Kobo Jumps on eReader Bandwagon
As 2010 rolls on, it might be easier to take inventory of which companies aren't planning on entering the ebook reader market rather than which ones are. Count Kobo among the latter, who this week announced a $149 e-reader during the CTIA show.
The price sounds about right, but does Kobo have a real shot at competing in what's fast becoming a hugely crowded market? Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, certainly thinks so. He's banking on his e-reader's low price tag, along with having it carried by Borders book stores in the U.S. this summer.
Taking a peek at the spec sheet, the Kobo eReader appears to compare favorably with Amazon's Kindle 2, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Sony's Reader Pocket Edition. The Kobo eReader comes pre-loaded with 100 free books and serves up support for ePub, PDF, and Adobe DRM file formats. It also includes 1GB of memory -- enough to store 1000 books -- and boasts a 6-inch E-ink display.
But it's not just other ebook readers Kobo is going up against. There are a ton of tablets on tap for 2010, including a device called the iPad that you might have heard about. Is there enough room in the market for a deluge of dedicated ebook readers, handheld tablets, and netbooks?
The price sounds about right, but does Kobo have a real shot at competing in what's fast becoming a hugely crowded market? Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo, certainly thinks so. He's banking on his e-reader's low price tag, along with having it carried by Borders book stores in the U.S. this summer.
Taking a peek at the spec sheet, the Kobo eReader appears to compare favorably with Amazon's Kindle 2, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Sony's Reader Pocket Edition. The Kobo eReader comes pre-loaded with 100 free books and serves up support for ePub, PDF, and Adobe DRM file formats. It also includes 1GB of memory -- enough to store 1000 books -- and boasts a 6-inch E-ink display.
But it's not just other ebook readers Kobo is going up against. There are a ton of tablets on tap for 2010, including a device called the iPad that you might have heard about. Is there enough room in the market for a deluge of dedicated ebook readers, handheld tablets, and netbooks?
