Awkward ButtonsThe price cut suggested would put the retail tag of the Kobo well below manufacturing cost, so I don't see that happening.
The Kobo has a bright blue navigational pad, which happens to be the e-reader's most awkward feature. ITWire wrote, "Eventually, after more than an hour of reading time, your hand and fingers will start to ache due to repetitive strain from pressing the button hundreds of times."
PCWorld agreed: "... the buttons still provide enough resistance that my hands fatigued after using them for more than a 15-minute block of time."
No 3G or Wi-Fi is a Bummer
It's fine that the Kobo doesn't have all the fancy features of its competition, but without 3G or Wi-Fi connectivity, the Kobo immediately presents itself as something circa 1994.
Wirelessly connecting to and downloading from an e-bookstore has become an essential feature since other e-readers sport that capability. As it stands, if you want to download from the Kobo e-bookstore, or Borders' upcoming e-bookstore, you need to do so with a computer and the mini-USB cable. Sony's e-reader made the same mistake.
Sure, there's an app for the Kobo, but that requires either Bluetooth syncing or a sync via your PC. Plus, as ZDNet points out, you can't choose what books you'd like in your library -- the Kobo syncs them all.
The Verdict
When "competent" and "decent" are the best adjectives you can get in a review, you're in trouble. The only way I can see the Kobo surviving the battle of the e-readers is if the price is lowered by at least $50. That way its barebones makeup would be justified by its price.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Somebody Blow "Taps" for the Borders Kobo e-Reader
I've been forecasting the still-birth of the Borders Kobo e-Reader for some time now, primarily given its lack of not only 3G, but WiFi as well. And last week its sole major distinction - that of being the cheapest Reader on the market - went out the window when Nook WiFi emerged - competitively priced, WITH WiFi, and also of course with the very nice Nook ergonomics. This from PC World yesterday:
