The first to introduce a budget eReader device on the market, Kobo is now ready to launch their second generation design. The Kobo Wireless eReader will be a lighter, faster model that can use a Wi-Fi connection to purchase and download books directly, bypassing the need for Kobo's desktop software. It's expected to arrive in stores in approximately two weeks for $149, but if you're willing to pre-order at their website in advance, Random House is adding two free books as a reward. At the same time, the company will finally be adding newspapers and periodicals to their Kobo store.

The Kobo Wireless eReader is the same size and design as the original, including the blob-like control on the front-right and the popular quilted texture on its back. This time, however, it turns pages and changes menu screens twice as fast, has a longer-lasting battery life  (10,000 page turns for two weeks), and a sharper screen. Gone is the blue accent colour, instead the new model will be available in a choice of three colours - silver, onyx, and lilac. It has 1GB of storage and like the original can accept SD Memory card slots to expand and add storage for more content. 

It comes with a built-in edition of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, offers two fonts at five different font sizes, and support for multiple bookmarks. 

Pre-Order Titles - Like the original Kobo, there are one hundred free classics pre-installed in the device, but for those who pre-order the new model Random House is also including a copy of Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay and When My World Was Very Small by Ruth Rakhoff 

Lilac Kobo Wireless eReader 

Hands-On Impressions

Last night I had the opportunity to try out the new Kobo model and the Wi-Fi connection makes a significant difference. One of the weaknesses of the original Kobo is its tricky desktop software which is a little harder to make book purchases with than the system on competing devices. While Kobo hasn't made any fundamental changes to their desktop software to address this (which is bad news for those who bought the original) the addition of a Wi-Fi connection effectively bypasses the issue. Now there's a "shop" button that you can press that instantly brings up the store which is easily navigated by category or search word. Once you make a purchase it takes about thirty seconds to download, even for large-sized books or titles with lots of illustrations (I chose David Sedaris' Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk). It does feel a little lighter and yes, it performs a little faster.

When the Kobo first arrived it competed significantly on value, undercutting the cost of a Kindle for more than $100 dollars. Now, just 120 days later, Amazon has responded remarkably and now the new Kobo at $149 is a march for the current Kindle at $139 US and up. Can it now compete? This will be the issue I'll address in my upcoming review.  

Silver Kobo Wireless eReader