E-Book Readers - By: S. Boyd

Given all of the recent developments in the ebook reader landscape, I figured now could be a great time to update the 'handy-dandy eReader Buying Guide'. Here’s an index of things to consider when scouting for a new portable ebook reader.

Screen type
Remember when an eReader display pretty much meant E Ink? Well, the advent of the Apple ipad tablet as a viable eReading device has recently since changed that.

When choosing an e-reader, consider if you don’t mind reading books upon an LCD screen or prefer the more paperlike look of something such as E Ink. Each has benefits and drawbacks. E Ink is likely to lower eyesight strain and drastically improve battery life. An LCD screen is capable of showing color and typically comes with touchscreen capabilities as well. Then you have hybrid readers such as the Barnes & Noble Nook and Spring Design Alex, which feature both an electronic LCD touchscreen and a paper display simultaneously.

For electronic paper displays, make sure you compare touch screens as some have more effective contrast than others.

Dimensions
Fortunately, one can find loads of options available in terms of size. Sony’s Reader Pocket, for one, actually fits in my jeans pocket, however its 5 inch screen continues to be just right for pleasant reading. It’s also pretty lightweight and is very easy to tote around on the move. In the middle of the pack, you have devices like the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Spring Design Alex, and Sony Reader Touch and Reader Pocket. Then you’ve got the larger devices, including the Kindle DX and Apple iPad, which have screens that are about ten inches wide. Unless you are a kangaroo, you ain’t fitting those inside your clothes pockets anytime soon. But they’re very good if you value a screen with larger touch display.

Interface
Controls for eReading devices are typically based on either buttons, touch screens or a mixture of both. Button-based controls require less power and tend to be more accurate but can also be more troublesome to use. Touchscreens are certainly more intuitive but can also be laggy, smudge-prone, and typically pull more juice out of your battery.

Button-based devices include Amazon's Kindle Dx, 1,2 and 3 models, plus Kobo's eReader and Son'ys Reader Pocket. 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
Based on whether you intend to read primarily both at home and while travelling, your battery life is a vital consideration. Basic eReaders without fancy bells and whistles typically have longer battery use that’s assessed in “page turns.” Sony’s ereader sports seven thousand five hundred page turns while the Kobo boasts up to 8000 page turns. Devices with WiFi and Web browsing however, usually have reduced battery life. Spring Design’s Alex, by way of example, lasts pretty long between recharges when primarily using it's E Ink display but loses energy faster when watching videos or browsing on its Liquid crystal display screen.

Features
Some devices - for example the Kobo Reader and Reader Pocket - are designed purely for reading purposes and skip on additional features, including music playback. The Nook, however, plays tunes, has Web browsing, and also throws in an amazing touchscreen interface. The Alex also offers those functions plus video playback, and the capability to download Android apps. At the high end of the features spectrum is the Apple Ipad, which happens to be much like a mini-computer.

Capacity
This determines the amount of media/data you could fit into your device at one time. The larger the memory, the more eBooks and files you can fit in. High capacity is especially vital for multimedia eReaders which can also play music, videos and appls. Besides storage space, some devices also come with a external slot with an SDcard, that enables you to typically raise your capacity up to thirty two gigabytes.

Store access
Dependent upon the device, an eReader can offer direct access to particular eBook stores, meaning extra convenience, a wider selection, and also the ability to easily find the latest best-sellers. 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 continue to display compatible eBooks but you’ll be required to download them from a personal computer first.

Price
Ultimately, this really is the most important factor when deciding to buy an ebook reader. After all, your wallet basically dictates whatever you can or can not afford. While some analysts and industry insiders claim that $99 may be the magic price tag for wide-range eReader acceptance, the market hasn’t quite reached that period yet overall. But it's 10 times better than it was, say, in early 2010, when you had more ebook readers sporting price tags past four hundred dollars.
You can pretty much obtain a good eReader from $150 to $200, consisting of basic readers including the Reader Pocket and Kobo, a tweener similar to the Kindle, and some more feature-filled devices including the Nook and Reader Touch. On the high end with prices of $300 and higher (sometimes a lot higher) would be the Reader Daily, Kindle DX and Spring Design Alex.

About the Author

http://electronicbookreadersreview.com/

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/S--Boyd/178154

Additional Articles From - Home | Internet business | Ebooks