is too small for me, anything over 8'' is too big.

Kobo is the only ereader company who doesn't offer a black and white 7'' model, or even a new black and white 8'' model.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by cellaris

The Kobo Libra 2 was on the market for quite some time and was bought by those who wanted to buy it (in fact, many of those who complain about its disappearance have a Libra 2). And those who didn't buy it at the time would have their reasons for not doing so.

I don't think this necessarily follows. Ereaders are a non-trivial purchase and I assume that many who would have liked to buy the Libra 2 at some point were waiting for their current good-enough devices to die. They assumed it would be available on demand or that a newer generation would be even better -- itself a reason not to jump on a purchase if what you've got is good enough.

Reducing the world of e-readers to the Kobo Libra 2, however much certain users may like it, seems to me to be a bit of an exaggeration.

I mostly agree with this. The continuation of my first statement is that when you're in the market for a new reader you make your best choice among what's available. There's never (unless you're very, very lucky) going to be the perfect device, so a choice is a series of tradeoffs.

Shrug. I personally prefer the oblong shape of devices without buttons, which is one reason I'm still using my Aura One. But I like its size, so when it croaks I'll take a long hard look at the Sage or whatever has replaced it.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I prefer Kobo to those other brands. Kindles have no buttons and I don't like the software. Pocketbooks have no weight adjustment in their native reader. And I don't want Android.

Unfortunately the Sage is also old by now, so there is basically no current 7-8'' black and white ereader to be had from Kobo. 6'' is too small for me, anything over 8'' is too big.

Kobo is the only ereader company who doesn't offer a black and white 7'' model, or even a new black and white 8'' model.

Kindle does not have an 8" e-reader and Onyx Boox does not have an 8" monochrome e-reader. Onyx Boox had a 6" colour e-reader and now it doesn't (unfortunately for me). Kobo is not unique in the market. They have made a decision that some will resent and others won't care. The same will happen to Onyx Boox or Kindle users. PocketBook is probably the only brand that has 6, 7, 8 and 10 inch monochrome and colour e-readers.

On the other hand, we tend to simplify e-readers by grouping them by brands and global characteristics, but the reality is that each e-reader is specific, and you may or may not like it. Why would a user who likes PocketBook not consider the PocketBook Era? Maybe because they are not convinced by that particular e-reader. It is not so clear to me that a hypothetical Kobo Libra 3 will be better than a Kobo Libra 2.

And as has been mentioned, the disappearance of designs withi⁶n a brand would also give a lot to talk about. Why aren't there Kindle e-readers with page-turn keys or 7- and 8-inch Kobo e-readers without asymmetrical formatting? When user preference considerations come into play, the discussions are endless.

(I almost prefer not to talk about the disappearance of 5" e-readers).

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cellaris

The Kobo Libra 2 was on the market for quite some time and was bought by those who wanted to buy it (in fact, many of those who complain about its disappearance have a Libra 2). And those who didn't buy it at the time would have their reasons for not doing so. ...

Sorry, but this is not a very good argument. You could say the same thing for the Clara. If your argument holds water, then why did Kobo introduce the Clara B/W? After all, the Clara had been out for "quite some time" and "was bought by those who wanted to buy it." And still Kobo gave us the choice of two Claras, the Colour and B/W. Why not the same choices for the Libra?

The other problem(s) with this argument is that just because someone hasn't bought a certain model of eReader, doesn't mean they're not planning to do so in the future. And eReader screens break and their batteries die. What will those who want to replace their Libra 2 going to do when this happens? Current Clara users can go to the newest model of the Clara — Libra users are at the mercy of "scalpers" taking advantage of the scarcity of used Libras which they sell for sky high prices.

I still see no good reason for Kobo to have dropped the Libra model.

[cellaris]

I am not trying to justify Kobo's decision. Personally I think the more choice there is on the market, the better. I'm happy for Kobo to release 1 or 10 7" monochrome readers and for you to buy them all or none at all. I just remember that the Kobo Libra 2 was on sale for two and a half years, and during that time some chose to buy it and others did not. There are other e-readers from other brands that have been on sale for less time. And there are other brands that have also failed to bring out replacements for earlier models. This is something that happens more often than you might think. It affects Kobo, it affects Onyx Boox, it affects Kindle...

What to do in these cases? That's where we are likely to disagree. We can complain bitterly, we can stay as we are, or we can look for alternatives. My position on this is clear: there are plenty of e-readers to choose from. But I respect those who feel orphaned.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by cellaris

My position on this is clear: there are plenty of e-readers to choose from. But I respect those who feel orphaned.

Plenty for some people, perhaps. Not for me, as I already explained. If I wanted a new ereader just now, there is nothing I'd like to have.

[cellaris]

Well, you are one of the thousands of lucky ones who decided to buy the Kobo Libra 2. Maybe when you decide to buy a new e-reader you already have a Kobo Libra 3 for sale or maybe you will never buy another e-reader in your life. Everyone makes their own decisions.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by cellaris

Everyone makes their own decisions.

Yes, and everyone has their own preferences. Just because you're not fussy about the devices you use doesn't mean others are the same way. You're always saying other people's problems are an exaggeration - you said the same about Amazon DRM and now you're saying it about the current state of Kobo lineup. Those things may not be not a problem for you, but they are a problem for other people.

[Renate]

Well, the number of models hardly matters.
It's a question of whether the one you want exists.

Me? 6" reader, 300 DPI, flush screen, no buttons, Bluetooth.
Right now I'm on Android but with some effort I could port to straight Linux.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Renate

Well, the number of models hardly matters.
It's a question of whether the one you want exists.

Exactly.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by Renate

Well, the number of models hardly matters.
It's a question of whether the one you want exists.

Of course we do. I believe that practically all of us who publish here (if not all) have an e-reader (or several). Which makes me think that so far we have managed very well with the existing variety. I think the future will be no different, but maybe I'm wrong.