Can E-Books Save the Indie Bookstore?
4. What’re the biggest differences between a Kobo and a Kindle in terms of reading experience?
I don’t know, I have never used a Kindle. I’m not a fan of anything that has to do with Amazon, for obvious reasons. But I think the Kobo app on the iPad is actually pretty great.
4a. And in terms of available writing?
From what I understand, the Kobo library is as extensive as Amazon’s, except for anything that Amazon publishes. I haven’t had any complaints so far. We had more instances of people not finding what they wanted when we partnered with Google.
5. About e-readers in general: How do you think they might change reading habits over time?
I’m still of the optimistic opinion that people who love to read will continue to read physical books, or maybe both physical and electronic. I’m still not sure about how many of the people who are exclusively e-reading were big readers to begin with. I have a feeling that e-readers have switched some non-readers into readers, which is great, but I think voracious readers will still read both.
5a. And how might that lead to a change in the way that writers write?
Hm, don’t really have an answer to this one.
6. Have any of you had revelatory moments with an e-reader, when you realized they’re actually pretty great? (Or has this shift been more begrudgingly pragmatic?)
I’m not much of an e-reader, I try to read a lot of galleys that way and find that I don’t finish many. I just do better with physical books, personally, but again, I have no commute and don’t have too much occasion to pick up an e-reader.
7. Selling time: What’re the good things about the different types of Kobos?
Well, the Mini is just that, it’s small and compact and people love that it’s not much bigger than their phone. The Glo has the added benefit of the light which people just love. Maybe Jenn can chime in more about the features she loves, she uses it more than I have.