How To Choose The Perfect eBook Reader
Table of Contents
What To Look For In An e-Reader?
Who should buy an eBook Reader?
Benefits of buying an eBook Reader
Most Popular eBook Readers
Ebooks are great devices for those who like to read, and there are lots of different options available. It is incredibly important that you know what to look for in one of these devices so you can get one that will match your specific needs. These days there are so many
eBook
options that you will definitely want to make a point of seeing what is out there before making a final decision. Those who take the time to do this research will definitely be glad they did in the end.
Content
The very first thing that you will need to consider when looking for the right Ebook reader is the type of content each one offers and how much of it will be available to you. Make sure that you look for one of these devices that support numerous formats, as this will increase the number of options you have when it comes to the content you can download. While you may be tempted to get caught up in the exterior design of the device, you will have to keep in mind that the content each one has to offer will be more important than anything.
The Amazon Kindle, for example, is definitely the best eBook reader on the market when it comes to available content, though there are a lot of different considerations to make. The Kindle and Kindle Fire are two eBook readers that have skyrocketed in popularity for a number of reasons. Amazon definitely has the largest selection of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs on the internet.
Supported Formats
We discussed the whole deal with supported formats in the last section, but there is more for you to consider before buying a certain device. You will need to make certain that you find an eBook reader that supports all of the basic formats, including HTML, Txt, MP3, and JPG. These days almost every one of these devices support these formats, so that is most likely something you won’t need to worry about.
By selecting a device that supports these formats, you will be able to enjoy all of the different types of content you want, including books, music, and photos. Take the time to make absolutely certain that the device you are interested in buying supports the above formats so that you know you won’t encounter any issues later on.
Storage
The amount of internal storage/memory that your eBook reader has will definitely be something else that you will want to take into consideration before selecting a certain product. If you tend to read a lot, you will most likely want to look for a device with lots of memory. The more memory your eBook reader has, the more books you will be able to have on it at one time.
Those who like to reread books will also want to make a point of finding a device with lots of memory to spare. You will find that most modern eBook readers can hold upwards of 32GB of content, which is more than enough for the average user. Even those who read a lot shouldn’t need more than this amount of space. If you find that you eventually run out of storage space, you can always clear away a few books to make some room.
Display Settings
When you are shopping around for the absolute best eBook reader, you will also need to take into consideration the different display settings that are made available. Since you are going to be using this device to read books and other things, you will obviously want to give some special attention to the display settings.
You will find that e-ink, touchscreen, and an aesthetically-pleasing external design are just a few of the display features to look for when you are trying to decide on the best eBook reader device to get. Some of these devices have larger display screens than others, so you will want to take some time to decide how big of a screen you’ll want yours to have. Too large of a display can make the eBook reader itself a little unwieldy, so you will need to keep that in mind. A very small display could make reading a bit of a chore though. A 5 or 6” display is perfect for most people, but you will need to consider exactly what you want so you get your money’s worth.
Connectivity
One of the great things about eBook readers is that you will be able to use them to go online just like you would with any regular tablet, provided you have access to a Wi-Fi connection. This means that you will be able to browse the web and directly download books wherever there is a wireless internet connection. Some of these devices also have 3G and 4G capabilities so you don’t actually necessarily need access to Wi-Fi to go online. If it is important that you are able to go online on your eBook reader, you will definitely want to keep this in mind.
Battery Life
The battery life of the eBook reader that you choose to get will be something else that you should think about. You will find that some of these devices can last longer than others, so you will need to make a point of finding one that will be able to stay on for quite a while so you don’t have to worry about it constantly cutting out while you are trying to read a book or whatever else. Make sure that you find out how long each device can last on a single charge so you will have a better idea as to which one you should get. You should also look into how long each of these devices takes to charge completely.
Dedicated eBook Readers vs. Tablets
The fact is that these days your average eBook reader can do almost everything a tablet can, and they are far less expensive. You will almost certainly end up paying at least twice as much for a tablet as you would a dedicated eBook reader. With one of these devices you can access the internet and read almost anything you want, just like you’d be able to do on a tablet. If you want to save as much money as possible, it is important that you make a point of considering all of this. A dedicated eBook reader will most likely be able to meet all of your needs, and you won’t have to worry about having any regrets.
Read Product Reviews
You should also take the time to read online product reviews for some of the different eBook reader devices that you are interested in buying. By reading these reviews you will be able to get a better idea as to which device will most likely be able to match all of your needs the best. Look for devices with the most positive reviews so you can be certain that you are making the right decision. You will definitely be glad that you took the time to do this research, because it will end up paying off in a big way for you.
Brand
The brand of the eBook reader that you select will definitely be yet another consideration to make before you decide on a particular device to buy. There are some brands that are more reputable than others, such as Amazon. If you are looking for a solid brand that won’t cost you a lot of money, the Cybook from Bookeen is a great alternative. It is crucial that you select a good brand so that you can really get your money’s worth. While it may be tempting to purchase a cheap off-brand eBook reader, you most likely won’t get a lot of use out of it before you need to purchase a replacement. The Amazon Kindle is a bit pricey, but it is very reliable and will last a long time.
Price
You get what you pay for when it comes to eBook readers, so you will need to keep that in mind. These days you can get a quality device for somewhere around $150, though there are certainly more expensive models if you are willing to spend the extra money. The more money you spend on one of these devices, the more features you will likely get. While you might not want to spend a few hundred dollars on a high-end eBook reader, it might be worth it if you plan on using it a lot over the years. The last thing you want to do is to go cheap and have to get a whole new device a year or two later. You should take some time to compare prices of different eBook readers so you can get the best deal possible. The more browsing around you do, the better your chances are going to be of finding exactly what you need at a price that falls within your budget.
Features
There are a lot of different features that you can get with an eBook reader, and it is important that you find out what some of them are so you can get a device that you’ll really be happy with overall. Certain features may be more important to you than others, so you will want to take the time to consider some of these before forking any money over.
Portability:
The overall size of your new eBook reader will definitely be one thing to consider. You will find that some of these devices are more portable than others. If you plan on taking your eBook reader with you outside of the house quite a bit, you will probably want to opt for one that isn’t too bulky. A device with a 5” screen should be small enough to where you won’t have any issues taking it with you wherever you go, and you will still have plenty of space for whatever you are reading.
Fonts:
One the things that a lot of people overlook when shopping for an eReader book is the various fonts that are offered. If you are picky when it comes to which font you want to read your books and other things in, this is certainly something that you will need to focus on. Pretty much all of these devices offer various text sizes, but not all of them will allow you to customize the type of font without the use of complicated hacks. The type of font you read in will almost certainly be something that is important to you.
Touchscreen:
A lot of the eReaders on the market right now use touchscreens, but not all. You will want to decide whether or not you want a device that uses a touchscreen interface so you can choose one that will meet your needs perfectly. A touchscreen can make navigation a lot easier, but you will also need to consider all the fingerprints you will leave behind from using it.
These days lots of people own eBook readers, and anyone who enjoys reading in general should at least consider buying one of these devices. You will be able to use this type of device to read books, magazines, blogs, news articles, and just about anything else you could possibly imagine. Although you may be accustomed to reading actual physical books, you might just be surprised when it comes to how nice it can be to read on one of these devices. Most eBook readers are designed to be lightweight, so you won’t have to worry about feeling like your hands are weighed down as you are trying to enjoy reading.
There are quite a few different benefits associated with eBook readers, including the fact that they are now fairly inexpensive. While it’s true that these devices were once a bit on the pricey side, they have come down in price quite a bit over the last few years or so. Another great thing about eBook readers is that they can provide you with a quick and easy way to access a myriad of books, news articles, blog posts, magazines, and other types of publications.
The fact is that an eBook reader is a great investment for anyone who loves to read, and even the more casual readers. With these devices you will be able to grab books and other things directly from the web via Wi-Fi or 3/4G data connection. These devices have made finding different things to read easier and more convenient than ever before. The portability of these devices is especially nice for those who are used to taking their books outside of the house. Whether it is on a bus or a park bench, you can be sure that taking an eReader with you doesn’t come with any hassle whatsoever.
Yet another cool thing about eBook readers is that some of them even allow you to set a custom font so you can have an easier time reading overall. You will also be able to choose the size of the font on your device, which is particularly nice for those who weren’t blessed with perfect vision. An eReader can make for an excellent gift to give someone for Christmas or a birthday as well, so you will definitely want to keep that in mind.
There are a few different eBook readers that are more popular than others, and it is imperative that you learn as much as possible about each one before deciding what to get.
Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is by far the most popular eBook reader on the market, and for good reason. This device first came out in 2007, and it is still beloved by many people. The design of the Kindle has of course changed and improved over the last ten years, so you can expect to enjoy features like 4G connectivity and different sized displays to choose from. This is a very solid overall device that is worth taking a close look at.
Ectaco
This company entered the eBook reader market back in 2009, and they have had quite a bit of success ever since. There are a variety of these devices for you to choose from, so you will have plenty of options. Ectaco was one of the first companies to start making eBook readers, and they are also worth considering.
Kobo
Kobo is a Canadian company that offers a wide range of e-ink devices that connect to their own online bookstore. This company offers a number of LCD Wi-Fi only tablets that can be used to enjoy many different forms of media, including books, music, movies, and much more. You can visit Kobobooks.com to learn about this company and what they have to offer. If you are currently looking for a new eBook reader, Kobo definitely has a variety of interesting models that may appeal to you.