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After Hours

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

By matthewmiller May 23, 2010, 4:10 PM PDT

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Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Back of the Kobo eReader package

Back of the Kobo eReader package

The back of the retail box shows you several details on the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Sliding out the inner box

Sliding out the inner box

The retail package contains two pieces, an outer sleeve and the inner box.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Opening the inner box

Opening the inner box

The Kobo eReader is located on the right side behind a frame. Inside the left side are you will find a Quick Start Guide and miniUSB to USB cable used for transferring ebook content and charging up the device.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Guide and cable

Guide and cable

These are the only two things found in the retail box with the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Kobo eReader and loaded book

Kobo eReader and loaded book

I like the way that the Kobo shows you the book cover for the title you were last reading when the device went into standby mode.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Cool blue navigation pad

Cool blue navigation pad

To turn pages and navigate through menus you use the rubber covered navigation pad found on the lower right side of the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Four side hardware buttons

Four side hardware buttons

There are four hardware buttons located on the left side of the Kobo. The buttons have rubber covering so they have great feel to them.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Labeled hardware buttons

Labeled hardware buttons

The names for each hardware button are found on the left side of the front and include Home, Menu, Display, and Back.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Kobo logo on top of the display

Kobo logo on top of the display

The colorful Kobo logo is placed along the center top of the eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Back pattern and soft touch material

Back pattern and soft touch material

This close up shot better shows off the patterned back of the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Bottom miniUSB port

Bottom miniUSB port

The miniUSB port is used to transfer ebook content and charge up the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Nook, Kobo, and Sony Reader 505

Nook, Kobo, and Sony Reader 505

Here you can see the Kobo stacked up against two ebook readers that I personally own, the Nook and Sony Reader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Back of the three ebook readers

Back of the three ebook readers

The Nook is close to the size of the Kobo with the Sony Reader being the most compact.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Sony on top of the Kobo

Sony on top of the Kobo

Another comparison view of the ebook devices.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Stacking up the ebook readers

Stacking up the ebook readers

The Kobo is found in the middle of these three ebook readers.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Home screen menu

Home screen menu

When you press the Menu button this is what you see when you are on the Home screen.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Settings overview screen

Settings overview screen

I think you can tell here that the system fonts are quite light and small in some of these screens. Thankfully, fonts look great when you are actually reading ebooks.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Four available settings screens

Four available settings screens

There are four available screens within settings to help you manage your eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Bluetooth supports BlackBerry devices

Bluetooth supports BlackBerry devices

You can transfer content to your Kobo eReader via Bluetooth with your supported BlackBerry smartphone.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Quote while waiting

Quote while waiting

If you select an action and there are delays in loading, then random quotes will appear on the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Menu functions while reading a book

Menu functions while reading a book

As you can see here, the menu options change when you are reading an ebook.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Font sizes and types

Font sizes and types

There are five sizes of fonts in two different styles loaded on the Kobo eReader.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Reading in the smallest size

Reading in the smallest size

This is a typical ebook with the smallest font selected.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Largest font selected

Largest font selected

To compare, here is the largest available font on the Kobo. Reading is excellent with either font and everything is crisp and clear.

Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Kobo eReader gallery 1

Kobo eReader gallery 1

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Image Gallery: Hands-on with the $149 Kobo eReader

Kobo eReader gallery 2

Kobo eReader gallery 2

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