AfterDawn: News

Borders launches $150 Kobo e-reader

Borders, the large book retailer has launched its $150 Kobo e-reader, and started taking pre-orders today.

The device will ship on June 17th, and will tie into Border's upcoming e-book store.



The Kobo is a bare-bones e-reader, and does not include Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity. The device has a 6-inch e-ink display, just like the Amazon Kindle and B&N Nook, but the screen has only 8 levels of gray, not 16 like its rivals.

However, the Kobo does have Bluetooth connectivity and 1GB of internal memory, with an SD slot as well.

Because the device is bare-bones, the price is its main selling point, and may be its only selling point as it is about $100 cheaper than the Kindle and Nook.

The Apple iPad, which includes e-reading capabilities and connection to the iBookStore recently just sold its millionth unit.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 May 2010 23:05

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• 12 comments

• KillerBug

  The Nintendo approach: make it white and ugly so it looks old after 5 minutes of use, skimp on the hardware in order to sell for $100 less than the far better competition.
  
  Looks like Borders took a page from the Nintendo, "How to Suck" manual.
  
  I wonder how long till we see linux on this thing!

  9.5.2010 02:02 #1

• Jake_C

  And yet Nintendo's "How to Suck" approach has made them billions...

  9.5.2010 06:21 #2

• Josipher

  Originally posted by Jake_C: And yet Nintendo's "How to Suck" approach has made them billions... so does apples "making shit overrated old-tech glossy products"
  manual. doesnt mean people with common sense dont stay away from them and their sheeple (sheep+people)

  9.5.2010 07:53 #3

• nickatnite (unverified)

  Originally posted by Josipher: Originally posted by Jake_C: And yet Nintendo's "How to Suck" approach has made them billions... so does apples "making shit overrated old-tech glossy products"
  manual. doesnt mean people with common sense dont stay away from them and their sheeple (sheep+people) You guys are a bunch'a looser's. complain complain about everything... get a life.

  9.5.2010 09:41 #4

• tdhelder

  Originally posted by KillerBug: The Nintendo approach: make it white and ugly so it looks old after 5 minutes of use, skimp on the hardware in order to sell for $100 less than the far better competition.
  
  Looks like Borders took a page from the Nintendo, "How to Suck" manual.
  
  I wonder how long till we see linux on this thing! Bet you didn't like paperbacks either.

  9.5.2010 12:14 #5

• Youwishman23 (unverified)

  Apple (I mean CrApple) copies Kindle.......and now Borders (I mean Barnes&Noble wannabe) copies Kindle and comes with nothing new in the year 2010 but another black and white pdf reader. At least I give 1% credit to CrApple that even though they stole the idea, they at least make it shiny and at least worthy of holding it in public and not be embarrased.

  9.5.2010 13:24 #6

• space1nvaders

  Originally posted by Youwishman23: Apple (I mean CrApple) copies Kindle.......and now Borders (I mean Barnes&Noble wannabe) copies Kindle and comes with nothing new in the year 2010 but another black and white pdf reader. At least I give 1% credit to CrApple that even though they stole the idea, they at least make it shiny and at least worthy of holding it in public and not be embarrased. Do you own an iPad? Well I do and it is amazing. It is not a copy of a Kindle. What are you talking about?

  9.5.2010 13:55 #7

• Paula_X

  can you read or do you just look at the pretty pictures? .. hahahaha
  
  I bought a pair of stack shoes.. they look amazing and make me stand head and shoulders over anybody else, but I can't do more than lean on the wall wearing them.. as a fashion statement they are fantastic.. as shoes they are shite..
  
  remember Henry Ford "you can have it in any colour you like, so long as that is black" .. and sold millions of nice affordable basic cars when cars were a rich assholes status symbol and fashion accessory.
  
  see a pattern forming here?
  
  you bought an iPad.. what are we supposed to do?.. all bow down to a god or walk away laughing our heads off at another "image" driven waster of money... hahahahahahahaha (walks away near having a seizure).. hope you get mugged idiot.. me?.. I will take a dirt cheap e-reader so long as it doesn't come bundled with drm.
  

  http://en.windows7sins.org/

  9.5.2010 14:33 #8

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by space1nvaders: Originally posted by Youwishman23: Apple (I mean CrApple) copies Kindle.......and now Borders (I mean Barnes&Noble wannabe) copies Kindle and comes with nothing new in the year 2010 but another black and white pdf reader. At least I give 1% credit to CrApple that even though they stole the idea, they at least make it shiny and at least worthy of holding it in public and not be embarrased. Do you own an iPad? Well I do and it is amazing. It is not a copy of a Kindle. What are you talking about?
  
  Ooohh...daddy bought you an iPad...good job,give yourself a cookie!
  Let's see...give up common sense and buy an iPad, or...NOT!!!
  Tough choice...hmmm,not really, if you can think for yourself.for just a minute...

  9.5.2010 22:14 #9

• KillerBug

  Henry Ford later saw the error of his ways and offered the Model T in various colors because that is what people wanted.
  
  Apple did not copy the Kindle...the apple has far better hardware (even with iPhoneOS, it is still better than a Kindle), the kindle costs less and comes with free 3G for life. Barnes & Noble copied the Kindle (but without the 3G), and now Borders copies Barnes & Noble. (oh, and I think there was a forgotten sony in there somewhere also).
  
  I have nothing against paperback books, in fact I keep various ones on hand just in case they outlaw George Orwell and Ayn Rand books in the future. However, if it is a choice between a free kindle or a free paperback, which would you choose? If twin brothers go to the same classes, one lugging around 5 books, each 20lbs...the other with a Kindle...which one will have back problems?
  
  And the iPad is not amazing...it does not do anything special, it is just an oversized iPhone minus the phone part. Yeah, it is better than the Kindle (faster, color screen)...but the Kindle is still better for books, and it has free 3G. Plus, the iPad has no Flash support...so what are you going to do with that big color screen other than surfing the web slowly and trying to stream video with a 64K bandwidth limit?

  10.5.2010 02:25 #10

• blueboy09

  While personally I wouldn't give a rat's ass about e-readers, this one is good primary because its just that: barebones. Remember, simplicity and affordability is what you want with the masses of the average Joe or Susie. That's why Nintendo's approach has not failed, and been very successful. If it's not broke, don't fix it!!
  

  Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

  10.5.2010 19:40 #11

• Teke Off Eh (unverified)

  This is exactly what I was looking for. Too bad it came out a year too late for me.

  10.5.2010 23:19 #12