Kobo Check-in #1
May 29th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
The Kobo eReader comes in porcelain or black.
Current Kobo reading: Thus far I’ve been using the Kobo to read classics (because they are free and of interest to me at the moment) or to read some philosphical works for an upcoming writing project. Right now I’m reading Jane Austen’s Persuasion, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, and The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.
Positive points to date: Thus far I’ve found the actual reading on the Kobo to be quite easy. By this I mean that since there is no backlight for the screen the experience is more like reading a book and less like reading a computer screen, therefore being easier on the eyes. It uses E-Ink technology to achieve this. Unlike some other eReaders, the Kobo design is supposedly more streamlined to focus on elements most important to readers. Instead of having wireless access or an available keypad, it uses simple navigation controls via a directional pad on the right and four additional buttons (“Home”, “Menu”, “Display”, and “Back”) placed on the left side. The device is very easy to use and one can figure out all the basics without having to consult a manual.
Negative points to date: When I started using the Kobo I was worried about the time it takes to change to the next page. Being a child of the computer age, I expected the page to change instantly, but instead there is a wait of about a second or so. This doesn’t sound like much, but as a reader engrossed in a book, it’s annoying to have to wait any amount of time in order to move along with a passage. I knew about this before buying the eReader (I’d tried it in the store), but wanted to see how it would play out in real reading situations. At first this was a big concern for me, but as I continued to read I learned to push the forward button a moment before reaching the very end of the page, much as when reading a print book I position a finger between the next leaves to turn the page faster without interruption.
kobo and Me
May 11th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
There have been a number of things that have happened since my most recent post last month, but without boring anyone with those details I’ll focus on the point of this post: I purchased a kobo.
Before you hang your head and click another weblink, I want to say I was greatly conflicted about getting a kobo (and still am in some ways). I’ve read enough articles and followed enough links to know the Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and other eReaders have caused some serious readers a lot of stress and with good reason. A mounting concern that eReaders will dominate the market and take the place of the traditional print book has lead many, myself included, to shun this type of technology for the comfort and endorphin rush one experiences when turning a page in your favourite book. It wasn’t until I did some research and put my prejudices aside that I came to the decision to buy one.
My initial reaction to the kobo, upon taking up a sampler in Chapters, quite honestly was disgust. As a bibliophile I liked the touch of a book and the feel and smell of paper between my fingers; taking the eReader tablet in my hands was something far different than what I was accustomed to with print books. I put the item down and proceeded over to the poetry section of the store to relish in the comfort of my favourite authors.
The short time (literally a matter of seconds) I spent with the kobo was enough to interest me. At home I spent time reading about the product, its competitors and generally rethinking my position on the eReader. When all was said and done I ended up returning days later to purchase the last one in stock (a cool, smooth, black version). Since then I’ve been using it as much as possible to find my way around how it works and start comparing it to my experience with print books.
I plan to document this journey, for better or worse, as a feature on this blog. Any interesting observations, discoveries, problems, and delights I meet along the way are all fair game. Let’s see where this goes.
