"Kobo Announces Updated Tablet, New E-Readers"

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RareBird

I'll stick with my touch. I think I may buy a glo for my wife though once it's available.

Give the wife the old Touch. I think once you see the new one in action, you won't want the Touch.

[Psyke]

Glow seems the most attractive to me at this point and I'll probably see about getting one for myself as it really has the one thing missing for an eink device, that being light.

The Arc....well, it's again outdated at its price point before it's released. Like the vox when they went single processor when competitors went dual, they are again lagging by going dual instead of Quad core. Google has set the bar with their nexus 7, and one I think Amazon will try to match, or at least come close to.

Obviously the problem for Kobo is the fact that Google doesn't make any money on their tablets(and can afford to do so), but they can't compete with them either if they provide inferior products at the same price point.

And don't get me wrong, I love Kobo, but only their e-ink devices. they really should conceed the tablet market to the big boys if they are unable to bring their A game.

[RareBird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Give the wife the old Touch. I think once you see the new one in action, you won't want the Touch.

And this is how that will go:

Me: Here Honey have my old touch.

W: Why?

Me: I bought the new glo which is a better reader.

W: (silence)

Me: Boy I forgot how comfy the couch is to sleep on.

[jedipencil]

The Glow is a go for me... My old sony 350 has just given up the ghost so I've been reading on my phone. While on vacation, I was so very glad to have my phone because it was backlit, but it is a mighty small reading area! I will definitely get the glow.

[scrapking]

Originally Posted by kaikara

Like the look of these. Interesting they dropped the button from the front. The Arc is going to have a hard time competing with the Nexus 7 even with the updated specs

The Kobo Arc still has the IPS screen, which has better anti-glare properties than the competition. It'll also be cheaper in Canada ($199.99 for the Kobo Arc, vs. $209.99 for the Nexus 7 in Canada). To me, the Arc is aimed at markets where Kobo is already strong (like Canada), and Japan where Rakuten needs a tablet.

[scrapking]

Originally Posted by Psyke

And don't get me wrong, I love Kobo, but only their e-ink devices. they really should conceed the tablet market to the big boys if they are unable to bring their A game.

Rakuten needs a tablet for Japan, so don't expect them to concede the tablet market anytime soon. And I like that it has an IPS screen which offers better anti-glare properties than the competition, same as the Vox did. I can read on the Vox in bright sunlight (not well, but better than on other tablets).

That said. I see a Windows 8 tablet in my future, so I'll probably use the Kobo app on that for tablet use. For the rest of the time, Kobo Glo here I come! The Glo will be my first e-ink e-reader (the Kobo Vox was my first ever e-reader).

[JD Gumby]

Originally Posted by tehmul

If so, that's a showstopper for me.

Crap. You're right. It's not listed in the specs. And here I thought the lack of a dedicated GPU (which makes a huge difference even outside of games) was its only bad point.

[Mrs_Often]

Originally Posted by kaikara

Like the look of these. Interesting they dropped the button from the front.

Oh dear, how will we be able to do all the factory resetting?!

[beautifulsoup]

Oooooh, a mini?

YES!

[stewacide]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

Oh dear, how will we be able to do all the factory resetting?!

Pinhole + power button most likely.

[Suzanna]

Finally! Can't wait to get my new Glo. DH and I were waiting for this upgrade ... as were our two daughters who want our Touch models NOW. (They currently read on their Kobo Wifi or iTouch.)

I have to say, though, that I'm jealous of the Kobo Mini. It has snap on backs, so you'll be able to change the color.

[latepaul]

I quite like the look of the Mini. It says it's a 800Mhz processor - does that mean it will be similar (the same) as the current Touch? I feel like, especially with recent firmware versions, the Touch could do with a bit more oomph.

[the.Mtn.Man]

Let's hope the Kobo Glo has a more durable screen than the Nook Glow (the diffusion layer on the Nook Glow is extremely easy to damage which creates a bright spot when the light is on; it's fragile to the point that readers fresh out of the box have exhibited these "holes" of light).

[pokee]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Often

I want the Glo! Lucky for me, there's no way I'll ever be buying another Kobo until they fix their godawful site (give me my English back, and implement series information, etc).

Ditto! I got all excited when I saw this!!!

[JD Gumby]

Well, looks like the Kobo Arc is dead in the water. The new Kindle Fire is going to be more powerful than the old (thus way more powerful than the Arc) - AND cost only $159. Even if it too lacks a dedicated GPU and microSD slot (the latter's a given, of course), it will blow the Arc away.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/...pt-14-for-159/