Buzz
E-readers now come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but which one is best suited for you?
iStockphoto/ThinkstockWhen Andrea Eldridge and her family used to go on vacation, they had to deal with lugging around heavy luggage. It wasn't because they overpacked clothes for every possible event, but rather because they had to make room for all the books they planned to read. 'We are a family of readers, and in the past, that meant packing nearly an extra suitcase full of books for every trip,' says Andrea, the CEO of Nerds on Call, a computer and electronics repair company she co-founded with her husband Ryan in 2004.
Nowadays, that issue is a thing of the past, thanks to the rise of e-readers in the market. But even so, choosing the right one is still a dilemma. 'With so many e-book readers available to cater to every type of reader, the issue isn't what books to bring, but rather which e-reader to choose,' Andrea explains.
In fact, making the right choice is only getting more difficult. Sy Paulson of Best Buy reveals that his company offers 11 different e-readers, including models like the Nook, Sony Reader, and the entire Kindle lineup, with prices ranging from $49.99 to $249. And with the success of devices like Amazon's Kindle Fire, launched in November 2011, and the new Nook series from Barnes & Noble, we can expect even more options in the coming months [source: Ward-Bailey].
While having plenty of choices is great, it can also make it tricky to figure out which e-reader is the perfect fit for your needs. We've got some tips to guide you, and a good starting point is to focus on the basics.
5: Choose the Right Screen
Here’s a tip on what not to do when picking an e-reader: Don’t simply read some online reviews and buy the one that sounds best. An e-reader is one of those products where you really need to get a feel for it. 'The screen is by far the most important feature of any e-reader you purchase because it’s what you’ll be staring at for hours, whether you’re reading 'Pride and Prejudice' for the fifteenth time or browsing the latest bestseller,' says Eldridge. She advises shoppers to spend time examining different screens before making a decision. 'Your eyes will tell you what works for you: e-ink, color, black-and-white, backlit or not. Be sure to look before you choose.'
Sy Paulson, a 'Blue Shirt' at Best Buy, suggests that any e-reader using 'e-paper' is less likely to cause eyestrain. 'The text looks just like it does on the page of a printed book,' he explains. 'E-paper also has the added benefit of zero glare, making it ideal for reading outside, whether you're at the pool or the beach.' He also points out that e-readers vary in weight, ranging from around 6 ounces to more than 16 ounces, so if you're a frequent traveler, consider opting for a lighter model that's easier to carry around.
Click to the next page to learn why your reading preferences are crucial in the selection process.
4: How essential are vibrant images?
If you're planning to read books exclusively, there's no need to look beyond an e-reader that features black-and-white e-paper and e-ink technology.
Photo courtesy E InkWhen selecting the perfect e-reader, what kind of reading you'll be doing is key: Are you diving into the works of Charles Dickens, or do you want to read (and appreciate the images in) magazines like Glamour and Sports Illustrated? Generally speaking, if your reading is focused on classic literature -- i.e. you’re sticking to books -- you don’t need to go beyond an e-reader that uses black-and-white e-paper and e-ink. 'For adult fiction, color is completely unnecessary, so there's no reason to pay for it,' says Andromeda Edison, a California-based expert who helps independent authors publish online and has reviewed various e-readers.
On the other hand, some e-readers, like the Nook Color and the SuperNova MediaReader, come with full-color LCD screens, allowing users to experience magazines just like they would in print, along with other multimedia options. 'An LCD offers full-color animation, video playback, and a backlit display for nighttime reading,' says Mark Mettler, senior vice president of consumer technology at Staples. 'While it's a bit heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to traditional e-ink, the LCD option is ideal if you want extra features like web browsing and checking email. It's also perfect for readers who enjoy magazines and children's books: the color display really enriches the experience.'
Move forward to discover how to prevent battery issues from becoming a source of frustration.
3: Battery Life is Crucial
For any reader, nothing is worse than this scenario. 'There’s nothing more annoying than being just 10 pages from the end of your mystery novel only to have the words fade away as your battery dies,' says Andrea Eldridge of Nerds on Call. How likely this is depends on the e-reader you choose. While most e-readers have decent battery life, some models vary. 'Both the Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard can last up to two months when Wi-Fi is off,' says Paulson from Best Buy. 'Likewise, the Nook Simple Touch can last up to 60 days with the wireless off. However, other models like the SuperNova 8 or Kindle Fire only last about 6 to 8 hours.'
Keep reading to find out why it's essential to understand what libraries you can access with your device.
2: Understand Your Library
The Kindle Fire is a full-color tablet that runs on a version of the Android operating system.
Image courtesy of AmazonThe plain fact is, any e-reader you buy will grant you access to more books and magazines than you could possibly read in a lifetime. With that in mind, it's important to be aware of the library of books and magazines available to download right at your fingertips.
According to Paulson from Best Buy, the Kindle eBook store allows users to download over 1 million books and 400 magazines. In comparison, Barnes & Noble offers access to more than 2.5 million eBooks, magazines, and newspapers. Another key point Paulson emphasizes is the importance of checking whether the e-reader you’re interested in allows for book sharing or provides access to borrowing books and other reading materials from your local library.
'Some devices are more friendly for sharing than others,' says Paulson. 'The Kindle permits books to be lent from one Kindle to another, provided the publisher permits lending. The Nook has a 'LendMe' feature that lets you share books from one Nook to another. These devices, alongside Sony e-readers, also allow you to borrow books from libraries.'
Keep reading to learn how e-reader pricing is determined.
1: Expect to Pay More for More Gadgets
Yes, an e-reader lets you enjoy books and magazines, but many models offer far more than that: surf the Web, watch videos, check your email, and sync with other devices you own. Naturally, these added capabilities raise the price of the e-reader, making it important to consider how much you're willing to spend on extra features.
If your main goal is to lighten the load of books cluttering your shelves, a basic e-reader that displays text in black and white will be much cheaper than one that lets you relax with sports highlights or YouTube videos. One cost factor is how the device connects to the Internet for downloading: Wi-Fi or 3G. For Mark Mettler of Staples, deciding whether to pay extra for on-the-go downloading really depends on your needs. 'Wi-Fi is ideal if you mainly use your e-reader at home or in the office, or visit places with Wi-Fi access frequently.'
Most e-readers come with Wi-Fi, so you just need to connect once to start reading," Mettler explains. "3G devices offer connectivity almost everywhere, as they work like a smartphone's wireless network. For frequent travelers, this added flexibility could make it worth the extra cost."
