Borders Kobo Ebook Reader

Borders has done some catching up to allow the Kobo to compete with the latest line of eReaders from Amazon, Sony, and more. Even the Barnes and Noble Nook has superior features. Still, given that the device is associated with one of the largest bookstore chains, it's an interesting offering.

The original Kobo (named for the online bookstore connected with Borders) lacked Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity. But then, so do the smaller Sony eReaders, the PRS-650 (Touch) and the PRS-350 (Pocket). That's been rectified in the new model. It also compensates somewhat by providing Bluetooth connectivity to wirelessly sync with some smartphones. That at least lets you update your book collection away from home.

Unfortunately, the Kobo's other specs are unimpressive. It offers only 1 GB of internal storage, half the Kindle's 2 GB. On the upside, it does have an SD card expansion slot to add up to 16 GB, unlike the Kindle.

The original plan was to offer an admittedly simple device at a much lower price point than the Kindle, et al. Unfortunately for Borders, the advantage of their low offer very quickly got erased when Amazon lowered the price of the Wi-Fi-only Kindle model. Borders responded by lowering the price with the latest Kobo model.

Worse still is the screen. It matches the Kindle's size at 6 inches, and does use the E Ink display technology, but the resolution is a paltry 800 x 600. It's certainly decent and viewable without eyestrain, but no one will get particularly excited about it. Still, the color section is handy, like that of the Sony Pocket.

When the Kobo lacked wireless connectivity (like the smaller Sony models), books were purchased by loading an application onto your PC or Mac and connecting the Kobo via the supplied USB cable. It was handy that the app was stored right on the device, so you didn't have to download anything, but that's a pretty minor bonus. Now, you can download them via Wi-Fi, a definite improvement.

One interesting feature is the ability to transfer files to the Kobo from a BlackBerry via its Bluetooth connectivity. Since there are a lot of BlackBerry smartphones around, that could come in handy for many. The BlackBerry has a Kobo app that makes this straightforward.

Borders made an intelligent decision to support the ePub format, which allows users to get eBooks from any source, not just the company's Kobo store. That includes public domain eBooks from library websites and other online sources. The unit also supports reading PDFs. However, the Kobo lacks any support for audio or MP3 and can't even view JPEG images.

On the whole, we'd be inclined to say "Skip the Kobo" because there are lots of other good eReaders on the market at this price now. Still, there are literally millions of Border customers and having a device from the company means it's definitely worth a look.