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Borders Kobo
EReader will be one of the cheapest on the market

The eReader market really didn’t take off until Amazon rolled out its Kindle eReader. The device captured the attention of gadget and book fans around the world and spawned a glut of new eReaders.

One of the other major book sellers in the U.S. called Borders has now stepped into the eReader market with an offering of its own that sets itself apart from the other devices on the market by way of a low price. The Borders device is called the Kobo eReader and retails for $149.99. The Kobo uses E Ink technology on the display and has flexible fonts that allow the user to pick what is easiest on their eyes.

The device lets users organize books in whatever way they desire and the Kobo is loaded with the Borders Desktop application that is needed for shopping for new books. The back of the device is quilted and apparently soft to give it the feel of a real book. The software of the Kobo lets the reader jump back and forth from chapter to chapter or book to book with ease.

Kobo measures 7.2-inches tall and 4.7-inches wide and is 0.4-inches thick. It weighs less than eight ounces and has a 4-way D-pad for navigation. The reader has 1GB of RAM for storing books and has a SD card slot for expanding storage as needed. The battery promises enough juice for two weeks of use and lets you read up to 8,000 pages before needing to be recharged.

Unlike the Kindle there is no integrated 3G connectivity with the Kobo; it is designed to be connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth for downloading books or to be connected to a PC via USB. The Kobo is pre-loaded with 100 free eBooks that are in the public domain.

Clearly, the big win here for the Kobo is its price tag. At $149.99, it's significantly cheaper than other offerings on the market and users who will be reading mostly at home can easily forgo the 3G connectivity in favor of a much lower price.

Amazon's Kindle is still among the most popular devices with its new global support for 3G connectivity allowing the user to download new books wherever they end up. Amazon competitor Barnes & Noble also offers up its own eReader called the nook.

 

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Real books are better
By retepallen on 5/10/2010 10:41:57 AM , Rating: 3
While I can see the appeal of e-readers, there is nothing quite like the look, feel and smell of a good book.

For that reason alone, I will not be buying an e-reader.




RE: Real books are better
By Spivonious on 5/10/2010 10:44:18 AM , Rating: 2
I agree. Until e-readers come down under $100 I don't think they'll be very popular.


RE: Real books are better
By adiposity on 5/10/2010 4:23:50 PM , Rating: 2
+1


RE: Real books are better
By Gul Westfale on 5/10/2010 6:50:52 PM , Rating: 2
and you can now buy my own little e-book for just 1.99 on
http://www.saschavonbornheim.com/


RE: Real books are better
By Anoxanmore on 5/10/2010 10:49:22 AM , Rating: 4
You know, if you buy the real book, like I prefer to own but I don't like the extra weight of carrying 12 books with me on vacation they should include the electronic version free with it.

Now that would make e-readers even more popular.


RE: Real books are better
By Spivonious on 5/10/2010 11:11:25 AM , Rating: 2
Now that is a great idea. Aside from the cost of the device itself, replacing books I already own is the main factor that prevents me from buying an e-reader.


RE: Real books are better
By Mitch101 on 5/10/2010 1:37:09 PM , Rating: 2
I want one for my wife. And at $150.00 I will take a chance on it.

Our library offers the ability to download books and this would save on trips to the library, saving gas, pollution, and solve the issue of books being checked out and having to return them by a certain day. I welcome e-readers.


RE: Real books are better
By nafhan on 5/10/2010 12:13:59 PM , Rating: 2
It seems like Amazon would be in a good position to do this type of thing. If you own a Kindle (or not, really) and purchase a hardcover, they could put the Kindle book on your account for free.
Some authors already do things along those lines. David Weber, for example, includes a CD with his hardcover books that has many of his earlier works in RTF and HTML.


RE: Real books are better
By adiposity on 5/10/2010 4:25:00 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You know, if you buy the real book, like I prefer to own but I don't like the extra weight of carrying 12 books with me on vacation they should include the electronic version free with it.


Agreed. I prefer books but when I can't have them with me I'd still like to be able to read them.


RE: Real books are better
By ianweck on 5/10/2010 10:50:58 AM , Rating: 2
I enjoy real books as well, but if you read alot there is something to be said for having a whole library in such a small space. No more bookshelves to store all of your books.


RE: Real books are better
By ClownPuncher on 5/10/2010 1:06:58 PM , Rating: 2
I like the look of well placed bookshelves. I just don't like them so much when I move...


RE: Real books are better
By amanojaku on 5/10/2010 10:59:50 AM , Rating: 4
I love books. I'm also practical. There's nothing quite like the:

1) Heavy technical tome of 1000+ pages
2) Multitude of errata accompanying my tome
3) Dozens of bookshelves holding hundreds of books and magazines
4) Dozens of boxes holding hundreds more books
5) Dust, dirt, and liquids that inevitably land on my books

Books are no longer practical. I treat them like CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, posters, etc... Only the special ones (original prints of classics, autographed copies, etc...) make it into my house as hard media. The rest must be electronic. I just don't have the space or the will/time to maintain them.


RE: Real books are better
By icanhascpu on 5/10/10, Rating: 0
RE: Real books are better
By amanojaku on 5/10/2010 6:59:30 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Define practical.
"mindful of the results, usefulness, advantages or disadvantages, etc., of action or procedure"
quote:
There is nothing not practical about having a library.
Maybe my original post was too vague. I have a few thousand books. They fill a room in my three-bedroom apartment. And part of a room at my mom's house. I got most of them for a dollar each, the next chunk for free from people who have moved, and the rest I purchased for career advancement. Books take up space... A LOT of space. Most people don't have the room for that many books if they have a family at home. And I dread moving considering the weight; I don't pay for movers since I'm a young, relatively healthy person.
quote:
You will never get the same sort of atmosphere reading a digital book as walking into your own small reading room with books surrounding you.
Says who? We've been reading PDF, PS, and TXT files for over 10 years on our PCs. How is an e-book any different, particularly when they are designed to resemble paper? And don't even try the "but I can flip pages in a book!" argument. I can search a document faster using keywords than you can find a page in a normal book. And I can "flip" pages in an electronic document, too. Some e-books are going so far as to copy the physical action, as well.
quote:
These devices are for when you dont want to take books with you. You probably gave the least reasonable reason for getting rid of books. If you want to have a better point talk about the mobility and quick organization.
Mobility is the main attraction to e-books, but there is also:

1) Cost - the readers aren't cheap, but the books are usually cheaper, or free
2) Environmental friendliness - No trees were harmed in the making of this e-book (but it does need electricity... is there a solar e-reader?)
3) Backup - An e-book can outlast your e-reader if it can be backed up on another storage device
4) Availability - Books go out of print, but e-books are forever
5) Miscellaneous - Author's can self-publish, e-books may be translated into languages not originally published in, e-readers provide their own light, and capable e-readers can speak a book for those with vision problems


RE: Real books are better
By mmntech on 5/10/2010 12:12:45 PM , Rating: 2
That and you own the book, you don't lease it.

Still, I think these eReaders are great for seniors. We've been thinking of getting my grandma one since she reads A LOT but sometimes has trouble seeing fine print. I like how you can make the text any size you want.

Chapters-Indigo here in Canada carries the Kobo. Apparently they all sold out on day one. They're on backorder for 3-5 weeks.


RE: Real books are better
By ianweck on 5/10/2010 5:00:10 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
That and you own the book, you don't lease it.


On the Kindle maybe. This ereader has local storage. Also, if I download a book onto the Nook and store it there, how is that leasing?


My paperbacks are less than a $9.99 e-Book
By wendallyn on 5/10/2010 3:50:16 PM , Rating: 4
ok, so I really wanted a Kindle. But they were like $500. Now the ebooks are getting affordable, but rumors are that the basic $9.99 per tome is too cheap? (according to the publishers that want to break their Amazon contracts). This leaves me thinking prices will be going up soon. But I usually by paperbacks, which are about $7.99, so what is the advantage of paying $9.99 other than the great Portability Factor? (which I do love, by the way).
Plus, After I read my paperback, I can share it with my family- you can't transfer a Kindle book from user to user... or at least I haven't found the secret passageway that will make it work!

I still want an e-reader- but I read so fast i think I'll be spending a lot more than if I just bought the book and then passed it on to be read again!




By Taft12 on 5/10/2010 5:46:04 PM , Rating: 2
My paperbacks are $0.25 to $1.00 from a used bookstore. Something the publishers are keen to eliminate. Count me among the "will never buy an e-book" crowd.


textbooks
By ianweck on 5/10/2010 10:52:53 AM , Rating: 3
I would seriously consider buying an ereader capable of displaying textbook material in an easy to read format. I like my wife's ebook (Nook) but I would never be able to use it as a textbook.




My eReader
By DrApop on 5/10/2010 1:41:08 PM , Rating: 2
I have not bought a physical book (paper book) in 2+ years (aside from technical books). I prefer the eReader...especially the Kindle for purchasing with whispernet and samples. I also find reading on the eReader to be easier than a book. While is might sound silly, an eReader is easier to hold than a book (don't need to keep it open or from folding closed) and you don't have to halt your reading to turn a page....just a little move of the thumb does it.

It is sort of like peoples concept of a Tivo or DVR....you don't realize how wonderful they are until you actually start using one. If you like to read, the Kindle and perhaps other eReaders are really great!




RE: My eReader
By sapiens74 on 5/10/2010 5:22:59 PM , Rating: 1
I agree

I tried the Kindle and the Sony and didn't like them as the lack of lighting hurts my eyes, but the iPad is spot on, use it at least an hour a day to read


I'll keep my Nook
By callmeroy on 5/10/2010 1:52:54 PM , Rating: 2
I used to be a "real book is better" kind of person to -- when I read only one book a month.

Nowadays (maybe its a getting older thing) I read more and more as a form of relaxing and entertainment when there's nothing else to do or no one else around.

If you are an "on the go person" and happen to be an advid reader I don't see how you'd NOT get good use out of the proper eReader.

If you read only "here and there" -- don't waste your money ...even on a $150 reader.

However, to me a very large value to have my Nook isn't JUST that it can carry thousands of books, but its connectivity features enabling me to download new books / content just about anywhere I go. So an eReader w/o that flexibility and mobility is just unappealing to me.

Kindle and Nook got it right when they both decided on the 3g wireless coverage (and WiFi connectivity when available)...




By sapiens74 on 5/10/2010 1:07:06 PM , Rating: 1
Cheap, small, lightweight.

Needs to be under 100 bucks though, as its black and white and does nothing else but read




Black and white?
By icanhascpu on 5/10/2010 4:57:12 PM , Rating: 1
Really? I'd trade 50% of that battery life for 65k color screen (magazines people), or this should of been under 100$ for what it is.

I'm no iPad fan, but black and white portable device is soooo 1980s.

OLED SAVE US!!




By elucidmarketing on 5/11/2010 12:57:37 AM , Rating: 1
Straight to the point:

eReaders are dumb, lol ~same stuff I do on a laptop, or imagine others would with netbooks or newer Apple devices. They "are" expensive as a whole laptop is $350, with extended features and come black friday who knows how much cheaper a lappie will be. Now, I admit, books are heavy and anything printed on paper is becoming extincted. Only reason newspaper companies haven't completely failed is because of the older, paper, dependent subscribers and devices weren't abundant enough. Now everyone has a device with web access in reach, from home, work, school, phone, etc. And with facebook becoming the most used/visited site, this will make a deeper impact on "culture and lifestyle", whereas everyone wants to join the facebook party! We just need the eFiles!

This is what Adobe should of been doing as development to Acrobat reader, rather than piss off Steve Jobs, lol. These files will sell for under $20, but you know what's weird, I feel there will be a middle man selling subscriptions by publishers, which will fail because of bootlegging. I read & research these trends and see how Apple loves being a "marketplace" just because they're ahead of the game(industry). They can't control it all for long, as other nerds will link with biz and bankers to take a shot at the top. I feel Google is really the king, they already are launching books to compete with iBooks, but also have an arsenal of ideas we've never seen. Have u heard they make energy, cars, phones to match their web expertise. This is what Apple should do, just study and get creative, but I guess they know it's time to do something, since Microsoft is moving well. Apple has made the best phone ever, i admit, but I love android & blackberry, supplementally. Apple acts like they own the place, when actually their are just competitors with an high income audience. I've never been a fanboy, but admire their quality approach. With iPad's this quality fades because the weak hardware, but hey, it could compete to eReader lovers who just go the extra mile to try the 'amazing' Apple company for its wifi and new design.

I rather take bets on HP if its 4:1 like others rate it. HP needs just a little more management to produce the innovation they actually have . They have "HP Labs" in at least 6 countries, just playing around with the best gadgets. They had touch screen patents early in play, but were not quick or strategic enough to market effectively. After HP restructures after being printing experts in a new digital world.

To conclude, these cheap ole eReaders for a high dollar price, are merely a fad, that will probably expire by the time these college consumers graduate. If you want eBooks, fine, go get some of the files from iBookShelves for a low digital price. Use it on any device that displays text. Only disadvantage is the size of the eReader to a laptop, but hey, use a smartphone or quit ya crying, all these devices are spoiling us rotten. People may hate using computers in 100 years, or they could control almost every function of our life, such much as a dependent reality for pleasure or health ...whoa. Anyhow, today I ask you not to purchase a eReader, just get a file & continue your daily routine. Maybe boootleg or hacked book files will be on shared peer networks. Technology at this rate is too fast, we can't even create business models because "customers" want everything free. Apple survives because those who will pay, buy Apple, and aren't disappointed because there's not really another "high-end" competitor. Personally, I love web technology and just use devices for display. I attend college classes with eBooks from coursesmart.com, and actually like their interface of book-like flipping pages, highlighting, and especially search, which i open in "tabs". Forget a eBook "Reader".

Elucid Marketing Group
 elucidmarketing@gmail.com
elucidmarketing.wordpress.com
@elucidmarketing
facebook.com/elucidsocialmedia




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