MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Does Kobo Touch work in Asia? One day to decide.

sedition · 08-17-2011, 10:34 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm sorry to ask for quick responses but I've got about 24hours to decide if I want to keep this Kobo Touch that I just bought from the Future Shop here in BC, Canada.

I live in Taiwan where no descent e-readers are available.

I have been trying to decide between the Kindle 3 or the Kobo Touch for some months now based on forum observations and the good advice from the good folks here.

Prior to coming to Canada, I've played with a friend's Kindle 3 and have a fair idea about what it does.

Now that I'm in Canada for a visit, I've bought the Kobo Touch and I've played with it for some four or five hours I've got to say I'm not entirely impressed.

It seems to work 'ok' I guess and I'd say that the firmware (1,9,9) seems to be pretty stable but I'm not entirely sure why having a touch screen enhances the user experience at all. Seemed like it was much easier to press one button to turn a page then having to swipe the screen.

Also, some of the icons and touch points are so small that I can barely access them (and I've got super small hands -like spinal surgeon hands) so at least a quarter of the time I seem to be pressing the wrong touch points.

The other thing that I sort of liked about the Kindle (realized only after playing with the Kobo) was the portrait mode, or being able to read books with the thing flipped on its side. I didn't imagine it would be an issue, but it is.

All in all the Kobo seems like a good reader but what I'm trying to decide is whether or not to take it back to Taiwan with me or return it and buy a Kindle 3 when I return.

My biggest questions are these:

#1 Can anyone tell me whether or not the Kobo store will work for me in Taiwan? Can seem to find this anywhere.

#2 Can anyone confirm 100% for me that I can use the Amazon / Kindle book store from Taiwan (My friend can access the 'public domain' books from Taiwan but I forgot to ask him if he can actually buy a book from Amazon directly to his device or not -he was too busy re-reading 'Great Expectations')

Thanks for any advice.

I have about 24 hours to take this thing back as I fly out soon.

Cheers

08-17-2011, 10:34 PM	#1
sedition Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	Does Kobo Touch work in Asia? One day to decide. Hi Folks, I'm sorry to ask for quick responses but I've got about 24hours to decide if I want to keep this Kobo Touch that I just bought from the Future Shop here in BC, Canada. I live in Taiwan where no descent e-readers are available. I have been trying to decide between the Kindle 3 or the Kobo Touch for some months now based on forum observations and the good advice from the good folks here. Prior to coming to Canada, I've played with a friend's Kindle 3 and have a fair idea about what it does. Now that I'm in Canada for a visit, I've bought the Kobo Touch and I've played with it for some four or five hours I've got to say I'm not entirely impressed. It seems to work 'ok' I guess and I'd say that the firmware (1,9,9) seems to be pretty stable but I'm not entirely sure why having a touch screen enhances the user experience at all. Seemed like it was much easier to press one button to turn a page then having to swipe the screen. Also, some of the icons and touch points are so small that I can barely access them (and I've got super small hands -like spinal surgeon hands) so at least a quarter of the time I seem to be pressing the wrong touch points. The other thing that I sort of liked about the Kindle (realized only after playing with the Kobo) was the portrait mode, or being able to read books with the thing flipped on its side. I didn't imagine it would be an issue, but it is. All in all the Kobo seems like a good reader but what I'm trying to decide is whether or not to take it back to Taiwan with me or return it and buy a Kindle 3 when I return. My biggest questions are these: #1 Can anyone tell me whether or not the Kobo store will work for me in Taiwan? Can seem to find this anywhere. #2 Can anyone confirm 100% for me that I can use the Amazon / Kindle book store from Taiwan (My friend can access the 'public domain' books from Taiwan but I forgot to ask him if he can actually buy a book from Amazon directly to his device or not -he was too busy re-reading 'Great Expectations') Thanks for any advice. I have about 24 hours to take this thing back as I fly out soon. Cheers