The Kobo can best be thought of as an entry-level version of the Barnes & Noble Nook, providing a largely indistinguishable reading experience but lacking some of the higher-end features of the Nook such as a web browser, music player, keyboard and 3G wireless. If all you're after is a device that will let you bring your digital reading library with you go and read comfortably, the Kobo may be the way to go. If you're looking for a higher-end device with the added frills, the Nook may be your best pick.
Key Differences
Web browser: One of those advanced featured of the Nook is a web browser. Users of the Nook can use the device's basic but functional internet browser to check email, post tweets and even visit favorite website for free wherever they have WiFi or AT&T 3G service. The Kobo is not equipped with a web browser.
Wireless: In addition to WiFi (with free WiFi access in any Barned & Noble store), the Nook has AT&T 3G and can download content wirelessly without monthly fees or usage charges while on the go and even when traveling abroad in certain countries. The Kobo does not offer 3G wireless, and is limited to syncing content using a USB cable. The Kobo can, however, use Bluetooth connectivity to wireless download content when connected to supported smartphones.
Audio player: The Nook has the ability to play music -- either through an external speaker or by plugging in a pair of headphones. The Kobo does not have an on-bord music play.
Keyboard: The Kindle2 has a full virtual (on-screen) QWERTY keyboard which comes in handy for taking notes and quickly finding content. The Kobo, on the other hand, does not have a keyboard and lacks the ability to be used for note taking.
Comparison Chart: Nook vs. Kobo
Barnes & Noble Nook
Borders Kobo
Resources
Review
Device
Dimensions
7.7" x 4.9" x .5"
7.4" x 4.7" x .4"
Weight
11.2 oz.
8 oz.
Screen(s)
6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray & 3.5" color touchscreen
6" e-ink display
Battery life
Up to 10 days (wireless off)
Up to two weeks (8000 page turns)
Input
Touchscreen, virtual keyboard, physical buttons
Physical buttons, 4-way soft-touch directional pad w/ select button
The Kobo can best be thought of as an entry-level version of the Amazon Kindle 2, providing a largely indistinguishable reading experience but lacking some of the higher-end features of the Kindle such as a web browser, music player, keyboard and 3G wireless. If all you're after is a device that will let you bring your digital reading library with you go and read comfortably, the Kobo may be the way to go. If you're looking for a higher-end device with the added frills, the Kindle 2 may be your best pick.
Web browser: One of those advanced goodies that is available on the Kindle 2 is a web browser. User of the Kindle 2 can use the device's basic but functional internet browser to check email, post tweets and even visit favorite website for free wherever they have Sprint or AT&T (depending on Kindle 2 version) 3G service. The Kobo is not equipped with a web browser.
Wireless: The Amazon Kindle 2 (latest edition) has AT&T 3G and can download content wirelessly without monthly fees or usage charges while on the go and even when traveling abroad in certain countries (the first version of the Kindle 2 only has Sprint 3G just like the Kindle 1). The Kobo does not offer 3G wireless, and is limited to syncing content using a USB cable. The Kobo can, however, use Bluetooth connectivity to wireless download content when connected to supported smartphones.
Expandable memory: Right out of the box, the Kindle 2 has 2GB of memory. The Kobo has only 1 GB of on-board memory, but also supports microSD cards up to 4GB, making the Kobo capable of traveling with much more content. Of course, 2GBs of storage space is well beyond enough for the vast majority of users when it comes to storing only reading material. The Kindle 2 does not support expandable memory.
Audio player: The Kindle has the ability to play music -- either through an external speaker or by plugging in a pair of headphones. The Kobo does not have an on-bord music play.
Keyboard: The Kindle2 has a full QWERTY keyboard which comes in handy for taking notes and quickly finding content. The Kobo, on the other hand, does not have a keyboard and lacks the ability to be used for note taking.
Comparison Chart: Borders Kobo vs. Kindle
Amazon Kindle 2
Borders Kobo
Resources
Review
Device
Dimensions
8" x 5.3" x .36"
7.4" x 4.7" x .4"
Weight
10.2 oz.
8 oz.
Screen(s)
6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray; 600 x 800 pixels
6" e-ink display
Battery life
Up to 4 days (wireless on); up to 2 weeks (wireless off)
Up to two weeks (8000 page turns)
Input
Physical keyboard, buttons, joystick
Physical buttons, 4-way soft-touch directional pad w/ select button
Memory
2GB (1.4GB available)
1 GB
Expandable memory
No
Yes (up to 4GB microSD card)
Books & Content
Available sources
Amazon Kindle Store (400,000+ books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available)
The Bottom Line
Both the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Apple iPad are great devices -- and great eBook readers. While the Amazon Kindle does have a number of advanced features, including a built-in music music player and web browser, it is intended primarily as an eBook reader -- and is among the best eReaders on the market. On the other hand, the iPad is a computer at heart, offering worlds more functionality than the Kindle (at a higher price tag, of course). In order to boast this advanced functionality, though, the iPad suffers from some potentially serious trade offs that may be a game-changer for buyers primarily looking for a digital reading device.
Price: If you're in the market for what is better described as a tablet computer than an eReader, the iPad and its litany of advanced functionalities is your best bet. As you can imagine, though, the iPad's greater functionality is in part reflected in its price tag.
Battery life: The Apple iPad will get up to 10 hours of battery life. While impressive for a tablet PC, if you primarily intend to use the device as an eBook reader, the iPad pales in comparison to much of the eReader competition. The Kindle can get up to 4 days of battery life with 3G wireless on, and up to two weeks with wireless off. That's a whole lot more reading time in between charges for Kindle users.
Display: The iPad has a huge and vibrant 9.7-inch touchscreen display. The iPad's display is great for watching movies, browsing the web, viewing pictures -- and any other activity that would be an enjoyable experience on a laptop. Because of the nature of the display, though, extended periods of viewing can cause eye strain. The Amazon Kindle uses e-ink display technology, and text on the screen looks just like it would on paper. Readers will be able to read much longer using the Kindle's display, and will be able to view the screen just as easily in direct sunlight (like a paper book) while the iPad's display will become washed out in the sun.
Wireless: The Amazon Kindle 2 provides free 3G wireless either using Sprint or AT&T's network. This means Kindle users can browse the web and download (some) content for free from anywhere with wireless coverage. Every iPad model has WiFi, meaning that anywhere within the range of a wireless network users can browse the web, download content, and more. iPads equipped with a 3G radio cost an additional $130, and require a monthly fee if users opt to use AT&T's 3G network. There's no monthly fee associated with the Kindle.
Web browser: The Amazon Kindle 2 has a limited but functional web browser. The browsing experience on the Kindle is reminiscent to that on some mobile phones, of course with a black and white e-ink display. Of course, the iPad offers a far superior desktop computer-like browsing experience (lacking Adobe Flash support, though).
Advanced features: The many advanced features the iPad is equipped with go well beyond the scope of this eReader-focused comparison. Suffice to say that while the Kindle offers a nice number of advancements for an eBook reader including text-to-speech capabilities and an audio player, the iPad boasts all the functionality of an iPhone or iPod Touch.
Storage space: Depending on the iPad model, users have either 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage space. This is plenty for millennia of reading material, and days of music listening, movie watching, photo viewing and beyond. In comparison, the Kindle 2 has only 1.4GB of storage space available to the reader. Again, this is enough to keep you reading for a very, very long time, but a limited space for music (of course, the Kindle 2 does not play video). Both devices do not have support for expandable memory such as a microSD card.
The Bottom Line
Both the Barnes and Noble Nook and the Apple iPad are fantastic devices for reading eBooks. While the Nook does offer a couple higher end features, including a built-in music music player and the ability to digitally lend books, it is intended to be used primarily as an eReader. And, as an eBook reader, the Nook is among the bes and most popular devices on the market. The Apple iPad, however, is more closely relatable to a computer than an eBook reader. Because it is more a computer than eReader, the iPad offers advanced functions more typical of what your laptop can do. Of course, this advanced feature set comes at an...advanced price. When examined through the lens of a site aimed at eReaders, however, the Apple iPad falls short of some dedicated eBook readers in important areas -- and these areas must be closely weighed against the iPad's advanced functionalities.
Price: The Apple iPad is a computer more than it is an eReader. As you can imagine, the iPad in turn also has a price tag well above its eReader competition because it is closer on the gadget scale to a tablet computer.
Battery life: The Apple iPad will get up to 10 hours of battery life. For a tablet device, 10 hours is a hefty bi of use. When compared to dedicated eReaders like the Nook, the iPad gets only a fraction of the usage time (time actually reading) as the Nook. With its wireless radio switched off (3G and WiFi off), the Nook can get up to two weeks of reading time -- and up to 4 days with wireless on.
Display: The iPad has a huge and vibrant 9.7-inch touchscreen display. The iPad's display is great for watching movies, browsing the web, viewing pictures -- and any other activity that would be an enjoyable experience on a laptop. Because of the nature of the display, though, extended periods of viewing can cause eye strain. The Nook uses e-ink display technology, and text on the screen looks just like it would on paper. Readers will be able to read much longer using the Kindle's display, and will be able to view the screen just as easily in direct sunlight (like a paper book) while the iPad's display will become washed out in the sun.
Wireless: The Nook provides free 3G wireless either using AT&T's 3G network. This means Kindle users can download reading material from anywhere with wireless coverage. Every iPad model has WiFi, meaning that anywhere within the range of a wireless network users can browse the web, download content, and more. iPads equipped with a 3G radio cost an additional $130, and require a monthly fee if users opt to use AT&T's 3G network. There's no monthly fee associated with the Nook.
Web browser: As of the latest firmware update, the Barnes and Noble Nook now has a built-in web browser. The browser will provide basic functionality using the Nook's color touchscreen display to navigate a web page. Of course, the iPad offers a far more advanced web browser and browsing experience.
Advanced features: The many advanced features the iPad is equipped with go well beyond the scope of this eReader-focused comparison. Suffice to say that while the Nook offers a couple of enhancements for an eBook reader including an audio player and the ability to lend eBooks to friends, the iPad boasts all the functionality of an iPhone or iPod Touch, and more. The iPad cannot lend books.
Storage space: Depending on the iPad model, users have either 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage space. This is plenty for millennia of reading material, and days of music listening, movie watching, photo viewing and beyond. In comparison, the Nook has only 2GB of storage space. Again, this is enough to keep you reading for a very, very long time, but a limited space for music (of course, the Nook does not play video). The iPad does not support expandable memory of any kind, while the Nook does support microSD cards for added storage space.
Comparison Chart: Apple iPad vs. Barnes & Noble Nook
