kobo Arc – An eReader for the Ages

When thinking of back-to-school, I came to the realization that nowadays kids aren’t lugging around a ton of books. They are using technology more and more and with that comes tablets and eReaders. I managed to get my hands on a Kobo Arc eReader and I have to say, I’m quite impressed.

Unlike other eReaders out there, the Kobo Arc uses what you select to give you suggestions on what you’re interested in. Kobo uses an interface called “Tapestries”. Tapestries is designed to pick things based on what you already have added to your Arc. You no longer have to worry about unwanted ads trying to sell you things you’re not interested in. Another great thing about the Tapestries is that I can pin things to my home page so that when I turn on my Arc, it’s all right there waiting for me.

The specifications for the Arc are amazing. It comes with a 7 inch screen and resolution that puts other tablets to shame. With over 1 million pixels and 1280×800 HD display, everything is as clear as you could possibly imagine. Other tablets generally use a color setup of only 262 thousand colors, but the Arc has over 16.4 million. This means that color is sharper and more vivid than ever before. The Arc gives me storage options of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. This means the Arc is the only tablet that offers 64GB right out of the box.

The available colors are your standard black or white and the Arc comes with connectivity for Wi-Fi and a Micro USB cable. There is open access to Android and you can even personalize your Kobo Arc with SnapBacks.

I haven’t even gotten to the best part of the Kobo Arc. I can download books from my local library and my daughter can read them any time she wants! Kobo has their own eBookstore with selections that range from Classic Literature (a general back-to-school must) to Shakespeare and even foreign language learning. Their eBookstore also has over 1 million free eBooks for you to choose from and is one of the largest eBookstores in the world.

All of these features will make back-to-school much easier for the kids. Since the Arc weighs only 12.8 oz., they won’t even notice that it’s in their backpack. Just in case they forget it at home, you can read your library from any open device with Kobo apps. This means there’s no reason for not doing homework.

The Kobo had me in mind when they made the Arc and it definitely shows. The Arc is sleek and comfortable to hold and difficult to put down.