Kobo

Jul. 5th, 2010 02:09 pm
yukinoomoni: (Buh?)
[personal profile] yukinoomoni
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So, here are my thoughts on the Kobo.

It's affordable - $149 before tax isn't so bad, considering that it comes with 100 books installed.

Pros:
-Comes with 100 free books - all classics.
-Easy to use - no really, it is.
-Small and durable - even without the case the little sucker is tough.
-Easy to look at - no backlighting makes it easy on the eyes, and the screen offers little to no glare.
-Font sizes - you can change accordingly, which is great for my waning eyesight.
-Huge memory.
-You can load your own documents to read on the go.
-There are built-in bookmarks.

Cons:
-Doesn't come with a charger - it does come with a USB which you can use to charge with your comp, but that gets annoying. I was lucky in that my phone's charger is compatible, but still.
-Battery life is fickle - the battery metre is a fickle little bitch, prone to stating that it's empty when it's not, and full when it needs life. Its claim that one charge is good for two weeks isn't quite as accurate; I would say one week depending on use.
-Some of the classics really suck - not just in terms of the books themselves, but the way they're transcribed onto ebook format is done rather poorly.
-Slow load - I'm an impatient woman, and having to wait more than two minutes to not only get the thing started up but the book I want loaded is a huge pain the ass.
-It doesn't come with a cover - you have to buy them separately, and they're $30!

So in conclusion, while the Kobo is still pretty neat as hell, there is still plenty of room for improvement. I'm a simple woman, and only wanted something small to tuck in my purse in case I found myself bored with nothing to do, and it serves the purpose well, so I find my money well-spent.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyxmoonlight.livejournal.com
See, for me, no backlight would be very irritating.

Very good review!
Edited Date: 2010-07-05 06:14 pm (UTC)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
I prefer it, because my eyes get tired faster with a backlight. Plus, shitty vision =X

Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyxmoonlight.livejournal.com
My mother hates her kindle because she has bad vision and needs a backlight. Eyes are so weird. I'd prefer it because I'd read at night when I'm going to sleep.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] resonant.livejournal.com
Can it be held and operated easily with a single hand?

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] resonant.livejournal.com
... for reading books while eating lunch.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
Yes I'm sure that was your original thought.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] resonant.livejournal.com
And not this:

http://yukinoomoni.livejournal.com/1275579.html

*luuurves Momo x Appa at lunchtime at work*

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
To be fair, at least my pron was Maiko pron.

Which is always hot.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gillian-seed2.livejournal.com
I personally don't see why we lack cellphone novels like the ones in Japan. If downloadable books are all the rage, why not use the equipment we already have?

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
Indigo.ca has an app that uses Kobo software to download ebooks onto your cellphone.

So I have no idea what you are talking about o.O, because such a thing exists.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gillian-seed2.livejournal.com
...Wait, does this go for America too? Because the whole Kindle hype would be for nothing if we could already do this.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
I don't know? As far as I know it's only a Canadian (and apparently Japanese) thing.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 06:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] resonant.livejournal.com
Well, if you live in the US, you can pretend to be a Canadian and use the app at Chapters.Indigo.ca.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 07:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gillian-seed2.livejournal.com
If I need prose to read, I generally just use the library, though. I'm a big fan of buying things secondhand.

I think cellphone novels are a great idea if you're standing up in public transit, but otherwise, a well-chosen book has the same function. Maybe if you want a book collection in a cramped apartment, but don't want to spare the space?

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 07:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] caster13.livejournal.com
Your phone charger might be a different amperage/voltage compared to the USB charger that came with the Kobo.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 07:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
Yes, I knew you would say this. And I looked it up - and it's fine.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 08:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pharoah999.livejournal.com
i think it goes very good with you!! can you just load documents or other books/stories??

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 12:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
Yup! You can download other ebooks from the website.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 01:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pharoah999.livejournal.com
thats good!!

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 11:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] acexkeikai.livejournal.com
OOOOH WANTS!
You can download PDF of mangas too?

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 12:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
I'm not sure - I haven't tried it yet.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] acexkeikai.livejournal.com
well it says it reads PDF so if you can turn a file into a PDF... sky's the limit :)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-05 11:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angelchan-2004.livejournal.com
See, a big plus is being able to upload my own things ('cause I would read fanfics and manga like crazy). I keep thinking of getting something similar--like a Sony reader, but... idk.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 01:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yukinoomoni.livejournal.com
Sony readers are good, but they cost almost twice as much. I don't know if Kobos are sold in the States =X. Maybe?

(no subject)

Date: 2010-07-06 02:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com
That battery issue sounds like a fault. Mine doesn't do that.
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