Given all the recent developments within the portable ebook reader landscape, I believed now is the perfect time to update the ‘handy-dandy eReader Buying Guide’. Here’s an index of points to consider when picking a good solid electronic ebook reader.
Screen type
Bear in mind when an eReader display basically meant E Ink? Well, the release of the Apple ipad tablet as the viable eReading device has recently since changed that.
When selecting an ereader, ask yourself if you do not mind reading books on an Liquid crystal display screen or choose the more paper-like look of something similar to E Ink. They both have pros and cons. E Ink tends to lower eyesight strain and significantly improve battery life. An LCD screen can display color and typically includes touchscreen capabilities as well. Then you’ve got hybrid readers such as the Spring Design Alex and Barnes & Noble Nook, which feature both an electronic LCD touchscreen and a paper display at the same time.
For electronic paper displays, ensure you compare touch screens as some have greater contrast than others.
Dimensions
Fortunately, there are loads of options on the market in terms of size. Sony’s Reader Pocket, for starters, actually fits perfectly my jeans pocket, but its 5-inch screen is still adequate for relaxed reading. It’s also pretty lightweight and is effortless to tote around while on the road. In the middle of your selection, you have got devices much like the Barnes & Noble Nook, Spring Design Alex, Sony Reader Touch and Reader Pocket, and Amazon Kindle. Then you’ve got the large devices, such as the Apple Ipad and Kindle Dx, which have screens that are about ten inches in length. Unless you’re a kangaroo, you ain’t fitting those inside your pocket anytime soon. But they’re top notch if you value a screen with larger touch display.
Interface
Controls for eReading items are typically based on either buttons, touch-screens or a blend of both. Button-based controls require less power and tend to be more accurate but may be more hard to use. Touchscreens are more intuitive but can also be laggy, smudge-prone, and typically suck more juice out of your battery.
Button based devices include Amazon’s Kindle 1, 2, 3 and DX models, plus Sony’s Reader Pocket and the Kobo eReader. The Nook and iPad are almost entirely touch-based. The Sony Reader and Spring Design’s reader both use touch and button controls
Life of The Battery
Determined by whether you’ve planned to just read primarily at home or on the road, your battery life is a crucial consideration. Basic eReaders without fancy bells and whistles normally have longer battery life that’s calculated in “page turns.” Sony’s ereader sports 7500 page turns while the Kobo boasts up to 8000 page turns. Devices with WiFi and Web browsing however, tend to have shorter battery life. Spring Design’s Alex, by way of example, lasts pretty long between charges when primarily using their E Ink display but loses power faster when browsing or watching videos on its Liquid crystal display screen.
Features
Some devices – for example the Reader Pocket and Kobo Reader – are manufactured purely for reading and skip on extra features, including music playback. The Nook, however, plays tunes, has Web browsing, and even throws in a very nice touchscreen interface. The Alex also offers those traits plus video playback, and the capability to download Android applications. At the higher end of the abilities spectrum is the Ipad Tablet, which happens to be almost like a mini-computer.
Capacity
This determines just how much media/data you could squeeze into your device at one time. The larger the memory, the greater number of eBooks and files you can fit in. High capacity is primarily important for multimedia eReaders that can also play music, video and apps. Besides storage space, some devices also come along with a external slot with an SDcard, that allows your ebook to typically enhance your capacity to as much as 32gb.
Store access
Dependent upon the device, an eReader can have immediate access to specific eBook stores, meaning extra convenience, a wider selection, as well as the opportunity to easily grab the latest bestsellers. The Kindle, by way of example, has immediate access to Amazon’s online bookstore while the Kobo and Nook have access to Barnes & Noble and Borders respectively. Devices that do not have direct store access can still display compatible eBooks but you will be required to download them from your personal computer first.
Price
Ultimately, this really is the biggest factor when choosing to buy an e-book reader. Considering that, your wallet basically dictates whatever you can or can not afford. While some analysts and industry insiders declare that $99 may be the magic selling price for wide-range eReader acceptance, the market has not quite reached that point yet as a whole. But it is 10 times better than it originally was, say, in early 2010, after you had more ereaders sporting prices past four hundred big ones.
You can pretty much receive a good eReader from one hundred fifty to two hundred dollars, that also includes basic readers like the Reader Pocket and Kobo, a tweener exactly like the Kindle, and some more feature-filled devices just like the Nook and Reader Touch. At the high end with prices of $300 and higher (sometimes a lot higher) are definitely the Reader Daily, Kindle DX and Spring Design Alex.
So now you know a bit about electronic ereader, you can decide what is the best option for you. Remember, not every kinds are for everybody, but don’t forget to take a look in this article for your cost effective.




