The Kobo Glo still isn’t available in the United States yet, although it should start becoming available as soon as this week, but the Kobo Mini has been available from Best Buy for nearly a month now.
I picked one up a few weeks ago and have been testing it out. Today I just finished up the Kobo Mini review, which includes a video walkthrough of its features. There’s also a picture of it next to the Kobo Touch to get an idea the size and screen difference.
It’s been a long time since I reviewed a 5-inch ebook reader and it was fun. It’s surprising that Amazon has never released one.
I’m really surprised at how big that bottom margin is. On a 5″ reader, you need all the text lines you can get.
Also, I don’t remember if you mentioned display contrast in your video. What do you think?
I mention it in the screen section of the review. It’s pretty much the same as the Kobo Touch or any other E Ink ereader. The Vizplex factor doesn’t really mean much, and with the font weight settings it’s a different story.
Actually, the Kobo Glo is available in the U.S., at some independent bookstores. I just ordered mine yesterday from PorterSquareBooks.com, and they have (had?) them in stock and responded quickly. (I’m pretty sure my order is already on the way from Massachussetts.) I did see more than one bookstore with the option to purchase online, but I felt good about having chosen that one, with the quality service that followed.
Yeah, it looks like it going finally start showing up at various independent booksellers. I’ll call around locally tomorrow and see if I can turn one up. Last week they were expecting them in at anytime.
You won’t be disappointed. It’s great, even with PDFs. Huge improvement in “scroll around the screen” speed on pdfs than the previous version. It really is a pleasure to read with at night too. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it when you eventually get your hands on it..
Went to a Christian book store and they were stocking Kobo readers! They had the basic and the mini out, with the tablet-like one to come. They had the mini on sale for $59 and all the readers came with three different Bibles!
So I finally got to see and handle a Kobo Mini. It’s really cute, but I wouldn’t get one unless they program a landscape view in also. The portrait style is just too slim for me.
You’re right. It’s weird how Kobo still refuses to add landscape mode for ebooks when they have it for comics and PDFs. Makes no sense.
Is it just me, or does the Mini seem more like a means for Kibo to get a foot in the door for someone. Who only reads on their phone or tablet (or doesn’t use eReaders at all), in order to bring them into the ecosystem? It’s been on sale for $40 the past week across Canada, and at that price it’s a bloody steal. Especially when some books sell for more on the Google Play store…
It’s not a BAD way to upsell people to the Glo, Aura, or Arc though.