I love sitting in my favorite comfy chair while holding a good book in my hands and enjoying a new adventure. It was a stretch for me to trade in that feeling for an e-reader. The last thing I wanted to do all day long was strain my eyes to look at a screen to read a book. To be honest, I could not get excited about an e-reader. However, once tablets became the next “it” item, I was intrigued. I loved the idea of a portable entertainment system. I’ll admit it; I hate to be bored. I am like a kid in that way. I also like the idea of having music, videos, pictures and books at my fingertips. I carry a huge load with four kids. The last thing I need is to carry a bunch of books, MP3 player, or a laptop around. Having all this at your fingertips for $199 is a deal in my book. The Kobo Vox is like carrying around your entertainment center in your diaper bag or purse.
The Kobo Vox is a nice device to read, listen to music, watch videos and play games. From a purely educational standpoint, once you download the books, Kindle, Nook and Netflix you have a portable library and documentaries right in your backpack. The device is 7.57 x 5.06 x 0.53 inches and weighs less than 15 ounces.
Pros:
The screen is a nice size and clarity is fantastic.
It is easy to use. The focus is still on reading and it will track the time your child spends reading a book.
You can highlight text and add notes for later use.
It comes preloaded with popular apps like Facebook and YouTube.
Lightweight yet it has a sturdy feel
Great price
Larger than the Kindle
Netflix runs great once downloaded online
Fun educational apps for the kids
Cons:
It can be slow to navigate and the touch screen can be wonky. It may take a few taps but this is not a regular occurrence.
Preloaded with apps that are not so popular and you may not use
The app store is limited
Battery life is not that great
To get the Netflix, Kindle, and a file manager app, you need to download off the internet. Good news is that downloading is simple and seamless.
I do not think you will be disappointed with the Vox. My kids love it. My oldest uses it for music while my other children use it for games and reading. I use it for music, games, reading, and Netflix. I have to admit, I love gadgets. While, I may not always know the ins and outs of devices I do know what I like and what works. The Vox is a great device that provides plenty of enjoyment for all of us. The biggest drawback is the app store, however, downloading apps off the internet is simple. While the device is not the fastest to load once you are playing a game, reading or watching a video it does not skip a beat. I have had some apps freeze but it seemed to be the same ones that would freeze on my phone. We have had the device for about a month and we have not experienced any problems other than who gets it next.