E-Reader Blog Series: Borders Kobo + GIVEAWAY

Tricky Nicki, the intern

Welcome to day three! This time around, I’m not completely out of my league, since I’m working with the Borders Kobo. Around the time that I stopped working at Borders, e-readers were just beginning to become pretty darn big—I actually considered myself lucky for getting out in time (having to learn all that tech-jargon? No thank you). Of course, now I realize how important they really are. To be perfectly honest, if you’re as avid a book-lover as me, you’re going to have to learn to live with e-readers. Yes, you can decide not to buy one. But they’ll still be around: in bookstores and online, everywhere you turn. And even if the devices don’t get you, the e-books will. It’s like the digital Armageddon.

Surprise! I’m not reading a paranormal romance this time. I know, shocking. I had to choose between a paranormal and an historical, and I figured what the heck—time to step out of my recently discovered comfort zone. So I went with In for a Penny by Rose Lerner.

Model: Borders Kobo
Price: this model is no longer available (but you can find it on Amazon for around $80)
Weight: 7.8 ounces
Storage Capability: holds around 1,000 e-books
Battery Life: lasts up to 10,000 page turns (about two weeks)
Bonus: comes with 100 free classics and has five adjustable font sizes

Their spiel: Designed for readers, the Kobo eBook Reader offers a smart, no-frills approach to enjoying books anywhere. The 6-inch display produces a crisp view of text and graphics, so you can enjoy reading without squinting or moving the reader to avoid glare. It comes complete with 1GB internal memory, and a battery that lasts up to 2 weeks (this was taken from the Borders website).

My Take: I used to think the Kobo was the best e-reader out there. And, in a way, it can be. It takes a uniquely no-frills approach to the digital age, offering the most simplistic device with rather basic features. Which is great, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s actually why I recommended this e-reader to my dad, who is notoriously out-of-the-loop concerning anything digital (you should see his text messages). It has one large navigation button, with four additional buttons on the side (home, menu, display, and back). Really doesn’t get much easier than that.

It’s interesting, actually. Before starting this project, I would have pinned myself as a Kobo kind of girl. It’s easy to use, and even those of us who actively try to avoid technology can handle it. But I found I actually missed some of the bonus features of the other two e-readers I’ve used; especially the touch-screen menu of the Nook. Yes, the Kobo is perfect—that is, if you want a device that is just an e-reader, no strings attached. I did like the feel of it when reading: the quilted back is a nice feature. But I was disappointed overall: it seemed to have a bit of a lag when moving between pages, and I know now that, if I’m going to be spending money on an e-reader, I might as well go the extra yard and get something that does a little something extra (though not too much extra—I haven’t changed that much).

The Verdict: Here’s the breakdown (based on a scale of 1 to 5):

Ease of Use: 5
Battery Life: 5
Visual Appeal: 2
Durability:  5 (no problems all week)
Reading: 4

So, out of a possible 25 points, I’d give the Borders Kobo a…21! Although it was nice having an e-reader that is extremely easy to use, I felt like I was missing out on bonus features—overall, just not worth it for me.

GIVEAWAY: Out of the five categories I use to judge e-readers (ease of use, price, battery life, visual appeal, durability, and reading quality), which is the most important to you? Share your opinion and be entered to win a FREE ebook download or print copy of In for a Penny. The winner will be announced at the end of the week.

Signed one of those interns,
Nicole Banholzer