Exploring the Updated Kobo E-Reader: My Honest Assessment
The e-reader market is always buzzing with new contenders, and Kobo, a Toronto-based Canadian company, is the latest to join the fray. They're taking on Amazon and Sony with their affordable, compact e-reader, set to launch on April 29. It’s remarkably lightweight, weighing just 221 grams, and boasts a low price tag of $149, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a no-frills reading device.
The Kobo measures 183 mm in height, 119 mm in width, and is a mere 10 mm deep. Its dimensions are comparable to other e-readers on the market, offering a 6-inch screen that perfectly matches the size of a 200-page hardcover book. A rubber backing provides a secure grip, and the device is smaller than the Kindle, easily fitting into a suit pocket or small handbag.
Navigating through the Kobo's content is straightforward, with a single five-way button at the bottom right corner. Left-handed users might find it slightly uncomfortable due to its positioning. Additional controls are located along the upper right edge, including the power button.
The Kobo wakes up in 40 seconds and presents a list of recently read books, with automatic bookmarking to resume reading from where you left off. Six utility buttons along the left edge allow for Bluetooth connection, navigation to the device's homepage, accessing the menu, setting display format, and browsing books or user guides.
The 6-inch screen boasts impressive resolution, displaying 8 levels of grayscale with a pixel density of 170 dots per inch (dpi). Although it supports only Georgia and Trebuchet fonts, users can choose from five sizes for each. Larger font size is available, but it increases page turn requirements, and its benefits are questionable for this device, particularly for users without sight problems. Unfortunately, the Kobo does not support text-to-voice.
The search function on the Kobo lets users find books based on title, author, or the time they were last read. The display can be customized to simulate a bookshelf or as a simple listing. The battery can last up to 8000 page turns, and page opening times average 5 seconds. However, the lack of backlight means the device cannot be read in dark or low-light conditions.
The display is gray and remains unchanged, but the Vizplex e-Ink display with 8 level grayscale makes reading enjoyable. However, page transitions can seem a bit ungraceful, with a white flash over the black screen during content resolution. The device also lacks any scrolling feature, with page turns being manually activated via a push button.
Powering the Kobo is the ARM9 (920T) core, which runs at 400 MHz, and comes with SDRAM as standard memory. It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, as well as Mac OS X and higher. It also supports BlackBerry devices.
The Kobo boasts 1GB of onboard memory, capable of storing almost a thousand e-books, expandable to 4GB via an SD card slot. Its battery life is noteworthy, lasting up to 8000 page turns on a single charge, and can last an entire week in real-life testing. The device enters standby mode when not in use, conserving battery life.
In terms of content management, the Kobo does not have 3G or Wi-Fi capabilities. Users must connect to the internet using a computer or Smartphone and directly download e-books from the company's site. Transferring e-books to the Kobo is simple, but currently, only BlackBerry devices can be used for sync transfers. Kobo promises to extend sync compatibility to other brands by summer.
Purchasing the Kobo grants access to 100 public domain books from authors like Austen, Dickens, Homer, and Katka. The device supports ePub, PDF, and Adobe DRM formats, but its relatively small screen makes viewing PDF files problematic, even with magnification or reduction. E-books are provided in ePub format, minimizing this issue.
Pros of the Kobo include its good battery life, excellent display quality, compact dimensions, low price, and quality materials. However, it's currently compatible only with BlackBerry devices, lacks Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities, and is ideally suited for right-handed users.
In conclusion, the Kobo is a budget-friendly, no-frills e-reader that offers a decent reading experience. Its low price, long battery life, and good display quality make it an attractive choice for those looking for a simple yet effective e-reading device. Keep an eye out for more e-reader news in the future!
The Kobo's battery life, lasting up to 8000 page turns on a single charge, is noteworthy and can last an entire week in real-life testing.With a 6-inch e-ink display that perfectly matches the size of a 200-page hardcover book, the Kobo boasts a low price tag of $149, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a no-frills reading device, compared to other gadgets in the technology market.
