Electronic devices called eReaders are becoming pretty common. They are, essentially, low power tablet computers designed specifically for the purpose of reading. Most of them have a display using technology called ePaper that differs significantly from LCD technology. ePaper is extremely easy on the eyes, making it like reading pages of a book. Another advantage is the device doesn’t have to use power to leave the image on the display so they become very very low power devices, capable of lasting days to weeks.
I had been considering jumping into the whole eBook thing for a while, and even began doing some reading of eBooks on my netbook. Even with the display brightness turned down, I could not find a comfortable viewing experience with the display, and the netbook itself did not lend to being a good reading device. I wanted to hold off buying a dedicated eReader because I was hoping to either get one at a really low price or maybe spend more on the newer color ePaper devices that were coming much later. When I found a device that was less than $200, I jumped on it.
Enter: Kobo.
The Kobo isn’t fully released in the USA, but it is available for pre-order. During the pre-order period, at least until this week, it was one of the cheapest of the better designed eReaders available. The Kindle and the nook were going for $260 while the Kobo was going for $150. Obviously, at such a low price point, this means you are getting less, right? That really depends on how you look at it.
