Sage Kobo Sage opinions

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Sage screen seems very similar blacks, whites and sharpness to my original Libra or to the Elipsa.
The original H2O (IR with card slot) is a little brighter without internal LEDs than any other reader I have, presumably because there is no capacitive layer. It's slightly lower resolution, but nicer than a PW3 or PW4.

The Libra is better on portability, but the Sage is closer to paperback pocket-book/mass-market size. The pen & cover is too expensive and the Libra is better value with no pen, or Elipsa is better value for writing conversion and PDFs than the Sage as it includes the pen & cover.

Sage & Elipsa closer to "finished" products with the 4.32.x April 2022 firmware.

I rarely ever use the front light on any ereader. I use the 4 x filament stick LED bulbs in the desk & bedside reading lamps.

My Libra H2O certainly had much greyer and less sharp blacks than my Sage or Libra 2. But then I never looked at any of them with the frontlight off.

[JLB14]

BTW, it's not strictly related to frontlight in my case, because without any, the contrast is still better on Amazon's Sage (as noticeable on the first picture provided).

[Sirtel]

Interesting. I'm thinking perhaps I'll buy a second Sage from Amazon (presumably also the French Amazon) in a couple of months and compare them. I can always sell one of them afterwards.

[JLB14]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Interesting. I'm thinking perhaps I'll buy a second Sage from Amazon (presumably also the French Amazon) in a couple of months and compare them. I can always sell one of them afterwards.

Not the same serial number's pattern, nor marked the exact same way (one is darker/more pronounced); maybe not from the same factory ?

Fun fact : the one from Amazon was presumably in "Acceptable condition" (warehouse deal), because of alleged damages on the screen.
190 €. It was brand new (protective film still on it), but coming without anything else (which is fine for a gift, because I offer it with a fancy leather sleeve).

[Quoth]

I got my Sage and Elipsa in the local Argos. Easier to take back later inside the year if I need to.

I did by one of our original Libras off Amazon de as it wasn't in stock.

[LDB]

How many factories produce them? Why would they differ from one to another? Is it just as likely for the results to be reversed for someone else who bought one from each?

[JLB14]

Originally Posted by LDB

How many factories produce them? Why would they differ from one to another? Is it just as likely for the results to be reversed for someone else who bought one from each?

Same factory and different components, due to semiconductor shortage ?
Honestly IDK, but I hope it's not a pattern (because I'm about to change my first Sage (from Fnac), at the end of the week.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JLB14

Same factory and different components, due to semiconductor shortage ?
Honestly IDK, but I hope it's not a pattern (because I'm about to change my first Sage (from Fnac), at the end of the week.

Please let us know how the exchange went, as I'm considering the same.

[JLB14]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Please let us know how the exchange went, as I'm considering the same.

Gladly (this week probably, or the next one)

[JLB14]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Please let us know how the exchange went, as I'm considering the same.

Exchange done (easy, 10 minutes).
It was truly a good idea.
See by yourself (2nd from Amazon = left, 3rd from Fnac = right).

Bottom line :
- even whiter, in some way (colder), than the second one; both are great, and you can arguably prefer a white a bit warmer, as the one from Amazon (which is not pee yellow, as the one returned).
- uniformity seems finally fixed, both are great, again (with and without comfort light pro).
- about that last point : Amazon = orange, Fnac = reddish-orange (matter of taste, both are perfect on that point); the orange one tends to be more pronounced, more noticeable, at the same level.
- dark is a bit less dark, and text appears a tiny bit less crisp on the new one I think; but I'll have to check again, I've just done a quick verification. I'll patch it, customize it, and we'll see how it renders.
Whatever, both are good on that point (and it's clearly an improvement, if you have/had a Forma).

My advice is to check the serial number, before buying a new one (if you can), and :
- if it's N77819, or anterior (hexadecimal basis I think, so before that it's an 8, and after an A) -> don't buy it.
- if it's N7781A (as second one), N7781B (as third one), or posterior -> buy it.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JLB14

Exchange done (easy, 10 minutes).
It was truly a good idea.
See by yourself (2nd from Amazon = left, 3rd from Fnac = right).

Bottom line :
- even whiter, in some way (colder), than the second one; both are great, and you can arguably prefer a white a bit warmer, as the one from Amazon (which is not pee yellow, as the one returned).
- uniformity seems finally fixed, both are great, again (with and without comfort light pro).
- about that last point : Amazon = orange, Fnac = reddish-orange (matter of taste, both are perfect on that point); the orange one tends to be more pronounced, more noticeable, at the same level.
- dark is a bit less dark on the new one I think, but I'll have to check again, I've just done a quick verification. Whatever, both are good on that point (and it's clearly an improvement, if you have/had a Forma).

My advice : check the serial number, before buying a new one (if you can) :
- if it's N77819, or anterior (hexadecimal basis I think, so before that it's an 8, and after an A) -> don't buy it.
- if it's N7781A (as second one), N7781B (as third one), or posterior -> buy it.

Thank you.

[JLB14]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Thank you.

You're welcome.
Something super weird : 5 g difference, between the 2 remaining (240 VS 245 for the latest).
Maybe a variation, regarding network chips.

[JLB14]

After a further comparison, text appears indeed a bit less crisp, and ink a bit less dark, less Voyage-like.
That said, nothing genuinely annoying, when you're not comparing them side-by-side, and still better than my now-sold Forma.

[Deobulakenyo]

Amazon has a 15-dollar kwmobile case for the Sage which has access to the powerbutton at the back

https://www.amazon.com/kwmobile-Case...19&sr=8-3&th=1

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Deobulakenyo

Amazon has a 15-dollar kwmobile case for the Sage which has access to the powerbutton at the back

https://www.amazon.com/kwmobile-Case...19&sr=8-3&th=1

I like some of the ones listed at $15.99.