Amazon Kindle Vs. the Kobo eBook Reader – A field test comparison
Our field test compared both eBook readers and gave each one of them a 1 week intensive trial where we tested heir features, abilities and usability in real world scenarios and situations.
First we focused on portability – how easy are they to carry around on a daily basis. We brought them on our cycle + subway commute to work and can report that both the Kindle and Kobo performed excellently – in fact our testers reported they exceeded expectations as their light weight and accessibility made them a welcome partner on the daily grind to the office! During lunchtimes we took them to the cafe and park and again they both confirmed their ease to use and portability – a dead tie here.
Secondly we looked at usability, and over the week three main differences appeared. In the first instance all our testers found the navigation of the Kobo to be simpler and easier to get to grips with than the Kindle, though by the end of the week they found both equally easy to use. More significantly the Kindle has two definite advantages over the Kobo – it’s noticeably faster in particular with page turns, and the screen has better contrast making it easier and more pleasurable to read. Overall our testers indicated a strong preference for the Kindle.
We also tested the Kindle 3G connectivity via Amazon’s ‘Whispernet’ network and in our area there was excellent reception and we could easily connect to and access the Amazon store and the internet. However we identified 2 reservations: it is noticeably slower than Wi-Fi – though still very usable, and also it didn’t work well on the move – you really need to be static in one location: no good on a moving train, but fine in a train station. Nevertheless we can see 3G would be extremely useful to people who travel a lot and don’t want the inconvenience of trying to find a Wi-Fi hotspot, or if you don’t have Wi-Fi at home.
Finally we asked our testers to comment on the build quality of these eBook readers, and asked them to be rougher and more careless with them in the final two days of the test. Although both eReaders came through the ordeal unscathed, the consensus amongst the testers was that the Kindle definitely felt a more robust and well-built unit than the Kobo, and they felt more tentative abusing the Kobo, worried they would do some permanent damage.
Our feature comparison and field tests showed that there was a clear winner: buy the Kindle 3 Wi-Fi for it’s sleek looks, exceptional battery life, faster performance and higher-contrast screen – but if you do a lot of traveling or don’t have Wi-Fi at home then pay a little extra for the Kindle 3G.
However the latest Kobo eReader is much improved from its predecessor and a worthy rival to the Kindle 3 and we would have no hesitation recommending it if you intended to make extensive use of the public library borrowing facility built into its EPUB format, or you wanted a simpler, cheaper, easier-to-use eReader – perhaps for a younger child.
