The Microsoft Surface R and Kobo E-Readers: A Review of New Devices
Summary
In this article, we review two new devices: the Microsoft Surface R tablet and the Kobo e-readers. While the Surface R offers a unique typing experience, it lacks the variety of apps available on iPads. The Kobo e-readers, on the other hand, are affordable and offer good features such as a glowing screen and customizable screen refresh rates.
Table of Contents
- The Microsoft Surface R: A Review
- The Kobo E-Readers: Affordable and Impressive
- Affordable E-Readers: Kindle, Texte, and Kobo
- Conclusion
The Microsoft Surface R: A Review
The Microsoft Surface R is a new tablet from Microsoft that comes with a touchpad keyboard and a backside kickstand. It has basic productivity apps like Office, email client, Netflix, Kindle, and some games, but not a lot of power user programs or good games. The Windows Store is where users can get apps for the device, but it suffers from the volume problem as there aren’t many customers yet. However, app developers can write apps for the Windows Store that will run on other Windows devices as well. There is a flood of Windows RT hardware coming down the pipeline, but purely from an app perspective, the Microsoft Surface R doesn’t come close to the iPad.
The Kobo E-Readers: Affordable and Impressive
The Kobo Glo is a new e-reader with a glowing screen and good contrast. It also has a feature that allows users to select how often the screen refreshes. The Kobo Mini, a smaller e-reader without a light, is also discussed and costs $89. While these devices may not have the same variety of apps as tablets, they are affordable and offer a good reading experience.
Affordable E-Readers: Kindle, Texte, and Kobo
The discussion in the article also touches on the affordability of e-readers. The Kindle with buttons costs $69, while the Texte e-reader from Germany costs less than $20 and is only available as part of a subsidized smartphone sale. It does not have Wi-Fi and runs on two AAA batteries that last for about a year. The Texte Beagl has three buttons and can only be used for reading. The Kobo e-reader is a Canadian device that is also affordable. The speaker was pleasantly surprised by the Texte e-reader and recommends checking out reviews on wired.co.
Conclusion
Overall, the article highlights the positive features of these new devices while acknowledging their limitations. The Microsoft Surface R offers a unique typing experience but lacks the variety of apps available on iPads. The Kobo e-readers are affordable and offer good features such as a glowing screen and customizable screen refresh rates. While e-readers may not have the same functionality as tablets, they are a good option for those looking for an affordable and enjoyable reading experience.
