eReader Decision-Making Simplified
Compiled by Eddie P (the eBook Guy) www.eddiephillips.info Should I Buy an eReader? It's not surprising that technology has changed the way we experience many things and the way in which we interpret the world. From movies to music to games, the written word has always been a large part of computers and modern technology. It is certainly not the case that the love of language is being lost to computers. Language is a progressive and ever-evolving process that has been transformed into many different mediums that are present in today's society. There are many benefits to eReaders and, most importantly, you shouldn't feel that eReaders detract from the reading experience - in fact in many instances, they improve it. The internet has opened up the possibilities for people to transfer large quantities of information across the globe in seconds. New and smaller platforms that allow us to experience and enjoy language and literature have opened up the market for eBooks. There are many types of eBook readers and each person will use them in different ways and see them in a different lights. A student at university may want a place to carry all of their textbooks in their pocket and the traveler will want to be able to carry some of the great works of literature with them as they explore the worlds they read about in novels. Whether your vice is getting lost in fiction and wanting to solve and read about murder mysteries from anywhere in the world, or you have a great love of technology or the natural world and want to delve into some great works of non-fiction, an eBook reader can easily cater for everyone's needs. So, you hear all of these stories about eBooks outselling standard books and you see people reading them on the train, park benches and beaches and you wonder what all the fuss is about. You may ask yourself: Should I buy an eReader? In the same way that vinyl gave way to CDs and CDs gave way to MP3s - the way we read books and read words in general is always changing. While it would be simple to just say 'If you can't beat them, join them,' to those wanting to hold on to tradition for as long as possible, there is a bigger issue at hand here. If you are going to make the move into eBooks and eReaders, you should do so, not because you feel that you should copy what everyone else is doing, but because you want to experience many
of the benefits. And there are many benefits. To be able to take thousands of books with you in your bag, pocket or the palm of your hand, you can easily pull it out and access your personally library whenever you're waiting for something, want to kill five minutes, or you are traveling. EReaders are great for going on a vacation you can take many books for the weight of a small paperback, you can still simulate turning the pages and you can even see the screen perfectly in full sunlight with anti-glare screens that are available on many eReaders. The eInk technology that is present in many eReaders means that you can go for weeks without having to charge the battery with many hours of reading every day. Whether you're reading in bed, on the bus or on a beach on the other side of the world - if you love reading, you'll love your eReader. What to look for when buying an eReader If you want to make the plunge and buy an eReader, there are some things that you may want to look out for - just so you can get the eReader that has all the features that you would want. There are many eBook readers available to the consumer, giving buyers many options that can be overwhelming to a first time buyer. The choice over which eReader to buy can be broken down into a manageable decision by determining what your needs are. If you already have a large digital library on your computer, it will be more important to ensure that a new reader will be compatible with their library's file formats than if a new library is going to be created from scratch just for the new device. If most reading will be done in during breaks in the workday, a smaller size may be required for easy stowing. This may not be a big problem as many eReaders are small, but if you want a particularly small eReader, check out a pocket edition. The two main screen types available on eReaders are eInk and backlit LCD. The eInk displays are designed to be easy on the eyes by presenting high contrast black text to readers. This type of display is perfect for conditions with good lighting such as outdoors or in the office. Color eInk displays are just recently entering the market, but the majority of affordable eInk devices are incapable of displaying color images and you may not feel as though they are worth it. Backlit LCD is closer to the experience of reading from a laptop or tablet PC. This can be perfect for night readers but can be hard to read in direct sunlight. There are more complaints of eye strain with backlit LCD displays, but this is not an issue for all users. Different models of eReaders have different control options. Many new models, especially those that have multiple functions, utilize full touch screen. Older style of dedicated eReaders often just have hardware controls limited directly to the functions necessary to switch books and turn pages. Customers should weigh their preference on how they would like to interact with their device when shopping for a particular model. A few eReaders are designed to work with particular online libraries, often with a limiting or even proprietary eBook format. The most forgiving eReaders, when it comes to file formats, tend to be third-party devices with no allegiance to any particular library or online store. This is a plus on the
capability end, but the lack of subsidized pricing from partners and smaller companies is apparent in the final price tag. These devices tend to be on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Adobe's PDF file type and the ePub format make up the most widely available free eBooks on the internet. These two formats are also supported by a wide range of devices. In the Age of Convergence, even dedicated devices such as eReaders are often loaded with extra functions. These options can be big selling points, depending on what the customer may be looking for. Some of the noteworthy wells and whistles include mp3 playback for users interested in reading with background music, web browsing, and text to voice to transform those eBooks into audio books which some readers may particularly enjoy. There is an eReader out there for almost every taste and need imaginable. Whether you want a multipurpose device but don't need a full tablet, or just need a dedicated reader for a quick read on the go, the choices are out there. An eReader can allow readers to carry thousands of books while taking up around the same space as one book and most importantly, not reducing your reading experience. Check out more details about eBook readers at our website ebookreaderbest.com. I am happy to answer any questions that you have about any of the eBook readers featured there or any other questions that you may have. Just click the 'contact us' form at our website and we'll be happy to reply as soon as possible. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Devlin
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The Many Advantages of eReaders Everything these days is technology-driven. Everything is impacted by technology. The eReader is no different. It is a hand held electronic device used to display ebooks. It is the shorthand for the ebook reader. Usually, such devices are optimized to reduce eye strain. This is done by using special displays and/or modes which replicate reading a real book or newspaper. There are several advantages of using eReaders. A search for eReader review on the Web will confirm the same. One of the major advantages of the eReader is its cost. The cheap book cost is truly advantageous. Moreover, the reader can have a number of books at his disposal anywhere he goes. What's more, the reader can change the font size as well. Some of the popular eReaders available in the market include Sony PRS-505, Kindle 2, jetbook, etc. After going through the eReader review, you will better understand the strengths and advantages of eReaders. You can know more about it on the eReader blog. It is a well known fact that technology has revolutionized our lives. Thanks to eReaders with e-ink technology- traditional readers have a better option. Incidentally, Kindle was the first eReader to dominate sales. Other brands that have surfaced recently include Ectaco jetBook, Irex Digital Reader and Bookeen Cybook opus. eReading is definitely catching up. eReading decision is a positive decision. It is likely to benefit you. You will not have to strain your eyes and you can read as long as you want to. Reading content on an electronic book reader is advantageous. This is why eReader in schools is highly recommended. It is bound to improve the number of children reading books. Children don't really have a penchant for reading. They get bored easily. A great way to revive their interest is by using eReaders in schools. They are handy
digital devices capable of storing several hundreds of ebooks which can be read at your convenience. They are well equipped with several useful features that can make reading a pleasurable experience. You don't have to flip pages and neither do you need to lug around bulky books. All you need to do is click the right buttons to scroll through the book! Leading eReaders like the Nook have compact dimensions and are lightweight. As a matter of fact, a single eReader can take the place of several hundred books. Such books are very helpful and useful while traveling. You can access unlimited books of your choice at all times. They are equipped with a number of great features that can make reading books a thrilling experience. Changing the font size is a boon to those who are visually impaired. Senior citizens can really benefit from eReaders. You can easily convert an eBook into eReader format. If you are considering iPad comparison with the eReader, the eReader is highly recommended. The iPad is good at what it does but the eReader is far more beneficial and advantageous. Ken Webber is the author of this article on Ereader Review [http://www.eReaderMarketplace.com]. Find more information about EReader Blog [http://ereadermarketplace.com/ereaders/weekinreview/] here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Webber ==== ================= For terrific eBook info hurry to: http://www.eddiephillips.info ==== ================= What Makes a Great eReader? There are plenty of eReader reviews out there on the Internet. From the Amazon Kindle to Barnes & Noble's Nook, you name it and you'll find it. The problem is however, that many of them aren't honest reviews by an actual user of these products, but rather someone who has written a bogus review looking to make a quick buck. What I have provided for you in this article are some guidelines of what to look for when searching for a new eReader. What are some important features that every eReader should have and which ones can you live without? To make is easier for you I have listed each feature individually in order of priority so you can go through them one by one. SCREEN Let's face it. If the screen of your eReader is no good then all the other features does not matter. If the screen gives you a headache after 30 minutes of reading, its speed and sleek design are irrelevant. There are a few things to look for when searching for a good screen. First of all, the screen has to look like a real book. Amazon did a really good job when they created the screen on their Kindle 3 as not only does it look like real ink, it is real ink, or eInk that is. The eInk makes it look pretty much as if you are staring into the pages of a brand new paperback and you can go for hours with no problems. Another important feature of the screen is the contrast. If the letters appear slightly blurry it may result in squinting followed by a headache. The letters have to look clear both up close and further away. One last thing to look for when evaluating the screen quality is glare. You want the glare to be as minimal as possible. Again, the Kindle 3 has in my opinion the best anti-glare screen on the market today. I can take mine to the beach on sunny day and read without any trouble. Watch out for LCD screen (Nook Color and iPad) which has a tendency of becoming quite hard to read in
sunlight. USER-FRIENDLINESS Few things are more annoying that sitting down with a cup of something warm, ready to enjoy a good book, only to be halted by freezing screens, hopeless menus and unresponsive buttons. For many eReaders on the market, that is what you are getting. Because this is a fairly new type of technology this happens to be the case on many of the models. Out of all the eReaders on the market today I like the Kindle 3, Kindle DX and BeBook Neo best for user friendliness. CONTENT PRICING AND AVAILABILITY What I mean by this is how many books are available for purchase once you've got your eReader in your hand. How much does the average book cost and how easy is it to get a hold of? The two giants Amazon and Barnes & Noble with their eReaders Kindle and Nook have the widest selection of books of any eReader. If it was ever published, chances are you can get it on your eReader with these two companies. These two eReaders also give you access to newspapers/magazines and blogs. Amazon currently has over 850000 various books, newspapers and magazines ready for purchase and download within 60 seconds. SPEED When you push a button on your device, you want stuff to happen. With some eReaders it feels like an eternity from the push of a button to the action appears. This goes for both navigation around the page and page flips. The fastest eReader I have used is the Kindle 3. It is lightening quick and the speed is similar to what you would experience on an iPad or iPhone. WEIGHT To me, weight is a very important feature of an eReader. It will determine how comfortable it is to hold when reading for hours and how portable it is. The most popular 6-7 inch eReaders today range from 7.5 to 16 ounces. On the lighter end of the scale we find Sony PRS-650BC (7.58 ounces), Kobo eReader (8 ounces) and the Kindle 3 (8.5 ounces). The heavyweights include Nook Color (15.8 ounces) and Nook Original (12.1 ounces). There is a huge difference between holding a 8 ounce and a 12 ounce eReader in your hands for extended periods of time, so I would opt-in for a lighter one if it had the features I required. BATTERY LIFE Most eReaders will allow you to read for at least a week without a re-charge, but some can last you as long as a month without plugging in the charger. This can be very convenient when going on holidays as you can leave the charger at home and not worry about flat-lining. I think the least you would expect from you eReader is two weeks. A couple of things determine how long a battery will last. Obviously the quality of the battery matters, but most eReaders these days use the same type, so it comes down to how many battery draining features it has. LCD screen drains the battery very quickly, whereas a eInk screen will last you a lot longer. The eReader on the market with the longest battery capacity is the Kindle 3 which will last you up to a month with the WiFi off. E-PUB ePub is a widely used open format which means that you have the ability to "borrow" eBooks in
this format from many digital libraries. ePub is used by most eReaders today, however Amazon uses their own format for the Kindle, which means that you are unable to read ePub on it. Tips: Using a free and legal program called Calibre you can translate between various formats. PRICE Some of you might be surprised to see the price listed so far down on the list. Well, there's a reason for it. The thing is, in the world of eReaders it is not a "you get what you pay for" policy. As a matter of fact, some of the best eReaders (Kindle $139 and Nook $149) are way better than the more expensive models (BeBook Neo $249 and Sony PRS-650BC $229). So don't get trapped into thinking you have to fork out $200+ for a good one. In conclusion, these are I my opinion the main features that make up a good eReader. As you may have noticed I have reviewed eReaders, not LCD tablets. iPad and Samsung Galaxy are in a different category all together and are not suited for eReading, but more for browsing the web or watching movies. If you are after an eReader which does a good job of browsing the Internet, don't get the Kindle 3. It does one job and one job only, reads books, and it does it extremely well. So, if you can find an eReader that is 6 inches or bigger with high quality eInk screen with minimal glare, is quick and user-friendly, weights less than 10 ounces, has a battery life of more than three weeks, supports ePub and cost less than $140, get it! Alexander Hope is a long term eReader user. For lots of reviews from Kindle to Nook, visit http://www.comparisonereaders.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Hope ==== ================= For terrific eBook info hurry to: http://www.eddiephillips.info ==== ================= 3 Ways To Get a Great Price On An eReader Anyone that reads as a hobby will love the new eReaders on the market unless you are one of those individuals who likes the smell of a book and the feel of the paper. Perhaps you just don't connect with technology or you're thinking you can't afford an eReader. But what if you could get a great price on a cheap eReader? Would you be interested in one then? Don't let fear of technology or the preference to have a physical book in your hands stop you from at least checking out some of the latest eBook readers. What has made me a believer in eReaders are the sheer volume of books you can download with the flick of a finger, many times free or for a small price. Today everyone is looking for a best buy on a cheap eReader. No more do you have to carry all those books around or visit the bookstore or wait until its available at the library when you can just download them on an eBook eReader. Sounds great but which cheap eReader is the one for you? Barnes and Noble has the Nook, Amazon has the Kindle, there is the Sony Reader, and even Google has ventured into the market with the Story HD as well as less known brands like Pandigital or Sharper Image's Literati eReader. So, with all the options how do you get your hands on a cheap eReader that won't break the bank
and is best suited for your needs? Here is how in three simple steps. If possible, postpone your purchase until a more opportune time and look for sales or discounted prices due to new releases. I know that is contrary to what I have been saying but the longer you wait, the more competition there will be on the market. If you can't hold out at least look at the black and white older versions and not the color version which costs a lot more. For example, Amazon started with Kindle D00901, then the Kindle Touch or Keyboard and now Kindle Fire. With each new release the older versions get discounted. With more competition the bargains will begin to surface especially during the holidays and shopping days like black Friday and cyber Monday. Furthermore, many eReaders are hitting retail stores right before the holiday and some of the best prices will be on sale at places like Walmart, Target, Best Buy. If you don't want to postpone your purchase, think about buying a used or refurbished version. They are just as good and at a better price. Refurbished or used prices are like being on sale everyday. You may be wondering why you would be interested in this option. For starters, eReaders, tablets, phones and the technology and operating systems that run on these gadgets are moving at lightning fast speed. Like other technology, it is a competitive market and your brand new eReader will be old in six months. Save your self some money and buy used. Right now there is a race to the finish line as to who will reign as king of eReaders, tablets, and phones and eventually they will merge together into one product. Along the way there will be knock offs or off brands and cheaper versions worth checking out. Keep a look out. Check out some of the off brands. Some are not priced as high as the name brands although sometimes you get what you pay for. Make sure you research them thoroughly before making a purchase. Also, think about different sizes and the ability to store data on the cloud, do you really need this right now. You might also think about the option of a tablet with the ability to be an eReader. For example, the PocketBook 701 IQ has a low price and acts as a tablet and cheap eReader. As you research the market more options will be available and be ready to take advantage of them. There you have it. Three ways to save some money and get yourself a cheap eReader. With all the great options available you really can't go wrong. It just depends on which one will give you the most reading pleasure and meets your needs. Do you need a bigger screen? What about touch screen or keyboard options or wireless? Does any of this matter? Of course! However, what matters the most is, "can you download and read books on it"? All the little things like internet access or gaming options are icing on the cake but that cake can get very expensive. Check out Cheap eReader blog for more information Click here for great deals on a cheap eReader. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Martin ==== ================= For terrific eBook info hurry to: http://www.eddiephillips.info ==== =================