A month or so ago, my husband casually asked me what I thought about e-Readers. I knew he was fishing for Christmas gift ideas and I told him not to bother. I said that as cool as they seemed, I loved the feel, the smell, and the portability of my books. I’ve been a bookworm since I was a little girl (a trait my 6 year old inherited that I love), and will often have a book in my purse, beach bag, and even in the bathtub. As the years have gone by and mommy-hood took over, like many of us, I haven’t been reading as much as I’d like and have read more magazines in the past few years than actual books.
Then, the opportunity came up to review a Literati eReader from Sharper Image. I figured it was a great chance to check out the product and if I didn’t like it, no loss on my part (the perks of being a product reviewer, right?) My first concern, since the eReader was being shipped from the US, was whether it would even work in Canada as silly as that sounds. I only say that because my iPod irritated me because at the Apple store there were things I simply could not download (full seasons of some of my favorite shows, for example) because I was in Canada and that was a real turn off. However, I learned that the Literati is partnered up with Kobo, and I knew that Chapters/Indigo here in Canada is associated with Kobo as well so I knew it would be ok (it is!)
I received my Literati eReader one morning and waited first for it to get back to room temperature (welcome to Canadian deliveries in the winter, it’s just something we have to do!) and then had my husband unpackage it and plug it in to charge for me. I left it overnight (6 hours was the recommended charging time) and then read the next morning that I should be careful about overcharging (whoops!) I immediately unplugged the device and it looks like no damage was done, but I’d be curious to know what length overcharging is and what the consequence is (because, after all, I’m a busy mom and will not remember to unplug it after 6 hours without some sort of alarm going off!)
The first thing I noticed and liked about the Literati is that it’s bigger than I expected. Having never actually held an eReader before, I thought they were smaller. Measuring 9.5 x 5.0 x 0.5 inches, the Literati boasts a 7 inch (480 x 800 resolution) color-display screen (most eReaders are not in color). The unit itself is about the size of some of my pocket-books (longer actually) and comes with a protective case/holder so it feels like a book in my hands.
I’ll say right now that I hate new technology when I first get it. I hated my laptop the day I got it and I hated my BlackBerry for a solid 2 weeks. Now I love them both but it’s hard to get used to navigating something new. I wondered if the Literati would frustrate me from day one. I’m happy to say that, despite a few kinks that are all part of the learning curve of using a new handheld device, I’m pretty happy using the Literati after just a few days.
Here’s a quick tip for new Literati eReader users: use your computer to get an account at Kobo first. It’s much easier to input your mailing and credit card information for purchases on your computer than on the Qwerty keyboard on the Literati. Not that you can’t do it that way, but it was easier and more efficient for me to get the account done ahead of time on my laptop. Also, you get a promo code sent to you via email for 35% off your first book so you can use that right away!
When I first turned on the Literati, I wanted to use the Wireless Network capabilities right away. I had to input my wireless password (something put away awhile ago that I hunted for and found, whew!) and then got a notice that I had to do an update on my new Literati in order to get the wireless to work. A little annoying since I wanted to use it right now, but within about 4 minutes that was taken care of, wireless was working flawlessly, and I was on my way to the Kobo store to purchase my first book.
The Literati comes pre-loaded with 25 free books and the ability to download 150 more free books. Personally, none of the free books appeal to me – they are mostly all classics like Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letter, etc., and as I said to one of my friends earlier today, I was done reading the classics in high school. Still, if someone loves books like these, what a goldmine they have just found! I picked 2 books from the Kobo store based on recommendations from my friends – The Pact by Jodi Picoult and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Now I’m all set on my holiday reading (a 5 hour trip by car lay ahead of us!)
At night, I can read in bed without a bright light hurting my eyes or waking up my husband – the night reading mode feature is very cool too!
My only issue so far, that I can’t find an answer to is how to remove books from the “I’m Reading” section on the Literati. Your books stay in the Library section until you move them to the I’m Reading section (and they are bookmarked for you every time you stop reading, very cool). But once they are there, how do I get rid of them, to put them back in the library? My husband, tooling around, put Huckleberry Finn in the I’m Reading section and it annoys me that it’s there! I posted my question on the Literati Facebook Fan Page and was told to call their 1-800 for help which I will do.
I think I’ve covered all my favorite points about the Literati eReader and yes, I admit it, I’m an eReader convert. I didn’t think I’d like them but I do! Hopefully, this will enable me to read more in the new year. A friend asked how exactly I planned to actually read more with a new baby coming. I guess she didn’t know about the Night Reading Mode on my Literati – 2 am book reading in the dark while rocking a precious newborn? I think so!
1 of my very lucky readers is going to win a Literati eReader by Sharper Image! To enter, help me out with book ideas – give me your book suggestion!
For additional entries:
~ Follow me (join this site with Google Friend Connect)
~ Subscribe via email or Reader
~ Grab my button
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
~ Follow @FeistyFrugal on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day) WIn @LiteratiReader Wireless E Reader http://bit.ly/gxIakH @FeistyFrugal (Canada/US) Ends Jan 20th! #giveaway
~ Like Feisty Frugal and Fabulous on Facebook (please leave your first name and last initial so I can find you as a fan)
~ Like Literati Reader on Facebook (hint: you’ll find other blogs doing giveaways there too!)
This giveaway will end on January 20th at 9PM CT . Giveaway is open to Canadian and US addresses.
P.S. Looking for more chances to win? Check out these blogs and enter there as well (all should have Canada/US eligibility too!)
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