How to Choose the Best eBook Readers
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Finding the Best eBook Readers
Dedicated ereaders offers some advantages over tablets. They are generally less expensive, they typically offer a longer battery life, and generally provide E-Ink displays which are easier on the eyes and better viewed in sunlight. In addition, many of the best e-book readers provide exclusive access to some of the largest book libraries available. As these devices continue to evolve, they are taking on more tablet like functions, and the lines begin to blur.
On this page you can learn all about some of the most well received ebook readers currently on the market and find some tips for choosing the right one.
eBook Reader Buying Tips
The overall size and weight of the device can be important. For some people having a smaller device that will fit in a pocket or purse is important. Afterall, that's part of the attraction, to be able to take your ebook reader with you anywhere, anytime you want it. Of course, light weight can add to the comfort of the experience as well. Another thing to consider is readability. For some, a 5" screen is fine, for others a 9" screen is more comfortable. Certainly most of these devices allow you to increase font size, but a larger screen allows more of the text to remain on the page.
Some of the best displays out there at this time use an E-Ink display. These have a natural look, similar to what you would see on a printed book page with minimal glare and no backlight to strain your eyes. Without a backlight however, you will need an external light source to read in the dark. You might want to consider the screen resolution too. Certainly 200dpi is respectable. Nearly all of the screens are black and white, but finding one with 16 gray scale versus 4 or 8 will make a noticeable difference in readability. You can also check to see if it's possible to adjust the font to better suit your eye sight.
Some of these devices do have an LCD display which means you won't need a light to read in a darkened room. In addition, some of these devices offer color displays. This can make viewing photographs, video, tables, graphs, diagrams, and so forth more enjoyable and sometimes more useful. If you want more tablet functions and entertainment, then the color models make good sense.
Each ebook reader provides access to given "libraries" of books, periodicals, and so forth. Some provide access to over a million titles through Google Books, some provide access to hundreds of thousands of books on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble. Others may have more limited resources. You simply need to choose the one that offers the types of books, in a quantity that is acceptable to you. Some provide access to newspapers, magazines, and so forth but not all of them do, while some may even give you access to international publications. Some provide access to audio books, while others don't.
If you are wanting tablet-like functions and more entertainment, then there are now devices which offer this. They may offer access to music, TV shows, video, games and so forth. Determine what apps you will have access to and what integration exists with the social sites and so forth that you want to follow. Check for file compatibility and speed as well as plenty of apps and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Knowing what you want to read before you select the device can also be important from the standpoint of file format compatibility. ePub is the most common format but there are many, many others such as amz. from Amazon. Some devices will allow you to also view PDF files, others won't. Some allow you to display JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP image and others may support MP3 or other audio files.
Certainly comparing the upfront cost to buy the ebook reader is a consideration. These devices are offered with a wide range of price points. Some may be $150 while others may top $500. Beyond this however, you also need to consider things such as the cost for books. Some of the services used may charge a typical fee of $9.99 while others may average well over that. Most will give you access to some free public domain reading, but you need to know the typical cost for new books via the service the device supports.
Most current ebook readers can store at least 1,000 titles, however some are capable of holding more. Some may offer 1GB of onboard memory and others 2 or 4GB. If on board memory is less than what you think you need, find out if there is an SD or micro SD card slot to expand the memory. In addtion, some of these readers may offer online back up. This assures any purchased books aren't "lost" but can also allow you to make room for new titles if needed.
For devices that support video and so forth, more memory is required. An 8GB minimum should be expected.
Just as with any electronic device, no one wants their power source to fail them when they need to use it, but we also don't want to have to re-charge all of the time. Thus, looking at the stated battery life can be smart. This is often stated in pages. For instance, an ebook reader may indicate that it will provide 8,000 page views per charge.
Using Wi-Fi, streaming a lot of video, and so forth will consume a great deal of battery power. In fact, the more tablet-like a given ereader is, the short it's battery life is expected to be.
Look for convenience functions that you might typically use when reading. Functions like highlighting, bookmarking, note taking, and so forth are examples. Some readers allow you to take notes by writing with a stylus, others allow you to do so with a keyboard. Look to see if you can search through highlighted text or notes after the fact. Many of these devices also have a built-in dictionary; some allow you to simply point to a word with the cursor to see a definition, many however will require you to go to a different screen and type in the word to get a look up. The dictionary on many devices may be in English only, others may provide other languages or even a type of translator function between languages.
Other functions to consider are things like Wi-Fi, Web browsing, text-to-speech functionality (which allows the device to read to you), sharing, previewing books, and so forth. If you want Wi-Fi you'll need to be sure the service in your area will be sufficient, just as you would with a cell phone or other wireless device. Most ebook readers use buttons and push pads for controls, some however use a touch screen. If touchscreens are what you prefer, then you can narrow down your choices.
If you get the chance to put the ebook reader you're considering in your hands, you can play with it a bit to get a feel for it's speed. If things work smoothly and quickly, if downloads are fast, if page turns aren't delayed, satisfaction is usually much higher.
As ebook readers take on more tablet like functions, the need for speed increases. Having 3G connectivity certainly helps but so to does a larger processor or perhaps a dual core processor.
The Most Affordable Kindle
Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
Amazon Price: $79.00 (as of 02/14/2012)
This Kindle ebook reader is pocket sized. It features a 6" 600 x 800 resolution E-ink display. The 16 level gray scale is easy to read even in bright sunlight. It weighs a mere 5.98 ounces. It is available for $79, which is one of the most affordable options available. For this price, users get sponsored screensavers (ads) and special offers which can be great money savers. These won't disrupt the reading process but for those who don't want them, there is a $109 version available as well.
This Kindle gives users access to over a million books, magazines, and newspapers; 800,000 of these titles cost $9.99 or less. They also gain acess to Kindle books from their public library, and free out-of-copyright books such as pre-1923 classics. This device can store up to 1,400 books in it's 2GB memory but users can know that all of their reading is backed up on the Amazon Cloud for free.
Navigation is smooth and easy with a 5 way controller and it can be used with just one hand, either hand, without any problem. It never gets hot and the screen can be viewed in either portrait or landscape mode.
Features include 8 adjustable text sizes, and 3 font styles, full image zoom for images and photos, bookmarking, note taking/annotations which can be searched, edited, and deleted as needed, highlighting and the ability to see what others highlight, sharing of important passages, and even temporary lending of books. Users also get access to games and their favorite blogs.
This ereader has a built-in dictionary for instant lookup, and provides the ability to search Wikipediea, the web, and the Kindle Store for more information. This Wi-Fi device provides quick downloading and free Wi-Fi access at public AT&T hotspots. It is compatible with avariety of file types including Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion and has support for Latin, Geek Cryllic, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean characters. Users can even email personal documents and PDF files to their Kindle for viewing.
It charges in only 3 hours and offers an estimated 1 month battery life. They can enjoy their Kindle books on their iPhone, iPad, Android device, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, Mac, or PC as well.
Kindle Touch
Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
Amazon Price: $99.00 (as of 02/14/2012)
The new Kindle WiFi offers all of the features detailed above. However it also offers text-to-speech capabilities for allowing users to have books read to them. Compatible file formats include Audible (AA, AAX) and MP3 files as well for enjoying audiobooks and MP3 music. This device also has rear mounted speakers and a 3.5mm stereo audio jack for headphones. It has an expanded capacity with 4GB of internal memory which can store up to 3,000 books.
This ebook reader has a touch screen and allows users to merely tap to turn pages. It takes 4 hours to charge but provides an estimated 2 month battery life. It's easy to preview books before making a selection as readers can download and read the first chapter of books for free.
The Kindle Touch is available for $99 with special offers and for $139 without them. There is also a Touch with 3G and Wi-Fi which is available for $149. It weighs ony 7.5ounces and measures 6.8" x 4.7" x .4"
Kindle Keyboard and Keyboard with 3G
Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers
Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
This Kindle features a keyboard instead of a touch screen. It is available with and without special offers; without, it is priced at $139 and with, it is $99. The version that offers 3G connectivity is $139.
It offers free cloud storage and the same features described above but measures 7.5" x 4.8" x .34" and weighs 8.5 ounces. The 6" E-ink display is easy to read and it gives users access to over 1,000,000 books with over 800,000 costing $9.99 or less. Users also get access to 60,000 audio books on Audible.com. This ebook reader has built-in Wi-Fi and can use free access via AT&T public hotspots. It has has text-to-speech capabilities and can store up to 3500 books with the 4GB of on board memory.
Kindle Fire
eBook Reader and Tablet
Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi
Amazon Price: $199.00 (as of 02/14/2012)
The Kindle Fire is a step up in the evolution in ebook readers. This device measures 7.5" x 4.7" x .45" and weighs 14.6 ounces so it is a bit bulkier than many of the other options. It features a 7" color multi-touch screen with 16 million colors and an extra wide viewing angle. It runs on a dual core processor which provides excellent computing speed. This device is compatible with a wide variety of file formats including Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, non-DRM AAC, MP3, MIDI, OGG, WAV, MP4, and VP8.
With this, users can enjoy over a million books (800,000 of which cost $9.99 or less and 2 million of which are free), 17,000,000 million songs via the Amazon MP3 store, as well a magazines, movies, TV shows, and apps/games at the Amazon AppStore. In fact, users get 1 month of free Amazon Prime service for instantly streaming movies and TV shows as week as free shipping from the Amazon site.
Cloud storage is free and the device offers 8GB of onboard storage. It features a cloud accelerated web browswer which supports Adobe Flash Player. Users get a built in e-mail application for access to all of their web mail, Whispersync for automatically syncing their Kindle library (books, movies, etc.) with other devices, and they can read personal documents in Word, PDFs, and so forth. The Kindle Fire offers a 7.5 to 8 hour battery life and includes a 3.5mm stereo audio jack and top mounted stereo speakers.
Barnes and Noble Nook Color eBook Reader
![Barnes & Noble NOOK ebook reader (WiFi + 3G)[B&W]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31kbtPRDMAL._SL160_.jpg)
Barnes & Noble NOOK ebook reader (WiFi + 3G)[B&W]
Amazon Price: $169.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
Barnes and Noble's ebook reader the Nook Color has a 7" color touch screen with 16 million colors and built-in Wi-Fi. Users get access to over 2 million titles and many tablet capabilities as well. They can surf the web, play games like Sodokku, Chess, crossword puzzles, and more, listen to music they download or from Pandora internet radio, check email, read their favorite blogs or share passages on Facebook or Twitter. With the LEnMe app they can lend or borrow books from friend too.
This device has 8GB of on board memory allowing them to store up to 6,000 books, plus a 32GB microSD expansion slot.
Barnes & Noble Nook Touch eBook Reader
Barnes & Noble NOOK Touch eBook Reader (NEWEST model, WIFI Only)
Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
The Barnes & Noble Touch ebook reader features a 6" touchscreen, e-ink display that is easy to read even in sunlight. It's very lightweight and offers the easy navigation you would expect; allowing you to adjust font, look up words, highlight information, and turn pages with just a movement. It also has an onscreen keyboard and includes an Android 2.1 OS.
Users get access to over 2 million titles and can store up to 1,000 books, magazines, and newspapers on this ereader. It offers expandable memory up to 32GB. The Simple Touch will also read PDF files. It features WiFi connectivity and allows users free access and all Barnes & Noble stores as well as 24,000 AT&T hotspots across the US. This Nook boast a 2 month battery life per charge.
Sony eBook Readers
Sony Reader Daily Edition - Black ( PRS900BCKIT )
Amazon Price: $268.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
The Sony Reader Daily Edition allows user to read books, periodicals, and PDF documents, enjoy images, and music files as well. This ebook reader supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP image formats as well as DRM Text, EPub, and PDF formats. It is a touch screen device which you can control with the included stylus or your fingers. It's compatible with both Macs and PCs, however users can download wirelessly through AT&T's 3G network; no monthly fee is required. Users get access to ePUB format books from Sony's Reader store, free books from public libraries, as well as over a million free public domain books from Google. It has a 7.1" screen which is a bit more portable that Kindle's DX. It has 1.6 GB of storage (1,000 books) which can be expanded via the SD or memory stick slots.
Users can change the font size, highlight text, make notes (handwritten or text), or zoom in. This e-book reader also has a built-in dictionary, which can be accessed through the menu system. It has a battery that users can replace and a convenient energy saving standby mode for the wireless. It also boasts a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack and comes with a travel case.
Of course there's also a Sony Digital Reader Touch Edition for those who prefer a touch screen.
The Sony Reader Wi-Fi is also available and is the most affordable Sony ebook reader to date. Users can access over 2 million titles in the Sony library, get free books from the public library or through the Google Public Domain. It offers 8 adjustable font sizes, adjustable contrast and brightness, and 2GB of built in memory and up to 32GB via the microSD expansion slot.
Another Resource
eBook Readers in the News
- Is It Already 'The End' for E-Book Readers?
- However, it's easy to believe that the success of Amazon's tablet is coming at the expense of its market-leading e-book reader. Amazon has certainly been aggressive enough in pricing its Kindle e-readers for mainstream appeal. The Kindle hit the market ...
- InternetMarketingSpeed.com: Ebook, Amazon Kindle & E-reader Market Growing ...
- James Schramko recently published an article on InternetMarketingSpeed.com about the increasing popularity of ebook readers. In it, the Internet marketing expert weighs in on the advantages and disadvantages of the shift of preference from traditional ...
- Bookle: A Friendly EPUB Reader for the Mac
- Reading ebooks on an iPad is a natural thing to do, but what if you want to or need to work on a Mac? The Mac can do things that the iPad still cannot, and the situation cries out for an OS X native EPUB reader. Now we have it with Bookle.
- Tablet, E-Book Reader Sales Soar
- Tablet and e-book reader ownership jumped from 10 to 19 percent in the few weeks from just mid-December to early January, says a new report from the Pew Internet Project. Tablet and e-book sales got a tremendous boost by holiday shoppers, according to ...
Let Us Know You Stopped By!
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franstan
Sep 7, 2011 @ 2:01 am | delete
- Very comprehensive and informative lens
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Hairdresser007
May 10, 2011 @ 2:41 am | delete
- Lots of great information on e readers! I have the color nook and with the new software upgrade it is even more amazing. I love it. perfect size. Love my cover and so great to read books and magazines and check faceobook on the same device. Listen to pandora too. Someone needs to make a squidoo app!
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May 9, 2011 @ 11:47 am | delete
- Really comprehensive Lens on eBook readers. Thanx a lot for the useful info!
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free-ebooks-online
Dec 6, 2010 @ 3:10 pm | delete
- Great set of information about ebook readers. BeBook has two newer models: the Neo and Club. I have a Neo and it's a very good reader. I am lensrolling this on my eBook Reader Comparisons lens.
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Sycro
Nov 30, 2010 @ 6:40 am | delete
- hey, whenever i want to download some ebooks for my e-reader, i always use The Novel Network, its really useful.
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Sycro
Nov 30, 2010 @ 6:39 am | delete
- nice lense
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kiwisoutback
Oct 15, 2010 @ 10:17 am | delete
- I wouldn't mind having one of these for long plane rides. No more taking stacks of books with me on the plane, magazines, or losing my page. Someday I'm going to shell out the cash and get one of these - probably before my next big trip.
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TheWhistler
Mar 30, 2010 @ 8:12 pm | delete
- Most interesting. I can remember I had to purchase a first generation ebook reader as part of my job. My lord, it was big and heavy. Couldn't get it in Canada had to have it sent from the States so tax was $60.00 on to the price. I found the screen difficult to read. The whole things was way to cumbersome. Things have improved, still I hope nothing replaces good old fashioned books.
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BigGirlBlue
Feb 16, 2010 @ 4:05 pm | delete
- I almost broke down and bought a Kindle when they released the "world" version. I have two Amazon gift certificates burning a hole in my ebox! I'm still hesitant though because I hear such good things about the Sony one even though, in my opinion it doesn't compare with wireless technology.
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Susan52
Feb 6, 2010 @ 2:04 pm | delete
- An excellent lens!
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Irenemaria
Feb 3, 2010 @ 3:21 am | delete
- Will lensroll this to my lenses about audiobooks. Same target I hope.
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by mulberry
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