AT A GLANCE
- Available in a variety of colours
- Supports both PDF and MP3 files
- 1GB storage with SD card slot expansion to save loads of e-books
- 6-inch screen makes reading pleasurable
Not everyone wants a Kindle, and not everyone wants to shop for their ebooks at Amazon.com. For those looking for something else, the Cool-er eBook Reader might just be it - even though it lacks built-in wireless functionality and a hardware keyboard it makes up for this deficit by adding music, an SD card slot and PDF/MP3 support.
In terms of "reading" on this device, the Cool-er has the same 6-inch screen as the Kindle, but displays text with a proprietary computer-screen-like font face instead of the looking more like print, as does the Kindle typeface. This doesn't make much of a difference to legibility, and the display is size-adjustable. You can also flip it 90 degrees to read in landscape mode. it's also quite a bit lighter than the Kindle 2, so you can easily hold it with one hand while you're eating, lying in bed or in the bath.
One of the smartest things about this device is the fact that it uses power only for button clicks, so merely reading the book doesn't drain power - a single charge can last for up to 8000 page turns.
There's a slight problem with the iPod-like interface and design in that the D-Pad scrollwheel acts as both a menu selector and a page turner, which really isn't the best way to read a book. Meaning, you can only turn pages with either your right or left hand (if it's in landscape mode), making reading slightly more awkward. I soon got used to this, however, and it didn't really concern me much more than an initial annoyance.
The online bookstore (http://coolerbooks.com ) associated with the device features over 750,000 titles available at launch date and is apparently likened to the "iTunes of online bookstores". Titles can be downloaded from the store, borrowed from friends (yes, this device knows the meaning of the word "share", unlike a Kindle) or downloaded from a variety of online libraries.
The Cool-er is compatible both Mac and Windows and to get a book or file onto the device, you simple connect it to your computer via USB and drag and drop files to the Cool-er as you would any mass USB storage device, or you can insert an SD card instead. There is no software included or even necessary - you simply drag and drop your publications.
This is fine for books that don't feature any DRM (digital rights management), but if you want to read the latest blockbuster purchased from an online store, you'll need Adobe Digital Editions program which can also be downloaded online, to handle the rights management.
One of the biggest bonuses about the Cool-er is that its supports PDF, EPUB books, and text files, and there are masses of free e-books floating out there on the Internet in these file formats. Another thing I really liked was the bookmark/placeholder function. When I picked up the device to read, after taking a break to do something else and powering off, the book 'opened' to the last page read.
All in all, there's a lot more going for this eBook Reader for South Africans than the Kindle. It has oodles of space for storing e-books and you can expand up to 4GB using SD cards. You can also listen to music on this device.
If you're looking for a basic eReader, with no unnecessary frills or apps to detract from the fact that you're actually buying a device that's intended for reading - then this is it.
Turn ons:
- Supports a wide variety of file formats
- Battery lasts for 8,000 page turns
- Easy to load ebooks onto the device
Turn offs:
- Interface a bit clumsy and awkward
- No wireless connectivity
- Plastic build feels a bit cheap and not very durable
