Critique of the Kobo Forma Digital Book Device

Critique of the Kobo Forma Digital Book Device

Kobo's Newest E-Reader: Kobo Forma

Ever since its inception, Kobo has been experimenting with their product designs to cater to the needs of serious readers, and their latest release, the Kobo Forma, takes design to an entirely new level. This e-reader boasts an asymmetrical industrial design reminiscent of the Kindle Oasis, but with Kobo's signature twist.

Standout Features

• Design: The back of the Kobo Forma is completely flat, making it easy to hold with just one hand. Unlike the Kindle Oasis, you won't find any hump where the battery is – the Forma's superior battery should last around three weeks on a single charge.
• Display: The Forma sports a giant 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1440 x 1920 and 300 PPI. This bad boy uses both Mobius and Carta HD technologies, with the Mobius flexible plastic TFT backplane making the device 15% lighter than the Kobo Aura One and weighing in at 197g.
• Hardware: Under the hood, the Kobo Forma packs a punch with a Freescale/NXP IMX6 Solo Lite 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and two storage options: 8GB and 32GB. The 32GB version is initially available only in Japan, but wider availability is expected next year.
• Performance: Despite using two different screen technologies, the Forma offers a fluid and responsive overall experience due to its powerful hardware.

Under the Hood

The Kobo Forma runs on Linux, just like its predecessors, with some adjustments to optimize its performance for the complete line of Kobo readers. The home screen was revised to accommodate the high-resolution screens and to ensure a consistent, stable, and joyful reading experience.

With a quickstart guide, numerous tutorials, and easy access to your library, online bookstore, collections, wishlist, settings, reading activity, and rewards, navigating the Forma is a breeze.

Software

Unlike many competitors in the market, Kobo has kept its software simple yet effective. It supports EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RFT, CBZ, and CBR formats. It offers advanced customization options for sideloading your own fonts, adjusting font weight, margins, line spaces, and much more.

One of the unique features of Kobo e-readers is the built-in Overdrive integration, allowing you to browse, borrow, and read digital books from your local libraries – no jump-through hoops required!

The Kobo Store is well-organized and more intuitive to navigate than other competitors, making it easy to find your next big read. With extensive categories and integration with Pocket, which allows you to push website and blog articles directly to your e-reader, the Kobo Forma promises an unparalleled reading experience.

Wrap Up

If you're looking for an e-reader that offers an excellent balance of features for both casual and hardcore users, the Kobo Forma is the one for you. It's more than worthy of consideration for those disillusioned by Barnes & Noble and the uncertain future of the Nook.

Coming in black and retailing for $299.99 CAD, $279.99 USD, 279.99 Euro, and 239.99 GBP, the Kobo Forma with 8GB storage will be available in select stores and at www.kobo.com from October 23rd. The Kobo Forma with 32GB storage will be available later in more markets. Pre-orders begin October 16th. Don't miss out on this fantastic e-reader – take the plunge today!

[1] E Ink Mobius vs Carta HD[2] Kobo Forma Specifications[3] Third-Party Kobo Forma Listing[4] Michael Kozlowski (Author Profile)[5] Kobo Forma Review on Our Platform

1. The Kobo Forma, an e-reader with firmware updates available, offers a seamless touchscreen experience for note taking and reading with its 8-inch capacitive display that uses both Mobius and Carta HD technologies.
2. With the Kobo Forma, battery life is no longer a concern as it lasts around three weeks on a single charge, providing ample time for reading books and other gadgets using technology.
3. The Kobo Forma seamlessly integrates multiple reading apps, including EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RFT, CBZ, and CBR, enhancing the overall reading experience.
4. The Kobo Forma boasts unique features like built-in Overdrive integration, allowing users to access digital books from their local libraries, and Pocket integration, enabling easy transfer of website and blog articles to the e-reader for reading at leisure.

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