Mastodawn

TOϺΛZ 1d ago

@david_kehm You may like to check if #pocketbook meet your needs and if it’s available in your area.

tkissing 1d ago

@david_kehm Might help to say why the Kobo is no longer an option then?

@tkissing

Power button failure. The hardware finally gave out.

It takes a lot of finesse to get it working and Kobo no longer sells anything close to this.

@david_kehm came to recommend my Kobo Libra 2 which still feels quite new and seems very similar to the forma, but it seems to have been discontinued already. It has a warmth setting to the backlight which was a selling point for me.

The Sage looks like the newer version but is sold out? Are Kobo just plugging the more expensive colour/notebook models now? I've had one on the go for about 15 years now so will be sad if they're going downhill!

@nicelady

"Are Kobo just plugging the more expensive colour/notebook models now?"

I assume so. The Sage looks perfect, but they just don't sell them anymore.

@nicelady

"so will be sad if they're going downhill"

It breaks my heart to lose my Kobo Forma. It does everything I want really well. I knew this day would come, but I wish finding something similar was a bit easier.

@david_kehm the Sage is still listed with a handful of their other models so hopefully they're on the process of tweaking it rather than discontinuing the higher end b&w line?

That said the colour eink looks pretty cool (if completely unnecessary for me personally), have you tried it and is it actively bad? I'd probably go for the libra colour if I had to replace now.

@david_kehm sorry for asking as you've explicitly said no colour - not challenging that just curious.

@nicelady

I've had my name of their email list for the Sage for a few months now and have not received any word.

The key factor for me is being able to invert the black and white screen so I do not wake up my wife when I am reading in bed... black background, white text at a low light. Everyone is happy.

The Kobo Forma does that so well!

@david_kehm that's a shame about the Sage. Will be curious to know what you choose, good luck!

autorotate_blanket 1d ago

@david_kehm @nicelady If it's exactly what you like, have you considered buying a used Forma? One in good condition could probably last another several years

(I'm on a Libra h20, similarly has invert/dark mode but lower screen size and resolution. It's more or less a Libra 2 like what @nicelady has)

@autorotate_blanket @nicelady

"have you considered buying a used Forma?"

This might be the way to go. I've looked around and while I might have to pay at bit, it would be worth it.

autorotate_blanket 22h ago

@david_kehm @nicelady The price premium on even years old used kobos is interesting. I wonder if people hold onto ereaders more than other kinds of devices

éric 🚲 🇪🇺

1d ago

@david_kehm I was going to recommend the Sage (I have one) which is very similar to the Forma but I see that it's *sold out*. ☹️ I wonder 🤔 whether they will announce another ereader similar to that as it's a form factor I really like.

Why no colour? Does having colour possibility make the screen worse? Asking out of ignorance in this respect.

"Why no colour? Does having colour possibility make the screen worse?"

I am trying to keep it simple. I primarily use my ereader at night when I am going to bed, so the less visual stimulation the better.

I believe a color ereader would also give off more light than an inverted screen with white text and a black background... I am trying to minimize the amount of light given off to not disturb my wife who is sleeping.

I am just reading - I do not need color.

éric 🚲 🇪🇺

1d ago

@david_kehm
My understanding is that black and white content appears the same on the colour models (same resolution) as on the B&W models. The light is the same. The technology is still e-ink. Might be worth considering although it is annoying to pay for a feature you don't want or need.

I have similar requirements: don't need colour and do read at night while partner sleeps.

Best of luck in your search in any case! Let us know if you find a good solution.

#Kobo

mattof 1d ago

I really like my Pocketbook Inkpad 4.

7.8 inch, white on black (“dark mode”) or black on white, can handle many formats, no account required.

https://pocketbook.ch/en-ch/catalog/e-readers/inkpad-4-ch

I don’t read DRM protected books, so can’t say how well those are supported.

PocketBook InkPad 4 can withstand immersion into fresh water to a depth of 2 meters for up to 60 minutes

The device is compact, perfectly ergonomic and stylish: discreet front and back panels in black make a nice contrast with moon-silver edging. InkPad 4 supports 25 formats without conversion: 21 book and 4 graphic formats

@mattof

These look nice, but I do not think you can get them in the States.

pmjv s klapkami na očích 1d ago

hmm nice!

CC: @[email protected]

Naomi Stringfield 21h ago

@david_kehm I'm a huge fan of my iPad. I know it's not an e-reader, but it saves me from having a separate device! I've used it since 2019 and it's still going strong.

david_kehm 19h ago

@naomi

iPad does a good job, for sure. But there is not much to compare when it comes to battery life. The Kobo Forma easily goes a month (sometimes two) before I need to charge it. Makes it ideal for travel but around the house, it is just one less thing I need to worry about charging.