Kobo "LookBook" eReader

[n4gix]

Well, I thought I'd treat myself to an early Christmas present. While in Wally-World (Wal-Mart) earlier today, the new color "LookBook" eReader caught my eye. At $99.87 for a 7" color eReader seemed like a pretty good deal, so I picked one up...

It's pretty flexible, 'cause you can use any ebook that's in .epub or .pdf format. There are quite a few sites on the web where you can download free books in one of those formats. You can also download the freeware "Calibre" application that will convert darn near anything to .epub format, including HTML documents.

Unfortunately, I'm going to return the one I bought earlier today since I've had more than a few problems. First, in order to get RID of any of the books that are pre-installed (25 of 'em), you have to plug in the USB cable, go online, and go through a very convoluted process to remove them from the reader and move 'em back into your online "Library." What a major pain that is! The reason is that all of the content from Kobo is compressed into a SQL library, which also means it can take up to forty seconds to decompress and load the book.

Speaking of the USB cable, it took six attempts before my computer could "see" the reader, and allow me to install the driver program, none of which is even mentioned at all in the manual, for pity's sake! When connected, a popup window appears that allows you to "browse" to the LookBook folder. You can then "drag" any .epub or .pdf file to the LookBook reader.

You are instructed to click the "Eject" button before disconnecting the USB cable, but nowhere does the "Eject" button appear. Oh dear! You have to open My Computer (what a silly name!), right click on "KoboeReader" (yes, it's mispelled), and then find the "Eject" button. Oh yes, should you just happen for forget this step, your LookBook's files will be completely wiped out. Everything!

Somewhere during all of this, it appears that the installation software for the PC and Mac versions has self-erased from the LookBook reader's folder, so...

...if I ever need to reinstall the software I can't! Oh, and the official website doesn't have any download for the software either...

Bah! Humbug!

What can I say about the keyboard? If you are a pygmy and your fingertips are the size of a spaghetii noodle, you just might be able to use it. Trying to use the wireless function to log on to the Kobo "Store" is an exercise in futility, since the keyboard is so tiny and hard to use.

The "joystick buttons" are even smaller, and a real PITA to use. Unfortunately, it's the only way to move the "cursor" around the screen.

Oh yes, before I forget, I can't even open the "Help" file. For some reason it is "locked" and can't be read! You are prompted to "go online" and use a non-existent function at the website to "unlock" the Help file(s)...

How frickken stupid is that!!!

[jmig]

I have been looking at ereaders also. I want something on which I can load pdf files from a computer. I also want color. Sometimes we use colored wiring diagrams or pictures in manuals.

When I saw the ColorNook advertised, I thought, "Hey! This might be just what we need." I bought three of them. When they came in, I unwrapped one and tried to set it up. I got as far as connection to WiFi and ran into trouble. It would not recognize the password or key number of the WiFi unit.

I called support and was told that there was no way around the WiFi issue. It needed it to register and wouldn't work without being registered. First he told me my password on the router was too short (it wants 8 characters or more) I asked the support guy. "Why should I have to change my password to suit them?" He had no answer. I then said that we always only had to put in the security key to get out laptops to work with the system.

Mr. Support then said, "That is the password, use it." Problem was, I had tried that a half-dozen times before calling him. It would not recognize the security key as the correct PW. I can just see a technician or engineer in the field trying to look up something on the ColorNook and he can't get in because there is no WiFi within a 100 miles.

The three units were returned the next day. I am waiting for the Adam Ink, BlackBerry, or another unit. Next year we will see a dozen new models.

[n4gix]

John,

Once I had dinner and allowed enough time for my frustrations to cool down, I managed to clear the LookBook of all the pre-installed books (purely by accident!)...

...and have successfully draged-and-dropped seven .epub and one .pdf files into the LookBook's root folder (which is where the are supposed to be placed). The seven .epub files show up under the "Books" tab with their color cover icons displaying correctly.

The .pdf file (which is the LookBook's own manual) shows up under the "Docs" tab, just as advertised!

I've also downloaded and installed the freeware "Calibre" program, which according to what I've read should allow me to convert other formats to .epub format. I've yet to give it a try though.

Given that the LookBook's operating system is Linux, it's probably only a matter of time before someone writes a full boat "browser" for it, and who knows what other "goodies" might eventually be produced. It seems a bit pointless to have full Wi-Fi capability that's locked to a single website! With a proper browser, I could probably connect to my NAS and access the .epub and .pdf files stored there (or anywhere else for that matter).

I used it last night to read a few chapters in one of my seven books, and throughly enjoyed being able to hold it in my hand. I've been using an ancient Win98 based "laptop" for the past few years strictly as a reader (when it wasn't being used as a third monitor when I ran FS9), but really dislike having the keyboard in the way...

Given Wally-World's liberal return policy, I've made up my mind to hold onto this for a few more weeks to see how well it performs.

In fact, I was just now thinking that it would be handy to display manuals for easier reference while using FS9/FSX. I can use my antique typing stand to hold at an easy angle for reading... ;)

As it happens, last month I spent nearly the same amount of money to buy four "dead tree" editions of an author, so ~$100 isn't really a bad price for this product. I also bought the "one year replacement" program for $6 at the same time.

[stiz]

i've heard a lot of good things about the new amazon kindel :)

[AckAck]

While I have no experience with this, nor will I (wife has a Kindle, and I prefer paper and ink instead of eInk, and I'm too old to play with a new technology :icon_lol: ), I just have to point out that KoboeReader is not misspelled. At least, not for a Kobo eReader.

The rest of it sounds like an adventure, and I wish you luck with it, and hopefully will grow to love it enough not to take advantage of Wally-World's liberal return policy. Sounds like its getting better. My wife bought her mom a Nook for Christmas, mainly because she finds her Kindle too proprietary (won't read epub, PDF, or formats other than Kindle), so hopefully you won't find a post here after Christmas from me detailing similar adventures with it...

Brian

[Terry]

Why would anyone buy an ereader until they share the tremendous cost savings on the ebooks that no longer require paper, printing, binding, shipping, or stocking etc. The ebooks should be less than half the price of a printed book but their not. Amazon wants $9 for most of them.

[n4gix]

...mainly because she finds her Kindle too proprietary (won't read epub, PDF, or formats other than Kindle), so hopefully you won't find a post here after Christmas from me detailing similar adventures with it...

Brian

Brian, that's precisely the reason why the author created the freeware "Calibre" program. This allows one to convert from the Kindle to the Nook format, and vice-versa.

[n4gix]

Why would anyone buy an ereader until they share the tremendous cost savings on the ebooks that no longer require paper, printing, binding, shipping, or stocking etc. The ebooks should be less than half the price of a printed book but their not. Amazon wants $9 for most of them.

Terry, I don't buy eBooks. There are literally hundreds of thousand titles available for free. In fact, most of the one's I'm interested in will release a free eBook version just a few months after the dead tree version is published.

The very few books I do buy are intended to fill in the holes in my local library's collection. There's nothing more annoying to have holes in a series, so I seek to fill 'em (after I've read 'em of course!). ;)

[TARPSBird]

Shameless plug for my employers here, but...
For anybody who's considering purchasing an e-book reader, may I suggest you stop by your local Barnes & Noble bookstore and get a hands-on demo of our Nook and NookColor readers. If you were a novice computer user and about to buy a laptop or desktop rig you'd want to see a few up close and personal before you buy, and choosing an e-book reader is pretty much the same thing. Most B&N's have dedicated Nook specialists and a demo kiosk where you can walk in and get the whole "dog and pony" show before you buy. Most of our customers have come back with rave reviews for the Nooks. On the other hand, most of our returns are from people who were either given the Nooks as gifts or ordered them online and never got a demo, so they get frustrated and return them.