Replacement cable for Kobo Forma

[Yapyap]

I’m currently eyeing a “good as new” Kobo Forma on eBay (from a German seller that seems to have a lot of them) for €120 + €25 delivery .. not particularly cheap (mostly worried about battery) but wondering if it’d still be worth it.

I’m not using my smaller Boox as much as I’d hoped as I just can’t get used to the colour, and as I’d like something a little larger anyway (although I love my new Boox Go 10.3, the lack of frontlight and the size means it’s not going to be a full-time replacement for my well-used, elderly Oasis), I’m tempted to try and sell my Boox at some point and dip my toes into the world of Kobo for that dedicated, more portable reader with a frontlight… So it’s the age that concerns me, as I’m not sure I’d be up to replacing the battery if it needs any sort of more technical know-how.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I’m currently eyeing a “good as new” Kobo Forma on eBay (from a German seller that seems to have a lot of them) for €120 + €25 delivery .. not particularly cheap (mostly worried about battery) but wondering if it’d still be worth it.

I’m not using my smaller Boox as much as I’d hoped as I just can’t get used to the colour, and as I’d like something a little larger anyway (although I love my new Boox Go 10.3, the lack of frontlight and the size means it’s not going to be a full-time replacement for my well-used, elderly Oasis), I’m tempted to try and sell my Boox at some point and dip my toes into the world of Kobo for that dedicated, more portable reader with a frontlight… So it’s the age that concerns me, as I’m not sure I’d be up to replacing the battery if it needs any sort of more technical know-how.

While these Kobo Forma may be like new, how is the battery life?

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

While these Kobo Forma may be like new, how is the battery life?

Well, yes, exactly. Impossible to know - as I said, that’s what worries me.

On the other hand, it’s half the price of a new Inkpad 4 and has far more ergonomic button placement for me. And I’m starting to give up hope of there being a direct successor for the Sage within the next year or so.

[patrik]

FWIW, one of my Forma's battery is still ok-ish. Probably around half use-time as it used to be. (Heavily used, bought it when Forma was released.) My second Forma's battery is very bad (that's why I got it for free from a friend). I did buy a new battery (about €16 with shipping) but haven't got around to replace it yet.

[Yapyap]

I’m also half considering an as-new / unused Kobo Sage for 230-ish € … might be a safer choice even with known battery life issues? Urgh. I just want something nice, LOL.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I’m also half considering an as-new / unused Kobo Sage for 230-ish € … might be a safer choice even with known battery life issues? Urgh. I just want something nice, LOL.

Can you or do you know anyone who can maybe open the Forma and replace the battery?

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Can you or do you know anyone who can maybe open the Forma and replace the battery?

Unfortunately I don’t know anyone. And I’m not 100% convinced I can do it myself (I found a teardown with fixit and looked at it, and it warned it’s easy to break the clips and the glue is quite strong), especially as I lack any tools (don’t even have a hairdryer, heh).

(I’ve done some simple replacement work on my desktop computer, like replacing fans and hard drives, as well as changing a hard drive in an old laptop, but that’s the extent of my electronics repair knowledge.)

It sounds like something I might attempt for a device I’m already willing to lose, i.e. I might go for it for an old device I’ve owned and got some years’ use out of myself, but not something I’ve just bought.

It’s probably safer to just cross my fingers there will be something new in the next year...