I’m not usually an Digital Gadget Evangelist. Whereas I’ll wax eloquent a few comedian or a sport, you gained’t discover me happening about my new iPad or no matter. However when somebody casually mentions that they’re serious about getting an e-reader and so they’re undecided what variety, I burst by the wall just like the Kool-Help Man to ask in the event that they’ve welcomed the gospel of Kobo into their hearts.
For years, I assumed an e-reader was a redundant luxurious. I didn’t must learn digital books, I might get actual books. There’s a library three blocks from my condominium, and there are two indie bookstores on the best way there! And even when I did have a digital e book, I might learn it on my telephone — or the large iPad Professional I hold to learn comics on. However now that I’ve a pleasant e-reader, particularly the Kobo Libra, I do know what an instantaneous quality-of-life enchancment it’s.
Take library books, for instance. e-reader will be capable of search, reserve, and take a look at e-books out of your native library proper from the gadget (Kobo’s Overdrive/Libby integration is a little bit janky, however it works). You haven’t recognized pleasure till you’ve realized you wish to learn a e book, tapped a number of buttons in your e-reader, and gotten that entire e book from the library immediately, figuring out that it’s going to return itself routinely on its due date. And that’s with out even moving into the satisfaction of supporting your native library by frequent use of its catalog.
The opposite baseline job of an e-reader that my Kobo excels at is studying comics. Not the digitally coloured, magazine-style pamphlet that’s customary of American comics — for that, you actually do want a coloration pill. Even coloration E Ink shows usually are not but vibrant sufficient to show coloration comics as they honestly look. However an e-reader display screen reproduces the smaller, black-and-white paperback format of manga with nice constancy. With my Kobo and an excellent library card, I’ve been in a position to delve into Scrumptious in Dungeon, Mermaid Saga, and tons extra with out packing my one-bedroom condominium to the gills with e book volumes and even opening my pockets.
Photograph: Susana Polo
These are each issues I’d count on from any e-reader, however the Kobo excels in different methods. For one factor, it’s a well-made book-reading gadget from an organization that does not have a decades-long historical past of exerting monopolistic stress on the publishing trade. And this can be much less common an curiosity, however to me and a number of different pals and colleagues, it’s the Kobo’s inbuilt Pocket integration that basically raises eyebrows.
We’re always on-line and always discovering articles, hyperlinks, and websites we wish to learn however don’t have time to learn proper that second. For a few of us who will stay anonymous, that manifests in a whole lot of open browser tabs. Or folders filled with bookmarks. Or, for me a minimum of, hyperlinks despatched to the Pocket app — one other graveyard of nice reads. We swear we’ll get to them earlier than the warmth loss of life of the universe, after which we by no means do.
However what if the issues I toss in Pocket routinely present up on the article that I decide up particularly after I wish to learn one thing? Meaning I really learn them. Pocket integration is possible with e-readers just like the Kindle, to make certain, however it’s not with out a number of hoops and third-party options. Right here, it’s a characteristic out of the field. And that’s the magic that having a Kobo has introduced into my life.
Photograph: Susana Polo
My precise desktop and moveable computer systems do 1,000,000 various things, as does my iPad. My telephone? Don’t get me began on what number of distracting, attention-demanding, vital issues are on my telephone. My PlayStation is for video games and motion pictures as a result of it’s the one disc participant I personal. Even my TV has apps!
That’s what actually will get me gazing at my Kobo Libra as lovingly as I might at a favourite pet, because it lies on my mattress stand or nests quietly in my bag. Having a tool that’s only for One Factor signifies that it may be designed to do this One Factor very rigorously.
Take the Libra’s recycled faux-leather case, which — whereas bought individually — is, in my view, completely important to its enchantment. The duvet does this intelligent magnetic origami fold that turns it right into a stand that works at any angle (whereas the display screen rotates as wanted, and could be locked in place through a toggle on each open web page). I’ve additionally found that the fold within the cowl makes for a good grip when holding it one-handed, like a built-in PopSocket (and that’s saying one thing, as a result of my palms are so small I purchase child-size gloves). However most significantly, the quilt stand permits for hands-free studying whereas mendacity in your facet in mattress — the dream of all before-bed readers.
These advantages won’t be as compelling in case you’re already sunk into one other e-reader’s ecosystem and would lose a number of purchases that gained’t port out of, say, the Kindle retailer. And in case you’re somebody who buys a number of e-books, it’s possible you’ll resolve to maintain your Kindle and hold your entry to Prime Day reductions. However in case you’re somebody who’s simply trying to get began on this planet of studying books on a tool, and has entry to an excellent library or library system, I can’t advocate a Kobo sufficient.
My little Kobo Libra does a number of easy, vital issues. It does them very properly, and after I open it up, it’s to learn and by no means to do anything. I don’t have that sort of relationship with virtually every other computerized gadget that I personal, and I enthusiastically encourage you to forge that sort of bond with your personal pleasant little book-reading gadget.
