Kobo Sage and Libra 2 released (pre-order)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by monic39

wont't buy either of them. The increased weight is a no go for me. I have the Forma and the libra and very happy with them because they are so lightweight for my arthritis. The only thing I don't like about the current Forma is the on/off button.

With the Forma, the button should not be much of an issue. If you have a sleep cover, you put the Forma to sleep when the cover is closed and wake it when the cover is open.No need to have to press the power button.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Yes, but it would make sense to have a real entry-level model, then mid-range and then a top model.
Mid-range and top models have a landscape design - but that does not fit for a 6-inch model.
Clara HD is also mid-range and competes with Libra 2.
The Nia would be an entry-level model that doesn't take away business.

It would take away my business because I have no interest in a 7" (or above) "square" reader or in the Nia. But I am still on the fence about eventually buying a Clara. Partly because I would like to compare it to the Tolino Shine 3 and, partly because I like its compact size.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by E'lir

Now this I'm interested in. A relatively faster processor, bluetooth,

Are you aware that the bluetooth is limited to the stylus and THEIR audiobooks?
See https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/04/ko...stylus-support

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I'm thinking of the Sage which uncased is 60 grams heavier than my Libra uncased, but 60 grams lighter uncased than my Libra in its case. If I do get a Sage it might stay at home buck naked while the Libra stays in the car in its case.

I use all my readers without a case, except for the Oasis, which has a coverless case (because of the metal back). I weighed my Oasis yesterday. It's exactly the same weight in its case as the Sage without. So it's not so bad, as I would read the Sage without a case.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

We're talking about 20-30 grams...

From the Forma to Sage about 44 grams difference (i.e., about a 22.5% increase in weight — or somewhere between a fifth to a quarter in additional weight). That's fairly significant but even more significant is the change in Kobo's focus. With the Forma Kobo emphasizes how light the reader is — "lightweight" and "lighter than air" in the Forma blurb. And people bought it because of that. Now the Sage is going to be (at best) average, but nearer the top of the weight range for 7.8" to 8" readers. Inkpad 3 (7.8") is 210 grams (lighter than the Libre 2, which is 7") and the Inkpad 3 Plus (7.8") is 225 grams, just 10 grams heavier. Heck I noticed a significant difference between my PocketBook Basic Lux (180 grams) and my PocketBook Touch HD3 (155 grams). This is definitely a change from getting lighter to lighter to lighter and then change direction and jump to heavier. (I'm guessing the Mobius screen caused issues that Kobo no longer wanted to deal with.)

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I use all my readers without a case, except for the Oasis, which has a coverless case (because of the metal back). I weighed my Oasis yesterday. It's exactly the same weight in its case as the Sage without. So it's not so bad, as I would read the Sage without a case.

My Libra very seldom leaves my house, and I only use its case if we're going away for a weekend when I'll be reading in the car more often, which happened recently and is the reason my Libra was still in its case. I suspect that I will notice the 60 extra grams of the Sage if I get one, but it won't be a crippling burden

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by kacir

Are you aware that the bluetooth is limited to the stylus and THEIR audiobooks?
See https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/04/ko...stylus-support

Kobo is explicitly stating they only support audiobooks from them. But, I am sure that people will experiment to see what can be done.

For the stylus, I'm pretty sure that someone has used a non-Kobo stylus with the Elipsa. If that is the case, I would expect that it will work with the Sage as well. Don't ask me which stylus it was, as I wasn't paying that much attention.

The Elipsa also supports Bluetooth keyboards and remote controls. Again, this will probably extend to the Sage.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by rcentros

(I'm guessing the Mobius screen caused issues that Kobo no longer wanted to deal with.)

I have on Mobius devices the Tolino Epos 2 and Likebook Alita. Both have the same screen color when unlit, which I don't like.
While it is compensated by lighting on the Alita, it remains unpleasant on the Tolino.
That and the power button are the reasons why I keep putting the Epos 2 away, other the weight why I reach for it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

I'm thinking of the Sage which uncased is 60 grams heavier than my Libra uncased, but 60 grams lighter uncased than my Libra in its case. If I do get a Sage it might stay at home buck naked while the Libra stays in the car in its case.

You cannot compare the Sage to the Libra H2O. The Sage compares to the Forma. The Libra 2 compares to the Libra H2O.

[rantanplan]

I didn't even know that the stylus is BT.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You cannot compare the Sage to the Libra H2O.

What an utterly STUPID thing to say, even by your standards. I CAN compare the weight of the two readers as a factor in my decision-making, and I will.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by rcentros

From the Forma to Sage about 44 grams difference (i.e., about a 22.5% increase in weight — or somewhere between a fifth to a quarter in additional weight). That's fairly significant but even more significant is the change in Kobo's focus. With the Forma Kobo emphasizes how light the reader is — "lightweight" and "lighter than air" in the Forma blurb. And people bought it because of that. Now the Sage is going to be (at best) average, but nearer the top of the weight range for 7.8" to 8" readers. Inkpad 3 (7.8") is 210 grams (lighter than the Libre 2, which is 7") and the Inkpad 3 Plus (7.8") is 225 grams, just 10 grams heavier. Heck I noticed a significant difference between my PocketBook Basic Lux (180 grams) and my PocketBook Touch HD3 (155 grams). This is definitely a change from getting lighter to lighter to lighter and then change direction and jump to heavier. (I'm guessing the Mobius screen caused issues that Kobo no longer wanted to deal with.)

You may be right about the Mobiius screen and Kobo's reluctance to admit they had a problem. I don't have a Forma, but that attitude really pisses me off.

I also don't have a Pocketbook Inkpad X, which also (I think) has a Mobius screen, but I haven't heard about any problems with that larger screen. Only problems with the firmware and the reader's poky performance issues. But one thing I DO like about Poketbook's attitude is that it's an ebook reader made for people who like to read.

I don't want to take notes and fiddle around with doodling all day long drawing circles, squares, rectangles, and cute little faces. Dammit! I want to read!

[rantanplan]

I noticed that the Sage has a significantly more powerful processor:
Quad Core @ 1.8 GHz

While the Libra 2 only lists:
1 GHz

I'd suspect this to be a 2 core device. This explains the difference in price for the Sage and the weight.

[Josieb1]

I want the Sage. Have to see what Santa and the birthday boy brings

[salamanderjuice]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

You may be right about the Mobiius screen and Kobo's reluctance to admit they had a problem. I don't have a Forma, but that attitude really pisses me off.

I also don't have a Pocketbook Inkpad X, which also (I think) has a Mobius screen, but I haven't heard about any problems with that larger screen. Only problems with the firmware and the reader's poky performance issues. But one thing I DO like about Poketbook's attitude is that it's an ebook reader made for people who like to read.

I don't want to take notes and fiddle around with doodling all day long drawing circles, squares, rectangles, and cute little faces. Dammit! I want to read!

I mean it's pretty easy to ignore those features if you aren't interested. The Sage doesn't even come with the stylus in the box so it's not like you're really paying for a feature you'll never use. I don't use book highlighting yet every single ebook reader and app makes that insanely easy to trigger. I just ignore it and move on. Doesn't seem like Kobo is making eReaders for people that don't like to read, they are just making eReaders for people that also like to take handwritten notes (perhaps on things they read!). Now if they started making eReaders for watching Netflix and playing games I'd be more concerned.