The Interead Cool-ER's usabiity isn't quite up to its good looks, but it delivers solid e-book features at a mid-range cost.
The bottom line is that the ebook works perfectly fine as an entry-level electronic reader and if it was priced around the £99 mark it would be a five-star, must-get device. At £189, it is let down by a few minor design flaws that make it feel a little bit too cheap and flimsy.
The Cool-er e-book reader has some nice pluses and costs $110 less than the Kindle, but it's not as big a bargain as we hoped it would be.
The Cool-er is a competent device, but we do have strong concerns over it's built quality. For nearly £180 it just feels "cheap", especially when compared to the similarly priced Sony Readers made from brushed aluminium. Either wait for the price to come down, or get something more solid like the Sony devices.
I really, really wish this reader were $199, because it's not a bad reader, it's just not as good as what's out there now.
Cool-er is worth taking a look at because of its light weight and attractive price. But in most other respects, it's no match for the Kindle.
The difference between the Kindle 2 and the Cool-er is about $100. If you buy say, 15 books through Cooler Books, you've already blown through the savings on hardware. 30 books later, and the Kindle 2 is actually a better deal. The upfront fee for the Kindle or Sony Reader is greater yes, but they more than make up for it in robust content, extra features, and superior hardware.
