Libra Kobo Libra H2O - first reviews

[Fozkas]

Originally Posted by davidfor

The battery life for the Libra H2O will be shorter than for the Clara HD for the simple reason it as a smaller battery. They are 1200mAh and 1500mAh respectively. That means the Libra H2O would have 20% runtime less assuming everything else was equal.

But, 32 hours of reading for these sort of devices is excellent. When Kobo claimed an actual runtime rather than "weeks", they used 30 minutes per day. And that is how Amazon still calculate the runtime for Kindles. 32 hours works out as over 60 days. That is what Kobo claimed for the Touch and Glo.

Didn't know ot was actually smaller.

I thought it was because there are more lights and the screen is bigger.

Even so, I'm not really complaining. Just comparing.

I expect at least 3 to 4 weeks and 40h of reading time, and I'm close to that. Not having to charge every other day already is a massive plus on these days

[Parker Lewis]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

Yes, I felt the exact same way about the Libra. I'm also not convinced the lighting issue will be solved in time. I think they will leave it like this since there are lots of people who aren't bothered by it.

I bought a Kindle Oasis 3 after I returned the Libra and I'm very happy with it. The lighting is practically even and the warm light is perfect. I'm not a fan of the black front (you see every fingerprint), but I got a skin so now I'm very happy with it.

Perhaps it's worth thinking about getting an Oasis?

I will probably end up with an Oasis 3, though some people have apparently had gradient/uniformity issues with those so that might be another lottery in itself.

It's a little disappointing to think about spending almost an extra $100 for the Oasis over the Libra when I prefer almost everything about the Libra other than the lighting uniformity.

I'll likely try 1 or 2 other Libra units first and hope that maybe I get one with a more even lighting system, but if those don't pan out then the O3 seems like my only option for a 7" reader with a warm light feature at this point.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by Parker Lewis

I will probably end up with an Oasis 3, though some people have apparently had gradient/uniformity issues with those so that might be another lottery in itself.

It's a little disappointing to think about spending almost an extra $100 for the Oasis over the Libra when I prefer almost everything about the Libra other than the lighting uniformity.

I'll likely try 1 or 2 other Libra units first and hope that maybe I get one with a more even lighting system, but if those don't pan out then the O3 seems like my only option for a 7" reader with a warm light feature at this point.

Honestly, try the Libra. Some people are sensitive to the defects, others aren't, and since they're difficult to capture accurately with photos and it's rather hard to get ever MR user together in a room to physically compare, it's hard to say for sure how bad the line as a whole is. Initial reports from reviewers stated the issue wasn't there.

I also am on a second Forma (USB port went bust on the first) and neither has a defect to the degree that it'd bother me. The lighting does seem different on the new one, but I literally have to hold them next to each other to even see this, setting it up on its own I didn't notice a difference.

Having the comfort light at 10-20 percent, which doesn't add a whole lot of orange, also cuts down on the issue.

And finally if you really have an issue with it, I'd suggest trying inverted mode (which is something you can easily enable with a patch or by searching for "devmodeon" from the Kobo home screen then going to Settings-Device Information-Developer Options- and enabling invert mode, the patch puts this setting in reading settings in place of ADE page numbers). Personally I prefer white text on a black background anyway, that this seems to even further make the unevenness less noticeable is just a perk.

Yes in an ideal world it'd just be perfectly even.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by Parker Lewis

I will probably end up with an Oasis 3, though some people have apparently had gradient/uniformity issues with those so that might be another lottery in itself.

It's a little disappointing to think about spending almost an extra $100 for the Oasis over the Libra when I prefer almost everything about the Libra other than the lighting uniformity.

I'll likely try 1 or 2 other Libra units first and hope that maybe I get one with a more even lighting system, but if those don't pan out then the O3 seems like my only option for a 7" reader with a warm light feature at this point.

Oh yes, I tried 4 Oases before I decided on this one. But that was more because of the screen color than the gradient. Some were really yellow and one did have a yellow/greenish hue at one side.
Mine has a slight gradient but way less than the Libra.

For me it was the choice between a prettier device with nice features (loved the fact you could change the screensaver on the Kobo) or the nicer screen. I ended up deciding the screen was more important when I'm reading. But it's a tough choice so I get it.

[anacreon]

I usually read left handed - that means with the leds on the left-hand side.

Since I've been operated on my left thumb a week ago, I've been reading right handed, and discovered that there was a noticeable light gradient (grayer on the far side from the leds) I hadn't noticed before when reading at night, with very low lighting at my left hand. I think it is because when on the same side, the side light compensates the gradient. I only notice it the first time I turn the reader, and forget it while reading so it doesn't bother me.

[omro]

I had the Libra for a few days. I decided to return it for a couple of reasons. First of all, the buttons were not well positions for my hand. Second, I found the display was slightly greyer on one side of the screen than the other (maybe an optical illusion).

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by omro

I had the Libra for a few days. I decided to return it for a couple of reasons. First of all, the buttons were not well positions for my hand. Second, I found the display was slightly greyer on one side of the screen than the other (maybe an optical illusion).

Lots of readers on this forum have commented on this, so it's not just you. I still hope that they will fix this someday, but I doubt it.

[Quoth]

I swapped the buttons next/prior, I'm using my thumb for next. Mostly hold it in my left hand though I'm right handed.
I'm no slouch at complaining, but I think the buttons and light are fine, though I only occasionally use the front light.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I love Kobo devices, but to this date I have never seen a Kobo e-reader with perfectlty even lighting. Have you?

I've owned two Kobos: the original 6" Aura and the Clara and the frontlight for both are fine. They are as good as the frontlight on my Nook ST, Glowlight Plus (2015), Glowlight 3 and Kindle Paperwhite 3.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

I bought a Kindle Oasis 3 after I returned the Libra and I'm very happy with it. The lighting is practically even and the warm light is perfect. I'm not a fan of the black front (you see every fingerprint), but I got a skin so now I'm very happy with it.

Perhaps it's worth thinking about getting an Oasis?

You really cannot compare the Libra to the Oasis as the software is completely different. One reason I got my H2O was because it was not a Kindle. So getting an oasis instead f a Libra doesn't work for everyone even though the hardware is similar.

As for your Oasis, the bezel needs to be cleaned. It's got some kind of crud all over it

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You really cannot compare the Libra to the Oasis as the software is completely different.

I've never known you to let that stop you from comparing different devices

Look, I prefer Kobos to Kindles myself. But things that are important to you and me aren't as important to others.

Clearly she is more worried about the lighting than the software.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I've never known you to let that stop you from comparing different devices

My favorite part is he does it in the very next sentence.

[SusanReads]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I've never known you to let that stop you from comparing different devices

Look, I prefer Kobos to Kindles myself. But things that are important to you and me aren't as important to others.

Clearly she is more worried about the lighting than the software.

It's actually quite a struggle for me to decide what I find more important, the screen (lighting) or the features. I love Kobo software, the ability to patch things, the screensaver option, the way the books are displayed in my collections. Lots of things to love! But.. I do think that the screen of my Kindles is better than the Kobos I've tried. And that makes me sad. I would love a Kobo with the screen quality of the Kindle.

So I guess you can't compare the Libra with the Oasis, but for me it was a tough decision between the two. So that's why I recommended the Oasis as an alternative if someone has issues with the Libra.

But I still think I might try a Libra again someday to see if the lighting is better yet. I keep hoping.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SusanReads

It's actually quite a struggle for me to decide what I find more important, the screen (lighting) or the features. I love Kobo software, the ability to patch things, the screensaver option, the way the books are displayed in my collections. Lots of things to love! But.. I do think that the screen of my Kindles is better than the Kobos I've tried. And that makes me sad. I would love a Kobo with the screen quality of the Kindle.

So I guess you can't compare the Libra with the Oasis, but for me it was a tough decision between the two. So that's why I recommended the Oasis as an alternative if someone has issues with the Libra.

But I still think I might try a Libra again someday to see if the lighting is better yet. I keep hoping.

But the software on the Libra is better and different enough that an Oasis is not a Libra replacement. It's like driving a new Mercedes and then switching to a Ford Fiesta.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But the software on the Libra is better and different enough that an Oasis is not a Libra replacement. It's like driving a new Mercedes and then switching to a Ford Fiesta.

Not really. For me it's like having two favorite cars from different brands, each having something the other doesn't. Today I'm going with one, tomorrow I'll be driving the other. The best of both worlds.

Seriously though, I'd like a reader with the Oasis lighting and the Libra body, that combines the best software features from both. (For example, I can't zoom in on maps and images when reading epub on the Libra, but the kepub layout is inferior to the epub layout. There are no such problems on the Oasis.)