Tips on Buying an E-Book Reader
E-book readers have been around for a while. The first-generation e-book readers, introduced in the late 1990s, were little more than novelty gadgets. Early e-book readers such as Softbook and Rocket Book, were marred by poor-quality LCD screens and short battery life. The e-book titles available for these devices were also rather limited. However, with the release of the first Amazon Kindle device in 2007, the situation changed and the market for e-book readers expanded. Many devices are now available, including the Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook and the Sony Reader.
Other People Are Reading
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Display
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One of the most important things to consider when purchasing an e-book reader is the display screen. The e-book readers currently on the market use either E Ink or an LCD. Reading on an LCD screen is exactly the same as reading on a computer screen. LCD screens can display in color. The downside is that LCD screens can lead to eyestrain and do not display well in natural light. E Ink does not display in color but is closer to the printed page in quality and make it easier to read e-books in natural light.
Battery Life
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Consider how long the battery lasts on an e-reader before it needs recharging. Consumers who spend a lot of time reading or plan to bring an e-reader along on vacations or long commutes, should buy a device that has long battery life.
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Content and Storage
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The best e-book readers give readers access to thousands of book titles and offer plenty of on-board memory for storage. One of the early advantages of the Amazon Kindle was that it had access to Amazon's online book store. This has changed somewhat with increased competition from other devices as well as Google Editions, Google's vast online e-book library.
Other Considerations
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When buying an e-book reader, consider price vs. the features you value most. For example, the Nook Color has 8 GB of integrated storage, a mircoSD slot, the ability to access more than two million books and a full-color touch screen display. However, the Nook Color ($249 as of April 2011) also costs nearly twice as much as the lowest-priced Kindle model with an E Ink display. A buyer looking for a e-book reader may not want to pay the additional money for a touch screen and a color LCD that makes it difficult to read books at the beach.
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References
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