Selecting Your First E-Book Reader
Friday, March 12th, 2010There are many e-book reader reviews on the Internet right now. You can also find them in magazines and newspapers from time to time. This simply reflects the fact that e-book readers have really taken off – powered, to a large extent, by the release of the Amazon Kindle 2.0 in February of 2009. Today there is a wide variety of e-book readers to choose from and many people are looking for guidance to help them choose the right reader for them.
Many reviews, understandably perhaps, concentrate very strongly on the hardware – the size of the Kindle screen is this, the Sony Daily Edition screen size is that, this reader incorporates touch screen controls, that reader has a wireless connection etc. Which is fine, but if you’re looking for your first e-book reader then the chances are that you will be making a mental comparison between e-books and conventional books rather than between different types of e-book reader.
First of all, and just to put your mind at ease, a recent survey of e-book reader owners in the USA found that 80% of them actually preferred using an e-book reader to reading on a traditional paper book. Based on feedback like that it doesn’t appear as if those who have made the jump from paper to electronic books are missing the feel of a real book. It seems that manhandling large, bound editions is an unattractive prospect for those with experience of e-book readers.
The display is one of the key things that you should consider when selecting your e-book reader. Assuming that the main purpose of your e-book reader is to read books, as opposed to surfing the web or watching video, you will certainly want to go for a reader which has an e-ink technology display. These really are very much like reading normal text printed on normal paper – much more so than reading on a backlit computer screen. They also require very much less power and this means you can go for a long time between charges. When you turn the page, the screen will flicker and go black very briefly. This is not a big problem. In the beginning you will notice it because it is something new but, after just a couple of reading sessions, you will be completely unaware of it.
Another important factor to take into account is the layout of the controls and the overall usability. The Amazon Kindle controls for example, are very well laid out and easy to use. It’s simple to operate the Kindle with only one hand, something that makes it ideal for use on a crowded bus or train, or just sitting propped up in bed. Sony’s Daily Edition reader features touch screen controls – but this comes at the expense of a slightly lower quality display as today’s touch screen technology is not completely transparent and also requires the use of a screen which is a little more reflective.
Finally, do not assume that e-book prices are the same for all readers. A recent survey, carried out by the New York Times, found significant differences in book prices across different e-book reader platforms. The difference in some cases was so large that choosing the right reader could save you enough money to pay for the reader itself within twelve months and you would still have a few dollars left over to buy books! Obviously book pricing is volatile – so be sure to check on the average price of e-books for the reader that you are thinking of buying.
Discover the Amazon Kindle for yourself – and don’t forget to pick up a Kindle cover – it’ll customise and protect your device.