Do you patch your Kobo? How many patches do you use?

[Owl_]

The main patches I use:

- Dictionary text font-family/font-size/line-height (I modify it to get as much space as possible)
- Dictionary pop-up - increase available text area (again, I modify it to get as much space as possible)
- Freedom to advanced fonts control
- Custom kepub default margins
- Allow rotation on all devices
- (others)

Moreover I modify the conf file to get
- "My words" finction
- disabled fast page skip at the bottom corners of the screen
The options of the conf file would be more accessible if they might be enabled from an internal Advanced settings menu

[4691mls]

I find it interesting that among the people who do use patches, 23 people (as of the time of this post) use 1-5 patches, only 8 people use 5-10 patches, 15 people use 10-15 patches, and only 3 people use 15-20 patches.
.
Wonder what it is that makes people skip past 5-10 and go for 10-15, or skip past 15-20 and go for even more.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I find it interesting that among the people who do use patches, 23 people (as of the time of this post) use 1-5 patches, only 8 people use 5-10 patches, 15 people use 10-15 patches, and only 3 people use 15-20 patches.
.
Wonder what it is that makes people skip past 5-10 and go for 10-15, or skip past 15-20 and go for even more.

Probably because they feel they need more patches.

Seriously, I noticed it too and yes, it's interesting. I am one of those three who use 15-20 patches. (Exactly 20, tbh). I just don't need the rest of them, at least as things stand at the moment.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I find it interesting that among the people who do use patches, 23 people (as of the time of this post) use 1-5 patches, only 8 people use 5-10 patches, 15 people use 10-15 patches, and only 3 people use 15-20 patches.
.
Wonder what it is that makes people skip past 5-10 and go for 10-15, or skip past 15-20 and go for even more.

Perhaps the overlap is partially responsible, as people round down or up?

Intuitively though, I can see why they fall out like this. Other than none at all, it seem to me there are, grossly speaking, three categories for patching:

• A few, for the most pressing issues.
• Likes a fully customized experience.
• As long as I'm at it, I'll do the even marginally useful.

The categories with few votes kind of fall between these generalizations. But this is me.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by issybird

Perhaps the overlap is partially responsible, as people round down or up?

Intuitively though, I can see why they fall out like this. Other than none at all, it seem to me there are, grossly speaking, three categories for patching:

• A few, for the most pressing issues.
• Likes a fully customized experience.
• As long as I'm at it, I'll do the even marginally useful.

The categories with few votes kind of fall between these generalizations. But this is me.

In my case, I read mostly ePub. But I still apply the patches that I would find useful for KePub on the off chance I do read KePub.

I'm not sure how many patches I apply that I could do without. I do patch things that I like but don't need.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

In my case, I read mostly ePub. But I still apply the patches that I would find useful for KePub on the off chance I do read KePub.

Yep, I do the same. There aren't that many kepub-specific patches I use, though. Font sharpness, header and footer, user line-spacing come to mind. Some of the adjustments that have patches, I do in the book stylesheet myself, before loading them on my Kobo (widows-orphans, stripping out the embedded font, disabling hyphenation etc).

[JSWolf]

I just noticed that last answer is incorrect. You cannot patch all of them as some are either this one or that one.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just noticed that last answer is incorrect. You cannot patch all of them as some are either this one or that one.

Ah, probably yes. It should be almost all of them, but polls can't be edited afterwards, can they?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Ah, probably yes. It should be almost all of them, but polls can't be edited afterwards, can they?

I think moderators may be able to edit a poll after it's posted.

[MGlitch]

I think being that pedantic over a poll reply which clearly is just meant to indicate they make heavy use of the patches is probably not worth the energy.

All could also just refer to every patch possible, since the exclusive ones generally relate to modifying the behavior of the same thing to different degrees. A good example is the home page group, there are three two which modify one thing and a third which modifies both. Having all three enabled is prohibited since having the one that does all three is all you'd need.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I think moderators may be able to edit a poll after it's posted.

Well, yes, but first, the OP would have to request it. And second, unless it's done right away, I personally don't think that's valid anyway. People have already answered it with the given choices.

And third? It's just for fun. It's not worth getting exercised over. It's not like a hanging chad in a presidential election.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just noticed that last answer is incorrect. You cannot patch all of them as some are either this one or that one.

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Ah, probably yes. It should be almost all of them, but polls can't be edited afterwards, can they?

If you are going to complain about that one, then the first two are much worse. The second is, "1-5. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches." That is contradictory as people are actually patching the device, so it obviously isn't good enough.

That phrase should have been on the first on: "None. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches.". Especially as except for a few people who like playing, "I just want to read" applies to all of them. Most patches are being used to block something that gets in the way of reading, or make reading better. Once the patches are applied, it should allow the user to, "just read". If it doesn't, they should use different patches, or stop patching altogether.

And I'm definitely in the, "None. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches." category. It should be obvious from my other activities that, "I just want to read", doesn't really apply. But, I do want to get the devices and books so when I am reading, that is all I am doing.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by davidfor

If you are going to complain about that one, then the first two are much worse. The second is, "1-5. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches." That is contradictory as people are actually patching the device, so it obviously isn't good enough.

That phrase should have been on the first on: "None. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches.". Especially as except for a few people who like playing, "I just want to read" applies to all of them. Most patches are being used to block something that gets in the way of reading, or make reading better. Once the patches are applied, it should allow the user to, "just read". If it doesn't, they should use different patches, or stop patching altogether.

And I'm definitely in the, "None. My Kobo devices are good enough even without patches." category. It should be obvious from my other activities that, "I just want to read", doesn't really apply. But, I do want to get the devices and books so when I am reading, that is all I am doing.

Obviously there aren't any phrases everyone would unanimously agree on, I had to pick something. The other option would have been to just list the numbers, but that would have been boring. As issybird said, the poll is fun, not a serious research project.

I agree the second option isn't the best phrasing. As to the first, there are plenty of people here on MR who just can't be bothered to patch and tinker, and usually they explain it along those lines. You are certainly an exception.

[mobama]

I have not counted how many patches I have enabled, but it should be about 20. Coming from Pocketbooks where there are way more settings and options, I could never use a Kobo without patches. Especially the default margins are a horrific waste of space and font settings are ridiculously limited without patching. I also wish there were a patch to boot straight into the last book.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by mobama

I have not counted how many patches I have enabled, but it should be about 20. Coming from Pocketbooks where there are way more settings and options, I could never use a Kobo without patches. Especially the default margins are a horrific waste of space and font settings are ridiculously limited without patching. I also wish there were a patch to boot straight into the last book.

why are you turning off your Kobo though?